popular outside of her own group of friends, let alone being
well enough known to run for Miss Seventh Grade. The Wigwam yearbook was
running its annual contest to determine who were the most popular kids in the
seventh, eighth, and ninth grades at Wacko Junior High, as most kids called
their school. The winners would receive their awards at a school assembly and
have their pictures in the yearbook. Students who wanted to be candidates had
to get fifty signatures and turn the list in at the office by Friday.
"Why would I run?" Jana asked Funny. "Kids
wouldn't vote for me. I'm not that well-known."
" What? Lots of kids know you, and I've never
heard anyone say anything bad about you." Funny hesitated and
looked embarrassed. "Except for Laura, maybe."
Jana sighed at the mention of Laura McCall. She was the
leader of a clique who called themselves The Fantastic Foursome. The Fabulous
Five had had a run-in with The Fantastic Foursome on the very first day of
school, and they had been rivals ever since. Besides Laura and Funny, Melissa
McConnell and Tammy Lucero were members. Jana had heard that Laura made the
other girls do things to belong, but she could never find out what, even though
Funny and she had become friends. And Laura was always bragging that since she
lived with her single father, she could do just about anything she pleased.
Funny giggled, breaking into Jana's thoughts about Laura. "I'm
even starting a rumor that you and Randy Kirwan are going to run together as
Mr. and Miss Seventh Grade," said Funny. "Everyone knows you're the
perfect couple."
Jana's mouth fell open. " Funny! You're not really doing that, are you? Randy would make a super Mr. Seventh Grade, but there
are lots of girls who are more popular than I am."
"Name one," demanded Funny.
"Why . . ." Jana thought for a moment. "There's
. . . uh, Christie, and Laura, and what about you? You're so friendly. Everyone
likes you."
"Christie doesn't like to be the center of attention.
Remember how she didn't want to run for class president? And Laura? She's my
friend, but I don't think that many other people like her as much as I do. She
is kind of bossy.
"And me," continued Funny. "I guess people
that know me like me, but I don't have nearly as many friends as you do. Everyone knows The Fabulous Five, an d you're their leader."
Jana looked at Funny. She hadn't considered running for Miss
Seventh Grade, but if Randy ran for Mr. Seventh Grade, it would be fun for them
to run together. Randy was liked by everyone. He was the kindest and most
sincere boy in the world, and he always stood by his friends. He had been the
quarterback on the seventh-grade football team, and now he was on the
basketball team, so everyone knew him. Maybe it was a good idea after all.
"I don't know," Jana said, still hesitating. "Maybe.
But I'll have to think about it."
"Great! I'm taking that for a yes," said Funny. "I'll
keep spreading my rumors, too. Gotta go," she said as they approached the
door to the cafeteria. "If Laura sees us together, I'll have to explain
why I was talking to you." She flashed Jana a big smile and waved with her
fingers as she skittered away.
Jana didn't mention her conversation with Funny to her
friends during lunch. Running for Miss Seventh Grade for the yearbook contest
was such a new idea to her that she needed to think about it. If she and Randy
both ran and won, being chosen together would be so romantic. Funny had said everyone thought they were a perfect couple. That thrilled Jana, even though she had
secretly known it for a long time.
Jana waved to Shane Arrington as she entered her social
studies class that afternoon. Shane looked a lot like River Phoenix and might
be as popular as Randy, she thought as she settled into her seat. He was fun,
played on all the seventh-grade teams, and was really laid-back. If Shane ran
for Mr. Seventh Grade, he could have a chance to be elected.
Jana looked around for anyone else who might be
well enough known to run for Miss Seventh Grade. The Wigwam yearbook was
running its annual contest to determine who were the most popular kids in the
seventh, eighth, and ninth grades at Wacko Junior High, as most kids called
their school. The winners would receive their awards at a school assembly and
have their pictures in the yearbook. Students who wanted to be candidates had
to get fifty signatures and turn the list in at the office by Friday.
"Why would I run?" Jana asked Funny. "Kids
wouldn't vote for me. I'm not that well-known."
" What? Lots of kids know you, and I've never
heard anyone say anything bad about you." Funny hesitated and
looked embarrassed. "Except for Laura, maybe."
Jana sighed at the mention of Laura McCall. She was the
leader of a clique who called themselves The Fantastic Foursome. The Fabulous
Five had had a run-in with The Fantastic Foursome on the very first day of
school, and they had been rivals ever since. Besides Laura and Funny, Melissa
McConnell and Tammy Lucero were members. Jana had heard that Laura made the
other girls do things to belong, but she could never find out what, even though
Funny and she had become friends. And Laura was always bragging that since she
lived with her single father, she could do just about anything she pleased.
Funny giggled, breaking into Jana's thoughts about Laura. "I'm
even starting a rumor that you and Randy Kirwan are going to run together as
Mr. and Miss Seventh Grade," said Funny. "Everyone knows you're the
perfect couple."
Jana's mouth fell open. " Funny! You're not really doing that, are you? Randy would make a super Mr. Seventh Grade, but there
are lots of girls who are more popular than I am."
"Name one," demanded Funny.
"Why . . ." Jana thought for a moment. "There's
. . . uh, Christie, and Laura, and what about you? You're so friendly. Everyone
likes you."
"Christie doesn't like to be the center of attention.
Remember how she didn't want to run for class president? And Laura? She's my
friend, but I don't think that many other people like her as much as I do. She
is kind of bossy.
"And me," continued Funny. "I guess people
that know me like me, but I don't have nearly as many friends as you do. Everyone knows The Fabulous Five, an d you're their leader."
Jana looked at Funny. She hadn't considered running for Miss
Seventh Grade, but if Randy ran for Mr. Seventh Grade, it would be fun for them
to run together. Randy was liked by everyone. He was the kindest and most
sincere boy in the world, and he always stood by his friends. He had been the
quarterback on the seventh-grade football team, and now he was on the
basketball team, so everyone knew him. Maybe it was a good idea after all.
"I don't know," Jana said, still hesitating. "Maybe.
But I'll have to think about it."
"Great! I'm taking that for a yes," said Funny. "I'll
keep spreading my rumors, too. Gotta go," she said as they approached the
door to the cafeteria. "If Laura sees us together, I'll have to explain
why I was talking to you." She flashed Jana a big smile and waved with her
fingers as she skittered away.
Jana didn't mention her conversation with Funny to her
friends during lunch. Running for Miss Seventh Grade for the yearbook contest
was such a new idea to her that she needed to think about it. If she and Randy
both ran and won, being chosen together would be so romantic. Funny had said everyone thought they were a perfect couple. That thrilled Jana, even though she had
secretly known it for a long time.
Jana waved to Shane Arrington as she entered her social
studies class that afternoon. Shane looked a lot like River Phoenix and might
be as popular as Randy, she thought as she settled into her seat. He was fun,
played on all the seventh-grade teams, and was really laid-back. If Shane ran
for Mr. Seventh Grade, he could have a chance to be elected.
Jana looked around for anyone else who might be
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