Denis Markell - The Final Cut

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The Game Masters of Garden Place

The Ghost in Apartment 2R

Call me Xan.

I smile my coolest smile at the mirror.

Okay, if my voice hadnt cracked, it probably would have sounded cooler.

And the expression on my face looked less like Im the most chill kid in seventh grade and more I have digestive issues that need to be taken care of immediately.

But other than that, Im pretty satisfied.

Lets face it, seventh grade is a big deal.

The truth is, I had hoped that sixth grade would be a big deal.

A few years ago, my older cousin Leo, who goes to public school on Long Island, told me about how they had a whole graduation after fifth grade, and sixth grade meant moving to a whole different school, like it was the start of something new and fresh.

But I go to this weird private school where theres no fuss made about changing grades. Theres no new start, just the same kids whove known you since the first grade when someone caught you eating your booger or something.

(For the record, that totally did not happen to me. It was another kid. I was just using it as an example.)

But this is the beginning of the school year. A fresh start, right?

No more boring Alex Davis.

Time to introduce my friends and fellow students to Xan Davis, the awesome kid who went to skate camp, becoming a legend in the process.

So they dont need to know that I became a legend by spraining my ankle the first day of camp and spending the rest of the time there taking videos of the other skaters.

I might not have learned how to do a kickflip or a grind or an ollie (I did master the Biebelheimer, which is just a sweet-looking way to put down your board), but I ended up getting really good at editing videos of the other kids.

Ranger, who was definitely the coolest kid there, decided that Alex was nerdy, so he dubbed me Xan and it stuck.

And now here I am, back home in Brooklyn Heights, embarking on the adventure of seventh grade.

I inspect my outfit. On the one hand, you want to look good on your first day, but on the other, you dont want to look like you tried too hard. I have on my sk8 kamp T-shirt and cargo shorts.

Alex Davis wouldnt have the nerve to wear this to school. But Xan definitely does. I pull on my Vans (the same style that Ranger wore) and look in the mirror next to the front door one last time.

I muss my hair. For that casual, I dont care look.

My mom comes up and hugs me.

You look so grown up! she exclaims, and promptly licks her palm and applies said wet disgusting hand to my hair, dorkifying it with one stroke.

Mom! Stop!

Mom sighs. Alex, you

Xan!

Sorry, Xan, my mom says, reaching for my hair, but you dont want to start seventh grade with bedhead, do you?

I grab my backpack and push open the front door. I dont want to start seventh grade by being late either. Bye.

From the kitchen a yell. Mooooom!

My little sister, Violet, who is also starting school today.

But its only third grade, so really, who cares?

Mom grabs me and kisses me. Have a great day! I hope you get all your electives!

I head out onto the street and give her a quick wave goodbye.

Truthfully, I am a little anxious about the electives. At my school, you dont get your schedule until the first day.

From what I understand, this is supposed to stop what my mom and dad call a certain type of parent from phoning the head of school and screaming because their precious little gift to the world didnt get their preferred teacher or elective.

Which might have been true in theory, but seriously, do you think this actually stops any of them? All it means is that we dont find out which classes we have until the very last minute.

I should explain that this is one of the big deals about seventh grade at Saint Anselms. Its the first year you can pick certain classes for yourselfelectives.

Theres all sorts of cool stuff being offered, from studying mushrooms in nearby Prospect Park to fashion design to folk dancing (okay, not my thing, but there are kids in my class who live for that kind of stuff).

What is stressing me out is that the one elective I really, really wantGame Theory: Video Game History and Designis also the most popular (I know, go figure, right?). There are always more kids who sign up for it than there are spots in the class, so its kind of a lottery. I wont know until I see my schedule if Im one of the lucky ones who got it.