The Detention Club by David Yoo Read Free Book Online Page A

starts to grow.”
    â€œHow do we water our seeds?”
    â€œI don’t know, I just came up with that,” I admitted.
    â€œNow I really have to pee,” Drew said.
    I have this weird disease where if someone says they have to pee, it makes me immediately have to pee, too, so we headed over to the bathroom next to the main lobby. The second we stepped inside, we realized our fatal error: The Sweet brothers were standing over by the sinks.
    â€œHey, it’s that kid, Pete,” Hugh said to his twin brother, Hank, before draping a meaty arm around my shoulder. I was shocked at how heavy it was. “You’re Sunny Lee’s little brother, right?”
    â€œUh-huh,” I said quickly, hoping my relationship to the queen of the school would get us out of trouble.
    â€œI hate Sunny Lee,” Hugh continued, and put me in a headlock from behind. “I bet you’re a goody-goody just like her, huh? Ruining the curve in class for everybody, winning everything, president of all the clubs?”
    â€œNo, I hate her, too!” I tried to shout, but he had me pinned, and my own left arm was blocking my nose and mouth. “Drew, tell him!”
    â€œIt’s true,” Drew said. “They aren’t close at all! They should be going to family counseling.”
    I stared at Drew. He shrugged.
    â€œWho asked for your opinion?” Hugh snapped at him.
    â€œNobody,” Drew squeaked. “My mom says I speak out of turn all the time.”
    â€œWhat’s your name?”
    â€œDuh-duh-rew,” he stuttered.
    â€œWell, Doo Doo Roo, congrats, you two just made the list.”
    â€œWhat list?” Drew asked.
    This made the Sweet brothers angry.
    â€œNow you made the top of the list!” Hank snarled.
    â€œAnd again, this list is . . . ?” Drew asked.
    â€œShut up, Drew!” I managed to shout.
    â€œWe’re going to make you wish you didn’t go to Fenwick Middle,” Hank said, shoving Drew against the wall.
    â€œWe already kinda wish that, so you don’t have to bother,” I explained between gasps for air.
    â€œBoy, you two don’t know when to keep your mouths shut,” he said, and shoved Drew against the wall again.
    â€œWhy’d you shove me again?” Drew wailed.
    â€œI guess you were just closer,” he replied. For a guy generally considered to be one of the dumbest kids ever, I had to admit he had a decent handle on common sense.
    â€œWe’ll be seeing you two around,” Hugh said.
    And then they left. I fell to my knees and took in huge lungfuls of air.
    â€œAre you okay, Pete?” Drew asked.
    â€œI think I almost just choked to death.”
    Drew patted me on the back.
    â€œWell, at least it’s over,” he said.
    It didn’t cheer me up because he was only halfway right. It was over but only temporarily. (I’ve gotten food sickness twice in my life, and the second time it happened I’d learned to not be happy after I threw up, because I knew I was just going to boot twenty minutes later.) I turned to Drew. “Did you hear what they said, though? They hate Sunny! At least someone at this school doesn’t worship her.”
    Drew cracked a half smile. Then his face got all scrunched up.
    â€œSo what’s this list Hugh kept talking about earlier?”
    â€œAre you serious?” I shouted.
    Drew was walking really slowly on the way home, focusing on his shoes.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” I asked, matching his pace. “Are we having a slowest-walker race? You know you have to announce it before it starts, or else it isn’t fair.”
    â€œThe slower we walk, the longer it takes to get to Corbett Canyon, and the longer it takes for tomorrow to come,” he said, not looking up at me.
    â€œBuddy, I don’t think time works that way,” I explained.
    â€œI know, but it makes me feel a little better to do this,” he said, and