a ) a watch that does n't keep proper time b ) a novel-some horrible-looking space thriller-that his mother sent along , not realizing he would be spending every waking moment reading something some teacher had stuffed into his prone hands c ) a handful of granola bars , brought along in case of a nuclear holocaust and a subsequent lack of fresh food d ) an iron band that did absolutely jack-shit for him over the summer but seemed to work out for other people .