Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero

Rahman sends Yusuf a Muhammad Ali poster with the “butterfly” motto, and Yusuf stays up late, turning the micro:bit into a virtual cat for Aleena. At school, he shows the micro:bit to Danial, but he starts to feel sick. On his way to the nurse, the micro:bit starts beeping, and Ethan rushes up to Yusuf and repeatedly screams, “Bomb!” Students run, and the security guard, Mel, tells Ethan to “shut up” and drags them outside.

Mel throws Yusuf’s backpack onto the football field, which is muddy from last night’s rain. The fire alarm goes off, and students pour out of the building. Officer Strickland arrives, and Yusuf explains that the beeping is his virtual cat that requires feeding. Officer Strickland asks Yusuf if it’s possible to code the computer to act as a control for a bomb, and Yusuf gives an ambiguous answer.

Officer Strickland leaves Yusuf, and Jared comes over and gives him a painting of two cats. Underneath, Jared writes, “Happy birthday to my friend” (326). The handwriting matches the handwriting of the notes, so Yusuf confronts Jared. Jared claims Ethan forced him to write the notes, but Yusuf isn’t interested in his excuses.