Free My Life as a Cartoonist by Janet Tashjian Page A

McCoddle must know that Ms. Loughlin is always so focused on her knitting that kids can usually get away with pretty much anything while she’s in charge. Instead, Ms. McCoddle grades papers in the front of the room while Umberto and I sit in our usual seats to begin our cartoon partnership.
    We go through our own notebooks, ignoring each other for at least ten minutes before Ms. McCoddle interrupts the silence.
    extended
    â€œIf I don’t have a comic you came up with TOGETHER by next week, detention will be extended to TWO weeks. Am I clear?”
    Whatever happened to the happy, sing-songy kindergarten teacher Ms. McCoddle used to be? Umberto and I finally grunt out an acknowledgment and she turns back to her work.
    â€œYou think you have all the original ideas,” Umberto says. “Why don’t YOU start?”
    â€œThat’s exactly why YOU should be the one to go first—to show you actually can create an original character on your own.”
    â€œThat’s easy,” Umberto continues. “I could do it in my sleep.”
    â€œThen take a nap and come up with something.” I put my arms behind my head as if I have all day.
    It might be my imagination but it seems that Umberto’s finally at a loss for words. He scans the room nervously.
    â€œCome on,” I taunt. “I’m waiting.”
    falters
    Umberto picks up his marker and draws the first panel. My confidence falters a bit when I see that he doesn’t need a ruler to make a crisp, straight line. He fills the first panel quickly and neatly, then pushes the paper across the desk.
    I stare at his artwork and then laugh. Ms. McCoddle looks up with a smile, probably thinking we’re enjoying ourselves. Nothing could be further from the truth.
    â€œYou drew a penguin.”
    zoologist
    â€œNo kidding,” Umberto says. “If you’re so good at animal identification, maybe you should be a zoologist.”
    I hold up the paper and point to the wall behind me. “Now you’re just copying from the bulletin board. I helped Ms. McCoddle put up that penguin myself.”
    Umberto leans back in his wheelchair. “I didn’t see that penguin. Your big head must’ve been blocking it.”
    â€œThere are millions of animals on the planet, and you just happen to come up with a penguin?”
    â€œWhat’s the big deal? You came up with a baby seal.” He smiles as he gestures toward the seals in the corner of the board.
    â€œI came up with my baby seal character BEFORE this bulletin board went up.”
    basking
    â€œAre you sure?” Umberto seems to really be basking in our argument. “Because I seem to remember this board being up first.”
    â€œYou’re lying!” I feel my cheeks flush, then watch as Ms. McCoddle rises from her desk.
    â€œIs there a problem?” she asks.
    â€œUmberto is copying someone else’s ideas—AGAIN.”
    Umberto shrugs. “My colleague here isn’t happy with the character I created. I was just trying to jump-start the creative process. I’m happy to try again if this one doesn’t work for him.”
    endearing
    Ms. McCoddle examines the drawing. I pray for her to hate it but she smiles instead. She holds the page up to me. “I think this penguin is endearing. Isn’t this something you can work with, Derek?”
    I want to tell her of COURSE I can work with a penguin. Who I CAN’T work with is Umberto. Instead I tell Ms. McCoddle I just have so many ideas I’m not sure which one to use first. She nods and returns to her desk.
    â€œYou stick your tongue out when you concentrate, do you know that?” Umberto asks. “I used to do that—back when I was two years old.”
    I ignore the insult and hand him the finished panel.
    He studies the paper for a few moments. As much as I dislike Umberto, all I’m thinking while he’s examining it is Do you think it’s good? Do