From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess by Meg Cabot Page B

hit in the face?” Dad roared.
    â€œReally, Phillipe.” Uncle Rick stood up and went to his son’s side. “It isn’t my son’s fault that your daughter can’t take a — ”
    â€œHe just said he was standing right there, watching the whole thing happen!” Dad shouted. “What kind of boy would allow his own — ”
    â€œPlease!” Aunt Catherine cried. “What was Justin supposed to do? He has asthma!”
    â€œI’m taking Olivia to a doctor right now,” Mia interrupted in a voice so cold, I’m surprised it didn’t freeze up the coffee stain Snowball was now sniffing.
    â€œOh, you don’t have to do that,” Aunt Catherine said, looking embarrassed. Although I don’t know by what. “I’m sure our pediatrician — ”
    â€œYou should notify your pediatrician that our doctor in Genovia will be requesting Olivia’s records,” Mia said, taking my hand. “Because I believe this incident more than adequately proves the point we were discussing earlier: This isn’t a safe — or stable — environment for Olivia to live in. If you disagree, you may contact our lawyers. Right, Dad? Come on, Olivia,” Mia said. “Let’s go get your things.”
    She started tugging me toward my room, but even though my nose was throbbing, I wanted to see what was going to happen next.
    Which is that my dad stopped glaring at Justin and Uncle Rick, and said, “Yes. Yes, of course, Mia, you’re right. Let’s go.” He bent down to pick up Snowball.
    â€œIsn’t a stable environment for — ” Aunt Catherine didn’t look embarrassed now. She looked upset. “After everything we’ve done for her!”
    â€œI think you might want to have your lawyer review the documents in that file I’ve left on the coffee table, Catherine,” Dad said, holding a wriggling Snowball with one arm, “before you continue bragging about what you’ve done for my daughter. Especially after what happened to her today.”
    â€œBut it — it was just a little fight,” Aunt Catherine stammered. “A fight between girls! It was nothing!”
    â€œWas it?” My dad’s voice was cold. “Because it doesn’t look like nothing to me. In fact, considering what we now know about you and your husband’s finances, as well as your dealings with this Jenkins person, it looks very much like something that I imagine you’d both like for us to drop instead of pursuing legally. Am I correct?”
    I saw my aunt and step-uncle exchange a look. The look reminded me of the one Lars had worn earlier, of sheepish regret.
    Still, Aunt Catherine wasn’t willing to give up. She said, “But I made a promise to my sister that I would raise her child to be as normal as possible — ”
    â€œNormal,” Dad asked icily, “or average ?”
    When he asked this, Aunt Catherine’s gaze fell to the floor … but not to Mia’s coffee stain. To her feet. I saw her blush.
    â€œYou and I both know, Catherine,” Dad went on, “that Elizabeth would never have wanted Olivia to be raised to be normal or average. She’d have wanted her to be raised to be herself , which is very far from average. And that’s not what’s happening around here, is it?”
    Aunt Catherine looked up. Then, the next thing I knew, she was grasping my arms.
    â€œOlivia,” she said, in a tearful voice. “We never meant to make you feel average. I know we didn’t spoil you, but that’s because my sister wanted you to be raised like an ordinary girl, and to know what it’s like to live amongst the common people. She didn’t want you to grow up to be some snobby, rich princess who only cares about her looks and getting on the cover of magazines.” She narrowed her eyes at Princess Mia, who looked hurt. “That’s not what