Cece’s dad returns from a conference and brings her a curly pencil. She is excited to show the other children. The next morning, she rushes to the bus stop, and the children gawk at the pencil. Even Mike thinks the pencil is cool. The fun stops when Johnnie breaks the pencil in half, just for fun. Cece starts sobbing and runs home. Her siblings give her a ride to school. She avoids the neighborhood children in the gym out of shame, but soon Mike approaches, pushing Johnnie toward her. Mike insists that Johnnie apologize. Cece isn’t sure how to feel about Johnnie’s apology and Mike’s kindness—she worries, “He just feels sorry for me and my crybaby deaf kid self” (187). 

Later that day in class, they have quiet math time. During quiet math, Mrs. Sinklemann leaves the room. The children get rowdy and forget to put a guard at the door to watch for Mrs. Sinklemann’s return. Mrs. Sinklemann catches Mike and some other boys and puts their names inside the apple painted on the board, saying, “A few rotten spots spoil the whole bunch” (190). As the children get up for lunch, Cece tries to comfort Mike but struggles to come up with the words.