Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus

At her next horseback riding lesson, Aven does not want to practice her jump and does not want to move from a trot to a faster canter. She insists she is not ready or strong enough—for horseback riding or high school. Bill thinks she needs to regain her confidence. Aven thinks she is regressing. Aven stops by the smoothie shop to speak to Trilby and kicks the door to get Trilby’s attention, but refuses to go inside because the smoothie smell reminds her of her “Great Humiliation.” Trilby says she is excited to go to the homecoming dance with Aven and Zion. Aven is happy for Zion, but not happy that she herself promised to go with them. At dinner with her parents, Aven mentions that Trilby’s dad was in a punk band, which surprises her dad who thinks punks have tattered clothes and tattoos: Trilby’s dad looks “normal.” Aven explains punk is a state of mind. Her mom likes this concept and wants to listen to Aven’s punk music, thinking they can bond over it, but her dad is skeptical. Aven changes the subject to her birth father, saying Josephine knows more than she is telling. Aven says that she is curious because she doesn’t know anything about him. She wonders if her birth father is a bad person, and if Josephine is trying to protect her.

In the school cafeteria, Aven obsesses about Joshua and his friends and repeatedly asks Zion if they are looking at her. Zion advises her to ignore them. Aven tells Zion that she wants to be homeschooled. Zion is angry that she would consider homeschooling without telling him and abandon him to face high school alone. Zion says that she is being selfish and walks away. Aven agrees, realizing that she was not thinking of him and is mostly thinking bad things about herself. As they watch football practice after school, Aven apologizes to Zion and assures him they will get through high school together. Zion accepts her apology. They see Lando and Joshua have an angry encounter on the field.

At Zion’s house, Aven gives Zion a guitar lesson. When Zion’s mom calls him away briefly, Aven plays “Free Fallin’” and sings to herself. She is embarrassed when she sees Lando listening and later asks if he was spying on her. He denies this, saying he was listening and wondered if Zion suddenly started playing well. Zion and Lando have a brotherly fight, making Aven wish for a sibling. Aven again mentions her birth father to her mom and wonders if she has any siblings. Aven researches armless comic book characters for her costume inspiration.

Aven is proud of her costume choice for Comic Con and excited to surprise the Hills—which she does, but not in a positive way. Mrs. Hill, dressed as She-Hulk, is taken aback at Aven’s choice to be Armless Tiger Man. Lando is dressed as the Isaiah Bradley iteration of Captain America, Mr. Hill as Black Lightning, and Zion as Batman. Connor arrives dressed as Lucky the Pizza Dog. Connor is excited because it will make his barking tic seem completely normal. Aven is proud that she found a character whose superpower is using his feet like his hands. She does not know why the others are reserved until Lando makes her read about Armless Tiger Man, who was a Nazi cannibal. Lando laughingly reassures her that there are a few worse comic characters. He enjoys comics and is writing one of his own that he says he may let Aven read when it is ready. Mrs. Hill takes Aven to their family costume closet and cobbles together a new costume. Aven, feeling foolish, cries and apologizes, insisting that she truly hates Nazis. Mrs. Hill comforts her and makes a quick costume of the Armless Master.

Aven feels comfortable at Comic Con with all the other costumed people. Many attendees think her costume is “rad,” and she makes up stories about how she hid her arms. Two boys, dressed as Wolverine and Cyclops, stare at her. Aven overhears them say “That was freaky” (167). Aven gets angry, and empowered by her costume, confronts them, calling Wolverine a nerd and making fun of his hair. Aven is ready to fight, but Lando helps her walk away, and Zion scolds her. Aven snaps at Connor, then feels bad that she made him anxious. Connor thinks she is not acting like herself: She does not typically react angrily to rude people. Aven makes excuses, commenting that high school, and not having friends and not being cool is hard. Connor says none of them are cool, but Aven counters that being uncool is not okay when it means people can be rude to you. Connor asks her what she means, but she will not elaborate. Lando smiles at Aven and when Aven smiles back, Connor says that she likes Lando. Aven denies this, and turns it back on Connor, saying he likes Amanda. Connor protests that Amanda is just a friend. Aven insists that no one will ever like her as a girlfriend and walks away tearfully.

Lando does not sit next to Janessa at lunch, but when he waves at Aven, she turns quickly away. Joshua comes to their table and insults Zion, calling him “Lardon.” Aven sees how the taunt deflates Zion and wonders how much of Zion’s shy personality and low self-esteem come from Joshua’s bullying. Joshua insults Aven, and she claps back, but feels hurt and tries not to cry. Zion suggests that they eat outside, but Aven insists that they should not care what Joshua does—even though they do care.

After school, Aven visits the apathetic Spaghetti. Aven calls out to Trilby when she sees her walking by, and they discuss punk music. Trilby says she thinks her dad will always “rock out” regardless of age. As they walk back to the smoothie shop, Aven wonders if Trilby would start a band and says that she plays guitar. Trilby is thrilled until Aven insists she will not play in front of people. Leaving the shop, Aven visits Chili and tells the horse they should not give up on each other. Aven decides to check on Henry, who is shaky and weak, and drops her ice cream. Aven sits with him and discovers that Henry lived in several orphanages in Chicago during the 1930s. He was never adopted and was too young to remember any family. Aven researches the orphanages online and finds message boards from families trying to find relatives—and sharing stories of abuse. Aven realizes she has many people who love her. She feels sad for Henry.