Shane stood in the shadow of their dumb little treehouse. Why was everyone always out to make him feel as thick as possible, and why did it have to be Lisa today?

Shane wanted Lisa for a girlfriend, but preferably without anyone at school knowing about it. Dork factor and freckles aside, she was a little bit cute. He did not particularly care for her sharing a treehouse with Ben and No-Beard, or whatever stupid made-up name he was using.

Shane had a lot going for him. There was the trampoline with the springy cage around it in his backyard and his sweet playroom above the garage that had its own TV. His mom made great oatmeal raisin cookies. Not that anyone from school ever came over to hang out.

Shane knew people avoided him, but he didn’t know enough to care why. He did know that Lisa was in another boy’s treehouse, maybe even telling him that she liked him. In his own daydreams, Shane was so much cooler than that.

Shane looked up in time to see a ratty baseball arcing gently toward his face.