Claudia, Queen of the Seventh Grade by Ann M. Martin

Author:Ann M. Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2015-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

“Is that — could that be — oh, wow, may I have your autograph, Your Majesty?”

Josh’s voice took me by surprise as I left school. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

Josh shrugged. “I was looking at the school wall. I thought I saw some fossils in the stone. Can I walk you home?”

“You are so weird.”

“Just because I want to walk you home? Claudia, we must have a talk about your self-esteem.”

I was in no mood to joke. I was so angry at Mark Jaffe, I could barely see straight.

I headed away from the school, hands in my pockets.

“Thanks, Josh, I’d love to have your company,” Josh said, falling into step beside me.

“He is such a jerk,” I muttered.

“Total jerk,” Josh agreed.

“Conceited and stupid,” I continued.

“If he had twice as many brains, he’d be a half-wit.”

“A big blowhard.”

“Ugly, too.”

I glowered at the pavement. Our footsteps echoed dully in the cold March air.

“Claudia?” Josh asked.

“What?”

“Who are we talking about?”

“Mark Jaffe!”

“Oh, why didn’t you say so? I wouldn’t have been so nice!”

That did it. I couldn’t help laughing.

“Aha! A smile!” Josh said. “Don’t try to hide it!”

“Okay, okay. You win. You stopped me from feeling totally miserable. Are you happy?”

“I’ll take what I can get. So, what happened with Queen Claudia’s Royal Service Plan?”

“Well, let me put it this way. You were right about the scepter. I should have one, to bash Jaffe over the head.”

“I’d buy tickets to see that. So would a lot of people. You could make a fortune.”

I described everything in detail — the meeting, my idea, Mark’s reaction. Josh hung onto every word. By the time I finished, he was angry, too.

“I’m on your side,” Josh assured me. “And so are Shira and Jeannie and Joanna. If Mark is a total zero, we’ll make up for him.”

As we crossed Burnt Hill Road, I glanced at Josh. Under his green woolen watch cap, his ears stuck out at an odd angle. He looked like an earnest little chipmunk.

I smiled. “You know, you’re a great friend, Josh,” I said. “I’m really glad I know you.”

“Really?” Josh’s voice was practically a squeak.

“I mean, I used to feel so awful about being in seventh grade. But not anymore. Because if I hadn’t been sent back, I wouldn’t have met you guys.”

Honnnk! Honnnnk!

With a wheeze and a pop, Charlie Thomas’s car barreled around the corner. (Actually, car is a kind word for it. It’s more like scrap metal on wheels.) Abby and Kristy were waving to us out the open windows.

“Want a lift?” Kristy asked.

“Nahh, it’s so close,” I replied.

“Let us out here, Jeeves,” Abby said to Charlie.

The car pulled up to the curb. As Abby and Kristy climbed out, Stacey’s voice called to us from up the block. “Hiiii!”

“Hi!” we all called back.

“You’re welcome!” Charlie yelled sarcastically as he drove off.

“Uh, well, I guess I’ll be going home,” Josh said.

Abby gave him a puzzled look. “Is this —? Did we meet —?”

“This is Josh,” I said. “He’s one of my friends.

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