Blob by Frieda Wishinsky

cheer me up. They make me wish I had magic powers.”
    â€œWhat kind of magic powers would you want?” she asks.
    â€œThe power to turn nasty people into toads or ants or cockroaches. I’d love to do that to Zoe.”
    â€œWho’s Zoe?” Stephanie asks.
    â€œA girl who left a picture of a fat lady at the circus on my locker on Friday,” I said. “There was a horrible note too, about how fat I am.”
    â€œWhat did you do?”
    â€œI ripped the note up and kept the mirror. I knew she was hiding behind the lockers so she could see my reaction. I thanked her for her mirror.”
    â€œYou’re kidding. That’s awesome.”
    â€œIt felt good. I can’t always think of the right thing to say, but I did then. See you at one forty-five. I’ll buy the tickets early so we can go in as soon as you get there. It’s my treat.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œI’m glad we’re going together. I can’t wait to see how that witch uses her powers!”

“Feeling good is better than a hot-fudge sundae.”
    â€”Eve Richards
    chapter sixteen
    I arrive at the movie theater at 1:15 pm. There’s already a line. I see some kids from my school and some middle-school kids. I bet some of them are from Stephanie’s school. I hope there are no kids who’ve been tormenting her here. I hope going to the movies is not going to be a disaster.
    I wave to one of the girls from my art class as she hurries into the theater. I buy our tickets and wait for Stephanie. She’s not there at 1:45. She’s not there at 1:50. Then 1:55 passes, and still there’s no Stephanie. I’m starting to think she’s not coming. I wonder if she panicked about going out at the last minute. And then a car drives up. Stephanie jumps out.
    â€œI’ll pick you up after the movie,” says her mom before she drives away.
    Stephanie and I dash into the packed theater. We sit in the second row from the back.
    Stephanie sinks into her seat.
    â€œI guess there’s no time for popcorn,” I whisper as the theater darkens.
    â€œDo you know how many calories there are in a bag of movie popcorn?” she says.
    â€œYou sound like my mother. I wasn’t going to have any popcorn. I wanted to know if you wanted some.”
    â€œNah. I always get those little kernels stuck between my teeth. Then I spend the rest of the movie trying to get them out with my tongue.”
    â€œMe too, or I get bits stuck in my throat and I feel like I’m going to gag. I keep clearing my throat and guzzling down water.”
    We stop talking when the movie starts.
    It’s a silly movie, but it’s fun. I love how Ellie, the girl who’s a witch, uses her powers to get revenge on Cleo, the popular girl at school who belittles her. Cleo has a perfect body, a perky nose, long straight blond hair and blue eyes. Ellie gives Cleo a humpback.
    When Cleo complains, Ellie says, “If you wear the right outfit, it won’t show much.”
    That cracks Stephanie up. She laughs so hard that she holds her stomach. I’m laughing too, and before we know it, the movie is over.
    â€œThat was so good,” says Stephanie as the lights go back on.
    We walk out of the theater talking about the movie. As we reach the outside door, someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn. It’s Zoe. Mia and Sarah are with her.
    â€œHi, Eve,” says Zoe. “It’s too bad you can’t find anyone your own age to go to the movies with.”
    I glance at Sarah. She cringes but says nothing.
    â€œStephanie meet Zoe. Zoe is the girl I told you about. Zoe likes to leave nasty notes for people on their lockers.”
    Zoe looks like I’ve smacked her in the face but she recovers quickly.
    â€œYou think you’re so smart, Eve? But you’re not. My mom said you baked the cookies for her book club. You probably made them so you could stuff your face with them. No