we just studied in science, how the brain works.
“I’ll be glad to tutor it all back into your brain again.” I go along with his kidding. “However, a lot of what we learn in school isn’t worth remembering.”
“When I was little and got hurt, my mother always kissed the part that hurt.” Dave looks at me.
“I’m glad I didn’t drop the knapsack on your feet.” I open up my milk container.
“I think my memory is returning. A miracle. I’m going to remember that you owe me a kiss,” Dave says.
There are worse things, I think, and look down at my tray.
Rosie’s complaining. “This food’s awful.”
“So what’s new?” Pete holds up a piece of wilted lettuce.
“But it’s getting worse,” a girl named Jill says, and shakes her curly head. “Ever since the new company got the contract, it’s to vomit over.”
Sarah, who’s in my English class and is very serious about becoming a ballerina, is getting ready to eat her creamed corn. “Do you mind? I’m trying to eat lunch.”
“It looks like somebody’s already vomited over it.” Alex takes off his glasses and pretends to use them as a magnifying glass.
Sarah puts her fork down and pushes the tray away.
We all look at the food. Nobody’s eating except Milton Myers, and I hear that even his own mother calls him Garbage Gut.
“I think we ought to do something about this.” Dave bangs his fist on the table. “We’ve tried to talk to the administration, but they don’t care.”
Garbage Gut asks Sarah for her creamed corn. She passes it to him. Everyone else at the table gives theirs to him too.
He burps.
“Gross,” Sarah says.
“Thank you.” Garbage Gut takes another spoonful of corn.
Sometimes I don’t understand how people get into groups. Garbage Gut’s a perfect example of someone who should be a social outcast but isn’t, and I bet there are lots of nice people who shouldn’t be social outcasts but are.
I listen to the complaints and debate whether to get involved. After all, when I got here, the Principal called me in and said, “Phoebe Brooks, your record precedes you. I want no trouble. If I so much as see you with a tube of Krazy Glue in your hands, you’ll be suspended.”
Possession with the intent to use. Suspension. It sounds like a drug charge. I promised to be good. But the food is awful and school is so boring.
Finally I decide. “Listen, we had this problem at my old school, and there were certain things we did—and they worked.”
Everyone’s staring at me.
“Well, don’t keep us in suspense. Tell us,” Rosie says.
Dave has his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand, and he’s staring at me.
I have a feeling that this is one time I should keep my big mouth shut.
“Well, it’s this way . . .” I begin.
CHAPTER 11
I t’s all set up. There’s a meeting today, and I can go even though it’s Saturday and I’m supposed to be in New York.
It wasn’t easy getting my mother to agree. At first she asked if I didn’t want to come in because of the thing about Katie and Andy. I told her no. Then she wanted to know if I still loved her. I told her yes. She reminded me that if I didn’t go this time, we wouldn’t see each other for a total of three weeks,since she has to work out of town next weekend. Finally she gave in when I promised that we’d have a really great Thanksgiving together.
It kind of bothered me when she said, as long as I wasn’t coming in, she’d go out to the Hamptons with Duane, to call her there if I needed her. The Hamptons—Duane’s got a beach house out there. It’s all so fashionable and rich, and I can’t stand it because the one time the three of us went, my mother and Duane slept in the same bedroom. After that I told her I didn’t ever want to go again.
Now we have an arrangement. When I stay overnight, Duane doesn’t. What they do when I’m not there I don’t want to know about.
Maybe I’m a prude, but I don’t like to think about my
“I’ll be glad to tutor it all back into your brain again.” I go along with his kidding. “However, a lot of what we learn in school isn’t worth remembering.”
“When I was little and got hurt, my mother always kissed the part that hurt.” Dave looks at me.
“I’m glad I didn’t drop the knapsack on your feet.” I open up my milk container.
“I think my memory is returning. A miracle. I’m going to remember that you owe me a kiss,” Dave says.
There are worse things, I think, and look down at my tray.
Rosie’s complaining. “This food’s awful.”
“So what’s new?” Pete holds up a piece of wilted lettuce.
“But it’s getting worse,” a girl named Jill says, and shakes her curly head. “Ever since the new company got the contract, it’s to vomit over.”
Sarah, who’s in my English class and is very serious about becoming a ballerina, is getting ready to eat her creamed corn. “Do you mind? I’m trying to eat lunch.”
“It looks like somebody’s already vomited over it.” Alex takes off his glasses and pretends to use them as a magnifying glass.
Sarah puts her fork down and pushes the tray away.
We all look at the food. Nobody’s eating except Milton Myers, and I hear that even his own mother calls him Garbage Gut.
“I think we ought to do something about this.” Dave bangs his fist on the table. “We’ve tried to talk to the administration, but they don’t care.”
Garbage Gut asks Sarah for her creamed corn. She passes it to him. Everyone else at the table gives theirs to him too.
He burps.
“Gross,” Sarah says.
“Thank you.” Garbage Gut takes another spoonful of corn.
Sometimes I don’t understand how people get into groups. Garbage Gut’s a perfect example of someone who should be a social outcast but isn’t, and I bet there are lots of nice people who shouldn’t be social outcasts but are.
I listen to the complaints and debate whether to get involved. After all, when I got here, the Principal called me in and said, “Phoebe Brooks, your record precedes you. I want no trouble. If I so much as see you with a tube of Krazy Glue in your hands, you’ll be suspended.”
Possession with the intent to use. Suspension. It sounds like a drug charge. I promised to be good. But the food is awful and school is so boring.
Finally I decide. “Listen, we had this problem at my old school, and there were certain things we did—and they worked.”
Everyone’s staring at me.
“Well, don’t keep us in suspense. Tell us,” Rosie says.
Dave has his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand, and he’s staring at me.
I have a feeling that this is one time I should keep my big mouth shut.
“Well, it’s this way . . .” I begin.
CHAPTER 11
I t’s all set up. There’s a meeting today, and I can go even though it’s Saturday and I’m supposed to be in New York.
It wasn’t easy getting my mother to agree. At first she asked if I didn’t want to come in because of the thing about Katie and Andy. I told her no. Then she wanted to know if I still loved her. I told her yes. She reminded me that if I didn’t go this time, we wouldn’t see each other for a total of three weeks,since she has to work out of town next weekend. Finally she gave in when I promised that we’d have a really great Thanksgiving together.
It kind of bothered me when she said, as long as I wasn’t coming in, she’d go out to the Hamptons with Duane, to call her there if I needed her. The Hamptons—Duane’s got a beach house out there. It’s all so fashionable and rich, and I can’t stand it because the one time the three of us went, my mother and Duane slept in the same bedroom. After that I told her I didn’t ever want to go again.
Now we have an arrangement. When I stay overnight, Duane doesn’t. What they do when I’m not there I don’t want to know about.
Maybe I’m a prude, but I don’t like to think about my
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