Four Eyes

The next morning, Rex complains about his glasses, and his mother asks if people at school are bothering him. Rex doesn’t admit to being bullied and brushes off his mother’s concern. In each class that day, however, other students laugh at Rex, ask him silly questions, and tease him about his glasses. After school, a boy smears spit on Rex’s lenses. Frustrated, Rex takes his glasses off and is almost hit by a school bus.

That night at the taco restaurant, Rex’s mother lectures him about needing his glasses, and he finally admits that kids at school are mean about it. Sam suggests that Rex join the football team, but Rex’s mother worries about his safety and decides not to let him. Rex then blames her for making his life difficult. The next day at school, Rex tries to survive the day without his glasses, but every class is a strain, and he starts failing quizzes. When Rex’s mother finds out, she’s angry with him for failing to prioritize school.

The following day, the boy who was reading comics several weeks ago approaches Rex at lunch and sits down. He introduces himself as Scott and tells Rex he’s a fan of comics and science fiction. They discuss comic books, and Scott doesn’t care that Rex wears glasses. Rex goes home smiling and refreshed for once and spends the afternoon watching his brother. The following day, Rex sits with Scott at lunch again, and Scott reminds Rex that he was the boy wearing glasses and reading comics on the second day of school. He remembers how Rex stood up for him, which is why he wanted to be friends. Scott now wears contact lenses instead. Later, Rex goes to the grocery store with his mom and sees Drew and Victor. He tries to hide in a freezer and fogs up his glasses.

Rex’s mother notices that his glasses are filthy and reminds him to take care of them. The family drives out to the countryside to visit Rex’s abuela, and Rex notices how beautiful the scenery looks with his glasses on. Rex’s abuela happily offers to buy him clothes, but her help bothers Rex’s mother. His abuela tells Rex that he looks handsome and distinguished in glasses, but he disagrees. Before the family leaves, his abuela offers some cash, but Rex’s mother refuses it. In the car, she explains to the curious Rex that she feels “weak” (116) when she accepts her mother’s help.

The next day, Rex walks to school in the rain, and kids tease him for being soaking wet. At lunch, Victor makes fun of Rex and Scott for discussing Star Wars and Star Trek. Scott tells Victor that his father is a lawyer and will sue him if he does anything he shouldn’t; this effectively gets Victor to leave. Scott admits to Rex that his dad isn’t a lawyer but adds that speaking with confidence is a great way to fend off bullies.

Later, Rex is playing with his brother at the park when a wasp stings Rex in the face. It instantly swells up, and Ford runs into the parking lot, crying. Rex runs after him and bumps into a parked car, falling to the ground. He goes inside to look in the mirror and sees that his face is red and swollen. Unfortunately, Rex’s mother doesn’t see it as a reason to miss school, so Rex goes to school the next day and faces more mockery. He tells some kids to leave him alone for the first time.

That night, Rex and Scott go see Jaws together, and Rex forgets his glasses. He regrets this at first, but he ends up being glad for it when the movie is over and Scott professes that he may never swim again. At home, Rex misplaces his glasses and looks everywhere for them. His mother points out that they’re on his face.

In gym class the next day, the girl named Kennedy throws a dodgeball at Rex’s face by accident, breaking his glasses. Rex breaks the news to his mother, who panics, knowing she can’t afford another pair. She angrily tells Rex to call his father and leaves for work. Rex makes the call, but his dad proclaims to have already spent enough and admits to seeing Rex as more of an obligation than a son. Rex tells his father to start acting like a dad and hangs up. Ford sees his older brother crying and offers him a comforting hug. When their mother gets home, she apologizes for getting angry at Rex and decides to call his father back and demand the money. Rex’s father agrees to send it the following month, which means Rex must use broken glasses for a few weeks. Sam mends them so that they’re wearable, but Rex faces questions and teasing in every class the next day.

In gym class, Kennedy comes up to Rex to apologize. She and Rex relate over having lost their best friends this year. Kennedy mentions a school trip to Washington, DC, at the end of the year, encouraging Rex to go, and they both blush. At lunch, Victor throws a tater tot at Rex, but he says nothing. Scott notices and asks Rex why he didn’t speak up, but Rex irritatingly replies that Scott should have spoken up if he thought it was so important.

Rex goes home angry, but his mother suggests that Sam take him and Ford to the restaurant for dinner. This cheers Rex up at first, because he loves going to the restaurant. While there, however, he sees Victor there too. Rex’s mother introduces herself to Victor and tells him to be nice to Rex about his glasses. For the rest of the week, Rex avoids the cafeteria and goes hungry to escape Victor’s teasing.

The following week, Victor finds Rex in the cafeteria and pulls him aside. He gathers everyone’s attention and announces that Rex’s mother works waiting tables at the restaurant and asked Victor to be kind about Rex’s glasses. Everyone laughs, and Rex runs away. He sits behind the dumpster outside and cries.