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Move from Texas to Florida
Paul was on his way to Florida from Texas. Before he left, his imagination of a zombie following him representing that he was a part of the family and that problems follow you no matter where you go. -
The Muck Fire
Paul and his mother wake up early, Paul went outside and smelled smoke. He told his mother and they both rushed to find where the smoke was coming from. Paul's mother calls the fire department. A volunteer hops out of the firetruck happily explains to Paul's mother that it is just a muck fire. Muck fires happen every night because lighting strikes some flammable substance called lignite. -
Checking Out Lake Windsor Middle School
Paul and his mother go to see what Lake Windsor Middle School is like. Paul mostly doesn't like it, he said that he would like to go to the school if the school had a decent soccer team. Paul's mother also said mentioned that he is "legally blind" to the principle, so, Paul is required to have an I.E.P.; Individualized Education Plan. -
Sport Teams
Erik and the rest of his family went to the to the football tryouts. It began to rain and Paul's mother was very upset that the whole football group, including Paul's dad stayed outside while it rained hard. When Erik's football group stoped for the tryouts. Paul saw that there was a group of soccer players so he went to go play with them, he could tell that no one in the soccer group knew how to kick well or correctly. -
First Day of School
It was the first day of school for Paul. After a while of being in class, Paul was pulled out by Mr. Marrow, "the head of the guidance" to meet the person who volunteered to be "his eyes" because Paul is "legally blind." Paul was upset and said that he sees just fine, he doesn't need someone to be his eyes. -
The Erik Fisher Football Dream
Eric has a friend named Arthur Bauer that is in his football team. Arthur has never really accomplished anything until now, Arthur will have the chance to be holder on placekicks. Arthur will need help from Erik to accomplish what he wants, Arthur will do anything to be "somebody" at Lake Windsor High, he will do anything for a tiny amount of fame and glory. At first Paul feared Erik and now... he fears Arthur as well. -
Lightning Remembers
At 6:30, Paul and Joey Costello went running together. On their second lap, Joey mentioned a house that was struck by lightning three times! The house is for sale, whoever is selling it will say that it's safe and that it won't be struck again. Paul said that that is not true because the lightning remembered where it used to strike, before all of the ground was leveled. The house probably used to be on a small hill, a small hill that lightning used to strike. -
Soccer Tryouts
There was a boy named Gino Deluca, he had a very powerful kick. Gino ended up being team captain. Gino also scored almost every goal, but when it came time for Paul to play goalie, in the tryouts, Gino did not score a goal on Paul. After successfully blocking Gino's powerful kick, Paul knew that he just landed the job for goaltender. -
Lightning Kills
Paul and his mother had just returned from the supermarket and they were both unloading groceries from the station wagon. Then, Erik and Arthur came to Paul's house too and told his mother that, at practice, Mike Costello had been leaning on the goalpost in the end zone and then had suddenly been struck by lighting, Mike died. After Paul's mothers' attention had gone somewhere else, Paul saw Erik and Arthur laughing, celebrating, Mikes death. Mike did not fit in the "Erik Fisher Football Dream." -
Nobody Cares
After Mikes sudden death, no one seemed upset or sad. School was not canceled and nothing was said about Mike in the morning announcement. Joey, Mike Costello's brother was the only one who did not attend school. Football practice was not canceled either, no one cared. Paul wondered what it would be like if his brother, Erik, was struck by lightning instead of Mike and Paul thought to himself that he would feel relieved, safer, but he would also feel sorry too. -
The Meeting
Paul's mother was calling every parent, in Lake Windsor Downs to inform them about the safety hazards that their children might have in football practice because of lightning. Paul's dad called Paul's mother and told her that Mr. Bridges, the principal of Lake Windsor High, wanted to arrange a meeting at Paul's house, there was a meeting. The people in the meeting all agreed to have it solved by vote; if people want to their children to have football practice in the morning or in the afternoon. -
Kicked Off the Soccer Team and Funeral Home
Paul was at soccer practice when he was called by Coach Walski, Paul was then told that he would not be able to play because the school can't get insurance for him. This was because he is "vision impaired."
