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wondered.
    â€œIt won’t make Mr. Justason change his mind about the Code of Conduct, but that’s not the point. The point is — to make a statement. Are you with me?”
    â€œWe’ve broken most of the rules already,” said Brian. “What’s left?”
    â€œThere’s the rule about academic average, but that’s easy to break. All we have to do is flunk a couple of tests.”
    â€œI can manage that,” Brian commented.
    â€œI’ve flunked already,” Toby said proudly. “So what’s next?”
    â€œNot much,” I admitted. “We’ve all behaved irresponsibly and disrespectfully.”
    â€œAnd I got a demerit for dressing inappropriately, just because my stomach was showing for half a second when I stretched,” said Julie. She added thoughtfully, “Linh-Mai got one, too, because of her coloured hair and her rings. How come it’s just the girls who get demerits for dressing inappropriately?”
    â€œWe’ll change that,” I said.
    That’s how Toby, Brian and I came to wear nose rings and show our stomachs at school the next day. We folded our T-shirts inside themselves to bare our stomachs, and borrowed nose rings from Linh-Mai.
    â€œMake sure you wash them before you give them back,” she threatened.
    We got ready in the classroom before school started. Julie and Linh-Mai helped us fix our nose rings — they were clip on ones — and we’d just tucked our T-shirts up inside themselves when Ms. Watkins walked in for French. She looked at us and burst out laughing. At recess we paraded up and down the hallway in front of Mr. Justason’s office until he saw us. I don’t know whether he gave us demerits. That wasn’t the point of doing it.
    Toby asked, “Can I be exempted from inappropriate touching?” Julie, Toby and I were looking after the flower shop for Grandad on Saturday morning.
    â€œWhy?” I said.
    Toby flushed. “I’ll be embarrassed.”
    â€œWe’ll do it with you,” I offered. “We got demerits for a little hug; let’s break the rule properly this time.”
    â€œI know,” said Julie. “Let’s go around kissing everybody! Justason will love that.”
    â€œBleccch!” said Toby.
    We had the “kiss-in” two days later at lunch time in the cafeteria when Mr. Justason was on duty. Julie made sure he watched as she hugged and kissed me. I gave her a quick one back.
    â€œNow you, Brian,” Julie urged.
    Brian turned to Jillian, who was sitting beside him, and asked, “Can I kiss you?”
    Jillian recoiled in horror. “I’d sooner stick my face in a puddle of cold vomit.”
    â€œIs that a no?” said Brian.
    â€œJust kidding,” said Jillian. She grabbed him and kissed him, and he kissed her back.
    Mr. Justason, watching us, just shook his head.
    â€œAre you joining the kiss-in?” Julie asked Toby.
    â€œLater.”
    But at the end of the day, Toby still hadn’t kissed anyone.
    â€œWhat’s the problem?” I asked.
    â€œDon’t know how to,” Toby mumbled.
    â€œWhat do you mean — you don’t know how? You just stick your lips on someone’s face. It’s easy.” Toby had been hard to steer onto the kissing topic the whole walk home from school.
    â€œEasy for you to say. You’ve done it.”
    â€œYou must have kissed your mom at least.”
    â€œWe’re not a kissing family. We’re more of a hugging and punching family. Mom hugs me, and Conrad punches me — not hard, just lightly, usually on the shoulder. It’s what they do instead of kissing me, I think.”
    â€œDidn’t your mom ever kiss you good night when you were little?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhat did she do, then? I’m sure she didn’t just tuck you in and leave you.”
    Toby looked sheepish.
    â€œWell?” I prompted.
    â€œShe