Garth was second in line for the performance. He was so worried Mamie wouldn’t make it in time, he rushed backstage to beg the teacher to switch his spot. The teacher, though, wouldn’t hear of it. Rules were rules.
Dorothea saw how anxious he was. “She said she’ll be here in ten minutes. She’ll make it, I promise.”
There was still a bit of time before the show started. Garth’s stomach twisted in knots. “Dad, I really need to go to the bathroom!”
Scott got up and went with him. “Come on, let’s hurry. You don’t want to miss your turn.”
While Scott waited outside, his phone rang. The hallway was busy and loud. He called out toward the bathroom, “Garth, I’m taking a call out here. Come out and wait for me when you’re done.”
“Okay!” Garth shouted back.
Hearing that, Scott walked off to find a quieter spot for his call.
Meanwhile, Garth was struggling in the stall when he overheard two boys talking nearby.
“Ellis, what are you performing?”
“Poetry. How about you?”
“Violin.”
“Oh, same as that little chubby kid. You’re in trouble. I heard he’s got connections—his dad is a big deal!”
“So what? Even if his dad’s powerful, they can’t give him first place if he plays badly.”
Garth finished as quickly as he could, wiped, flushed, and pulled open the door. “You’re the chubby kid!” he yelled.
But the two boys were already gone. Only one other kid had just walked in, looking confused.
In his hurry, Garth had popped a button off his suit jacket. He stared at it in dismay. When he stepped out into the hallway and didn’t see his dad right away, he felt even worse.
Then Mamie came out of the next restroom and spotted Garth with tears in his eyes.

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