Later... Paul and his family, including a lot of other people, went to Mike's funeral home. Joey asked Paul if he wanted to go to the carnival, because Joey's mom told him that everything was about the funeral and that he should go out somewhere with friends. "Life goes on." -
The Carnival
Joey and Paul went to the carnival along with some other friends and Kerri Gardener and Cara, Joey's "lady friend." Joey gave a discount ticket to Paul and then a boy from Tangerine Middle, a school with gangs, wanted to take it away. Most of the time no one really noticed Paul. Paul did not go on any rides, he only liked the freak show, he saw a picture of "The Boy Who Never Grew" and he stared at the eyes for a long time. Paul thought that maybe he could be in the freak show. "Eclipse Boy." -
The Sinkhole
Paul and Joey were going back to class, on a very, very rainy day when Paul heard a "swoosh." Joey than said after a while that it was a sinkhole! Most of the portable classrooms where sucked in the sinkhole by the mud and rain and some kids where also sucked in and had to be pulled out. After everyone was at the main building, Paul was going to wipe his goggles when Gino took his goggles and wiped them with a clean towel and gently put the goggles on Paul. -
Lost Audience
Since the sinkhole is dangerous, of course, it has to be condemned. The engineers condemned the sinkhole within a 100 yard area. A corner of the soccer field was condemned, but there is extra space for the soccer field. On the other hand, the school bleachers for the football stadium had been condemned, the bleacher will be nearly impossible to move, which means that there will be less seats for people; which means that Erik loses some of his audience. -
"The Dad Era"
Mr. Fisher now has the job that "Old Charley Burns" had, Director of Civil Engineering for Tangerine County. This is because Charley Burns has not been inspecting new development plans. The developers, on the side, wanted Charley Burns out of the way so they sent him to Charlotte, Darlington, and Talladega to make him leave buildings unsurveyed, unsupervised, and unsafe. Mr. Fisher then got given Charley Burns' job. -
Paul's Miracle
There is a meeting about the relocating. Mrs. Gates talks about it and there are some good things and some bad things. When it was time for the principal of Tangerine Middle School, Dr. Grace Johnson, to talk; she said that Lake Windsor students can join Tangerine Middle School for the meanwhile. Paul thought of this as a miracle and told his mom that he wanted to go to Tangerine Middle but without an I.E.P. It is Paul's one chance. -
Soccer Team At Tangerine Middle
Everything at Tangerine Middle was very old and in bad condition, it's not taken care of. Theresa was Paul's escort for the day. Theresa has a brother named Tino, who plays on the soccer team. The coach is Ms. Bright; the team captain, for soccer, for Tangerine Middle is Victor Guzman. The soccer team at Tangerine Middle have boys and girls in it. Paul can be on the team but he can't be one of Ms. Brights starting players. -
Getting To Know The Players
Theresa was still the escort of Paul and they both sat to eat lunch again when Victor, Tino, and Hernando sat at the table. Theresa introduced Paul and the group of three didn't really like him. At soccer practice; Shandra, the starting goalie, had blocked like 15 shots and then it was Paul's turn to play goalie. When Victor kicked the soccer ball to the goal, Paul caught it and landed on the ground, then Victor kicked it out of his hands and into the goal. -
Idiots That Laugh
Joey and Paul were both had their soccer uniform and they were comparing them. Erik and Arthur then came home and laughed at Joey and at Mike because they are jerks. Mike always took his shoes off when he got home, that's why Joey tried to take Mike's shoes off when Mike was struck by lightning. -
Soccer Game With Tangerine Middle
Paul's first soccer game with Tangerine Middle was against Palmetto Middle School. As Tangerine Middle made their way around the field, Paul swore that people from Palmetto where spitting at them, people were very mean and aggressive. The fullback of Palmetto Middle were some big guys that knocked down their opponents. At one point, a Palmetto fullback stretched out Paul's goggles and smeared mud in his eyes. Paul got angry and brought the fullback down and then started punching him. -
Part 2: Soccer Game With Tangerine Middle
Victor miraculously scored the winning shot. On the bus, Victor was a little nice and sincere to Paul. "If you're a War Eagle, then you're a War Eagle.
