CHAPTER 18

I Learn an Uncomfortable Truth

Chapters 18-19

FIT/SMKAM/2016

•  The  trio  return  Ferocious  to  his  cage  and  rush  back  to  Newt's  house.  

•  The  five  o'clock  news  headline:  'Breaking  news!  Airplane    Tragedy  Averted!'    

•  Witnesses  menBon  what  Captain  Nobody  has  done  in  stopping  the  busy  traffic.  They  wonder  whether  he  is  a  mental  paBent  or  a  villain  or  a  hero.  

I  couldn't  believe  my  eyes!  The  way  the  lanes  

just  opened  up…  

A  small  passenger  plane  developed  crippling  engine  trouble  in  the  sky.  As  the  pilot  desperately  searched  for  unpopulated  place  to  

land,  he  spoJed  a  stretch  of  freeway  unexpectedly,  

miraculously  cleared  of  cars!  

page  135  FIT/SMKAM/2016  

Some  liJle  bozo  was  out  there,  waving  his  arms  and  dancing  

around  like  he  was  trying  to  bring  on  the  rain.  You  wouldn't  believe  the  tribal  costume  he  had  on!  

He  seemed  to  be  chasing  something,  but  from  my  car,  I  could  not  see  what  it  was.  I  just  assumed  he  was  an  escaped  

mental  paBent.  

page  136  

FIT/SMKAM/2016  

•  Cecil  and  JJ  insist  they  should  go  back  to  the  highway  and  explain  about  the  whole  situaBon.  

•  Newt  feels  that  he  wants  to  give  up  being  captain  Nobody  but  his  friends  remind  him  about  how  he  has  saved  lives.  

•  Newt  is  not  convinced.  He  takes  off  his  mask  and  complains  that  he  cannot  even  save  his  brother's  life.  

My  Mom  and  Dad  are  sick  with  worry,  and  what  am  I  doing?  

Wearing  a  Halloween  costume  and  pretending  I  can  save  the  world,  when  I  can't  even….  I  can't  even  

save  my  own  brother….  

page  137  FIT/SMKAM/2016  

That  night  Newt  has  another  dream  .  He  dreams  about  the  highway  incident    and  the  Big  Tackle.  At  the  end  of  the  dream,  he  learns  that  it  is    Darryl  Peeps  who  had  clashed  his  helmet  against  his  brother  and  put  Chris  in  a  coma….  not  Reggie  Ratner!!!  

page  140  FIT/SMKAM/2016  

CHAPTER 19

Reggie Ratner Decides to End It All

FIT/SMKAM/2016

•  The  next  morning,  Newt  is  having  breakfast  with  his  Mom.  He  surprises  his  Mom  when  he  menBons  that  he  knows  about  Chris  only  has  6  days  to  wake  up.  He  says  that  he  will  visit  Chris  aaer  school  that  day.  

•  Although  he  vows  not  to  wear  the  costume  again,  he  stuffs  the  oubit  into  his  backpack  and  heads  for  school.  Just  touching  them  makes  him  feel  less  upset  about  Chris  and  more  powerful  somehow.  

•  When  he  reaches  school,  he  feels  vulnerable  without  Captain  Nobody  costume.  

•  He  feels  lonely  and  ignored  again.   page  144  FIT/SMKAM/2016  

•  At  lunch  break,  there  is  news  on  the  television  reporBng  that  the  depressed  Reggie  Ratner  has  climbed  to  the  roof  of  the  Appleton  water  tower,  the  tallest  building  in  town  to  commit  suicide.  

•  Newt  is  in  dilemma  as  he  knows  that  he  is  the  only  one  who  knows  the  truth  about  the  Big  Tackle  incident  and  someone  has  to  tell  Reggie!!  

Reggie  Ratner  has  grown  increasingly  depressed  as  

students  and  fans  of  Fillmore  High  School  have  repeatedly  harassed  him  and  his  family.  

pages  146-­‐148  FIT/SMKAM/2016