Rebel McKenzie Read Online Free Page B

shin on the stupid dresser. Then I made my way through the trailer without turning any lights on so I wouldn’t wake Lynette.
    I started to sit down on the toilet. My bare skin met something furry.
    â€œAiiiieee!” I stumbled backward, windmilling my arms to keep my balance.
    There was a splash! then something large and soaking wet shot out of the toilet like a geyser. The dark shape streaked toward the door, drenching my legs and sleep shirt.
    Doublewide, the Wonder Cat.
    First thing tomorrow, I planned to buy a calendar so I could mark off every day I was stuck in this joint. Just like a convict.
From
The Standard Book of Cosmetology
(Milady Publishing Co., Pink Palace Beauty Academy, Frog Level, Virginia)
Personality Quiz
    Answer One: (a) Always, (b) Sometimes, (c) Never
D o you give careful attention to personal grooming such as clothes, hair, makeup, hose, and shoes?
D o you check your posture sitting, standing, and walking erect?
D o you change undergarments regularly and avoid halitosis and body odors (B.O.) at all times?
A re you loyal to others?
C an you accept responsibility?
D o you have confidence in your knowledge and ability?
D o you have a good tone of voice and choice of words?

Rating Your Personality
    Give yourself 10 points for Always ; 5 points for Sometimes ; and zero (0) for Never . Compare your rating to the following standards:
    Excellent Personality ….….….….…85–100
    Good Personality….….….….……75–80
    Fair Personality….….….….….….60–70
    Poor Personality….….….….….…55 or less

The Bully Wore Ankle Socks
    B leary-eyed, I shook Cheerios into a bowl. I desperately needed a shower to wash off the toilet water Doublewide had splashed all over me. I tried not to worry if the cat had peed before I sat on him.
    Lynette spent an hour in the bathroom getting ready for her first day of beauty school. She emerged with her blond hair swept to one side and enough blue eye shadow to chalk a mile-long hopscotch grid.
    â€œSee you this evening,” she said. “Let Rudy sleep in. He’s a growing boy. And don’t forget to feed Doublewide.”
    â€œI did feed him. He’s pretending I didn’t,” I said, glaring at the cat, who was staring forlornly into his empty dish.
    â€œIt’s gonna be a great day!” Lynette said. “I already took the personality quiz in my textbook, and I got a hundred!” Then she breezed out the door with her new pink smock and the seriously dull-looking Standard Book of Cosmetology tucked in her black patent leather tote bag. If she had had any more personality, the world wouldn’t be able to stand it.
    She left before I could bring up the fact that Rudy not only walked in his sleep but performed in his sleep too. Maybe she knew, and had decided to let me discover some of his other little habits on my own.
    â€œRudy!” I hollered. “Breakfast!” If I couldn’t sleep, he wasn’t going to loll in bed all morning, growing boy or not.
    A few minutes later, Rudy appeared, dragging his plastic truck. Doublewide ran over to him, casting wary glances at me. The cat’s fur was still wet in patches that went the wrong way, like cowlicks.
    â€œHere,” I said, setting the bowl and a carton of milk in front of Rudy.
    He pushed the bowl away. “I hate cereal.”
    â€œHow can you hate cereal? It’s un-American.”
    He went over to the refrigerator and took out an RC Cola. “Fix me a RC float. Two ice cubes and one scoop of ba-nilla ice cream. And you have to use the blue monster truck glass.”
    Lynette had warned me this was his standard breakfast. The soda fizzed as I poured it over ice cubes and plopped in a scoop of ice cream.
    â€œYou could try cereal,” I said, eating the Cheerios myself. “You might like it.”
    â€œNo.” Foam from his float left a