Popcorn: Chapters 3–4

by Rob Harrell
Anxious, lanky, middle schooler Andrew Yeager experiences his worst nightmare, a full-blown panic attack in front of his classmates, after encountering many misfortunes on the same school day. Friendship, humility, and humor help Andrew cope with his very difficult day, which ultimately results in freedom from a longtime bully, and receives the compassion of his peers.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–2, Chapters 3–4, Chapters 5–6, Chapters 7–8, Chapters 9–10, Chapters 11–12, Chapters 13–14, Chapters 15–16,
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. rant
    a long tirade or complaint expressed with strong emotion
    “I don’t want to go that way! You know me! I wanna study sharks and swim with sea turtles and save the planet!”
    This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this rant, but she needs to get it out. I’ve told her she should have a talk with her dad.
  2. renewable
    capable of being replaced
    “I get a renewable air supply, somehow. And a mechanical mermaid tail. I have a home pod underwater, so I never have to surface? Boom! I’m a mermaid.”
    I stare at her for a bit before I start walking again. I’m already drawing up the schematics in my head.
  3. schematic
    diagram of an electrical or mechanical system
    “I get a renewable air supply, somehow. And a mechanical mermaid tail. I have a home pod underwater, so I never have to surface? Boom! I’m a mermaid.”
    I stare at her for a bit before I start walking again. I’m already drawing up the schematics in my head.
  4. scoff
    treat with contemptuous disregard
    “You’ve been watching too much sci-fi. You’d get eaten by a shark. Day one.”
    She scoffs. “Whatever. I know how to defend myself. Did you know that if you’re getting attacked, you can just punch a shark on the nose? I mean, ideally, you’re careful and you never have to—but if one comes at you, just bop him one in the nose. They hate it.”
  5. ideally
    preferably; for the best outcome or results
    “You’ve been watching too much sci-fi. You’d get eaten by a shark. Day one.”
    She scoffs. “Whatever. I know how to defend myself. Did you know that if you’re getting attacked, you can just punch a shark on the nose? I mean, ideally, you’re careful and you never have to—but if one comes at you, just bop him one in the nose. They hate it.”
  6. aggression
    violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked
    “You’re going to boop a shark’s nose.”
    She shakes her head. “Bop, not boop. And it doesn’t take a lot. But you can use an elbow or your foot if you have to. I’ve seen videos—one pop to the nose and they decide it isn’t worth it. All the aggression just goes out of ’em.”
  7. flail
    thrash about
    Just before our lockers, our path is blocked by a group of football guys doing some sort of elaborate handshake/chant thing. Once they finish—it involved a lot of flailing arms and jumping around—we slide past. And right into a couple of Jonesy’s teammates.
    “Jonesy Girl!” One of the girls—Kylee (super popular, fun, outgoing, blah blah blah)—makes a happy squeal sound and gives Jonesy a hug. They all three hug, in fact, while I stand there feeling awkward.
  8. outgoing
    at ease in talking to others
    Just before our lockers, our path is blocked by a group of football guys doing some sort of elaborate handshake/chant thing. Once they finish—it involved a lot of flailing arms and jumping around—we slide past. And right into a couple of Jonesy’s teammates.
    “Jonesy Girl!” One of the girls—Kylee (super popular, fun, outgoing, blah blah blah)—makes a happy squeal sound and gives Jonesy a hug. They all three hug, in fact, while I stand there feeling awkward.
  9. duly
    in an appropriate or proper manner
    I see a flash of irritation on Jonesy’s face. “Andrew, they’re nice. They’re cool! They’d like you, but you need to actually hang out sometime—or say something—for them to figure it out.”
    “Okay, okay. Whatever. Duly noted.”
  10. pandemic
    an outbreak of disease that is geographically widespread
    I feel wind and droplets, and—as a kid who lived through a pandemic—I recoil in horror, jumping backward into Jonesy.
  11. recoil
    draw back, as with fear or pain
    I feel wind and droplets, and—as a kid who lived through a pandemic—I recoil in horror, jumping backward into Jonesy.
  12. silver lining
    a positive aspect of a difficult situation
    “Well, this is just great.” Then I see the silver lining and give Jonesy a smile with my eyelids at half-mast. “Hey! See that? That’s exactly why I put this on!” I tap the side of my head. “Brains, Jonesy. Smarts. The new shirt’s all good.”
    “Actually, there’s a spot on the collar.”
    “Seriously?!?” I grab my collar and try to contort my neck to see it. “Aw, man…”
  13. contort
    twist and press out of shape
    “Well, this is just great.” Then I see the silver lining and give Jonesy a smile with my eyelids at half-mast. “Hey! See that? That’s exactly why I put this on!” I tap the side of my head. “Brains, Jonesy. Smarts. The new shirt’s all good.”
    “Actually, there’s a spot on the collar.”
    “Seriously?!?” I grab my collar and try to contort my neck to see it. “Aw, man…”
  14. epic
    very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary
    He watches the door for a second, then takes out a Sharpie and draws a handlebar mustache on his reflection in the mirror. Just because that’s what he does. He smiles at his work and then starts washing his hands. “You ready for science today? It’s gonna be epic!”
  15. furrow
    make or become wrinkled or creased
    I get to my desk for math with about .0000001 seconds to spare. It literally rings just as my butt hits the seat. Good thing, too, ’cause Mr. Harris is one of those “earn their respect before you earn their friendship” kind of teachers. He’s sitting behind his desk with his arms crossed and it looks like he’s doing scowling exercises. His comically bushy eyebrows are furrowed.
  16. logic
    a system of reasoning
    Numbers—for whatever reason—kind of calm me down. Jonesy is the exact opposite and thinks my love for math is further proof that there’s something very, very wrong with me.
    But math makes sense. At least in my brain it does. There’s a logic to it.
  17. annex
    an addition that extends a main building
    Everyone jumps a bit as the intercom box on the wall squawks to life and we hear the high-pitched voice of Mrs. Dithers, the administrative assistant. “Hello students: Could students in Mr. Courtney’s homeroom class please head to the Annex Room for photos? Thank you!”
  18. cope
    come to terms with
    Finally, I set my pencil down and close my eyes. I take some deep breaths—Dr. Cain would be so proud I remember her coping tricks—to try to get the static-y white noise in my brain to shut up. To get that feeling of impending doom in my stomach to loosen up.
  19. nag
    bother persistently with trivial complaints
    When I open my eyes, I adjust my paper so it’s perfectly straight on the desk. I line the pencil up next to it exactly. This is another thing that little voice nags me about. Straightening stuff. I put both hands out beside them and take one last breath—then I’m back.
    Well. A little bit back. I’m still struggling, but I’m better.
  20. gruff
    blunt and unfriendly or stern
    I race through the last couple of questions so fast I have no idea if I’m on the right track.
    And then…I’m done. I feel kind of barfy and I think I blew it, but I’m done. I walk the paper up to the front, and even gruff Mr. Harris gives me a look of concern.
    “You okay, Andrew?”
    I fake-smile as I shakily set the test down. “I have no idea.”
Created on Sun Apr 06 12:34:07 EDT 2025 (updated Mon Apr 14 13:46:52 EDT 2025)

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