Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting! by Tommy Greenwald

Author:Tommy Greenwald
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781596438392
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

26

TV NIGHT

“Whatcha watching?”

My parents looked up at me in shock after I asked the question. For good reason. It’s probably safe to say that in the past few years, the amount of times I’d wandered into the TV room after dinner to ask them what they were watching was about … let’s see … zero.

It’s not that I don’t love TV. I do love TV. I just don’t love watching it with my parents, when I could be in my room watching it on my computer while texting my friends and sending Snapchat pictures of my dog crossing his legs like a person while lying down. (He’s so cute when he does that.)

But that night, I wasn’t doing any of those things. Oh sure, I could have been on my computer, since technically, it wasn’t off-limits. But I had decided I was going to go all the way. When the week was over, and Jane asked me if I’d been on my computer the whole time, I wanted to be able to say “Absolutely not,” and not be lying.

Which brings me to the part where I asked my parents what they were watching.

“Well, honey, we’re just kind of flipping around,” my dad said.

My mom stretched and groaned. “There’s never anything on. I don’t know why we bother.”

“That’s not true,” I said. “There’s tons of great TV on all the time.” I grabbed the remote from my dad and changed the channel to one of my favorite shows, Daughter of the Devil, about a high school girl whose dad is actually Satan. Unfortunately, right when I turned it on, the dad was in the middle of turning red and growing two horns.

“What is this?” my dad said, and not in a good way.

“It’s not always this weird,” I said quickly.

My mom put the television on mute. “Can I ask why you’re hanging out with us, instead of in your usual spot at the opposite end of the house?”

I sighed. I wasn’t really crazy about the idea of telling my parents what I was up to, because I knew they’d ask me a million questions. But I decided what the heck. It was easier just to come out with it.

“Ten friends and I decided to give up our phones for a week. And me personally, I’m giving up my computer, too.”

My parents stared at me as if I’d just told them I was the Devil.

“Give up your phone, as in completely and totally not use it at all?” asked my mom.

I nodded.

My dad rubbed his eyes, as if he couldn’t believe it was his daughter sitting in front of him. “I don’t get it. How will you live? Isn’t your phone kind of like oxygen? Isn’t it possible you will actually suffocate without it?”

“Ha-ha,” I answered.

“Well, I think it’s wonderful,” said my mom. “Good for you. Is this all because of your meeting with that singer?”

I stared at her. “That singer? That singer?!”

“Sorry,” said my mom. “I forget her name right now.”

“Jane,” I said shortly.

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