Benjamin did not want to do his Tuesday spelling quiz, but his mother was baking tater-tot-casserole and he was opposed to peeing outside. The rule was this: five correct answers is a plate full of dinner delivered to the front doorstep. Ten is a trip inside to the bathroom. Only at twenty could Ben come inside for the night and have dessert with sis and mom and them. Braked at the second of thirty, Ben followed an ant with his pen. Some injustice marinated into cruelty on the ballpoint and pressed down hard on the ant 's behind. The ant rolled over to face Ben and wrapped its legs over the tip of his pen, watering ink with cement. The ant laughed meanly at the boy, whom the ant knew was very hungry.