Read Online #5 Not What I Expected by Laurie Friedman - Free Book Online

opened. We can’t afford to spend more,” said Dad.
    â€œWe can’t afford not to,” said Mom. They went around and around on that point for a long time. Then Mom told Dad she was doing it. “The next few weeks are going to be very busy,” she told him.
    I didn’t wait to hear Dad’s response. I already know how this is going down.
    Tuesday, October 28, 8:52 a.m.
    School nurse’s office
    I forgot to set my alarm last night so I woke up late this morning. Then, when I was getting dressed, I remembered that today is the last day to bring in a check to Ms. Baumann for the dance costumes for the show. She’d gone on record saying that if you don’t have a check by practice today, you can’t dance in the show. So I threw on clothes, skipped makeup entirely, and was in the kitchen trying to quickly explain to Mom why I needed a check for $122.19 on the spot when June walked in in her pajamas.
    â€œWhy aren’t you dressed?” asked Mom.
    â€œI’m not going to school,” said June as she sat down at the table.
    â€œDo you feel sick?” Mom went over to June and put a hand on her forehead. “You don’t have a fever.” June crossed her arms across her chest.
    I cleared my throat. “Um, Mom, I need a check now or I’m going to be late.”
    Mom gave me a blank look like she’d forgotten what we’d been discussing. She turned her attention back to my sister. “You have to go to school.”
    June shook her head. “I’m not going. Cole Martin is mean to me. And so are Sam Chen and Evan Walker.”
    I blew out a breath. “Mom, I need a check. Now.”
    â€œHow are they mean?” she asked in response.
    â€œThey make fun of me because I bring soy milk in my lunch.”
    â€œTell them you’re allergic to dairy,” said Mom.
    June shook her head like that wouldn’t work. “They’ll say I’m weird. That’s what they say every day.” Mom sat down at the table and took a sip of coffee, like that was going to give her some insight as to how to handle the situation.
    I looked at the clock. I was seriously going to be late for homeroom. “Tell them they’re all big baby losers and you’ll beat them up if they make fun of you again,” I said.
    â€œApril!” Mom said my name sharply.
    â€œMom!” I said shoving her checkbook in front of her. “I’m really late.” So she wrote the check, but not until she told me I need to be more responsible and let her know in advance when I need money for something. It stressed me out and made me wonder if she didn’t want to write the check because we don’t have the money, but it also made me have to run to school. I literally ran all the way. When I got to Mrs. Monteleone’s room, she was just finishing taking the role. Beads of sweat were running down my forehead.
    â€œI’m going to have to give you an unexcused tardy,” she said as I entered her classroom. I’m not sure what the consequences of having an unexcused tardy are, but shockingly, Mrs. Monteleone changed her mind. She said she wasn’t giving me the tardy because I looked feverish, then she sent me to the nurse’s office.
    The nurse took my temperature, then gave me some juice and a paper towel and told me I could sit out first period while I cool down.
    The only problem is I sweated so much, now I have body odor.
    I’d much rather have the unexcused tardy.
    Wednesday, October 29, 7:32 p.m.
    In my room
    Mom asked me if I could stop by the store after dance practice and help her set up a Flora’s Fashions Facebook page. I thought she could have figured it out without me, but I didn’t think it was a good time to say no. When I’d asked if I could go to Mark Miller’s Halloween party with Harry and Sophie, she and Dad had reluctantly agreed. I didn’t want her to change her mind.
    Once we had her