The Encyclopedia of Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

I actually think of her as Ruth! with an exclamation point. (This is because Ruth is always exclaiming! About everything! All the time!) Not that I would tell Freddie Blue that, because Freddie Blue is not the most tactful person in the world and she might let it slip and hurt Ruth!’s feelings. The way Ruth skate boarded was cool because she was the only girl who was ever out there, jumping around and whatnot in baggy pants and amusing T-shirts.
    â€œWhatever,” Freddie Blue said. “Ruth is a dork. Her whole thing with Jedgar Johnston is weird.”
    Sometimes FB’s scorn is so sharp, it’s like a glittery paring knife peeling the skin off an apple in one smooth, long curl. You do not want to be the apple.
    â€œWhat’s weird about it?” I said. “They’re best friends. So what?”
    â€œSO she doesn’t have any girls who are friends,” said FB. “That’s weird.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” I said. “It’s just what it is.”
    â€œYou aren’t going to help us be pops 27 if you like people like Ruth,” said FB. “Sorry, but you know I’m right. I’m just trying to help you, Tink. To help
us
. We’re in this together, right? Cause you’re totally my BFF.”
    â€œFB,” I said. “Go back to your magazine. I am trying to write.”
    â€œDon’t be snappish,” she said. “I love your crazy idea! About being boarders! It’s the best idea you’ve ever had! Let’s go right now. Don’t look at me like that. I know you’re grounded. But you can sneak out! Besides, you’ve been good, you get time off for good behavior. And this is important. AND a sport! You know how your parents love sports! They would actually WANT you to do this.”
    Hortense leaped onto my chest, whumping the air out of my lungs. It was so hot in the room, I felt like I was drowning. I gulped a big breath of air and tried to pry her off me. Going outside actually did sound sort of good, but only if I could guarantee I would not be caught. Being caught would mean . . . well, I had no idea what, but I knew it would be capital-
B
Bad. Hortense struggled and scratched my arm. “OUCH,” I yelled. She scratched me again in a frenzy of claws and skin. “Ouch, ouch, ouch!” I said. “Dumb cat.”
    FB laughed. “That cat is so ugly,” she said. “You’re maimed! You’re maimed!”
    â€œIt isn’t funny!” I said, pushing Hortense off. My arms stung. I looked out the window. The leaves of the Tree of Unknown Species were rising and falling in the breeze, like they were whispering, “Come outside, come outside . . .”
    â€œYou are such a goody-goody, it gives me a pain in my heart.” FB rolled around dramatically, clutching her chest.
    I tried to think of the right Tink Aaron-Martin Patented Stare to give her, 28 but I couldn’t come up with one. Besides, outside sounded good. And it was a sport! My parents DID like sports! So . . . maybe . . . I . . .
    â€œOK,” I said. “Let’s do it.”
    The minute we stepped outside, the heat hit us like the kind of massive tidal wave that will one day crush all of humanity and even New York City if you believe what you watch on movies. It felt tolerable until we got to the end of the driveway, by which time we were sweating like pigs, although I’ve never seen a pig sweat as much as we were.
    Freddie Blue kept staring at my maimed left arm and wrinkling her nose. “That’s going to leave a scar,” she said.
    I shrugged. I was about to say something witty about how the scars would look like dot-to-dot drawings on the freckles when she suddenly shouted, “OK, cover me. I’m going in.”
    â€œWhat?” I said.
    Before I could stop her or even figure out what she was doing, she scampered up the long, steep driveway of the house next door. A house where I have