Nate has a nightmare that his social studies teacher, Mrs. Godfrey, calls on him to answer a question that everyone in the class knows the answer to except him. He stalls for time as Mrs. Godfrey approaches him, and then his alarm saves him. Nate snoozes, forcing his father, Marty, to rip the covers off Nate to wake him up.

Nate explains that he could be a better student but is saving his talents for more important things. He believes he is destined for greatness and will most likely achieve it through soccer, music, cartooning, or table football. Nate pontificates on the different types of school days, the worst being train wrecks. A typical day can become a train wreck through a teacher screaming at him, someone bullying him, or having a surprise test. Nate then wonders if he has a test today. He decides to ask his best friend, Francis, who “knows just about everything” (15). Nate looks next door and sees Francis reading his social studies book. Nate panics, certain he has a test.

There are two problems with having a social studies test. First, Nate’s book is in his locker. Second, he could wind up in summer school if he does poorly on the next test.