That's What Bein' A Friend Is About

Something That You Just Don't Understand

Lloyd tossed the boomerang as well as he could, hoping it would land where Ninten had directed: an apple sitting on a tree stump in the woods.

Of course, it didn’t, and it fell to the ground to the right of the stump. Lloyd hadn’t hit the apple in ten tries.

“You gotta curve it!” Ninten called from where he stood, leaning against a tree.

“I’m no good at this!” Lloyd complained. “I’m not athletic, Ninten. I’m a scientist, this isn’t what I do!”

Ninten groaned and stepped out to grab the boomerang. “Well, I can’t promise I’ll be able to find ya bottle rockets all the time. Or that I can fight the Weird-ified on my own. It’s like they only got angrier after we met up.”

“That’s not my fault!”

“I know that!” Ninten adjusted his hat, scowling at the boomerang.

“Why are the Weird-ified coming after you, anyways? Why not anyone else?”

“I dunno. Maybe it’s ‘cause of my powers? Maybe it’s got to do with Magicant. Either way, they’re not gonna stop anytime soon, so we gotta be ready for a fight everywhere we go.”

“Well, no matter what’s going on, I’m bad at throwing that boomerang, and I’m never gonna get better!”

Ninten dropped his arm, boomerang now at his side. “Ya know, Lloyd, I could never do what you do with all that science stuff. But you remember the eagles, right? I saw ya stand up to somethin’ when you were scared! Wouldn’t ya feel better if ya had a way to fight back?”

“I know, I know! That’s why we bought the thing, isn’t it?” Lloyd adjusted his glasses with an unnecessary amount of force. “Fine. Give it back, I’ll keep trying.”

“Take a deep breath.”

Lloyd paused. “What do you mean?”

“My mom says when you’re upset, ya gotta just take a deep breath and try to calm down. Ya won’t learn anything useful if you’re just angry.” Ninten put the boomerang away in his bag.

“Why would she tell you that? I can’t see what you would be angry about. You’re so good at everything...”

Ninten shrugged. “It’s like you said, I’m athletic. I’m not a whiz kid like you are, and I have trouble in school, ya know. I used to get real angry when I couldn’t read as well as the other kids. Always talkin’ about this cool book they were all readin’, and it took me an hour to get through the first chapter. I think my mom got sick of watchin’ me yellin’ and cryin’ over my homework--so she thought up some ways to help me, things I could do so I wouldn’t get so upset.”

Oh… Ninten was one of the dumb kids. Funny--those were the ones that usually got mad at Lloyd. Maybe Ninten was so nice because his mother taught him how to get over being angry. Once that thought hit, Lloyd was struck with an idea.

“I’ll make you a deal, Ninten,” Lloyd offered. “You teach me how to use that boomerang, and I’ll help you with your schoolwork. Especially since we’re out here instead of at school. I’d hate for you to get behind just because the Weird-ified are after you.”

Ninten’s eyes lit up, but just a second later, he turned pink and looked away. “It’s all right, really.”

“No, I want to help you!”

“...I’ll feel dumb.”

“Why? I understand you’re behind in school--”

“I’m still in the fifth grade!” Ninten interrupted. His face turned completely red, and he refused to look at Lloyd.