Odd Girl In Read Online Free Page B

week?” I asked, slipping into my sandals. “That’s a lot of learning down the drain. Maybe we should just wait for the next round.”
    Dad smirked. “Nice try. Ms. Success will help you catch up on everything you missed.”
    â€œMs. Success.” Nick chuckled to himself.
    Dad pointed a warning finger at him. “I don’t want to hear a single ‘ha,’ ‘hee,’ or ‘ho’ out of you all night.”
    â€œOkay, okay,” said Nick.
    â€œDoes everyone have their surveys ready?” Dad held out his hand, and we each passed ours over.
    He studied them, wincing a little more with each new one he read.
    â€œHey!” I pulled at his arm. “We’re right here. Save the disappointed face for when we’re not around.”
    â€œNo, it’s not that,” said Dad. “It’s just … I should have helped you fill these out.”
    â€œWhat was wrong with mine?” asked Parker.
    Dad gave him a look. “Do you really want me to say?”
    Parker crossed his arms and lifted his chin. “I’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.”
    Dad cleared his throat. “The question was, ‘How fast can you run?’ You answered, ‘As fast as my servants can carry me.’” Dad lowered the paper.
    Nick and I laughed, and Parker did his best to play innocent. “Do you think Alfred Nobel did all his own running? He probably had a guy.”
    â€œYou’re so lame, dude,” Nick told Parker.
    â€œNick,” said Dad, “you said the capital of France was F .” He pursed his lips. “It wasn’t a spelling question.”
    I doubled over with laughter, and Parker slapped Nick on the back. “It’s okay. You can get a job as one of my servants.”
    â€œAnd finally we come to Alex,” said Dad, squeezing my shoulder. “For social groups, you can’t count being a member at Sam’s Club. Especially since it’s my card.”
    By this point, we were all laughing, and even Dad couldn’t resist a smile. “At least you’ll all get flying colors in the humor category.”
    The Champs class was taught at the university where Dad worked, so he could drop us off on Tuesdays and Thursdays and then go to his office until class was over. For evaluation night, however, he came with us to the office of Ms. Success.
    Whatever she was doing, it seemed to be working. While Dad’s office was in one of the old, drafty buildings with crooked doors, Ms. Success was in the newly built ivory tower, where all the inner doors were cherry wood with chrome handles. The placard on her door actually read “Ms. Success,” and I could hear Nick snicker into his hand.
    Dad nudged my brother and knocked.
    â€œCome,” said a woman’s voice. It was loud, authoritative, and almost masculine.
    Dad poked his head into the room, and the woman’svoice sounded even louder. “Jaaake!” She stretched out Dad’s first name. “How the heck are ya?”
    â€œJust fine, Sharon. I’ve brought my kids.” Dad held the door open wider and motioned for us to step inside.
    Ms. Success was tall with a hawklike nose and enormous brown eyes that made her look slightly cartoonish. Her brown hair was cropped short against her head, and she was sitting behind a massive glass desk.
    Ms. Success smiled at us, revealing a predatory amount of teeth, and got to her feet.
    â€œWell, well. This must be Nick, Parker, and Alexis.” She pointed to all of us in turn.
    â€œAlex,” I corrected.
    â€œIt’s Alexis,” said Emily, coming in behind us. “We already made your T-shirt.” She held up a blue shirt as proof, showing me the back. My name had been printed above the number one, like a sports jersey.
    â€œYep. Alexis,” I said, taking the shirt from her with a tight smile. “And it’s blue.”
    Blue was Mom’s favorite color. Her