Feeling Left Out
Ali had cerebral palsy like Kerry, but he was able to talk. He could make even Thad laugh with his jokes, and he always seemed to be smiling. He was fun to be around, and Thad noticed that Kerry laughed more with Ali than she did with him.
Thad felt lost whenever they told inside jokes, and as they made witty comebacks, he felt out of place, as if he were standing on the sidelines.