by Brann Garvey
The other seventh graders had oil and rags, too.
Nobody looked happy. Not even Anna and Carly.
Gina and the other eighth-grade cheerleaders weren’t there. I guess they didn’t want to be around if the younger girls got caught.
Becca was SHOCKED. “I can’t believe Monica’s going to grease doorknobs!” she whispered.
“She hasn’t done anything yet,” I said.
Monica waved her rag. “I’ve got something to say,” she told the other cheerleaders.
The other girls looked at her.
“We’ve practiced all week to learn the Cougar cheers,” Monica said. “We’ve worked hard to be cheerleaders, not criminals!”
All the girls were quiet for a second.
Then Linda yelled, “That’s right!”
“So I’m not going to do Gina’s stupid dare,” Monica said. She marched down the steps and dropped her oil and rag in a garbage can.
“I’m not going to either,” Kristin said. She threw away her oil and rag.
Then Linda and Karen threw theirs away too.
Anna and Carly hesitated.
“If you don’t oil doorknobs,” Anna said, “Gina won’t pick you for the squad.”
“She’ll have to pick two of us,” Monica said. “The squad needs four new cheerleaders.”
“Yeah, and you can’t be a cheerleader if you get suspended,” Kristin pointed out.
Anna and Carly looked at each other. Then they tossed their oil and rags too.
All of the girls grinned and gave each other high fives.
“And one more thing!” Monica yelled to get everyone’s attention. “The best cheerleaders should be on the squad, like Claudia said. Not the most POPULAR kids.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Anna said.
“It WILL happen if we want it to,” Monica said.
She pointed at the tree where Becca and I were hiding. “I’ll sign your petition, Claudia,” she called.
I smiled. Then I walked over to Monica and handed her my clipboard. Kristin and Linda signed too.
“That was so cool, Monica!” I said, smiling. “You’re turning out to be a great leader, just like you wanted to be.”
“I am?” Monica asked. She looked SURPRISED.
“Absolutely!” I exclaimed. “You stood up for what’s right. Against Gina! Even though it might ruin your chance to be a cheerleader.”
“She’s right,” Becca said.
“I guess I did,” Monica said.
“And you stopped all those other girls from making a huge mistake,” I pointed out. “Everyone followed your lead. Even Anna.”
“Then you’re a great leader too, Claudia,” Monica said, smiling. “You inspired me.”
“Does that mean we’re friends again?” I asked.
“Always,” Monica said. “Even when we get mad. No matter what. Friends Forever.”
CHAPTER 13
P.S.
After Monica and the other girls signed the petition, two hundred other kids signed too. So Coach Campbell and Principal Paul changed how cheerleaders are chosen. Starting this year.
Coach Campbell, Principal Paul, Gina, and one student from each grade picked the new cheerleaders. The girls were judged on performance and ATTITUDE. It turned out that all of the girls who tried out made the squad. The judges said everyone deserved it.
Monica decided that she didn’t want to be a cheerleader after all. She’d rather spend her time with her friends and horses. She decided not to try out.
My friends started telling other kids at school to recycle paper. Now everyone is doing it. Teachers are recycling test and homework papers, too. We’ll probably save a tree every year!
And Nick is still driving me crazy. Some things never change.
About the Author
Diana G. Gallagher lives in Florida with her husband and five dogs, four cats, and a cranky parrot. Her hobbies are gardening, garage sales, and grandchildren. She has been an English equitation instructor, a professional folk musician, and an artist. However, she had aspirations to be a professional writer at the age of twelve. She has written dozens of books for kids and young adults.
About the Illustrator
Brann Garvey lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife, Keegan, and their very fat cat, Iggy. Brann graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor of fine arts degree. He later attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where he studied illustration. In his free time, Brann enjoys being with his family and friends. He brings his sketchbook everywhere he goes.
Glossary
causes (KAWZ-iz)—
aims or principles for which people fight, raise money, etc.
conceited (kuhn-SEE-tid)—
if you are conceited, you are too proud of yourself and of what you can do
consequences (KON-suh-kwenss-iz)—
results of actions
enthusiasm (en-THOO-zee-az-uhm)—
great excitement or interest
frustrated (FRUHSS-tray-tid)—
if you are frustrated, you feel helpless or discouraged
impulsive (im-PUHL-sive)—
an impulsive person acts without thinking first
petition (puh-TISH-uhn)—
a letter signed by many people that tells those in power how the signers feel about an issue or situation
signature (SIG-nuh-chur)—
the individual way that a person writes his or her name
tradition (truh-DISH-uhn)—
an idea, belief, or activity that is always performed the same way
tryouts (TRYE-outs)—
a trial or test to see if a person is able to do something
Discussion Questions
How are sports teams and cheerleading squads chosen in your school? Do you think it is a fair method? Why or why not?
What is the right thing to do when a friend does something you don’t agree with? Do you think Claudia did the right thing?
Does your school recycle? If so, do you think the recycling program is good or bad? If your school doesn’t recycle, do you think it should?
Writing Prompts
In this book, Claudia wants to be a good leader. Write about a time that you were a good leader. What happened? How did you prove that you were a good leader?
Have you ever had a fight with one of your best friends? What was the fight about? How was it resolved?
Claudia thinks that the way cheerleaders are picked is unfair. Write about something you think is unfair. What is it? Why isn’t it fair? How could it be made more fair?
More Fun with Claudia!
Claudia Cristina Cortez
Just like every other thirteen-year-old girl, Claudia Cristina Cortez has a complicated life. Whether she’s studying for the big Quiz Show, babysitting her neighbor, Nick, avoiding mean Jenny Pinski, planning the seventh-grade dance, or trying desperately to pass the swimming test at camp, Claudia goes through her complicated life with confidence, cleverness, and a serious dash of cool.
Meet David!
David Mortimore Baxter
David is a great kid, but he has one big problem — he can’t stop talking. These wildly humorous stories, told by David himself, will show you just how much trouble a boy and his mouth can get into, whether he’s making promises to become class president or bragging that he’s best friends with the world’s most famous wrestler. David is fun, engaging, cool, and smart enough to realize that growing up is the biggest adventure of all.
Claudia Cristina Cortez is published by Stone Arch Books
A Capstone Imprint
1710 Roe Crest Drive
North Mankato, Minnesota 56003
www.capstonepub.com
Copyright © 2009 by Stone Arch Books
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, witho
ut written permission of the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gallagher, Diana G.
Friends Forever?: The Complicated Life of Claudia Cristina Cortez / by Diana G. Gallagher; illustrated by Brann Garvey.
p. cm. — (Claudia Cristina Cortez)
ISBN 978-1-4342-0772-2 (library binding)
ISBN 978-1-4342-0868-2 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-1-5158-8711-9 (ebook)
[1. Cheerleading—Fiction. 2. Conduct of life—Fiction. 3. Middle
schools—Fiction. 4. Schools—Fiction.] I. Garvey, Brann, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.G13543Fri 2009
[Fic]—dc21 2008004285
Summary: The cheerleaders are chosen unfairly, but Monica wants to try out anyway. How can Claudia support her and change the way things work at school?
Art Director: Heather Kindseth
Graphic Designer: Kay Fraser
Photo Credits
Delaney Photography, image 1, image 2