Later... Joey called Paul to tell him that his dad, Mr. Costello, made him eligible to stay and play at Tangerine Middle. Mrs. Gates did everything Mr. Costello told her to do because he is a lawyer and Mrs. Gates was scared that he would sue the school or something. -
Erik Fisher the Flying Placekicker
It was the first game of football for Lake Windsor High, it was against Cypress Bay High. Some of the Cypress Bay fans decided to sit on the condemned bleachers, Mr. Bridges and some sheriff's deputies handled that business. When Erik's "big moment" had arrived, Arthur was not the holder for Erik, it was Antoine Thomas. Erik was going to kick the ball when Antoine whips the ball away and runs into the end zone to score the two points needed to win while Erik goes flying three feet into the air. -
The Second Game
It was the second game of Tangerine Middle, it was against Kinnow middle. At half time, a wound that was a Victor's head reopened and began to bleed. Victor had to go to the emergency room to get some stitches and Paul had to take Victors place. While doing so, Paul scored a goal! Paul doesn't know if he has ever done that.
Later... Cara, Joey's girlfriend, calls Paul to tell him that Kerri said hi to him. When Paul told Cara to tell Kerri that he said "hi", Cara thought that Paul liked Kerri. -
Charlie The Tuna
The coach didn't let Victor play in soccer practice. After practice, Victor asked Paul why Joey always follows him. Victor said that Joey is some kind of fish thats trying to get caught, he said that Joey is Charlie the Tuna. Joey was very angry that Victor kept poking him with his Big Gulp, the taunts raged him even more. When Joey was told that he could stay at the Fisher's house, he didn't want to do that, because Erik and Arthur are like poison. -
"Good Going, Mom"
Yesterday, Ms. Fisher contacted "Tangerine Times" to tell them about the top scorer in the country, Maya Pandhi. Shandra was also going to be on the newspaper but she didn't want to be in it.
In the morning, Paul looked at the "Tangerine Times" and saw no article about the team. Paul did see a picture, the wrong picture. It was a picture of Nita Shirali with the captions, " Maya Pandhi Leads All Scorers in Tangerine County" "Good going, Mom." -
Quitting the Team
There is a "Science/Language Arts Cross-Curricular Project" Paul and Joey joined a group with Theresa, Tino, and Henry D., Joey doesn't get along well with Tino.
At some point, Joey tells Paul that he quit the soccer team and that he will play football when he's in high school. Joey also told Paul that he got talked into coming to the dump, Tangerine Middle. Joey's ugly words made Paul realize how different he is from Joey. -
Golden Dawn Tangerines
For the assignment, Theresa and Tino are going to use a new type of tangerine, because the assignment is about Florida's agriculture. The new type of tangerine was developed by Luis, Theresa's brother, they are called "Golden Dawn tangerines". These tangerines are seedless, juicy, and resistant against the cold. While saying who was going to do what, Tino and Joey got mad at each other and Tino lunged at Joey; Joey dodges and Tino goes flying into the air. Tino also got a three day suspension. -
"Erik-Scholarship Offers"
There was meeting of the Homeowners' Association. People asked how things might be solved such as the termite problem, the muck fire, the robberies, etc. Mr. Costello solved most problems. While researching for the assignment Paul had at school, Paul went on Mr. Fisher's personal library and found a file named "Erik-Scholarship Offers". In the file there were little boxes with the names of different universities with a small amount of information. Paul had to exit the file, but he'll be back. -
Meeting Luis
Theresa invited Paul to her house, to meet Luis; she also invited Henry D. Paul went to Theresa's house with Henry and his brother, Wayne Dilkes! When they arrived at Theresa's house, Luis was very kind and showed Paul and Henry around the grove that he had. His family has been selling tangerines for 45 years! Luis showed them very cool things and Luis even showed them the young trees of the "Golden Dawn" tangerines. -
Big Fish In A Little Pond
Mr. Fisher is still Director of Civil Engineering for Tangerine County.
