Lilly lifted her tear-stained face.
“Wh-What?” she asked.
“Well,” I said. “Sometimes you’re kind of mean to people. Like me. With the whole baby-licker thing.”
“But you ARE a baby-licker,” Lilly pointed out.
“Yes,” I said. “But, you know, you don’t need to SAY it all the time.”
Lilly rested her chin on her knees.
“I guess not,” she said with a sigh. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
While I had her in a conciliatory mood, I added, “And I don’t like it when you call me POG or PIT, either.”
Lilly looked at me blankly.
“Then what am I supposed to call you?”
“How about just plain Mia?”
Lilly seemed to think about this.
“But…that’s so boring,” she said.
“But it’s my name,” I pointed out.
Lilly sighed again.
“Fine,” she said. “Whatever. You have no idea how good you have it, POG. I mean, Mia.”
“Good? ME? Please!” I practically burst out laughing. “My life is TERRIBLE right now. Did you SEE what Ms. Martinez gave me on my paper?”
Lilly wiped her eyes.
“Well, yeah,” she said. “She WAS a little harsh. But a B isn’t really that bad, Mia. Besides, I saw your dad headed toward her classroom a little while ago. He looked like he was going to read her the riot act.”
“Yeah, but what good is that going to do me?” I wanted to know. “I mean, it’s not going to change her mind about my writing talent…or lack thereof. It’s just going to make her, you know. Scared of my dad.”
Lilly just shook her head.
“Yeah,” she said. “But at least you have a boyfriend.”
“Who’s in COLLEGE,” I reminded her. “And who apparently expects—”
“Oh, please,” Lilly said. “Not that stupid Lana thing again. When are you going to get it through your head that Lana doesn’t know what she’s talking about? I mean, do you see HER dating a college boy?”
“No,” I said. “But—”
“Yeah, well, there might be a REASON for that. And if what it says all over the ladies’ room wall is true, it is NOT because Lana has any reservations about Doing It.”
We both sat there and thought about that for awhile. Then Lilly said, “So, are your mom and Mr. G still going to Indiana for the weekend?”
“Yes,” I said, and then added quickly, “but there isn’t going to be any party at my place, because I’m staying at the Plaza.”
“In your own room?” Lilly asked. When I nodded, she said, “Sweet.” Then she said, “Hey, you should have a slumber party.”
I looked at her like she was crazy.
“At the hotel?”
“Sure,” Lilly said. “It’ll be fun. And we need to work on your debate skills, anyway. We could do a mock run-through. How about it?”
“Well,” I said. “I guess so.”
Although, I’m not sure how Dad and Grandmère are going to feel about this. My having a slumber party at the Plaza.
But, oh well. If it’ll make Lilly happy, I guess it’s worth it. I seriously never knew she felt that way about herself. You know, that she’s not popular. I mean, I know Lilly isn’t very popular. But I never knew SHE knew it. She always ACTS like she thinks she’s the queen of the school.
Who knew it was all for show?
Now we both have to sit here until the bell for sixth period rings and we can duck back downstairs and mingle with the rest of the hordes. We’re missing Gifted and Talented, but I have my pass from the nurse to show Mrs. Hill on Monday, so she won’t count me absent from today.
I don’t know what Lilly’s going to do about it. She doesn’t seem to care all that much, either. Really, if you think about it, Grandmère and Lilly could BOTH teach the world a thing or two about acting like a princess.
Which is kind of scary, if you think about it.
Friday, September 11, U.S. Government
THEORIES OF GOVERNMENT:
EVOLUTIONARY THEORY
Darwin theory of evolution—applied government =
1. Family
2. Clan
3. Tribe
Groups formed to coordinate and manage enterprise of goods and services.
To maintain internal order and protect from external danger, governmental institutions were formed.
Wow, this is just like cliques! Seriously! I mean, the way cliques are formed within a school—to protect from external danger. Like, for instance, all of us Geeks bonded together and formed a clique to protect ourselves from being picked on by the Jocks and Cheerleaders, because there is safety in numbers. This explains so much:
The Sk8terboi clique formed to protect themselves from the Punks The Punks formed to protect themselves from the Drama Club The Drama Club formed to protect themselves from the Nerds The Nerds formed to protect themselves from the Jocks And the Jocks formed to protect themselves from…
Well, I don’t know who the Jocks formed together to protect themselves from.
But otherwise it’s all making sense now. This is why cliques exist! Darwin was right!!!
Friday, September 11, Earth Science
Magnetic field surrounding Earth due to interior convection currents