dorky energy and excitement .
LUKE
What?! I’m serious. I’ve been swimming a lot this last month to earn my Athletics Badge. You have to be a good swimmer if you want to explore the ocean.
LEXIE
Oh boy! Do you think you can wear that really cool Boy Scout shirt again when you get the badge?
LUKE
Sure. Okay.
JESSICA VO
Lexie’s sarcasm went right over Luke’s head. The poor kid probably
would
wear that ridiculous shirt again. He wasn’t always the sharpest knife in the drawer.
MR. TERUPT
(smiling)
Now, gang, remember how scared you were before visiting the Collaborative Classroom last year. This is no different. That turned out to be a great experience, and I’m sure this will too. Be positive.
JESSICA VO
Did Mr. Terupt really believe that? The Collaborative Classroom had been his idea. This was someone else’s. Other than Lexie, I’m not sure any of us were excited. I know the boys weren’t, that was easy to see, though Luke did perk up at the prospect of bigger projects.
MRS. WILLIAMS
(trying to appear confident)
Mr. Terupt’s right. Let’s be positive. I’m sure things will turn out differently than you expect.
MRS. WILLIAMS smiles and walks to the door. She stops and turns to wave .
MRS. WILLIAMS
Have a great day, everyone.
CLASS
Bye, Mrs. Williams. You too.
JESSICA VO
I was feeling overwhelmed. I still wanted to learn more about Mr. Terupt, our very own Sam Westing, plus I had my research project to think about. My partner had me concerned. Lexie had gone from a normal-dressing sixth grader to a high school–looking girl with real lipstick and a “chill” vocabulary. She claimed it was part of her wardrobe research. She was learning how to be an actress. I think she was getting her information from the supermarket tabloids. I have a strong command of language, but even I hadn’t heard some of her words before, at least not how she was using them. Now, on top of all that, there was the exchange program to worry about. No wonder I had a lot on my mind.
FADE OUT .
I was looking hot. Totally. With these other sixth graders coming to visit, I was like, girl, you need to look your best. I wore my black yoga pants with a purple scoop-neck sweater that Lisa had given me. Lisa and Reena made me ditch the feather boas I loved to wear last year a while ago. They gave me a couple of scarves instead. According to them, scarves were the bomb in accessories. I wore the one that had some purple in it and I put on my favorite lipstick and some mascara. To put the finishing touches on my outfit, I added silver hoop earrings. Reena and Lisa would have approved.
That morning in school, I like, sized myself up in the girls’ bathroom. I was standing sideways looking in the mirror when Jessica walked in.
“Hi, Lexie.”
“Hey, girlfriend.”
“You’re looking … nice and grown up,” she said.
“Nah. I need something more. I have to look amazing today. We’ve got visitors coming.” Jessica watched as Ichecked myself out. “I need more of a chest,” I said. “That’s what this sweater is all about.”
“What?” Jessica sounded shocked. I heard it in her voice. I loved it when I got to teach
her
something for a change.
“I need boobs,” I said. “Grab me some toilet paper, wouldja. And don’t be stingy. Get a lot.” I was tired of waiting for them to grow on their own.
Jessica brought me the goods. “What are you going to do?”
“Just watch,” I said. I wadded the toilet paper, pulled up my sweater, and stuffed my bra, first one side, then the other. I tried to even things out in the mirror. I cupped and squeezed and formed a nice pair. “Are they even?” I spun around.
“What?!” Jessica was even more shocked now.
“Jessica. Girlfriend.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “We can do yours too if you want.”
“No,” she said, taking a step back. “That’s okay.”
“Just tell me. Are they even?”
“Yes.” She paused for a second. “They
LUKE
What?! I’m serious. I’ve been swimming a lot this last month to earn my Athletics Badge. You have to be a good swimmer if you want to explore the ocean.
LEXIE
Oh boy! Do you think you can wear that really cool Boy Scout shirt again when you get the badge?
LUKE
Sure. Okay.
JESSICA VO
Lexie’s sarcasm went right over Luke’s head. The poor kid probably
would
wear that ridiculous shirt again. He wasn’t always the sharpest knife in the drawer.
MR. TERUPT
(smiling)
Now, gang, remember how scared you were before visiting the Collaborative Classroom last year. This is no different. That turned out to be a great experience, and I’m sure this will too. Be positive.
JESSICA VO
Did Mr. Terupt really believe that? The Collaborative Classroom had been his idea. This was someone else’s. Other than Lexie, I’m not sure any of us were excited. I know the boys weren’t, that was easy to see, though Luke did perk up at the prospect of bigger projects.
MRS. WILLIAMS
(trying to appear confident)
Mr. Terupt’s right. Let’s be positive. I’m sure things will turn out differently than you expect.
MRS. WILLIAMS smiles and walks to the door. She stops and turns to wave .
MRS. WILLIAMS
Have a great day, everyone.
CLASS
Bye, Mrs. Williams. You too.
JESSICA VO
I was feeling overwhelmed. I still wanted to learn more about Mr. Terupt, our very own Sam Westing, plus I had my research project to think about. My partner had me concerned. Lexie had gone from a normal-dressing sixth grader to a high school–looking girl with real lipstick and a “chill” vocabulary. She claimed it was part of her wardrobe research. She was learning how to be an actress. I think she was getting her information from the supermarket tabloids. I have a strong command of language, but even I hadn’t heard some of her words before, at least not how she was using them. Now, on top of all that, there was the exchange program to worry about. No wonder I had a lot on my mind.
FADE OUT .
I was looking hot. Totally. With these other sixth graders coming to visit, I was like, girl, you need to look your best. I wore my black yoga pants with a purple scoop-neck sweater that Lisa had given me. Lisa and Reena made me ditch the feather boas I loved to wear last year a while ago. They gave me a couple of scarves instead. According to them, scarves were the bomb in accessories. I wore the one that had some purple in it and I put on my favorite lipstick and some mascara. To put the finishing touches on my outfit, I added silver hoop earrings. Reena and Lisa would have approved.
That morning in school, I like, sized myself up in the girls’ bathroom. I was standing sideways looking in the mirror when Jessica walked in.
“Hi, Lexie.”
“Hey, girlfriend.”
“You’re looking … nice and grown up,” she said.
“Nah. I need something more. I have to look amazing today. We’ve got visitors coming.” Jessica watched as Ichecked myself out. “I need more of a chest,” I said. “That’s what this sweater is all about.”
“What?” Jessica sounded shocked. I heard it in her voice. I loved it when I got to teach
her
something for a change.
“I need boobs,” I said. “Grab me some toilet paper, wouldja. And don’t be stingy. Get a lot.” I was tired of waiting for them to grow on their own.
Jessica brought me the goods. “What are you going to do?”
“Just watch,” I said. I wadded the toilet paper, pulled up my sweater, and stuffed my bra, first one side, then the other. I tried to even things out in the mirror. I cupped and squeezed and formed a nice pair. “Are they even?” I spun around.
“What?!” Jessica was even more shocked now.
“Jessica. Girlfriend.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “We can do yours too if you want.”
“No,” she said, taking a step back. “That’s okay.”
“Just tell me. Are they even?”
“Yes.” She paused for a second. “They
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