Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph Page B
Authors: Danielle Joseph
Tags: United States, Fiction, General, People & Places, Family, Juvenile Fiction, Social Issues, Performing Arts, Girls & Women, School & Education, Secrecy, Parents, Schools, Miami (Fla.), Dating & Sex, High schools, Emotions & Feelings, Mothers and daughters, secrets, radio, Disc jockeys, Bashfulness
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skin. "You do?" I gulp. You know I'm a former Snowball, two-time loser?
"Yeah, sure. You're a super kick-butt spy working undercover as a narc."
I can't stop myself from cracking up. Jason knows I'm full of it. But even if he does scope me out, I know my secret is safe with him.
133
I end off the show with, "Sleep tight, Miami, You never know where love is hiding . ."
Jason arranged with Rob to drop me home and it's almost midnight when we pull in, but I have to call someone, and let's face it, the only someone I have is Audrey. Mom and Rob are out at some fashion show, So I don't even have to sneak by them.
I plop down onto my bed and whip out my cell. "Hi, Aud."
"Hello," she says groggily.
"Sorry, did I wake you?" I whisper, like that will help.
"No, I was just studying for Senora Garcia's test from hell. Crazy lady has to give a test the day we get back from break."
"That sucks." I don't know why, but I'm totally out of breath. "I did it. I was on the air tonight."
"You got your own show?" she squeaks.
I spring up and down on my bed. I feel like I'm back in the fifth grade, the time I came home all high from the cotton candy and elephant ears at the county youth fair. "No, not exactly. Garrison called in sick, and Derek's producer, Jason, took over. Halfway through, he had me talk on the air."
"What did you say?"
I close my eyes and let the words dance in front of me. "Hi, Miami, up next is the Hot Tees with 'Sweet and Sticky.'"
"That's it?"
"Well, I got to end off the show, too."
"That's great!"
134
"Yeah, but the whole time I thought I was going to hurl all over the console."
"You didn't, did you?"
"No, of course not. But do you know how many people listen to The Love Shack? Like a quarter million."
"Wow, probably more people than tuned into Dance Craze tonight. The show sucked, and they voted off Ollie. The cute swing dancer." That's one thing Audrey and I don't have in common. Swing dancing.
"That sucks." I try to muster up as much sympathy as possible. Audrey's a reality TV
show junkie, and if she doesn't get her weekly fix, she can be really moody.
I let out a yawn. "See you tomorrow."
"For sure," Audrey says.
"Oh, and don't tell anyone about me being on the air. Ever."
"Never ever, best friends forever." Audrey recites our mantra.
I slip into my pj's and put on my iPod. It takes me a long time to fall asleep. I didn't even tell Audrey the best part. That they liked me. The people. The audience. Okay, really only two people called in, but, still, they called in about me. Sweet T. I can't believe I'm expected back tomorrow to do it again. Garrison will be out at least until the end of the week.
I step into the kitchen to grab some breakfast before I head off to school. Mom's busy with the blender, attempting to make a smoothie. What is she doing up? And even more suspicious, what
135
is she doing using an appliance? I guess Smoothie King isn't open this early in the morning.
She squeezes some lime into the machine. "How was it last night?"
"Way cool." I pour myself a bowl of cornflakes. I can still taste the words on the tip of my tongue. This is Sweet T on 92.7 The SLAM...
"You didn't mess up?"
I can't even remember the last time she was proud of me. It was probably back in eighth grade when she took me to the hairdresser and the owner of the store asked if they could take a photo of me for a presentation they were doing at a salon trade show.
Apparently my hair had the perfect balance of natural shine, highlights, and body. For months after that Mom was after me to stay out of the sun, so as not to ruin my perfect hair. Not such an easy feat in Miami!
"Did you even listen?"
"No. I was on the phone with Karen forever, and then we had to go to the fashion show." Mom opens and closes several cutlery drawers until she conies up with the small paring knife. "But Rob listened before we left. He said it went well."
I nearly drop my spoon. "Really?"
"Yes, but don't get all crazy."
"Yeah, sure. You're a super kick-butt spy working undercover as a narc."
I can't stop myself from cracking up. Jason knows I'm full of it. But even if he does scope me out, I know my secret is safe with him.
133
I end off the show with, "Sleep tight, Miami, You never know where love is hiding . ."
Jason arranged with Rob to drop me home and it's almost midnight when we pull in, but I have to call someone, and let's face it, the only someone I have is Audrey. Mom and Rob are out at some fashion show, So I don't even have to sneak by them.
I plop down onto my bed and whip out my cell. "Hi, Aud."
"Hello," she says groggily.
"Sorry, did I wake you?" I whisper, like that will help.
"No, I was just studying for Senora Garcia's test from hell. Crazy lady has to give a test the day we get back from break."
"That sucks." I don't know why, but I'm totally out of breath. "I did it. I was on the air tonight."
"You got your own show?" she squeaks.
I spring up and down on my bed. I feel like I'm back in the fifth grade, the time I came home all high from the cotton candy and elephant ears at the county youth fair. "No, not exactly. Garrison called in sick, and Derek's producer, Jason, took over. Halfway through, he had me talk on the air."
"What did you say?"
I close my eyes and let the words dance in front of me. "Hi, Miami, up next is the Hot Tees with 'Sweet and Sticky.'"
"That's it?"
"Well, I got to end off the show, too."
"That's great!"
134
"Yeah, but the whole time I thought I was going to hurl all over the console."
"You didn't, did you?"
"No, of course not. But do you know how many people listen to The Love Shack? Like a quarter million."
"Wow, probably more people than tuned into Dance Craze tonight. The show sucked, and they voted off Ollie. The cute swing dancer." That's one thing Audrey and I don't have in common. Swing dancing.
"That sucks." I try to muster up as much sympathy as possible. Audrey's a reality TV
show junkie, and if she doesn't get her weekly fix, she can be really moody.
I let out a yawn. "See you tomorrow."
"For sure," Audrey says.
"Oh, and don't tell anyone about me being on the air. Ever."
"Never ever, best friends forever." Audrey recites our mantra.
I slip into my pj's and put on my iPod. It takes me a long time to fall asleep. I didn't even tell Audrey the best part. That they liked me. The people. The audience. Okay, really only two people called in, but, still, they called in about me. Sweet T. I can't believe I'm expected back tomorrow to do it again. Garrison will be out at least until the end of the week.
I step into the kitchen to grab some breakfast before I head off to school. Mom's busy with the blender, attempting to make a smoothie. What is she doing up? And even more suspicious, what
135
is she doing using an appliance? I guess Smoothie King isn't open this early in the morning.
She squeezes some lime into the machine. "How was it last night?"
"Way cool." I pour myself a bowl of cornflakes. I can still taste the words on the tip of my tongue. This is Sweet T on 92.7 The SLAM...
"You didn't mess up?"
I can't even remember the last time she was proud of me. It was probably back in eighth grade when she took me to the hairdresser and the owner of the store asked if they could take a photo of me for a presentation they were doing at a salon trade show.
Apparently my hair had the perfect balance of natural shine, highlights, and body. For months after that Mom was after me to stay out of the sun, so as not to ruin my perfect hair. Not such an easy feat in Miami!
"Did you even listen?"
"No. I was on the phone with Karen forever, and then we had to go to the fashion show." Mom opens and closes several cutlery drawers until she conies up with the small paring knife. "But Rob listened before we left. He said it went well."
I nearly drop my spoon. "Really?"
"Yes, but don't get all crazy."
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