Big Mouth by Deborah Halverson

Author:Deborah Halverson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780375849046
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2009-01-20T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

“You stood me up, you bum.”

Gardo wasn’t happy with me. But I wasn’t happy with him, either. Even if I hadn’t slept through my alarm this morning, I couldn’t have gotten up to meet him for a jog around the track. My body felt like I’d gone ten rounds with Rocky himself.

Last night was rough. I woke up at least eight times to pee, and that was after whizzing my way through the afternoon. It didn’t make sense. Hadn’t I reversed all the water in my bed? And each time I woke up, I was stiffer and sorer than the last. Whoever said exercise makes you feel good was a dirty liar. I’d had to twist and toss myself out of my bed just to get to the john. I was up pretty much the whole stupid night. At one point I almost woke up Grampy to have him call me in sick to school, but I didn’t because then I’d miss Max’s test this morning, and she didn’t do make-ups. How stupid was it to have a test on a Monday?

“I didn’t stand you up,” I said. “I slept through my alarm. There’s a difference.”

“Not on the track, there isn’t. You’re either there or you’re not. You’re not taking this seriously.”

“I am, too. I slept through my alarm. Gimme a break. It won’t happen again.”

He studied me a moment.

Please don’t make me do punishment laps. Please don’t.

Finally he spoke. “Well, I guess I did sleep through my own alarm on Saturday. Cutting weight makes you sleep hard.” He pointed a finger in my face. “I want you to buy a second clock tonight as a backup, got it?”

“Got it.” Phew. No punishment laps. “Can we get to class now? We’ll be late for the test.”

“Yeah, we can go.” He fell in behind me and delivered hurry-up nudges as I waddled toward the stairwell.

I stopped when I caught sight of Shane through the crowd. His bright red GO, PLUM WRESTLING! shirt stood out like a beacon in the sea of yellow hats and shirts. He was being pushed in a wheelchair by an annoyed-looking Finn, the other Finn twin nowhere in sight.

“Shane’s in a wheelchair? I thought you said he pulled a groin muscle.”

Gardo followed my gaze. “I know. Isn’t it sick?”

“Just a little.” Get over it or get out, Shane. Jeez.

“Just think if he broke a toenail. His whole body would be in traction.”

Then Lucy crossed in front of Shane and I nearly choked. Talk about traction. If she saw me this morning, she’d probably go all Rocky on me. She probably hated my guts. She totally skipped the bus this morning just to avoid me.

I tried to hurry up the stairwell before she could reach it. I was already starting to sweat in the undershirt and hoodie that Gardo ordered me to wear with my Scoops shirt. At least I didn’t have to wear the long johns unless we were working out.

Gardo started nudging me again. “Hustle it up there, penguin boy.

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