The Benefits of Being an Octopus

Zoey’s social studies class debates which animal is the best. The teacher, Ms. Rochambeau, scolds Zoey for not bringing her assignment—even after Zoey tells her that she can debate without it because she knows the her material. Ms. Rochambeau insists that Zoey provide the completed packet and doesn’t let her participate in the class discussion. Zoey mentally notes how the strongest debaters in class, Matt and Kaylee, don’t read from their packets and feels that Ms. Rochambeau is judging her unfairly.

Matt argues that the orca is the best animal because it shares its kill with the rest of the pod. To the class’s delight, he passes out Swedish fish to demonstrate. Kaylee, the girl who bullies Zoey, makes a Darwinian argument for owls because they kill off the weakest chipmunks and let only the strong ones survive. Even though Zoey identifies with the weak, non-self-sufficient chipmunks, she agrees with Kaylee’s assessment.

Zoey goes to the Pizza Pit after school to take Hector home on her way to pick up Bryce and Aurora from the bus stop. There, she talks to Connor, Kara’s kind-hearted coworker, who is supportive of Zoey and her family.

A tense moment arises when Zoey spends too long talking with Connor and is late picking up Bryce and Aurora from the bus.