Take Two by Julia DeVillers

Author:Julia DeVillers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

Emma

Twelve

DINNER AT CHINESE RESTAURANT

“So,” my father said, picking up his chopsticks. “Tell us about your week so far.”

“I went to school,” Payton said, sipping a glass of water. “And then community service.”

Payton and I had agreed beforehand not to mention the tutoring or tooting fiasco.

“I went to school,” I echoed my sister. “And then to community service.”

I maneuvered my fried dumpling into my mouth without dropping it. It had taken me four years of weekly family dinners at Blossom Chan’s Chinese Restaurant to master the art of chopsticking.

Unfortunately, both Payton and I had inherited a klutz gene that made physical coordination difficult. Which is why we didn’t play sports, unless forced to. It’s also why Payton was using her fork on her lo mein noodles. . . .

There was silence at the table. Except for some chewing noises.

“Well, I finished editing my magazine article on gardening trends,” my mother said brightly.

“That’s great, hon,” my father said. “I had a successful day also. I sold out of umbilical cord clamps!”

I saw my sister’s fork stop, with one long noodle dangling.

“Ewwww,” Payton and I both said, completely grossed out.

“What?” my dad said, looking innocent. “I’m in medical supply sales. I sell medical supplies. And if you two girls aren’t going to share the details of your day, then your mother and I will.”

“Okay, we get your point,” Payton said.

I kept eating. I wasn’t going to let my parents off that easily. I was still sulking.

They had said “no” when I asked them if I could go out for pizza with Ox after mathletes. (“No, Emma, you can’t go out with a group of kids we don’t know. And we’re already allowing you to socialize with your new friend Quinn. That’s enough social life for now. You are still working on earning our trust.”)

Excuse me, but perhaps I was making up for lost time since I never had friends before?

Or . . . a boyfriend.

Not that Ox was my boyfriend, since we were clearly not romantic or anything. But if he asked me to be his girlfriend . . . ? I sighed.

Plop! My dumpling slipped out of my chopsticks into the bowl of Blossom Chan’s special dipping sauce. Special dipping sauce splattered in all directions.

“Aaack!” . . . “Emma!” . . . “Be careful!” my family members said as they tried to dodge the mess.

I was unable to move away quickly enough and got the full force of fluid in my face.

“Trying out the special dipping sauce?” I heard a voice say as I wiped my face with my napkin. It was an evil voice.

“Or should I say dripping sauce?” the voice continued.

I glared up at Jazmine James.

“Just a joke, Emma.” Jazmine laughed.

Oh. Ha. I forgot to laugh.

Unfortunately, my parents didn’t. They actually thought it was funny.

“Hi, Payton,” Jazmine said. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Mills. I believe you’ve already met my parents at academic events?”

Mr. and Mrs. James, looking as if they’d stepped out of a glamour magazine, said hello.

“Sit still, Emma,” Jazmine said.

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