(This is an excerpt—click on the title to view the whole piece!)
 

A Shortage of Portals

Because I'd believe anything, no matter how stupid, other kids at school would have fun with me. I had a few pals, but mostly I served as entertainment in the same way dartboards do. One time I spent the night at my friend B.'s house. His mom had just remarried. The new step-dad had more money than the last one. They bought a big place in one of our hometown's better neighborhoods. When I asked if it had secret passages, B. said of course. There were two.