Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich - It Doesnt Take a Genius

Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

Text 2021 by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

Cover illustration 2021 by Gordon James

Published by Six Foot Press. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any foerm or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information contact Six Foot Press, 4200 Montrose Blvd. Houston TX 77006

First Edition

Printed in Canada

This book is set in 11.5-point ITC Century Book

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Distributed throughout the world by Ingram Publisher Services

ISBN 13: 9781644420027

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It Doesnt Take a
Genius

The last day of school is the perfect opportunity to make peace with Mac. Or at least prompt him to rethink his plan to ride his bike past my house all summer yelling, What you got, loser? the way he did last summer after I won the school debate trophy for the third straight year. Which, since I won that one, loser doesnt really make sense, but I guess yelling, What you got, winner? wouldnt either. I could have answered, Well, Ive got the trophies you wanted, even though youre older than me, but though Im considered smart smart, and not people smart, even I know thats probably not the way to go. Mac is pretty smart himself; were both honor roll regulars. Hes also a full-fledged, first-class, Grade A GOON, even though he tries to disguise himself as an ordinary kid. One whos second-best on the school debate team. Im just saying.

Anyway, he won this one, and let it never be said that Emmett Charles isnt a gentleman and a scholar (I dont think anyones ever said that, maybe my mom.) Congratulations, Mac, I say, holding my hand out (and up too since my body hasnt gotten wise to the fact that Im thirteen now, and hes like NBA-size). I try not to make a face, but the locker next to Macs is giving off a smell that could destroy a nation.

Shut it, tardigrade, mumbles Mac, shoving my hand away. He goes back to dumping what looks like ten years worth of papers and books (and maybe some fossilized sandwiches) from his locker into his backpack.

Interesting name-calling, Mac. The water bear is definitely a resilient and miniscule animal, so nicely done. That might be a way to describe me, even though technically, I didnt actually lose, so theres nothing for me to be resilient about, and ahem, uh, anyway Im serious, stellar job yesterday! I thought your argument in favor of corporal punishment at school was convincing, mostly because of your enthusiasm for, um, school-sanctioned beat downs. Im working hard not to inhale; Mac doesnt seem to notice that there might be a decomposing body tucked away right next to him. I probably should have stuck with just nice job because from the expression on his face and the way his fists clench, he doesnt need me to remind him that he didnt exactly beat me this year. That hes never beaten me at debateand hes tried to. A lot. Thats a fact. My big brother, Luke, is always reminding me that sometimes the facts matter less than I think they do.

You really are the dumbest smart guy around, arent you? asks Mac, slamming his locker door. I dont want your compliments. I dont want your attempts to be the bigger man, whichhe looks me up and downis technically impossible. I dont want your anything. He walks away.

Except maybe my three debate trophies, also my science fair award, and Spelling Bee record. And little does he (or anyone else) know, Id managed to avoid a catastrophe yesterday.

I clear my throat. Lets put our friendly rivalry behind us! You won! Youre debate champion! Debate KING! Its all yours, I call out. Id said I was taking a break, but only I know the real reason why Id dropped out of the competition at the last minute. Luke had given me a funny look when Id announced that I was opting out of competing, but luckily he was too excited about his big news to pursue it.

Uh, excuse me, can you move? says a voice at my back. Youre in front of my locker.

I turn to see Terry Campbell frowning at me. Mac is way down the hall. I almost want to give up and see what happens when Terry opens his locker, because that smell is bad enough to make me want to risk it all to find out what it could possibly be. But

I run after Mac. Im risking a lotmaybe literally my life at this point, if Macs balled up fists are any indicationbut I need to make sure that he knows that if I had competed against him, I wouldve won. Because thats what Im supposed to do. And like Yoda said: Do or do not. There is no try. Or losing.

I pull up next to Mac and do a decent job of not taking two steps for his every one. The halls are pretty empty already; when that last bell rings, people clear out fast.

What do you want now, mosquito?

I dont get it, I say. Why are you still mad at me? I try not to breathe like Im in the middle of the annual fitness test, but Macs pace and my end-of-the year backpack make me feel like Ive been thrown into a Very Junior Iron Man competition. Id placed squarely in the forty-second percentile for height and weight at my last checkup. For once, not a score I wanted to brag about. Luke keeps telling me that he had a big growth spurt between thirteen and fourteen, so mine should start any second now. He didnt even laugh when he caught me doing the Stretch-Grow-Lets-Go workout that Id found online.

Mac stops walking. Thank God. Shut up, bedbug. I cant even enjoy my win because its all about you. You didnt compete. You wouldve set a new record. You, you, you. Excuse me for just wanting a little less you in my life. Too bad youre not the brother whos leaving.

Mac continues outside, and since Im going the same way, I follow. But I stay a few steps behind, because, you know, it doesnt take a genius to see that hes also mad. Like, BIG mad.

I look around for my brother. Hed planned to leave during his free period so he could get the car from Mom and drive us and our locker contents home from school. I also want to catch Luke before he runs into Mac. Luke and Mac have a history. Because Mac and I have a history. And right now, its in the present.

Looking for big brother to save you? Mac moves closer to me. Better get used to him not being around. Maine isnt exactly around the corner, so next year, you wont have him to fight your battles.

Youre just jealous, I say. Lukes artwork had caught the attention of a fancy boarding school, and they offered him a scholarship for his last year of high school. I guess I shouldnt have been shocked, Luke is Luke. But even I hadnt realized how good he is.

Nope. Sorry, bro. But maybe youre jealous. You got your little trophies and certificates, but Lukes getting invited to the big leagues. I guess hes the real genius

You got a problem, Mac? Other than your usual ones? Luke has come up out of nowhere. Like a superhero. Hes even taller than Mac, wears his shirts a little small so girls can peep his muscles, and his fade is tight and gleaming. Now hell tell Mac off and well speed away in the car, leaving him in literal smoke. (Moms car is in desperate need of a tune-up.)