Book Read Free

TBH #5

Page 3

by Lisa Greenwald


  Guys my mom is going loony tunes again

  First she said I shouldn’t go 2 outdoor ed bc it sounds dangerous

  Now she thinks it’ll be ok but she wants 2 request I be in a bunk w/ girls she knows bc she doesn’t trust the girls in our grade

  Did u hear Sami is doing some kind of thing where she is ranking everyone based on prettiness or something

  I overheard her talking about it

  Hellooooo

  VICTORIA

  Where r u guys

  I need ur helpppppppp

  PRIANKA

  Hi sorry

  I went 2 Sage’s house 2 work on poetry

  LOL we sound like dorks

  But it was fun

  VICTORIA

  Oh cool

  PRIANKA

  So what r u going 2 do

  VICTORIA

  IDK

  She can’t request bunks

  VICTORIA

  But I really want 2 go obv

  Why can’t I have a normal mom

  PRIANKA

  Are any moms normal LOL JK

  CECILY

  Hiiii sorrrryyyyy was finishing hw

  Sooooo tired

  Vic, I have an idea

  Why doesn’t my mom talk 2 ur mom

  VICTORIA

  Ooooh that could maybe work

  CECILY

  They see each other @ meetings sometimes right

  VICTORIA

  Yeah they do

  GABRIELLE

  Hi

  Sorry

  Was in the

  How did u hear about the Sami thing?

  VICTORIA

  I overheard her in the talking to Hannah P

  GABRIELLE

  Did u tell ur mom about it

  Be honest

  VICTORIA

  Ummmmm

  GABRIELLE

  Vic. . . .

  VICTORIA

  I did

  GABRIELLE

  Y

  U tell ur mom everything !!!!!!!!!!!

  VICTORIA

  IDK it just came out

  CECILY

  LOL ok

  GABRIELLE

  My mom can talk to ur mom, too, Vic

  VICTORIA

  K

  Should I plan a moms + kids lunch or something

  PRIANKA

  Ummmmmmm

  CECILY

  That could work

  We find out about the play 2morrow so let me see how that goes & then get back 2 u

  Maybe we should have moms hang on their own actually

  GABRIELLE

  Yeah all of us bra shopping w/ moms thing was blarrrgghhh

  VICTORIA

  K that could work

  Thx for listening

  GABRIELLE

  Mwah

  PRIANKA

  Don’t stress

  CECILY

  4 real don’t stress

  OMG

  CECILY

  Guyyssssssssssssss

  Guesss whattttttttt

  PRIANKA

  ??

  CECILY

  I got such a fab part in the play

  VICTORIA

  What part

  CECILY

  The narrator

  Sharing it with Hannah F

  GABRIELLE

  Ohh yay

  No clue what that part is or even what the play is but yay

  PRIANKA

  Good job, Cece

  CECILY

  I am sooooooo excited

  Cecily, Mara

  CECILY

  I got a great part in the musical

  MARA

  Yeah?

  CECILY

  Yeah the narrator

  MARA

  Woooooo

  CECILY

  So what else is up

  MARA

  Not much

  Hiiii!!!

  So excited we are co-narrators!!! Woo!

  Xoxo Cecily

  I know! Same! XO Hannah

  Miriam, Gabrielle

  MIRIAM

  Gabs

  This thing with Sami

  It’s kind of fun but IDK also kind of awk

  GABRIELLE

  What is the latest

  I am so confused

  MIRIAM

  She got this idea to rank the girls in the grade

  All these categories

  GABRIELLE

  Right, yeah

  MIRIAM

  IDK

  She’s still working on it

  GABRIELLE

  Hmmmm

  I don’t know if it’s mean or not

  MIRIAM

  IK

  Could go either way

  GABRIELLE

  In a way it’s just a fun thing for her friends

  But IDK

  MIRIAM

  U know Sami

  GABRIELLE

  Only sorta LOL

  MIRIAM

  She just does what she wants

  GABRIELLE

  Hmmmm

  What r some of the categories

  MIRIAM

  Can u talk after school

  GABRIELLE

  I have swim team practice

  Even tho i am dropping out soon

  But call me 2nite k

  MIRIAM

  K

  Ummmm

  VICTORIA

  Guys

  I am so mad I mentioned the Sami thing 2 my mom

  Why am I so dumb

  PRIANKA

  What Sami thing

  VICTORIA

  The ranking

  PRIANKA

  I have no clue about that

  It’s better 2 not pay attention 2 stuff honestly

  CECILY

  IDK about it either really

  CECILY

  Just focused on the play & swim team & schoolwork

  VICTORIA

  Oh

  GABRIELLE

  IDK that much either

  VICTORIA

  My mom is obv speaking about it @ the 7th grade parents’ meeting

  Why is she sooooooo embarrassing

  GABRIELLE

  LOL IDK

  All moms are

  Prianka, Gabrielle

  PRIANKA

  Gabs, we couldn’t find u

  Sneaking fone in bathroom 2 tell u we won’t be @ lunch today

  Cece & I r going w/ Vic 2 speak 2 guidance about her mom and the trip & stuff

  Love u

  If u get this in time meet us there

  K bye

  Mwah

  Bye 4 real

  Gabs—in case you don’t see your phone, Cece & I going with Victoria to guidance to talk about her mom and the trip, etc. if you get this and want, u can meet us.

