Set the Record Straight! Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Most of the time, yes.”
    My mom thought for a minute. “Then I guess . . . just be
     conservative. Don’t tell anyone to do anything you wouldn’t do
     yourself.”
    Oh great. Now she tells me. I sighed.
    â€œToo late?” she asked with a smile.
    I nodded.
    â€œOh boy. Can you fix it?” she asked.
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe.”
    â€œWell, it’s never too late to try,” she said. She walked
     over to give me a hug. I rested my head against her shoulder. She’s still a littletaller than I am. It was relaxing.
    â€œThanks,” I said, pulling away.
    â€œThanks for letting me hug you,” she said with a wink.
    â€œAnytime,” I said with a smile.
    I climbed the stairs feeling a little better. From now on, I would keep my
     advice open-ended and not recommend that people do anything I wouldn’t do. That
     was a good rule of thumb. And maybe there was a way I could get an apology note to
     Tired. I’d ask Mr. Trigg when he got back. It could certainly wait a few days.
     It’s never too late to try! Journalist Saves Sinking
     Ship.
    Feeling charitable, I knocked and opened Allie’s door.
    â€œHello? Privacy?” she said, without turning around from her
     computer screen.
    I rolled my eyes. “Google someone named Mrs. Moseby. She has healthy
     snacks on her family cooking blog.”
    I started to close the door, and Allie said, “What were you and Mom
     whispering about down there?”
    ARGH! See what I mean about a nose for news?
     “Nothing,” I said.
    â€œYeah, right,” replied Allie.
    I closed the door and went to my room to get changed for bed. On my computer
     I saw that Hailey had IM’d me, so I clicked to read it.
    Hellllppp! I think he likes someone else!!!!
    Scott Parker, of course.
    I couldn’t even think about advice anymore
     tonight. I quickly typed back to Hailey.
    So sorry. Bummer. Will discuss first thing in a.m. I
     promise! Hitting the hay. See you tomorrow.
    Then I hurried to shut off my computer and get ready for bed.

Chapter 4
    JOURNALIST SUCCESS AT TOP-SECRET ASSIGNMENT!
    I had an e-mail from Michael when I woke up the next morning.
    Pasty,
    Let’s meet at lunch to discuss lunch (the article. Get it?).
    ML
    That was a great way to start the day, I must say!—with an invitation to lunch from your major crush. Even if he does call you by your horrible kindergarten nickname.
    I decided to look at everything through rose-colored glasses. Tired of Waiting had gotten everything off her chest and, I’m sure, was now moving on, as I should.
    Humming, I went online and skimmed the New York Times website, along with CNN, Time magazine, the Huffington Post, and the Daily Beast. I am pretty good at knowing which articles I should read and which I should skip. It’s hard though. Sometimes I’ll skip one, and then my social studies teacher brings up that topic that very day, and I feel like a dunce.
    An IM popped up from Hailey.
    Meet me @ locker. B early.
    I looked at the clock and saw that if I left now, I could meet Hailey before homeroom.
    At school I found Hailey waiting for me with a dramatic look on her face.
    â€œOkay. Why do you think he likes someone else?” I asked immediately.
    â€œShh!” She looked around and then stared angrily at me. “Someone might hear you!” she hissed.
    I looked around. There was almost no one there yet, and the people who were there were far away and very busy. No one could hear us. And anyway, how would they know who on Earth we were talking about?
    â€œSo you think he likes someone else?” I whispered.
    Hailey nodded miserably.
    â€œWhy?” I asked.
    She pouted. “I saw him leaving school with Amanda Huxtable yesterday. She’s older. An eighth grader!”
    Oh no. This was not good.
    â€œThat doesn’t mean she’s his girlfriend, silly!”
    â€œIt doesn’t mean she’s his