Rafe ends his story on kind of a bittersweet note. Yes, he's being expelled…but he's going to work hard, attend summer school and maybe attend Airbrook Arts Community School as a seventh grader. (Fingers crossed.)
Basically, the last chapter of the book just involves bringing us up to date. Rafe's expelled and getting ready for summer. He's hanging out in Swifty's Diner with Mom while she works. He's helping out there, too, and doing some schoolwork. It's no fun…but we can't say he's really earned a super fun break at this point in the story.
But Rafe has also been working on a project to pass the time at Swifty's:
At first I didn't think I was going to make it. Even with the homework and the cleaning job, there was still a lot of just sitting around, staring at the walls and waiting for summer school (boooo!) to start. I'd never been so bored in my life.
But then I got another idea. One of my big ones, like Operation R.A.F.E. Except, this mission wasn't a game. It was more like a special project to help me pass the time.
And guess what?
You just finished reading it. (76.9-12)
Rafe's project tells the story of what he experienced and what he learned throughout what was the most miserable year of his life. Bonus: he also completed a kick-butt portfolio with which to apply to art school.
We think his chances of acceptance just got a whole lot better.