Read Online It's a Green Thing by Melody Carlson - Free Book Online Page A

trouble? Will I ever escape the craziness that seems to attach itself to my life? Maybe there's an invisible sticker on my forehead (invisible to me anyway), sort of like the Statue of Liberty. And my sticker says bring your troubles, heartaches, and craziness to this girl—she's used to it!
    Maya's Green Tip for the Day
    Sometimes a good distraction from troubles is to create something. And maybe you need a new piece of art for your bedroom. But how about making it from recycled materials? Here's how you start. Look around your home (garages are good) for pieces of junk that are just cluttering up space. Then put your scavenged pieces together and look at them differently. Hold them upside down or sideways. Imagine them painted a totally unexpected color and glued or nailed or wired together in a pleasing shape. It can be a sculpture or a wall hanging or something useful like a candleholder or a jewelry rack. Let your creativity go, and see what you come up with. Then you have the satisfaction of transforming trash into treasure.

June 17
    A s I leaned against the counter watching Kim pore over her open cookbook tonight, it occurred to me that, for cousins, we look nothing alike. Kim is petite and delicate. And even for an Asian, her skin tone is light and creamy. On the other hand, I am tall and bronze and anything but delicate. And my brunette hair is long and wild and curly, while Kim's is sleek, shiny, and black, cut into neat layers that frame her face. The only thing that might be considered somewhat similar is our dark eyes…although I'd like to think our hearts are similar too.
    “Don't let her get to you,” Kim said suddenly.
    “Who?” I set aside my mental comparisons and tried to figure out what she was talking about.
    “Dad told me about Brooke.” Kim shook her head with an ironic smile. “By the way, congratulations on getting your license.”
    “Thanks. He told you about the lawsuit?”
    “Yeah. I can't believe it.” She stretched to open the cupboard overhead.
    “I hadn't really meant to tell him,” I admitted.
    “He was glad you did.” She handed me the dinner plates for the table. “Really, sometimes we worry about you, Maya. You keep so much to yourself. And we're your family. Remember?”
    “I know, and I appreciate it. I just don't want to dump all my junk on you.”
    “All your junk?” Kim laughed.
    “Well, I seem to be stuck in the land of dysfunction. It's like no matter what I do, I can't escape it.”
    “Considering all you've been through, you seem to have both feet on the ground. I actually think you're doing really well. So does Dad.”
    “Really?” I finished gathering silverware, then went into the dining room. And I can't even explain it now, but what Kim said meant so much to me that I actually got a little teary as I set the table. Of course, I hid my emotion when I returned to the kitchen.
    “So how's the job hunt going?” she asked.
    “Not so great.” I didn't admit that I'd been to about thirty different places in the past couple of days, and all I got was “We're not hiring now” or “Go ahead and fill out an application if you like, and we'll keep it on file.”
    “I've heard it's a tough job market out there. But don't give up, Maya. At least you have experience, right?”
    “Yes…not that it's relevant to anything I've applied for.” I shook my head. “The only places where they'd even take applications were the yogurt shop and a cheesy jewelry kiosk at the mall.”
    “Maybe you should set your sights higher.”
    “Like?”
    Kim's brow creased as she sliced a tomato. “Well, you did some modeling last summer, right?”
    I frowned. “Not that I'm proud of that.”
    “And didn't you work at a couple of clothing shops?”
    “Not for very long.” I rinsed the lettuce and began tearing leaves into bite-size pieces for salad.
    “But on Rodeo Drive, no less.”
    I shrugged. “Not that it's worth much here. I mean, I'm not putting this town down, but