Mia the Meek Read Online Free Page B

Personally, I wished I’d had it as easy as they did; all they had to do was declare their independence, win a war of revolution, and write a constitution. I had to face my mother next period.

    The bell rang starting second period, and my mom bellowed too loudly, “Welcome, literary giants! This will be the year when you’ll dive into literature and let it become part of your lives. You’ll discover a love of words hidden within you and astound me with your prose.” Then she launched into a long, tedious lecture about assignments, books we’d read in class, and her expectations for the semester.
    By the end of the period, most of my classmates were dying a slow death of boredom, but I was elated. Maybe my mom finally understood how much I hated being in her room. Maybe she wouldn’t try to totally humiliate me this year. Maybe—
    “I always end my first day by describing how literature can change your life.” She beamed at me.
    Then again, maybe not. My stomach lurched. I knew what was coming next: the Petey and the Potty story!
    “My daughter, Mia, whom some of you already know—and if you don’t—she’s the pretty girl with brown hair sitting in the back of the room right now. Wave your arm so everyone knows who you are, Mia.”
    In a state of shock, I limply waved my hand.
    “Anyway, Mia would simply not get potty trained. My husband and I thought she would wear diapers until she entered kindergarten. Then we got the book, Petey and the Potty. Mia loved that book! One day, she marched up to me and said, ‘If Petey can go potty, I can too!’ And she never wore diapers again after that.
    “So, if Petey can change a small girl’s life, imagine what great literature can do for you,” my mom declared as the ending bell rang.
    Gathering their books, my classmates thundered to the door as I sat immobilized in my chair. Lisa laughed.
    “I’ve heard that story before, but every time your mom tells it, I crack up. I can just picture you sitting on your potty and reading that book. Hey, I wonder if she’ll teach punctuation by telling everyone about your first menstrual period.”
    “Oh, shut up.” I grabbed my books and stormed for the door. Stephanie was waiting for me in the hallway.
    “Hey, Mia the Meek, my great-grandma has some diapers you can borrow if you need them.”
    I clenched my jaw and brushed past her, racing to my next class. I was going to kill my mom!
    Tim ran after me. “Mia, wait up!”
    I twirled around and looked him squarely in the eye.
    “For your information,” I said, “I’ve been going to the bathroom on my own for over ten years.”
    “Good for you. I was only going to let you know I picked up a pencil you dropped. But, because you brought the subject up, I understand now why you had so much trouble understanding Whisper. Potty training books must be more your style. If you want to borrow it, I think we still have a copy of Willy Goes Wee Wee from when my brother was a baby.”
    I glared at him.
    “When I first met you, I didn’t really like you. But now that I’ve gotten to know you better, I think I might hate you.”
    “At least your feelings are growing,” Tim said as we walked into the science room together. Sister Donovan immediately grabbed both of our arms.
    “Because you two are the last to arrive, you’ll be lab partners. Now, go and take a seat across from Jake and Cassie.”
    “What? Sister Donovan,” I pleaded, “I can’t be partners with him!”
    “Yes, you can and you will.” She dragged us over to our table.
    I reluctantly climbed onto my stool while Sister Donovan returned to the front of the room and began handing out worksheets on lab procedures. Cassie slid a note across the table to Tim and whispered, “If you have any questions about anything, here’s my phone number. Call me.”
    Tim pocketed her number. “Thanks.”
    I rolled my eyes and turned away to catch Jake staring at me. Why was he looking at me like that? Oh my God! Did I have