The Thing About Georgie

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying and ableism.

The narrator asks the reader to fill several glasses with water and tap them with a spoon to hear the different notes they make. The narrator then asks the reader to fill several more glasses and make notes A through D, as well as G, and play “Ode to Joy.” The narrator isn’t surprised that the reader cannot do this, but they want the reader to know that Georgie can.

Georgie is much happier the following week. He joins Andy and Russ for kickball at recess, and he sits with Andy at lunch while Russ works on set pieces for the play. Georgie learns to ride his bike with fierce determination, and by Saturday, he is ready for the trail with Andy and Russ. Georgie doesn’t hate Russ anymore. He can tell that Russ is a nice kid, and not in the too-nice way that people treat Georgie sometimes. Russ is just friendly.

Russ invites Georgie back into the dog-walking business again. He and Andy have too many customers. Georgie says that he won’t walk poodles, and the boys agree on no poodles for Georgie. The boys eat lunch at Russ’s house.