Read Online Best Foot Forward by Joan Bauer - Free Book Online Page A

going for him. I wrote my name on a Gladstone’s card.
    â€œGood store,” he said. “Look, if you want to call the police, can we call them tomorrow? I’ve got to get to school.”
    It’s seven o’clock at night. What kind of school do you go to?
    He climbed into his van without waiting for my answer and drove off.
    What a jerk.
    I was fuming when I got home and called Opal. She was all a-flutter about this French guy who stopped by the Fotomat booth. “I feel total chemistry with him, Jenna. Complete and utter connection.”
    â€œWhat’s his name?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œWhat did you talk about?”
    â€œHow much it costs to get a roll of fast-speed color film developed. He came back three times. But, believe me, the most important thing was there.”
    Chemistry is high on Opal’s list of relationship necessities. It’s number two, actually, wedged between #1—Undying Devotion, and #3—Blind Loyalty. Sometimes I wonder if Opal should just get a dog.
    I told her about Charlie Duran, Doughnut Dope. Opal jumps to conclusions in her own life much quicker than in mine.
    â€œJenna,” she said finally, “if it’s only a scratch, you should probably let it go.”
    â€œBut I feel like he scratched a part of me.”
    â€œI know, but he didn’t. And your insurance premium would go up if you make a claim and he makes one against you. A scratch isn’t permanent, Jenna; a higher premium is forever.”

Chapter 11
    Over the next three days, Mrs. Gladstone had an idea that turned into a full-fledged brainstorm.
    â€œBest foot forward,” she said to me. “What does that mean to you?”
    I smiled. “My grandma used to say that to me every year on the first day of school. She’d tell me to put my best foot forward and try to do my best.”
    â€œI would have liked your grandmother.”
    â€œYou would have, Mrs. Gladstone. She was a pistol.” I grinned. “Like you.”
    Mrs. Gladstone’s face was flushed with the energy of a new idea.
    â€œNow this best foot forward, Jenna. I’m thinking that could be the slogan for the merger of our two companies. I’ve been trying to figure out how we pull from the best of what we both offer.” She shuddered. “Not the worst.”
    Our CEO, Ken Woldman, loved the idea and he called the advertising agency, who thought it made a good slogan. Best foot forward was taking hold. My grandmother was getting me ready for this job without either of us knowing it.
    Â 
    But not everyone was committed to doing their best. Tanner Cobb seemed to think that a one-hour lunch break meant that he could be gone for one and a half hours and no one would notice.
    I confronted him. “Tanner, you can’t be late from lunch every day.”
    â€œI haven’t got a watch,” he said.
    â€œThen you’ve got to look for clocks. Chicago has a lot of clocks.”
    â€œI’m not so good at getting places on time.”
    â€œThere are ways to get better.”
    Just then a tall, pretty girl walked into the store. Her eyes turned to slits when she saw Tanner.
    â€œSave me, save me,” he whispered to me.
    What was he talking about? She marched toward him.
    He rubbed the scar on his face. “Hi, Denise.”
    â€œI thought you left town.”
    More rubbing. “I did for a while.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you call me?”
    â€œI been working, Baby.”
    She didn’t buy that. Smart girl. “How long you been working?”
    Tanner looked pleadingly at me.
    â€œI’m new here, Baby, but, you know, work’s intense. It doesn’t let up.”
    He had that right. I said, “We’re going to have to do that work in the back, Tanner.”
    â€œI’ll call you,” he told her.
    She glared at him.
    Give it up, Denise.
    She stood there as the truth hit and shook her head sadly. “Just