New Kid

Two weeks later, Jordan, Drew, and Liam lie in the grass, debating the merits of various superheroes. Drew calls Jordan his personal superhero—thanks to Jordan, Drew got a study hall instead of a two-week suspension. And Jordan had to do the study hall too, since it’s not allowed for kids to stand on tables and yell. Liam jokes that Jordan “is nobody’s puppet,” which gives Jordan an idea. He excuses himself and runs to catch up to Ashley, Drew asking Jordan—calling him Batman—if this is a “rescue mission.” Jordan asks Ashley if she’d like to know why Alexandra wears puppets and swears her to secrecy. Ashley agrees, and then she promptly goes to tell everyone the truth.

The next day, kids swarm Alexandra, calling her a hero for saving her brother. They beg to see the scar, and Alexandra dramatically pulls the puppet off her hand. Andy is incensed that they all got excited about “a boo-boo,” and everyone walks off. Later, Alexandra confronts Jordan. She admits that she figured Jordan would tell Drew or Liam, and she knows Jordan knew full well that Ashley would tell everyone. It made her angry at first, she admits, but then she realized Jordan did it to help her, and she’d like to hug him. Jordan declines, so Alexandra just thanks him.

The next few weeks pass quickly as Jordan studies for and takes his finals. He comes to school on the last day in the pink shorts that Liam gave him, and Liam insists on taking a picture for posterity. Ms. Slate calls Jordan over and hands him his copy of the yearbook. The cover is Jordan’s abstract painting. She also thanks Jordan for trying in her class, even if it wasn’t his favorite. Then she sends him on his way. Jordan shows Liam and Drew the yearbook and his painting, and as they compliment it, Jordan thinks that his painting is actually good.

Ruby approaches Jordan and asks him to sign her yearbook. She congratulates him on the cover; Ashley told her. Andy taunts Ruby from across the room, and Ruby sighs that she won’t miss Andy—but she will miss Jordan. Andy, meanwhile, loudly asks why nobody will sign his yearbook, but everyone ignores him. Alex and Jordan draw cartoons in each other’s yearbooks as Liam approaches Jordan. Liam thanks Jordan “for everything,” but Jordan insists he needs to be thanking Liam, not the other way around. Then, Liam invites Jordan to join his family on a trip this summer—as long as Jordan doesn’t judge. Jordan accepts. Then, Liam admits that at first, he didn’t think he and Jordan would be able to relate at all. Liam says he has to go, and he declines Jordan’s handshake, hugging him instead.

Then, Ashley approaches Jordan. She explains that she and her mom made a sweet potato pie. It wasn’t as good as Dad’s, but she brought slices for Jordan and Drew. Ramon walks up next and says “Hi, I’m Ramon…and I’m Nicaraguan.” Jordan jokingly asks if Nicaragua is near Wakanda, and the boys laugh and say goodbye for the summer. Jordan and Drew walk out of school together and discuss whether they’re going to come back to RAD next year. Drew is conflicted. He learned a lot and made honor roll, but he also almost got suspended. His grandmother thinks he should come back. Just then, Alexandra joins the boys and gives Jordan her Oscar puppet. She explains that she won’t wear puppets anymore, thanks to Jordan, and walks away.

Drew leaves Jordan to get something out of his uncle’s car. Noticing Andy sitting alone on the wall, Jordan approaches him and holds out his hand for Andy’s yearbook. Andy starts to call Jordan “Li’l G,” but he stops himself and uses Jordan’s name. Drew reappears, and he hands Jordan a wrapped gift—a thank-you for Jordan’s support. Jordan feigns shock and sadness, and then he tells Drew he has a secret to share. He beckons Drew closer, and then rapidly tweaks Drew’s nose with Alexandra’s Oscar puppet. The boys laugh and say goodbye, calling each other “D’Aren” and “Jaylen.”

To Jordan’s surprise, both Mom and Dad pull up to pick Jordan up. They comment on how grown-up and different Jordan looks, now that he’s not wearing his sweatshirt and has traded his pants for the pink shorts. Dad says that whatever it is, Jordan “look[s] like a new kid,” and Jordan says he feels that way. In the backseat, he unwraps Drew’s gift and laughs uproariously. It’s his copy of The Mean Streets of South Uptown.

At Jordan’s building, Kirk and two other boys invite Jordan to come play basketball. One comments on Jordan’s pink shorts, and Jordan accepts his offer to let Jordan borrow a spare pair. Jordan says that according to Gran’pa, “friends are like training wheels for a bike. They always keep you from falling down.” This, Jordan says, is a metaphor. One of his friends corrects Jordan: that’s actually a simile. Jordan should know that, being a private school kid.