Set the Record Straight! Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Pasty” snapped me right out of it. I began to read back what we’d brainstormed. “Gross food, unhealthy choices, bad ingredients, sits out too long.” I looked at Michael after I finished. He was biting his lip in this cute way he has when he thinks hard.
    â€œOkay. So what are our next steps?”
    I read down the other list we’d compiled. “We need to interview the chef; get some man-on-the-street interviews from kids, kitchen staff, teachers, and parents; do a kitchen visit; maybe speak to Mr. Pfeiffer.” I winced, and so did Michael. The principal didn’t like us much after the last article we did about the new curriculum, but so be it. That was journalism for you. “If you makeall the people happy all the time, then you’re not doing your job,” Trigger always says.
    â€œGood. Let’s divvy it up.”
    We split the assignments and agreed to see the school chef and kitchen staff together, and then Mr. Pfeiffer, and then our kitchen visit. Then we’d pool all our facts and come up with a thesis for the story. That’s how we worked last time, and it came out really well.
    â€œLook, I’m not worried about Pfeiffer. The whole article is going to be really light and easy. I mean, school food is gross. It’s not exactly new news, right?”
    â€œYeah. We’ll make it funny, too. I’m still thinking of a headline, like… ‘Mac ’n’ Queasy!’ or something,” Michael said with a mischievous grin.
    â€œYeah, or we could do a questionnaire format, like a survey piece: What do people hate the most? What’s the grossest thing they’ve ever eaten in the cafeteria? Most fattening? Most unidentifiable?”
    We were having fun. We laughed for a minute, but then I spotted Hailey across the room, giving me the thumbs-up sign with a big smile on her face. Igave her the thumbs-up back, but then she crooked her finger, beckoning me over. Ugh. Now I wished I hadn’t seen her. Was it too late to pretend I had? I didn’t want to leave Michael and the rosy glow of coauthorship.
    But Hailey was now waving me over impatiently, using her whole arm. I sighed.
    â€œYou know what? I need to run,” I said. “Sorry.”
    Michael turned to follow my gaze over his shoulder. He saw Hailey, and nodded. “Got it. Okay. Well, maybe you can interview her since it was her idea.”
    â€œGreat. Bye,” I said. Leaving gorgeous Michael Lawrence alone at a table felt like a crime, but duty called.
    â€œWhat’s up?” I asked Hailey when I reached her.
    â€œThe coaches said yes! You’re a genius! They thought it was a brilliant idea, and we’re doing it tomorrow! Thank you, Sammy!”
    I smiled. “Great. Let me know how it goes.”
    â€œOh no, you’re coming to watch. I need your feedback on my interaction with Scott. You can come, can’t you? Please? Please?” Haileywhined. She knows it drives me crazy when she whines and that I’ll do anything to shut her up.
    â€œFine! Stop whining!” I could always do my homework while I watched from the bleachers. “But then you owe me an interview, okay?”
    â€œFine. About what? Soccer stardom? Romance?” Hailey fluffed her blonde hair with her fingers until it stuck up all over her head.
    â€œSchool lunch.”
    â€œYuck. Fine. After practice tomorrow at your house.”
    â€œThanks. See ya.” I had to go to the bathroom and I wanted to use it as my excuse to read my new letter from the Know-It-All mailbox. This day was going so well, there had to be a fabulous new question for the next issue.
    In the girls’ room, I used the bathroom and washed my hands, then ducked back into a stall to open the letter.
    There was no return address, and despite the fact that the note writer was obviously in a real rush, I recognized the handwriting immediately this time.
    Dear Knows Zero,
    Your advice