Two weeks after taking #mp3 and #warez.

  The channels are still ours. Eighty-nine users on our server. Tutorials getting fifty hits a day.

   FLiPZ was saying our eggdrop guide is better than the one on dal.net

   we should write more. bot security. shell hardening.

   might need to upgrade the server if we hit 100

  Small problems. Good problems.

  Downstairs, dinner's ready.

  The kitchen table. Mom's lasagna. Dad asking about my day.

  "How'd that biology test go?"

  "Got a B+."

  Mom smiles. "That's better than last semester."

  "Yeah. Been studying more."

  "And programming class?" Dad asks.

  "Mr. Caldwell said my recursion assignment was cleaner than the textbook."

  "You seem happier lately," Mom says. "More focused."

  "I guess." I shrug. Take another bite of lasagna.

  Dad catches my eye. "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it. The balance is working."

  The balance. School and IRC. Both running smooth.

  I help clear the table and stay downstairs. Sitting with my parents is the most interesting thing to me right now.

  ---

  Monday. Programming class.

  Caldwell hands back our sorting algorithm assignments. Mine has "98/100 - Excellent work" written across the top.

  Ankit gets his back. Glances at my grade. Says nothing.

  After class, I stop by Caldwell's desk.

  "The recursion unit next week—you said there's extra credit?"

  "Tree traversal implementation." He pulls out a handout. "Due Friday. Not required, but if you're interested—"

  "I'll do it tonight and get it to you by tomorrow."

  He hands me the sheet. "Keep this up and you'll be ready for AP Computer Science next year."

  I fold the paper. Put it in my backpack.

  AP Computer Science. College prep. Actual future stuff.

  Never thought about that before. Always felt like I was either good at school or good at IRC. Not both.

  Maybe I was wrong.

  ---

  Wednesday night. Ninety-one users. Eighteen days of uptime.

  I switch to #main.

   file bot is fast tonight

   yeah no lag

   this server is solid

   been on dalnet and efnet. this one's better.

  I switch to #crew.

   been thinking

   about what

   we should expand. more channels. maybe link with other nets.

   lets keep it stable first

  Calculus homework takes fifteen minutes. Not rushed. Actually understood the concepts.

  I turn on the monitor to check our servers before bed.

   anyone else getting lag?

  I check my connection. Ping times normal.

   looks fine here

   probably just my isp

   seems ok to me

   yeah its clearing up. nevermind.

  I switch to the website. Load the main page.

  Takes four seconds. Usually loads in two.

  I refresh. Three seconds this time.

  Probably just traffic. The tutorials have been getting more hits lately. More people means slower page loads.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  I make a mental note: check Apache configs this weekend. Maybe optimize some queries.

  ---

  Saturday afternoon. I'm working on the calculus problem set when my PM window blinks.

  [SpaceGoat] yo check the bot ping times

  I switch windows. Higher than usual but not crazy.

  [SKa] yeah i see it

  [SpaceGoat] think its an issue?

  I check the shell status. All three shells responding. No obvious problems.

  [SKa] probably network lag somewhere

  [SpaceGoat] want me to investigate?

  I look at my calculus homework. Five more problems. Then the biology reading.

  [SKa] nah. if it gets worse we'll look at it.

  [SpaceGoat] cool

  ---

  Sunday night.

   servers been kinda slow today

   yeah i noticed that

   file bot took like ten seconds to respond

  I check the server stats. Things do seem a bit slow.

   probably just traffic

   you've been saying that for a week

   not a huge deal just noticed

   tutorials page took forever to load yesterday

   people are noticing

   i'll check the configs this weekend

   you said that last weekend

  FLiPZ isn't wrong. But he doesn't see the whole picture.

   just saying

   you're so focused on efnet you're letting this place slide

   servers fine for me now

   yeah seems ok

  I switch to #crew.

   you guys seeing the lag complaints?

   yeah just checked load. its higher

   want me to restart some services?

   lets wait. see if it stabilizes.

   sure?

   yeah. probably just a spike.

  I leave my monitor on. Open my biology textbook.

  The test is on cellular respiration. I've been putting off studying all weekend.

  Two chapters to review. An hour, maybe ninety minutes if I focus.

  I start reading.

  My monitor chirps. Another IRC message.

  I ignore it. Biology first.

  The reading takes longer than expected. By the time I'm done, it's past midnight.

   lag seems same to me

   yeah still slow

  My PM window blinks.

  [SpaceGoat] dude the bot ping times are spiking

  [SpaceGoat] and im seeing weird traffic patterns in the logs

  [SpaceGoat] same IP blocks hitting us over and over

  I look at my biology textbook. Test in eight hours.

  [SKa] can it wait til tomorrow

  [SpaceGoat] i mean probably

  [SpaceGoat] just seems off

  [SKa] lets look at it after school

  I close the PM window. Shut down the computer.

  Biology test tomorrow. Programming club meeting Thursday. Calculus Friday.

  The server will be fine. It's just traffic.

  I'm in bed and ready for sleep by 9PM. This will be earliest I've been in bed since I was a toddler.