March 12, 1978: Emergency

We had our first band practice after school. We met in Travis' garage. It was mostly ok. Skip was showing off. Then Travis started messing with the garage door or something. It came down the track on George's shoulder. He said he was fine but we took him to the hospital anyway. I got to drive the Trans Am. George said it was the first time he's been to the emergency room for a couple years.

The doctor says George will be fine. That he should take it easy for awhile. He should still be able to make the talent show. That's good.

March 11, 1978: Cold

It got really cold again today. And I have a runny nose. I probably should have stayed home. I wish I had.

Travis asked Skip to play bass for our talent show thing. Skip said yes (of course). We talked about it at lunch and someone said they heard Skip was pretty good. I guess he already has a guitar. I don't expect much from him.

I hope I feel better soon. The band is supposed to practice after school tomorrow.

March 10, 1978: Talent Show

The school is having a talent show pretty soon. They hung a bunch of signs on lockers today. I thought it looked dumb but George was interested in doing something. He said he's sign up if I did.

Travis got a drum set for Christmas and he wants to start a band for the show. Travis and I argued about what we'd play. He wanted some Sex Pistols song. I really want Thin Lizzy. George didn't really care. He said he'd do whatever we decided on. We don't have anyone to play bass. I hope George doesn't ask Skip.

March 9, 1978: Skip's back

Skip was back at school today. He seems a lot better than he did when I was at his house. He had lunch with George, Travis, and me and sat where I usually sit. He got there first so I had to sit between Travis and some glee club kid. I hope we don't have to start driving Skip to school.

The yard sale is done. It was fine except Mom sold a bunch of my Swamp Thing and Ka-Zar comic books without telling me. I barely made enough money buy a pizza. I was so mad.

March 6, 1978: Yard Sale

It's supposed to be warm this weekend, so we're having a yard sale. George and Travis came over for dinner and we made a bunch of posters. It beats sorting through stuff in the garage. Mom says if I set up and help with selling stuff in the morning, I can take off around lunch.

George is going down to the park tomorrow afternoon to play basketball with some guys from another school. I don't know if I'll play, but I should probably be there just in case there's any trouble.

March 5, 1978: Spring Break Plans

Spring Break is coming up. I'm not sure what to do. My uncle said he'd pay me to work on his farm that week. Dad says I should do it. And Travis said he was thinking about selling his moped and I wouldn't mind having wheels. Susan said she wouldn't be caught dead on Travis's moped. Maybe she just meant with Travis.

George was thinking about a road trip. I'd like to go. It would be a whole week in the Trans Am. Just like Burt Reynolds.

March 4, 1978: More Skip

After school George, Travis and I stopped by Skip's place. He's still kind of out of it, but he's pretty sure he'll be back to school on Monday. I didn't think being in a fire would make somebody act so weird. Travis and I were thinking of excuses to get out of there, but George said we should stick around for a while.

Skip's got a pretty cool basement. There's a dartboard and a bar. I hope his parents throw some kind of back-to-school party for him so we can hang out down there when there's more people.

March 3, 1978: Home Again

George and Travis made it back last night. George is fine but I think Travis might be coming down with a cold or something.

It was pretty dark when they made it to the car, so George followed Travis home. The lights on the moped are kind of bad. They thought the lights on the Trans Am would help Travis see.

Travis says he saw a coyote, but George wasn't paying attention. He was too busy revving up right behind Travis. I bet that was really funny. I should have been there.

March 2, 1978: Out of Gas

George ran out of gas on the way home today. He had to leave the Trans Am outside this old farmhouse and walk 3 miles to a gas station. It was really cold. I think all he had was his jean jacket. I'm surprised he didn't freeze to death.

Travis is picking him up at the gas station on his moped. That way George won't have to walk all the way back. I'd go along but all I have is a 10-speed. I hope they don't run into any trouble.

February 27, 1978: $10

George is so lucky. He found a $10 bill outside the teacher's lounge today. Travis said he should just keep it but George didn't listen. He knocked on the teacher's lounge door and Mr. Patterson opened. A bunch of cigarette smoke came out.

George asked if it belonged to anyone. Mr. Patterson was really nice. He winked and told George not to spend it all in one place. I don't know what that was supposed to mean, but we're going to the movies.

February 26, 1978: Spilled Milk

Travis started some trouble with a couple guys in the cafeteria today. They shoved him into the table and spilled my milk all over the place, including my pants and my English paper.

