The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

Author:Carolyn Mackler [Mackler, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7636-5432-0
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2003-06-23T04:00:00+00:00

“I’ve missed you these past few days,” Ms. Crowley says. She’s sitting at her desk, marking up an essay test with a red pen. “Were you braving the cafeteria?”

“Nope.” I sink into the spare chair. “I was out sick.”

“Are you feeling better?”

“I guess.”

“Did being sick have anything to do with your diet?”

I think about the masses of sugar and chocolate and carbs I’ve consumed these past five days. I think about how I crept into the kitchen last night and tore the Food Police off the fridge.

“No.” I sigh. “My diet is over.”

“What happened?”

I gnaw at a hangnail on my thumb.

“Other stuff going on in your life?”

I nod.

“And eating helps you deal?”

I nod again.

“I’ve been there,” Ms. Crowley says. “All I can say is, you’ll figure it out eventually. It has to be the right time in your life. You don’t want to diet to make someone else happy.” Ms. Crowley is quiet for a moment. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Talk about what?”

“What else is going on in your life.”

I yank at the hangnail with my teeth, so hard that it tears off a strip of skin. I wish I could tell Ms. Crowley about Byron being kicked out of college and how I’m so confused about everything. But I can’t. Byron was a star student at Brewster, four-time MBS winner and overall legend. So who am I to drag his reputation through the mud? Besides, it’s a Shreves family policy to not talk about our dirty laundry — in public and usually not even in private. It’s sort of like if you don’t discuss it, it didn’t happen.

“No thanks.” I grab a tissue from Ms. Crowley’s desk and dab it on my thumbnail, which is dotted with blood. Then I repeat what Mom said the other morning. “It’s all going to be just fine.”

Ms. Crowley looks unconvinced.

“Really,” I say, flashing her my best imitation of a smile.

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