I can feel the blush climbing up my cheeks. “Thanks, Dad,” I whisper.
He squeezes my hand, then puts his arm around my shoulder, leaning on me a little as we head to the gate with our tickets.
And after that, we’re flying through the sky and all the way home.
Adío yia tóra.
46
Readers Love Neatly Tied-Up Endings, Studies Show
It has come to the attention of this publication that people like to know what happened next. In the interest of keeping newspapers from becoming obsolete, the editors wish to offer the following items for consideration:
Nikos Hadjimarkos finally admitted to having feelings for Betony, who knew perfectly well that Ashley had feelings for Nikos. Betony told Nikos she couldn’t hurt Ashley and they all remained friends . . . until Betony hooked up with Nikos at a party and Ashley found out. The status of their friendship is still pending.
Giorgos Hadjimarkos is still really weird.
Pro-Yia-Yia is still telling everyone the story of Zona and the geese. The locals say they’ve never seen her laugh so much in recent memory.
Lilena Vobras was able to leave treatment at the end of July and will be back at school in the fall. Her parents have agreed to stay in one place for a while to make sure she gets the help she needs. Lilena and Zona have started e-mailing again, tentatively at first, but then more regularly. Zona is hoping Lilena might visit her in NYC sometime soon.
Matt Klausner went to the Pride March with his friend Scott and his friends Zona and Hilary . . . and that’s where he met Bill Marini, 17. They are enjoying a summer romance.
Hilary Bauer did a pretty good job as features editor, but her heart wasn’t in it. She started taking a sculpture class at School of Visual Arts during the summer, telling her parents that art was her passion and she was sticking to it. The Bauers agreed that taking a college course was indeed a “serious endeavor.” Ms. Bauer would also like to collaborate on a graphic novel recounting Zona’s year in Greece.
David Lowell’s book scored a hefty advance, and his publishers expect it will be a huge success. Tony was unimpressed by the news.
Zona Lowell is back to writing, and still plans to be a journalist. She got a job at a local paper doing fact-checking and is saving her money to visit her relatives in Crete next Easter. This time, she’s bringing her dad along.
Filed, 8:41 p.m., NYC.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am so grateful for the support and encouragement of my incredible family, friends, and readers-I-have-yet-to-meet (you guys know who you are, right? Your names are all over these books, for crying out loud).
Extra-specific appreciation goes to the following superstars: My editor, Shauna Rossano, who has been a champion for Kelsey, Zona, and all their crazy misadventures since 2008; I’d be lost without her guidance and enthusiasm. My glorious agent, Victoria Marini, who makes her job look easy and always has my back. Anne Walls is the reason half of you even knew about Freshman Year, and is also credited with bullying me into finishing Sophomore Year. Thanks, you guys.
Tony Montenieri, you do this on first dates, don’t you? (Maybe j’adore.) Sara Sellar, you are not—and have never been—a downer. (J’nai.) Robby Sharpe, I’d happily attempt to reach the first-class train carriage with you forever. Ellen Shanman, your enviable success is what made me think I could actually do this in the first place, and your advice is always so appreciated. Jessica Goldstein, without you, no one would know what I really look like. Aunt Rhea, your brilliant novels always made me wish I could someday write one myself, and I am so proud to be able to place this one next to yours on my bookshelf. Carly Robins, thanks for yelling at me when I didn’t feel like doing my editing homework. Ben “Apricot” Howard, you have always been my best early reader, for every page of every draft. This is why you’re royalty.
The people I met in Greece were unbelievably welcoming and made the challenge of researching this book a pleasure. My incredible hosts, Pamela and Emmanuel Pascalodimitrakis (plus Leo and Julia), Christiana Polyviou, and Yiota Yiotini, inspired me, took such good care of me, and taught me more about Greece and Greek people than I could ever fit in one book. The students and faculty at ACS Athens—in particular Peggy Pelonis, Melina Vassiliadis, John Papadakis, and Alexander Vassiliadis—blew me away with their generosity. I was hoping for a brief tour of the campus and I ended up with a three-day residency that was absolutely invaluable, not to mention a blast. Finally, to the very nice guy in Rethymnon who gave me a lift on his moped when I was hopelessly lost, all the while yelling at me for taking a ride from a stranger: thank you for not kidnapping me. And as for the evil geese of Mixorouma? I hope you’ve been broiled for someone’s dinner by now.
Okay, that’s enough of that. Stop reading this list and go read the book. (Unless you’ve already finished it, in which case go read it again. Or lend it to somebody else and then send me an e-mail or something.)
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Sophomore Year Is Greek to Me Page 24