Skinnybones

The story is narrated by the main character, Alex Frankovitch, a rather unpopular and awkward grade school boy.

After writing a letter in a promotional contest for a cat food company, Alex goes on to describe key points in his young life, mainly having to do with little league baseball, occasionally going off on tangents or telling other stories from his life that, while not important to the story, are points of humor and show Alex's thoughts and feelings more clearly.

Though Alex has played in Little League for six years, his skills in the game are subpar (he refers to himself as "really stinky" when it comes to baseball).

Though Alex tries to become a hermit, an effort which lasts only a few hours, he's forced to go back to school the next day, where the students and teachers all make fun at his expense.

He leaves school that day, nervous about filming the commercial, but eager to be a big star and hoping things will go well.