Girls Acting Catty by Leslie Margolis Page B

manual. Even though my technique hadn’t worked on Terrible T this morning, I figured there might’ve been something I’d missed.
    Plus, it would be cool to find a way to make my mom and Dweeble not fight. I combed through all the pages but sadly couldn’t find a thing that might help.
    I did find one chapter I hadn’t read before.
    R OLL O VER . W HY ? B ECAUSE I S AID S O .
    Okay, rolling over isn’t exactly a necessary or practical skill, like teaching your dog to make outside, sit, or stay. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth learning. Just think about the bragging rights. Sure, my dog can roll over. No problem-o. How fabulously impressive will that sound? Very. Alright-y? So here’s how you do it.
    This trick was much more complicated than the others. No wonder I’d skipped it when I was first training Pepper. There were six whole steps involved.
    First, I had to teach Pepper how to lie down. He already knew that, so I figured I was ahead of the game. Next, I had to get him to stay there. Then I had to take a treat and sort of wave it from one side of his neck to the other. In theory, Pepper was supposed to follow the treat with his eyes, move his head, and in the process, roll over so he could better reach it.
    I tried this a few times, but it didn’t work out so well. As soon as Pepper saw the treat, he sat up and offered his paw. No shocker, since sitting and shaking was something we did all the time.
    â€œNo, Pepper,” I said, hiding the treat and starting over from the beginning. Eventually, I got him to lie down, but every time I pulled out the treat, he sat up and offered his paw again. The longer I refused to feed him, the more spastic he became. Pretty soon he wouldn’t even sit. Instead, he just jumped up and tried to get at the biscuit, all frantic, as if he hadn’t eaten in a week.
    When he started barking, I lost patience and just let him eat.
    Oh well. Like the book said, rolling over wasn’t exactly practical, and I guess Pepper knew enough tricks.
    I put the book away and turned to my homework. I had stuff due in all my classes so it took forever. By the time I finished I was exhausted, so I changed into my pajamas and headed for the bathroom.
    Tried to, anyway. When I opened up the door, I found myself face-to-face with Jason. An almost-naked Jason.
    He was brushing his teeth with a towel wrapped around his waist. Yes, a towel, and only a towel.
    Ack! “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” I yelled, covering my eyes and backing out.
    â€œIt’s fine,” he said. At least I think that’s what he said. It was hard to tell, since he was talking with the toothbrush in his mouth.
    I slammed the door shut and called, “Sorry,” again.
    He didn’t say anything, but I heard him spit, and then turn on the water. I didn’t know if I should stand there and wait, or go back to my room.
    I also didn’t know why I hadn’t knocked. It’s not like I forgot about Jason. I just sat across from him for an entire meal and he’s not exactly a forgettable type of guy.
    So what had I been thinking? And how come I was just standing around now?
    I turned, about to head for my room, when the door opened. Jason was on his way out—still dressed in only the towel. His hair hung down loose and damp around his shoulders, curling at the ends in the most adorable way.
    â€œSorry,” I tried one more time, feeling silly for lurking in the hall, like a weirdo. “I was just leaving. I mean, I didn’t know how long you’d be but I wasn’t listening or anything.”
    I wasn’t listening ? Did I really just say that? I think I did.
    Jason held the door open for me. “Bathroom’s all yours.”
    â€œSorry,” I said, yet again.
    â€œNo worries,” he replied as he headed down the hall.
    Ha! That’s easy for him to say.

chapter seven
microorganism; macro-mistake
    G uess