Gus sniffled back a tear. “If I got another A, they were going to promote me to the advanced class.”

“That’s wonderful, Gus,” Henry said. “Congratulations.” And then he realized. “But then you and Shawn wouldn’t be in the same class anymore.”

“He said if I turned in his work, there’s no way they’d let me go to nerd school.”

Henry had been mad at Shawn before. Sometimes he felt that he’d gotten angry the moment his son was delivered and hadn’t calmed down since. But this was different. Shawn had betrayed his own best friend, used Gus’ love and trust against him. Henry had to force himself to keep his hands down for fear he might grab his son and throw him out the window.

“How could you do that to your best friend?” Henry said.

“Do what?”

“Trick him so he wouldn’t qualify for the advanced class,” Henry said.

“I didn’t trick him,” Shawn said. “He wanted to stay in the normal class with me.”

“That’s true,” Gus said.

“You may have just stolen his future,” Henry said.

“Gus doesn’t need a future,” Shawn said. “He can share mine.”

“That’s right,” Gus said. “I can share Shawn’s.”

Henry took a deep breath. Counted to ten. Recited the alphabet. Then, fighting to keep a calm smile on his face, he turned to Gus.

“I think it’s time for you to run along home now, Gus,” Henry said.

“Can’t I stay a little longer?” Gus said. “My mom’s still got her bridge friends over, and that house is nowhere for a boy when they’re there.”

“I think you need to leave now,” Henry said, ushering him toward the door. “Because Shawn’s immediate future is something you really don’t want to share.”

Chapter One

As a store it wasn’t much. Fifteen feet deep, maybe half that wide, a long counter running down the middle.