Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Planet Girl by Tommy Greenwald Page B

of school, a bunch of us were sitting around at lunch talking about the end-of-year dance, which was a pretty big deal.
    â€œBack where I come from,” Emory said, “we all went to the beach and had a barbecue with surfing and volleyball. It was awesome, dudes.”
    â€œI’m totally moving to California when I grow up,” Pete said.
    â€œUh-oh,” said Jake. “Poor California.”
    â€œCharlie Joe, who are you going to take to the dance?” Timmy asked, a little too cheerfully. “Going solo?”
    â€œNope,” I answered. “I’m taking Erica.”
    Emory’s mouth dropped open. “You’re taking Timmy’s girlfriend?” The poor kid had a lot to learn about East Coast sarcasm.
    â€œVery funny,” Timmy said to me.
    â€œOh, now I’m with you! Good one dude,” Emory said, chuckling.
    Our conversation was interrupted by the crackling of the loudspeaker, meaning an announcement was about to happen.
    â€œHello, students, this is your principal, Mrs. Sleep.” As if we didn’t all recognize her weird, deep voice. “This is a reminder: All permission slips for the field trip to the high school are due tomorrow. This applies to all students, no exceptions. Have a wise day.” She always said that at the end of an announcement— Have a wise day . I wasn’t exactly sure what it meant. Personally, I’d rather have a chocolate day, but that’s just me.
    Anyway, I’d forgotten about the field trip. All seventh and eighth graders visit the high school at the end of the year, to get used to the idea of going there one day. At the lunch table, everything got a little quiet for a minute. Nobody wanted to admit it, but we were all a little scared of the place.
    â€œI’ve been there a few times,” said Phil Manning. He had an older brother who was a sophomore. “It’s huge.”
    â€œIt’s not so big,” I reassured everyone. “I go there with Megan all the time.” I’d never actually gone inside the building, but they didn’t need to know that.
    â€œFrom what I hear,” said Jake, “it’s almost like a college. So many extracurricular opportunities, and an incredible course selection.”
    He said that like it was a good thing, by the way. We all looked at him like he was from another planet, which of course he was.
    â€œWell, all I know is, I’m perfectly happy right here,” I said, speaking for pretty much everyone else at the table.
    Or so I thought.
    â€œNot me,” said Nareem.
    We all looked at him.
    â€œLife is about embracing the unknown,” he said.
    I snorted. “Did you read that in a book somewhere?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact, I did,” he said. And he held up a book.
    A Communication Guide for Boys and Girls.
    Until that moment, I had no idea you could actually physically feel your face turn red.
    â€œCharlie Joe, are you okay?” Jake asked.

    â€œFine,” I managed to choke out. “I think a fish stick went down the wrong way.”
    â€œNareem,” Katie said, “do you mind if I ask you why you’re reading that book?”
    â€œYeah, no offense or anything, but that seems like a book only a loser would read,” Timmy weighed in.
    I felt my face go from red to green.
    â€œI saw this book in the library,” Nareem said. “Mrs. Reedy told me that someone else had just read it and found it quite fascinating. I looked through it, and it seemed like something I might benefit from. I am not embarrassed to say that I could use some improvement in that department.”
    The other kids all looked at Nareem, impressed that he could be so honest about it.
    â€œIn any case,” he continued, “in the book, one is advised to take risks and to not be afraid. If you like a girl, or a boy, you should tell them.”
    â€œWhat does that have to do with high school?” I asked, trying