  Xoxox Pri

  Categories of Awesome for 7th grade girls by Sami B. Mollinsky (this is not in a particular order)

  1. Prettiness

  2. Athletic ability

  3. Sense of humor

  4. Outgoing-ness (is that a word?)

  5. Confidence

  6. Sense of style

  7. Most friends

  8. Smarts

  9. Best hair

  10. Best eyes

  11. Kindest

  12. Best at accessorizing (this kinda goes with style)

  13. Tallest

  14. Friendliest with boys

  What else should I add?

  Vishal, Prianka

  VISHAL

  Yooo what is up with the girls in our grade

  They r wack

  PRIANKA

  Huh why

  VISHAL

  This ranking thing Sami is doing

  PRIANKA

  Oh I honestly don’t care

  I keep tuning out when people mention it

  I have a whole diff attitude this year

  VISHAL

  LOL ok

  PRIANKA

  Don’t LOL me

  VISHAL

  Ok but what’s up with the dif
f attitude

  PRIANKA

  IDK

  Just kinda doing my own thing

  Not getting bogged down by drama

  VISHAL

  Oh

  R u excited for the outdoor ed trip

  PRIANKA

  Kinda

  Not an outdoors gal tho

  U

  VISHAL

  Kinda

  PRIANKA

  Ok

  VISHAL

  sooooooo

  PRIANKA

  yeahhhhhh

  VISHAL

  whatssssss upppppp

  PRIANKA

  notttttt mucccccchhhhhhh

  VISHAL

  sorry to LOL but LOL

  PRIANKA

  ok gotta go 4 real now

  later

  Dear students:

  Ready for your first journal entry?

  Please answer these questions and feel free to add your own thoughts as well.

  Happy writing!

  Your seventh-grade English teachers

  1. What are some of your initial thoughts about the trip?

  2. Do you have any concerns? What are they?

  3. How do you feel about leaving home?

  Dear Journal,

  I can’t believe we have a whole book for this Outdoor Ed trip. No offense or anything. I am happy to write. But I already have a journal. It can be too much. But anyway.

  So about the trip! My thoughts . . . um.

  I am excited about it. I hope it’s like Outdoor Explorers even though I know it’s way more “schooly” than that. We’re actually learning like science stuff.

  As for my concerns . . . I hope the bunking is okay and I’m with at least one friend.

  As for going away from home, no big deal for me. I wonder if it’s a big deal for other students.

  Love, Cecily

  Miriam, Gabrielle

  MIRIAM

  So glad u sat with us @ lunch again

  Where was ur crew

  GABRIELLE

  Same

  They went 2 guidance but I didn’t feel like meeting them

  MIRIAM

  Oh

  Did you give Sami any feedback on the ranking?

  GABRIELLE

  No did u

  MIRIAM

  No

  GABRIELLE

  What can we do

  I felt a little awk about it

  She kept asking me to weigh in

  MIRIAM

  IDK

  I love her

  She’s my bff since preschool

  But . . .

  Even tho she did add kindness 2 it

  So maybe it’s not so bad

  GABRIELLE

  I think u have 2 say something

  MIRIAM

  IDK

  MIRIAM

  I don’t want to cause a rift

  I like my group of friends

  GABRIELLE

  What do the Hannahs say

  MIRIAM

  Nothing rlly

  It’s Sami’s thing but she wants it to be anonymous

  GABRIELLE

  Well everyone knows it’s her

  MIRIAM

  THEY DO

  GABRIELLE

  Yeah . . .

  Even Victoria’s mom

  MIRIAM

  Who’s Victoria

  GABRIELLE

  She was new last year

  She’s nice

  She sits @ my table @ lunch

  MIRIAM

  Oh IDK her

  So what is her mom gonna do

  I don’t get it

  GABRIELLE

  IDK

  She just heard about it

  MIRIAM

  How tho

  GABRIELLE

  Hahaha IDK

  MIRIAM

  K well I gtg

  Hope u sit w us @ lunch again

  GABRIELLE

  Xoxo

  Dear Journal,

  Ummmmm . . . how am I feeling about this trip? Well, let’s just hope it’s better than my summer outdoor experience. I realized I’m not an outdoor gal and I’m okay with that. I have accepted who I am. I hated the hiking and I realized that I didn’t need to pretend I liked it. NOT EVERYONE LIKES HIKING! It’s a basic fact of life.

  I’m okay with being away from home. I don’t really have any concerns. I just don’t want it to be torturous. A school trip is kind of exciting, though.

  That’s all for now.

