Taffy Sinclair 008 - Taffy Sinclair and the Melanie Make-Over by Betsy Haynes Page A

personality. Your friendliness. Your kindness. Because if you concentrate on those things, so will everyone else.
    " I ' m going to give you an assignment for next week, " she went on, and a few people groaned. " I want you to make a list of all the things you like about yourself. And I want you to copy that list underneath the sentence you just wrote on page seven of your booklet. "
    Then she went on to talk about the value of exercise to keep us trim and our energy level high, and about cleanliness and good grooming. Finally, as she got into the importance of nutrition, she said something that made me snap to attention.
    " There are no tricks that will make you thin. Fad diets and extremes of all kinds may sound good and promise fast results, but they are very dangerous to you r health. The only thing that will make you slim and keep you that way is good nutrition and plenty of exercise. "
    Katie nudged me, and I felt my face go red at the thought of all those apples, hard-boiled eggs, and carrot sticks I had been living on for the past few days. I sneaked a look at her out of the corner of my eye, and naturally, she was wearing a superior expression. Still, I had to admit that when Laura said it, it all made sense. Then I thought about how Melanie had told us that Taffy confided to her the tricks models used to get slim and beautiful. Taffy must have been lying. Laura said that there weren ' t any tricks, and I believed Laura !
    " All right, everybody! " Laura shouted. " On your feet. We ' re going to start our exercise program. I want you to do this at home every single day. Hands above your head and touch your toes! One! Two! Three! Four! "
    There were grunts and giggles as everyone hopped up and started exercising. We touched our toes, did jumping jacks, deep knee-bends, and stretches. Once, when I looked at Taffy and Melanie, I had to laugh. Taffy ' s beautiful blond hair had flopped into her face, and she was puffing and panting like crazy. Melanie was having trouble bending over because her pants were so tight. Taffy ' s dieting tricks must not be working yet, I thought with satisfaction as I looked away.
    A moment later I heard a loud crash. Then a scream. I looked up in alarm. Everyone was crowding around someone on the floor. It was Melanie. Her eyes were clos ed and she was lying very still.

CHAPTER TWELVE
    A hush fell over the class as everyone stared at Melanie, lying pale and still on the floor. Laura rushed to her. " Stand back everyone, " she demanded. " Give her air. "
    As Laura dropped to her knees beside her, Melanie began to stir.
    " Don ' t try to sit up, " Laura ordered. " Just lie where you are. "
    Melanie opened her eyes. " What happened? " she whispered. Then, as if to answer her own question, she went on, " I was doing the exercises and I started feeling dizzy. "
    " It looks as if you just fainted, " said Laura. " But to be on the safe side, I want you to stay where you are while I call your mother to come and get you. Would you like a drink of water? "
    Melanie nodded and looked around the ring of faces peering down at her. When her eyes met mine, I realized how scared I had been when I saw her lying there unconscious. I slid to the floor and grabbed her hand, holding it tightly in both of mine.
    " You ' re probably just coming down with the flu, " I said. " Or maybe it ' s the cheese you had for lunch yesterday. You know, the stuff you ' re allergic to that made you throw up. " I realized that I was jabbering so fast that she probably didn ' t understand a word I was saying, but I couldn ' t help it. I was scared. How long would it take Mrs. Edwards to get here? What if she wasn ' t home?
    I looked around for Laura to tell her that if Mrs. Edwards didn ' t answer the phone, to call my mom. She would be glad to come. By Laura was nowhere in sight. She had obviously gone to call Melanie ' s mother. Just then I noticed Taffy Sinclair. She was standing away from everyone, instead of crowding around