Mrs. Harris was still mad from earlier this week and she looked ready to throw my paper in the trash, but George took the blame for it. He knows how to charm teachers. She's letting me copy it over tonight. I have to get to school early to hand it in, so now I have to ride the bus.

Sometimes I wish Travis would just keep his mouth shut.

February 25, 1978: Outside

George came over after school. Dad started talking politics and I was really embarrassed. I made us hang out on the front porch. It was warm for February so it wasn't bad.

George did try to jump a stick with my skateboard. He made it the first time. It was a pretty cool jump. He tried it again but fell and banged up his knee a little.

Mom offered to make us hot chocolate. I said no but I was glad George said it sounded good.

February 24, 1978: Trouble

I don’t feel great but I was back in school today. Mom says one day off is enough.

It was a great day back. I got in trouble with Mrs. Harris for laughing during class. She thought I was laughing at her when she was telling us about being on this dumb diet. I was really laughing at this joke George told at lunch about Gene Simmons and ABBA. Now I have to write a stupid letter and have my mom sign it.

It was a really good joke. I wish I could remember how it went.

February 23, 1978: Sick Day

I woke up with a fever today and stayed home from school. I guess my mom must have called George's mom and let her know, because he didn't come by to pick me up.

Travis showed up in the afternoon with some of my books and homework. He said George was at the library with Susan and Alison and he was on his way to meet up with them. I acted like it was no big deal, but I was pretty steamed that I couldn't go.

George doesn't even like the library.

February 20, 1978: Weekend Plans

Really looking forward to the weekend. I think we might head over to Skip’s place to see how he’s holding up. George said we should take over some music. Travis always wants us to listen to his Johnny Cougar record. George will let him for a little while. Then he plays Ted Nugent.

George’s hand is still bandaged. I asked him about it. He says it hurts some to drive.

I don’t know how anything could hurt in that car.

February 19, 1978: Hero

Skip wasn't in school today. I heard someone say he might be out for a week.

George had a bandage on his hand and he coughed a lot but he didn't say anything about the fire. He was acting like nothing happened, but lots of kids were staring at him longer than normal. Except Susan. She only stared as long as she always does.

Mrs. Harris told George he didn't need to worry about last night's English homework, but he turned it in anyway. I bet she won't grade it.

February 18, 1978: Fire!

There was a fire at school today. George and I were going to class when Travis ran by. He was hollering something about Shop class burning down. We ran after him. There was smoke everywhere. I saw some flames though the window in the door.

George said something like “Do you hear that?” and he ran right into the room. I started to follow him but Principal Patterson grabbed me and made me follow the other kids. I told him that George was in there. I thought Mr. Patterson was going to pass out.

We all went outside and watched the door. George came out carrying Skip. Skip was unconscious and they were both all covered in ash and stuff. George put Skip down and almost fell. Everybody huddled around Skip and tried to wake him up.

I went to check on George but he was gone. All I saw was his Trans Am peeling out.

February 17, 1978: Civics Exam

I didn’t see George much today.

I think he had a test in Spanish and I was pretty busy cramming for the Civics exam I had just before lunch. My test ran over so I missed lunch. It was terrible. I’m pretty sure I messed it up. Dad is going to flip his lid.

I bet George aced his test.

February 16, 1978: You're up, bro!

Today after school, George, Travis and I hung out at George's place and stayed for dinner. Travis lives down the street from George. He's got a moped.

When I got out to the school parking lot, George was sitting on the hood of the Trans Am. He tossed the keys at me and said "You're up, bro!" and walked over to the passenger side. It was pretty great. When I get a car, I'm going to do stuff like that.

We mostly just watched TV at George's house. His dad talked shop with Travis about mopeds for a while and stuck around long enough to pay for the pizza. George's dad is cool for an older guy.

February 13, 1978: Bullies

George almost got into a fight today. Some tough guys were picking on this kid, Skip, in the parking lot. The kid is new and the bullies were being really mean.

George told them to leave the kid alone...that they should get a life and pick on someone their own size. I thought the guys were going to go after George but he just stood there until they left. He didn't look scared at all.

It's good they didn't fight with George. He's pretty fast.

February 12, 1978: George, me, and lunch

I had lunch in the cafeteria with George today. We both had cheeseburgers and they were alright. George let me have his extra fries.

After lunch, some girls asked George if he'd take them out driving in his Trans Am after school.

He said he couldn't but he was really nice to the girls. He said he and I were going to lift weights...that he was going to try to break my own bench press record. I don't know where he got that because we didn't lift weights. It made me feel like big stuff in front of the girls. Especially Susan.

George didn't make a big deal out of it but he's cool like that.