  Love, Pri

  Arjun, Victoria

  ARJUN

  Are u really not allowed on outdoor ed

  VICTORIA

  No I am allowed

  ARJUN

  I heard your mom isn’t letting u go

  VICTORIA

  Uggghhh how do these rumors spread

  ARJUN

  No idea

  VICTORIA

  Whatever I’m going

  ARJUN

  Ok

  ARJUN

  Are u ok

  VICTORIA

  Yes

  Don’t want to talk

  Bye

  From: Priscilla Melford

  To: Seventh-grade Parents

  Subject: Meeting

  Dear parents:

  As seventh-grade parent rep, I’m scheduling an additional last minute meeting for tomorrow after drop-off. Please meet in the cafeteria.

  See you then,

  Priscilla Melford

  Sami, Gabrielle

  SAMI

  OMG

  Ur friend Victoria is kinda crazy

  GABRIELLE

  SAMI

  Her mom scheduled this whole meeting

  GABRIELLE

  About what

  SAMI

  The trip & social behavior & stuff

  Did u tell her about my ranking thing

  It was just for fun

  SAMI

  For my friends

  GABRIELLE

  I didn’t tell her

  She overheard u telling one of the Hannahs about it

  I forgot which one

  SAMI

  Not sure I believe u

  GABRIELLE

  I promise

  SAMI

  Whatever

  Everyone is nuts about it

  Gonna make the trip so awk & bad

  GABRIELLE

  Sami, I didn’t tell anyone

  SAMI

  Fine bye

  GABRIELLE

  I don’t understand why you don’t believe me

  SAMI

  just seems fishy

  IDK

  can’t explain it

  GABRIELLE

  how can we be real friends if u don’t believe me

  SAMI

  good question

  Dear Journal,

  Well, I was so excited for this trip until some recent events have me not as excited anymore. Of course there’s friend drama. Will there be friend drama forever? I wonder. Probably yes. I don’t want to get into it here but I’m kind of torn between two groups of friends and now there’s drama between them. I’m not worried about going away from home. I loved being away this past summer. Maybe a few days deep in nature will do us some good. It’s still the beginning of school and there’s drama. I don’t get it.

  Love, Gabby

  From: Yorkville Middle School Administration

  To: Yorkville seventh-grade students and parents

  Subject: Conduct on the trip

  Dear families:

  We’re all looking forward to a memorable and rewarding Outdoor Education trip. We want to remind you all that social cruelty will not be tolerated. We expect the highest level of civility among all students.

  Students who violate the code of conduct will be sent home immediately, and will face suspension for at least a week.

  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

  With best wishes,

  The Yorkville Middle School Administration & Faculty

  Super Secret Stuf
fffffff

  SAMI

  Hi guys

  Super fast bc I gotta pack 4 the trip

  I didn’t include Gabby on this bc it’s private

  Should we include her friends on the rank

  I think Gabs & Cecily can def make it on

  Also I changed some of the categories fyi

  MIRIAM

  Ummmm

  HANNAH P

  Yeah why not

  The more the better

  SAMI

  I’ll put us all on bc duh

  I’m in charge LOL

  HANNAH F

  I don’t care who is on it tbh

  I want 2 stay out of this

  SAMI

  K whatever

  sending u a pic of the list in a few

  List so far

  Ayelet Birnbaum - winner for prettiest & most creative

  Cecily Anderson - smartest in the grade by far, no competition

  Gabrielle Katz - biggest up & comer :)

  Angie Kirkpatrick - friendliest, most outgoing

  Sanda Yanusz - most interesting and unique

  Phoebe McGellin - best fashion sense

  Hannah Fletch - best voice

  Eloise Modkin - prettiest name

  Hannah Postel - best gymnast

  Kelly O’Neal - best soccer player

  Mae Revis - winner for amount of languages she knows

  Becky Willard - winner for most amount of community service

  Ashley Fenice - tallest

  Keri Harvey - winner for most like a politician/teacher’s pet (not sure if this should be on the list. thoughts?)

  Note: As I went through the yearbook I realized there were lots of girls to add so I added categories but the winner of the whole thing will be someone that gets points in every category

  Also: People should not find this mean. If we made a LOSER LIST that would be mean . . . LOL. I wouldn’t do that.

  I don’t think. :)

  SAMI

  PS Not everyone can be on it, it’s not how it works, I get being inclusive but whatevs. This isn’t that kind of thing.

  PPS: For example obvs Miriam is one of my BFFs but she’s all around amazing and doesn’t fit into a category. Not everyone does. Just how it is.

  Cecily, Prianka, Victoria, Gabrielle

  CECILY

  I can’t believe they’re letting us use on the bus

  PRIANKA

  Prob bc they want it to be quiet LOL

  GABRIELLE

  True

  VICTORIA

  My mom is texting me every 20 min to check in

  GABRIELLE

  OMG, Vic

  How do u deal with this

  VICTORIA

  IDK

  She is just wacky pants

 

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