e-mail.
“Use it to take notes in your classes,” he said. “Then download everything into your laptop later.”
Right, Dad. I’m going to pull out this little techno wizard in class while everyone else is using pen and paper! It’s bad enough I sometimes bring my laptop to school.
Zeke’s already emailed three of his friends from his Handy. He can’t wait to show his ne high-tech toy to his buddies.
Really, I think the Handy is neat, but I don’t want anyone at school to know I have it. It’s embarrassing to have so much more stuff than my friends have.
“Only the best for the best,” Dad said when he gave Zeke and me our Handys. “You can’t be the best and the brightest without the latest technology. I want my kids to keep up.”
I hate it when Dad talks like that. Why does he think money equals talent and brains? It doesn’t.
Period. Anyone with half a brain knows that.
Time to go.
10:00 P.M.
Well. Another typical Blume family dinner. Mom was drinking vodka and eyeing the wine
bottle. Zeke was stuffing his face and talking a mile a minute about some Star Trek chat group on the Internet.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” my father boomed from the head of the table.
“Don’t yell,” my mother mumbled under her breath.
Dad steered the conversation to his new movie. He asked me, for about the twentieth time, if I’d read the script yet.
“I need a teenager’s reaction,” he said.
I reminded him that he only gave me the script last night and that I’ve been to school, done homework, and practiced the piano since then. But the truth is, I don’t want to read Love Conquers All . It will be just as lame as his other movies. But I have to act like it’s some big deal.
I haven’t told any of my friends that Dad’s landed Tyler Kendall for the lead of Love Conquers All . I’m not at all interested in “Hollywood’s hot new teen star.” I know what movie stars are like — especially the child star variety. Self-centered and shallow.
I tried to concentrate on my dinner. But with Dad’s bragging and Mom’s drinking, I could barely get down a few bites. I am always hungry before dinner, but when I sit down to eat with my family I lose my appetite. Now there’s a diet.
I wonder if Sunny and her dad had dinner together.
Ducky probably picked up some takeout tonight. Ducky — the most generous, sweet, lovable, fun guy in the world.
Dinner at Dawn’s house will be a happy time, what with the new baby and all.
I bet there were extra people at Amalia’s table. The Vargases are always inviting people to stay for dinner. It’s so casual, homey, and fun at their house. I wonder if Brendan is eating with them tonight. Brendan and Amalia make a great pair, even if they’re not fully ready to admit it.
Note to myself: Don’t push the Amalia/Brendan thing. After James, Amalia needs to take her time with guys.
Note to myself #2: Springtime is a perfect time for new beginnings. I, Maggie Blume, do hereby resolve to have a great spring.
Me and my friends.
We all deserve it.
Wednesday 4/21
3:45 P.M.
Ducky and Sunny dropped me off at therapy on their way to Mr. Winslow’s bookstore. Ducky had to be at work by four and Sunny was going too. She’s been helping her father a lot. I think it does her good to be around her dad — and Ducky.
Since I’m fifteen minutes early for my shrink appointment, I’m typing on the Handy for the first time. I keep making mistakes on these little keys, but I think I’ll get used to it.
I just wrote my schedule in the daily planner and copied it into my diary file. Cool.
4:00 P.M. Dr. Fuentes
5:00 P.M. Dinner at Amalia’s
7:00 P.M. Vanish practice
What else do I have to report? Dad’s big media campaign for Love Conquers All has started.
Why does everyone make such a big deal out of movie stars? Dawn, Sunny, Amalia, and I were having lunch together when Jill and a couple of her new friends came over to our table.
“Tyler Kendall!”
“Use it to take notes in your classes,” he said. “Then download everything into your laptop later.”
Right, Dad. I’m going to pull out this little techno wizard in class while everyone else is using pen and paper! It’s bad enough I sometimes bring my laptop to school.
Zeke’s already emailed three of his friends from his Handy. He can’t wait to show his ne high-tech toy to his buddies.
Really, I think the Handy is neat, but I don’t want anyone at school to know I have it. It’s embarrassing to have so much more stuff than my friends have.
“Only the best for the best,” Dad said when he gave Zeke and me our Handys. “You can’t be the best and the brightest without the latest technology. I want my kids to keep up.”
I hate it when Dad talks like that. Why does he think money equals talent and brains? It doesn’t.
Period. Anyone with half a brain knows that.
Time to go.
10:00 P.M.
Well. Another typical Blume family dinner. Mom was drinking vodka and eyeing the wine
bottle. Zeke was stuffing his face and talking a mile a minute about some Star Trek chat group on the Internet.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” my father boomed from the head of the table.
“Don’t yell,” my mother mumbled under her breath.
Dad steered the conversation to his new movie. He asked me, for about the twentieth time, if I’d read the script yet.
“I need a teenager’s reaction,” he said.
I reminded him that he only gave me the script last night and that I’ve been to school, done homework, and practiced the piano since then. But the truth is, I don’t want to read Love Conquers All . It will be just as lame as his other movies. But I have to act like it’s some big deal.
I haven’t told any of my friends that Dad’s landed Tyler Kendall for the lead of Love Conquers All . I’m not at all interested in “Hollywood’s hot new teen star.” I know what movie stars are like — especially the child star variety. Self-centered and shallow.
I tried to concentrate on my dinner. But with Dad’s bragging and Mom’s drinking, I could barely get down a few bites. I am always hungry before dinner, but when I sit down to eat with my family I lose my appetite. Now there’s a diet.
I wonder if Sunny and her dad had dinner together.
Ducky probably picked up some takeout tonight. Ducky — the most generous, sweet, lovable, fun guy in the world.
Dinner at Dawn’s house will be a happy time, what with the new baby and all.
I bet there were extra people at Amalia’s table. The Vargases are always inviting people to stay for dinner. It’s so casual, homey, and fun at their house. I wonder if Brendan is eating with them tonight. Brendan and Amalia make a great pair, even if they’re not fully ready to admit it.
Note to myself: Don’t push the Amalia/Brendan thing. After James, Amalia needs to take her time with guys.
Note to myself #2: Springtime is a perfect time for new beginnings. I, Maggie Blume, do hereby resolve to have a great spring.
Me and my friends.
We all deserve it.
Wednesday 4/21
3:45 P.M.
Ducky and Sunny dropped me off at therapy on their way to Mr. Winslow’s bookstore. Ducky had to be at work by four and Sunny was going too. She’s been helping her father a lot. I think it does her good to be around her dad — and Ducky.
Since I’m fifteen minutes early for my shrink appointment, I’m typing on the Handy for the first time. I keep making mistakes on these little keys, but I think I’ll get used to it.
I just wrote my schedule in the daily planner and copied it into my diary file. Cool.
4:00 P.M. Dr. Fuentes
5:00 P.M. Dinner at Amalia’s
7:00 P.M. Vanish practice
What else do I have to report? Dad’s big media campaign for Love Conquers All has started.
Why does everyone make such a big deal out of movie stars? Dawn, Sunny, Amalia, and I were having lunch together when Jill and a couple of her new friends came over to our table.
“Tyler Kendall!”
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