Ms. Fisher is now the head of the Architectural Committee.
Erik has gone from local joke to local hero as the placekicker for the Lake Windsor High Seagulls.
The War Eagles have been destroying every opponent and the War Eagles have also won seven times in a row! Paul has played in every game so far. The War Eagle's opponents are defeated by their own fear before the game begins. -
What Happened to Luis?
Paul came to Theresa's/Tino's/Luis's house again and when Paul was ready to leave, Tino told Paul about Luis. Tino said that Luis would beg to go on trips with Tino's dad and "Two Carlos," he picked oranges in Orlando. One day, at age 12, Luis was clipping some oranges and then he fell off the tree, he landed on his kneecap and broke it, the clippers also stabbed through his hand. Since Luis was handicapped, when he played soccer, he would be goalie. -
Betty Brights Past
The Fisher family all went to Mr. Donnelly's house to talk about Erik. At some point, Mr. Donnelly talked to Paul about Betty Bright's past. Mr. Donnelly mentions that Betty used to be an amazing track and field athlete. Betty was in the Olympics. In one of Betty's races, the East German punched Betty in the eye, making her lose balance and get fourth place in the race. -
It Never Happened...
Tangerine Middle was playing their last home game against Manatee Middle. Tangerine Middle was scoring a lot of goals. After a while into the game, a storm came by and Manatee Middle was not able to play, due to school policy. The referee told the players in Tangerine Middle that the game that has been played will be a "No game", as in; it will be like the game never happened. -
Betty Bright On the Newspaper
Betty Bright was on the newspaper, and so was her team. On the newspaper, there were pictures of Betty getting punched by another hurdler. There was also pictures of her and her team when she was an olympic hurdler. In the part of the newspaper that included Bettyś team, it described how the final game of the soccer season would be the next day. -
The Final Game
It was the final game of the soccer season in 2017, Tangerine Middle against Lake Windsor. Tangerine Middle had to either tie or win against Lake Windsor Downs in order to have the number one title. Gino Deluca and Tommy Acoso, from Lake Windsor, were the ones playing the best in their team. Shandra was ill so Paul got to play as goaltender. Paul did not let a single shot get through the goal, except for the first score. The score was 2-2, a tie, Tangerine Middle got the title of first place. -
Backhand-Slap
Paul and his science group went to Paul's house to work. When the group was finished, Arthurs rover pulled up to the house. Tino was angered by Erik and he began to say rude things to Erik. Erik was so enraged that he slapped Tino with his backhand so hard that it knocked Tino to the ground. -
Luis is Dead
When Paul went to class, Henry D. told him that Luis had died. Wayne had said that it might have been an aneurysm and that a tree branch had hit Luis in the head. Paul was so shocked, he felt like he would throw up. He called his mom to take him home. When Paul was home he found out that what probably caused an aneurysm to burst was the hit that Arthur gave Luis in the head. -
Crazy Talk
Theresa called Paul to tell him not to come to Luis' funeral because Victor and Tino were saying some pretty bad stuff. Paul's mind was racing so he went to the pond in Lake Windsor Downs and he sat on the bank to ponder. A kid came by and told Paul that there was a gator in the pond. Paul began saying crazy nonsense to the kid. The kid then got scared and quickly went away on his bike. -
A Different Person
Paul stayed home again. He put on the suit he wore to Mike Costello's funeral and he went outside. Paul peeled away the sod and he moved the sugar sand and he stared at the dirt in fascination, the dirt that he lived on. He threw his glasses away from him, he put his head inches away from the dirt and began to let his tears drop into the dirt. He sobbed and wept. When he was done, he felt like a different person, he felt like Luis was part of him. -
Senior Awards Night
It was Senior Awards Night, everything was going well. Mike Costello's tree had arrived as well. When the awards were about to be given, Victor and Tino walked up to Erik, Tino kicked Erik in the face multiple times. When Arthur was going to go to protect Erik, Victor rammed into Arthur and began punching him in the face very quickly. When Victor and Tino finished up, they ran away. Although, Tino was caught by Coach Warner. So Paul jumped on the Coach to help Tino escape.
