Alice on Board by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Author:Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: GR, fiction
ISBN: 9781442445888
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

12

THE GUESTS

Sometimes we fell into the rhythm of ship life so completely that it was as though fall and college and classes and grades were off in the distant future, not just weeks away.

Gwen and I had long ago decided we’d be roommates when we entered the University of Maryland. Then she found out that pre-med students could room for half the cost at a big house near campus, donated by a wealthy alumnus, and it would be crazy for her not to stay there for her eight years. So I was in the market for a roommate.

I’d indicated on Facebook that I was looking for a roomie, but being at sea most of the summer, I didn’t get a chance very often to check and see if there were any takers. Like many colleges, the U of Maryland assigns roommates for the first year, but if two people both request each other, the housing office usually okays it. I’d posted my cell phone number and e-mail address, though, and now and then I heard from girls wanting to know if I was going to pledge a sorority or if I was into sports. As I only had a short time each day to use my cell phone, and even less chance to check my e-mail, I answered some messages too late or not at all.

Then late one night in the dining room, when we were checking our e-mails, I got one from a Margaret Sanderson—“Meggie,” she called herself—who said she was the niece of one of Dad’s customers at the Melody Inn, and she’d heard all about me and was so excited that I was going to Maryland too. I read on Facebook you were looking for a roommate, and so am I, she texted. My aunt loves your dad’s store, and so do I. Haven’t decided on a major yet, have you?

The message was three days old, and I hadn’t had a chance to answer yet, but Meggie seemed possible.

Right now I’m working on a cruise ship, I e-mailed back, but let’s introduce ourselves.

Ten minutes later, she answered:

Great! I hope I don’t sound like I’m bragging, but I’ve got a

3.98 GPA. I write novellas, but none have been published

yet (who knows? you may be a character in one someday!!!),

and I’ve had a crush on a guy who doesn’t even know me

for, like, forever. But I could write about myself all day, who

couldn’t? Why don’t we each ask three friends to say what

they like about us (or not!!!)? Here are mine.

I stared at my screen. She was serious!

Hi. I’m Paige, probably Meggie’s best friend. If Meggie has

a fault, it’s that she’s totally honest. She tells you just what

she thinks whether you want to hear it or not. But when my

cat died, she stayed with me all night just to make sure I

was all right.

The next paragraph read:

I’ve been Margaret’s friend for two years. She’s perfect

in every way except she reads your mail. Oops! Meggie’s

trying to take the laptop out of my hands… .

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.