After spending much of his winter break watching for a prank from Niles and being vigilant against a surprise attack from Josh, Miles is exhausted and looks pale. When they return to school, the class president election is in full swing and Miles walks with Holly as she greets her classmates by name. A sign on the wall says, “PRINCIPAL BARKIN SEZ: ELECTION TIME!” (141). Next to it is Josh’s campaign poster featuring a photo of him and his father and his campaign slogan: “Your current class president, your future class president, your eventual principal” (141). Holly’s poster simply states, “A VOTE FOR HOLLY RASH IS A VOTE FOR HOLLY RASH” (142). Niles approaches and something about his smile makes Miles anxious and worried. Miles has even had nightmares about the mischievous smile, and he wonders when Niles will strike.

Miles convinces Stuart to switch his upper locker for Miles’s lower one by tricking him into thinking the lower locker is better for finding things on the floor and keeping his lunch cool. After struggling to remember the new combination, Stuart opens the locker and is hit in the face with a whipped cream and cherry pie.