11 Birthdays Read Online Free Page A
pointing, and then slowly grins. “Oh that? After school yesterday.”
Her slight on the school bus is now forgiven. No one has decorated my locker before, and secretly I always hoped someone would. I give her a hug. She hesitates for a second, then runs down the hall to her own locker with a backward wave. I stand for a minute and admire the purple streamers, and the big HAPPY BIRTHDAY letters made out of different colored paper. It must have taken her a long time to do this. I rest my backpack on the floor and noticethat a few lockers away, a Tootsie Roll Pop is lying next to the wall. I bend down to look closer. It’s a green apple one. My favorite. Was it supposed to be left in front of
my
locker like a birthday gift? I look around and don’t see any of the kids whose lockers are nearby. I almost pick it up, and then think better of it. If it’s not for me, and someone saw me take it, I’d be really embarrassed.
I put in my locker combination and pull on the metal handle. I pull harder. It’s stuck! I try the combination again. The bell rings for first period, and I still can’t get it open. Good thing I took all my books home last night, otherwise I wouldn’t have them for my classes. I had planned to get ahead in my homework so I wouldn’t have to do any tonight, but that plan hadn’t quite worked.
Grumbling, I pick up my backpack and run to class. History is the only class Leo and I have together, and I hate bringing any attention to myself. Ms. Gottlieb makes a big deal if you’re late. Fortunately she’s busy writing on the board and doesn’t see me come in. Maneuvering through the desks as quietly as possible, I slide into my seat. From across the room, I swear I can feel Leo’s eyes on me. I want to turn around and wish him a happy birthday, but even now, a year later, his mean words still feel fresh. I keep myeyes glued to the board where the words POP QUIZ suddenly become clear.
Pop quiz?? My stomach sinks. I’m not good at pop quizzes, but Leo’s even worse. I steal a glance at him while pretending to tuck my hair behind my ear. He looks pale.
Ms. Gottlieb takes attendance, and then tells us to put everything on the floor. The class groans collectively.
“Don’t worry,” she says, “if you don’t get higher than a seventy-five on the test, you can retake it after school. Well, not the same exact version, of course.”
Stay after school on my birthday? No, thanks!
Ms. Gottlieb hands out the quiz, and it’s actually not too bad. The last question is the only one that stumps me. Which of the following items CANNOT be found in the Willow Falls Historical Society Museum:
a. a bed warmer
b. a stuffed raccoon
c. a wooden crib
d. the journal of the town’s founding father
The Historical Society is really just a little house decorated to look like it did a hundred years ago. I’ve been therea dozen times on school field trips, but old furniture is pretty boring and I’ve never paid much attention. I decide to take my chances and say that there’s no creepy stuffed raccoon. I probably would have noticed that!
When the quiz is over, we have to switch papers with the person next to us. Ms. Gottlieb reads the correct answers. Turns out there WAS a stuffed raccoon! The journal was the right answer. Oh well. I hand Jimmy Dawson his 94 and he gives me my 86 and whispers, “Happy birthday.” Jimmy and I used to be good friends, but after The Fight, he’s mostly been Leo’s friend. I don’t blame him for choosing Leo. He
is
a boy, after all. I thank him and risk another glance behind me. Leo’s holding his head in his hands. Not a good sign.
By lunchtime my shoulders are about to fall off my body. My bag feels ten times heavier. I’ve GOT to get my locker fixed. On my way to lunch I stop at the office and have to fill out a request form in order for the janitor to fix it.
I hobble to the cafeteria, bent forward like I’m hiking up a mountain with a pup tent on my back, and collapse
Her slight on the school bus is now forgiven. No one has decorated my locker before, and secretly I always hoped someone would. I give her a hug. She hesitates for a second, then runs down the hall to her own locker with a backward wave. I stand for a minute and admire the purple streamers, and the big HAPPY BIRTHDAY letters made out of different colored paper. It must have taken her a long time to do this. I rest my backpack on the floor and noticethat a few lockers away, a Tootsie Roll Pop is lying next to the wall. I bend down to look closer. It’s a green apple one. My favorite. Was it supposed to be left in front of
my
locker like a birthday gift? I look around and don’t see any of the kids whose lockers are nearby. I almost pick it up, and then think better of it. If it’s not for me, and someone saw me take it, I’d be really embarrassed.
I put in my locker combination and pull on the metal handle. I pull harder. It’s stuck! I try the combination again. The bell rings for first period, and I still can’t get it open. Good thing I took all my books home last night, otherwise I wouldn’t have them for my classes. I had planned to get ahead in my homework so I wouldn’t have to do any tonight, but that plan hadn’t quite worked.
Grumbling, I pick up my backpack and run to class. History is the only class Leo and I have together, and I hate bringing any attention to myself. Ms. Gottlieb makes a big deal if you’re late. Fortunately she’s busy writing on the board and doesn’t see me come in. Maneuvering through the desks as quietly as possible, I slide into my seat. From across the room, I swear I can feel Leo’s eyes on me. I want to turn around and wish him a happy birthday, but even now, a year later, his mean words still feel fresh. I keep myeyes glued to the board where the words POP QUIZ suddenly become clear.
Pop quiz?? My stomach sinks. I’m not good at pop quizzes, but Leo’s even worse. I steal a glance at him while pretending to tuck my hair behind my ear. He looks pale.
Ms. Gottlieb takes attendance, and then tells us to put everything on the floor. The class groans collectively.
“Don’t worry,” she says, “if you don’t get higher than a seventy-five on the test, you can retake it after school. Well, not the same exact version, of course.”
Stay after school on my birthday? No, thanks!
Ms. Gottlieb hands out the quiz, and it’s actually not too bad. The last question is the only one that stumps me. Which of the following items CANNOT be found in the Willow Falls Historical Society Museum:
a. a bed warmer
b. a stuffed raccoon
c. a wooden crib
d. the journal of the town’s founding father
The Historical Society is really just a little house decorated to look like it did a hundred years ago. I’ve been therea dozen times on school field trips, but old furniture is pretty boring and I’ve never paid much attention. I decide to take my chances and say that there’s no creepy stuffed raccoon. I probably would have noticed that!
When the quiz is over, we have to switch papers with the person next to us. Ms. Gottlieb reads the correct answers. Turns out there WAS a stuffed raccoon! The journal was the right answer. Oh well. I hand Jimmy Dawson his 94 and he gives me my 86 and whispers, “Happy birthday.” Jimmy and I used to be good friends, but after The Fight, he’s mostly been Leo’s friend. I don’t blame him for choosing Leo. He
is
a boy, after all. I thank him and risk another glance behind me. Leo’s holding his head in his hands. Not a good sign.
By lunchtime my shoulders are about to fall off my body. My bag feels ten times heavier. I’ve GOT to get my locker fixed. On my way to lunch I stop at the office and have to fill out a request form in order for the janitor to fix it.
I hobble to the cafeteria, bent forward like I’m hiking up a mountain with a pup tent on my back, and collapse
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