Contents
One to Ten
Overview
After school, August uses the one-to-ten scale with Mom and calls his first day a five, surprising her. He confirms Jack’s support and that he ate lunch with Summer, but stays guarded. Noticing others’ stares, August bristles at Mom’s questions and deflects with a “Beauty and the Beast” joke, revealing lingering self-consciousness.
Summary
August recalls how Mom began using a one-to-ten pain scale after his jaw surgery, when he couldn’t speak and hurt in multiple places. The habit stuck for anything that hurt, giving them a shared shorthand.
After the first day at Beecher Prep, Mom meets August outside amid parents and staring kids. When she asks “one to ten,” August says five, which surprises and relieves her.
Walking home, Mom gently probes about classes and the kids he met earlier. August, uncomfortable under others’ attention and feeling prickly, answers curtly. He says Jack hung out with him and that Julian and Charlotte were “okay.”
When Mom asks about Summer, August explains they sat together at lunch. Mom notes Summer seems kind and pretty. Feeling conflicted and self-conscious about how they look together, August quips they’re like “Beauty and the Beast” and runs ahead, avoiding Mom’s reaction.
Who Appears
- August PullmanRates his first day a five, fields Mom’s questions, confirms lunch with Summer, jokes about “Beauty and the Beast,” revealing self-consciousness.
- MomUses the one-to-ten scale to check in, asks careful questions, is relieved by August’s response and notes Summer’s kindness and looks.
- SummerGreets August after school; he tells Mom they sat together at lunch and that she is nice.
- Jack WillMentioned as having hung out with August a lot during the day.
- JulianBrought up by Mom; August downplays him as “okay,” keeping details to himself.
- CharlotteMentioned by Mom; August says she was nice enough.