Just Kidding (18 page)

Charlotte, though, was standing all alone at the punch table. Just as she was wondering how she could convince Kevin, without hurting his feelings, that she had to go spend time with Charlotte, Isabel saw Nick Montoya come around the table holding a punch cup. He offered it to Charlotte with a smile.

“Hey?” Kevin broke into her train of thought. “You look pretty far away. What are you thinking about?”

“Uh–” For a second Isabel was caught completely off guard. Then she thought of something and asked, “I was just wondering what you brought to show your spirit.”

Kevin grinned. “It's right over there.” And he pointed across the room. “I thought you'd appreciate it.”

Isabel turned. Kevin was pointing at the basketball hoop. He thought she'd appreciate
that
? She liked basketball, but she had secretly hoped Kevin would have come up with a way cooler idea.

Suddenly, something hanging in the hoop caught her eye. It was the shimmering bottle-cap fish she'd seen in the art room. “That's your spirit?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“Yup,” Kevin answered his new friend. “Art is my spirit.”

Just Kidding

BOOK EXTRAS

 

Book Club Buzz

 

Trivialicious Trivia

 

Charlotte's Word Nerd Dictionary

 

Keep Safe! Fun Sites for Girls!

10 Q
UESTIONS FOR
Y
OU AND
Y
OUR
F
RIENDS TO
C
HAT
A
BOUT

1. Spirit Week is a special occasion at Abigail Adams Junior High. Does your school have any big traditions that occur every year? What is the purpose of those traditions?
   
2. Maeve wants “Birdland.” Chase wants “Under the Sea.” Betsy Fitzgerald wants “Spirit of Abigail Adams.” What would be your fabulous theme for a Spirit Week dance?
   
3. Kevin is so talented at basketball that not very many people know about his love of art. What are some of your hobbies, passions, or talents that most people probably wouldn't know about?
   
4. Maeve says that romance always gets in the way of boy/girl friendships, but Avery says that there are plenty of “just friend” activities that boys and girls can
   do together. What do you think?
   
5. Miss Pierce has a favorite quote: “Hitch your wagon to a star.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson. What is your favorite quote? If you don't have one, check out a book of quotations!
   
6. Even though Miss Pierce is the grown-up, sometimes Charlotte feels responsible for her. Do you know anyone who is older than you that you sometimes have to look after? Why?
   
7. Isabel feels overwhelmed by all the gossip about her. What are some things Isabel could do to regain control of the situation? How could her friends help?
   
8. Chase Finley's rumor-spreading ways are CERTAINLY not nice. Why do you think Chase behaves like this? If you were Chase's friend, like Kevin, or one of his classmates, what would you tell him?
   
9. Avery says that her dance outfit is in the “no joke zone.” What is in your “no joke zone?”
   
10. The Internet can be totally awesome, but it is also a place where gossip spreads like wildfire! Why do you think online behavior can get out of line, and what are some things you can do to keep the Internet fun and safe?
    

1. “Be True to Your School” is a song by what '60s pop group?
   
   • A. The Beatles
     
   • B. The Supremes
     
   • C. The Beach Boys
     
   • D. The Bee Gees
     
2. What kind of creature is Kevin's art project?
   
   • A. Fish
     
   • B. Human (athletes)
     
   • C. Snake
     
   • D. Bird
     
3. Who is Harry Wooster's cousin?
   
   • A. Joline Kaminsky
     
   • B. Riley Lee
     
   • C. Betsy Fitzgerald
     
   • D. Kiki Underwood
     
4. What were the names of the strange-looking outfits—the ones with the ballooning pants—worn by the men in the Birdland clubs?
   
   • A. Count Basie capes
     
   • B. Zoot suits
     
   • C. Puffy pants
     
   • D. Air-filled Jordans
     
5. One of Miss Pierce's favorite quotes is “Hitch your wagon to a star.” What famous historical Massachusetts resident said this?
   
   • A. Henry David Thoreau
     
   • B. Ralph Waldo Emerson
     
   • C. Louisa May Alcott
     
   • D. Benjamin Franklin
     
6. What did Ms. Pink do to show her spirit during her Spirit Week?
   
   • A. She dyed her hair pink
     
   • B. She made pink cupcakes
     
   • C. She ran for chair of the dance committee
     
   • D. She bought La Fanny
     
7. What extra effort do the girls make to be polite when they go to Montoya's?
   
   • A. They never cut in line
     
   • B. They wipe up the milk spills at the counter
     
   • C. They clean up their crumbs and napkins at their table when they leave
     
   • D. They buy a pastry for a stranger as a random act of kindness
     
8. Why does Pete Wexler think Avery should not run the sports committee?
   
   • A. Because she already has too many extracurricular activities
     
   • B. Because she's too short
     
   • C. Because she already ran for class president
     
   • D. Because sports committees are men's work
     
9. How does Katani hear about the “No Joke Zone?”
   
   • A. From her sister Candice
     
   • B. From Mrs. Fields
     
   • C. From Ethel Weiss
     
   • D. From Ms. Pink
     
10. How does Avery manage to surprise the BSG before the dance?
    
    • A. She pulls a practical joke on all of them
      
    • B. She wears her sports gear to show extra spirit
      
    • C. She gets dressed up
      
    • D. She goes to the dance with Pete Wexler
      

ANSWERS: 1. C.
The Beach Boys
2. A.
Fish
3. C.
Betsy Fitzgerald
4. B.
Zoot suits
5. B.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
6. A.
She dyed her hair pink
7. C.
They clean up their crumbs and napkins at their table when they leave
8. D.
Because sports committees are men's work
9. A.
From her sister Candice
10. C.
She gets dressed up

BSG Words

Laugh-a-thon:
noun—
when you're laughing about something that might not even be that funny, but you still can't stop

Gidget:
noun—
a Yuri word, the same thing as a gadget

Other Cool Words

Riffling:
verb—
to go through in search of something

Abominably:
adverb—
in an offensive or terrible manner

Disperse:
verb—
to spread widely

Ambitious:
adjective—
having a strong desire for success or achievement

Wingspan:
noun—
the distance between the wing tips of an airplane or bird

Iridescent:
adjective—
brilliant, lustrous, or colorful

Emphatically:
adverb—
forcefully or insistently

Plaintively:
adverb—
sorrowfully

Miffed:
adjective—
in an irritable mood

Drone:
verb—
to go on and on in a monotonous voice

Frenetic:
adjective—
frantic or frenzied

Methodical:
adjective—
orderly

Inconsolable:
adjective—
incapable of being comforted

Humdinger:
noun—
something of a remarkable or puzzling effect

Rambling:
adjective—
roaming, sprawling, or wandering

Boisterously:
adverb—
loudly and noisily

Conspiratorially:
adverb—
with the manner of believing there is a larger plot at play

Exuberant:
adjective—
full of enthusiasm or joy

Unnerved:
adjective—
nervous or anxious

Salvage:
verb—
to save from loss or destruction

 

Definitions adapted from
Webster's Dictionary
, Fourth Edition, Random House.