The Swap Read Online Free PDF Page A

mood for the first day of school.
    â€œMorning, sunshine!” she sings.
    â€œI have no clothes!” I say. I sit down at the kitchen table. “Seriously, I have, like, nothing to wear! Can we please, please, pleeeeeeease go shopping? Pretty please?”
    â€œEllie,” says my mom. She’s standing by the stove, and I can tell by the way she says my name I’m about to get some sort of lecture. “I’m not going to argue with you this morning, but really, sweetheart, you sound a little bit ridiculous. If you went through all your clothes on your floor, you’d probably find loads of cute outfits you don’t even know you have!”
    â€œOh, forget it,” I say.
    But she’s not done.
    â€œAlso, Ellie, if this needing new clothes business is about a certain someone, I don’t think you need to change your clothes, I think you need to think about changing your friends.”
    â€œOh my gosh, Mom,” I say. “Forget it!”
    My mom places a plate full of my favorite homemade waffles with maple syrup and melted butter in front of me. “Let’s focus on the positive.” Her smile grows. “Can you believe it? Seventh grade!”
    I push the plate away. “Whatever. I’m not hungry.”
    â€œDon’t be silly and don’t be rude. Please, Ellie. You need to eat, it’s not good to go all day without breakfast. Do you want to take a bagel and eat it on the bus?”
    â€œSure.” I shrug.
    My mom sits down at the table across from me. “Your attitude needs a little bit of work,” she says, smiling. “Sweetheart, really, I promise you, you are going to make friends today, I just know it, and everything is going to turn out much better than you think.”
    â€œSure, whatever,” I answer.
    I cannot possibly begin to explain how much I am dreading going back to school today. At the door, before I leave, my mom tucks the bagel into my backpack and gives me a hug. “Honey, really, try to not take everything so seriously.” She closes her eyes and takes this huge deep breath. When she opens her eyes, she exhales, cups my cheeks, and kisses my forehead.
    â€œEllie, I wish you’d realize even a teensy bit how amazing you are.” She looks at me like she’s so positive. “You can do anything you set your mind to.”
    I’m standing half inside the door and half outside the door.
    My mom reaches out and moves the hair out of my eyes like she always does. “Don’t forget soccer, okay? I’ll pick you up right after school.”
    â€œI’m not playing soccer,” I announce. I decided this right that second. I already have to see Sassy and Aspen at school . . . I cannot possibly face having to deal with them at soccer too.
    â€œNonsense,” says my mom. “Ellie, you can’t just quit things when the going gets tough. If you want something, you have to work for it. You can’t give up. You’ve always had so much fun at soccer.”
    â€œYeah, well, it’s not really fun right now,” I say. “And I’m not playing. I’m just not!” I turn and start marching down the driveway toward the bus stop.
    This does not discourage my mom. She follows me. She follows me right down the driveway in her lavender kimono bathrobe and fluffy bunny slippers.
    â€œEllie,” she calls after me, “I’ll pick you up at three by the back near the gym. And I expect you to clean your room this weekend. Seriously, Ellie, I can’t even step foot in there. . . .
    â€œAnd, Ellie!”
    I stop and turn back. My mom is holding her cup of coffee in the air as if she’s toasting me. I’m pretty sure she’s smiling as she hollers out, “You can do it, honey! You so got this!”

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