Craig can’t explain why he is depressed but he knows when it started. About two years ago, he started studying for an entrance exam to Manhattan Executive Pre-Professional, an elite school funded by an executive. Craig studies obsessively and ignores his friends. He becomes friends with Aaron, another seventh grader who loves film trivia. While Craig studies constantly, Aaron doesn’t bother. He smokes pot at his apartment while Craig refrains. Craig is shocked that Aaron’s mother doesn’t seem to care, but Aaron says she’s preoccupied with his father. Aaron wants to become a lawyer, and Craig agrees because “everything costs so much money” (58). They plan to start a firm called “Pardis and Gilner” (59). By the time that Craig gets his perfect score in the mail, the only friend he really has left to call is Aaron.

Aaron also gets into Executive Pre-Professional and plans a “real party” (61). Aaron convinces Craig to bring the bottle of scotch his parents have. Craig pours some of it into a thermos and adds water so his parents won’t notice. At Aaron’s house, Craig smokes pot for the first time. Once it kicks in, he feels like he’s “able to do anything” (67).