by Annie Bryant
“Yeah,” Joline put in her two cents. “It wasn’t your place to interfere. Julie could have told her parents if she’d wanted them to know. You squealed, Katani. Own up to it.”
“Okay.” Ms. R thought for a moment. “Since this has now become a school issue, let’s hear from some of the rest of the class. That okay with you, Katani?” Katani nodded, even though she was feeling a little nervous. “Do you think Katani did the right thing…telling Julie’s parents?”
“Are you kidding me? Definitely not,” Joline insisted.
Lucy Kim raised her hand. “It was Julie’s party—she should have taken control of the situation.”
“I don’t know if she could,” Charlotte said. “It seemed to me that Julie didn’t know what to do.”
“I think there’s a difference between reporting something and being a major tattletale,” Riley Lee said. “I was there. The party was out of control big time.”
“It was a middle-school party and kids were drinking. That’s not cool,” Pete Wexler said firmly.
“Okay, what’s the difference in tattling and reporting?” Ms. R let the question sink in and waited for opinions.
Betsy Fitzgerald waved her hand. “I wasn’t at the party, but I think that reporting is telling something that needs to be told. And tattling suggests, well, spite or meanness. Since Katani had been invited to the party, unlike others in this class who weren’t, she wasn’t alerting the Fabers out of spite. Maybe she thought someone could get hurt.”
“Someone had already gotten hurt.” Katani looked over at Dillon.
Murmurs from the class seemed to suggest that Betsy had it right. There was a difference between reporting and tattling.
“So let me get this straight,” Billy Trentini said. “Like, if Avery saw someone breaking into my locker and reported it, she wouldn’t be a tattletale?”
“If someone broke into your locker, Billy,” Avery said, “no one would have to report it. He’d be lying there on the floor, passed out from the smell.”
“Ewwww, dead socks,” Sammy said, holding his nose, adding to the laugh that Avery got.
“I think Katani did what she felt was right,” Dillon said when the laughter died down. “It was a hard thing to do—she must have known that she was going to make some people mad. But I think she made the right decision.”
“Me too,” came from several voices. Katani kept her head down, doodling on a page in her notebook. She was glad for Betsy’s speech. She was glad Ms. R had given them a chance to talk about the situation. To be thought of as a tattletale by her whole class would have been more than she could handle. Candice had e-mailed her grandmother, telling her there might be a problem at school on Monday. But Katani had a talk with Grandma Ruby and asked her not to make this into a big school thing. It was hard enough for Katani to live a normal life when her grandmother was principal of Abigail Adams Junior High.
“All right, class. We’re going to start today’s lesson off with some free writing. I want you to take out pen and paper and write on the subject of personal responsibility in the face of a potentially dangerous situation.” There were groans. Some kids hated free writing. They felt it was pointless.
Ms. R paused. “Remember, with free writing, you just write anything that comes to your mind. It doesn’t even have to make sense at the time. You’re tapping into your subconscious mind.”
“What if there’s nothing in my subconscious mind?” Dillon asked. He was one of the students that loved this type of assignment. It meant he didn’t have to watch his spelling or grammar. To Dillon, free writing was a great deal.
“From what I have overheard, Dillon, I’d think there’d be a little bit there today.” Ms. R smiled back at him.
“Don’t look around for inspiration. Just start writing and continue until I say time is up.”
The class got even quieter than usual. Apparently there was a lot on people’s minds today. Or they just kept writing the same word over and over as Ms. R said they could do in this exercise.
“Time,” Ms. R said finally, although she usually didn’t let them write for more than ten minutes, and more often it was five. “As you know, writings like this are private, but would anyone like to share?”
Betsy Fitzgerald waved her hand. Here we go again, Avery thought. Betsy to the rescue. What else is new?
“All right, Betsy.” Ms. R sat on a high stool by her desk.
Betsy cleared her throat. “Responsibility is when you may be only one person, but one person can make a difference. Sometimes it takes guts to do what you think is right, like Katani did. However, if you’re part of a team, you’re responsible to everyone on the team. Like in basketball, if you don’t practice, and it happens to be you who has the chance to score the winning point right before the buzzer, and you miss, then you’ve let your team down. So there’s individual responsibility and team responsibility. Your team should let you have the chance to score sometimes, even when you don’t have a lot of experience.”
Avery looked at Isabel, shrugged, and grinned.
“I wonder if you’re thinking about today’s basketball game, Betsy? By the way, congratulations on making the team. I didn’t know you played basketball.”
“I didn’t. But I realized when you fill out college applications, they are looking for well-rounded people. I decided I wasn’t very well rounded.”
Little laughs escaped all over the room.
Billy Trentini lay back in his chair, shaking his head. Betsy drove him crazy with all her college talk.
“That’s right. Colleges look at more than grades when they choose their new freshmen. Good luck today, Betsy, and all the rest of the team.” Ms. R looked at Avery.
Avery didn’t take the cue to read. Maeve shook her head and Charlotte pretended that she was looking in her notebook. None of the BSG wanted to comment any more on Katani’s decision in front of the whole class. They were glad that some other people outside their group had defended Katani. It seemed like a real blow to the Queens of Mean, who were trying to paint Katani as a major tattletale.
At lunch, the Beacon Street Girls finally got a chance to talk more about the party.
“So Katani, what made you tell the Fabers?”
Katani stared at her food before answering. “I just really thought that twelve-and thirteen-year-olds shouldn’t be involved with drinking. I mean, what if something happened to Tim Cole? What if he passed out and didn’t wake up? That kind of stuff happens a lot. I’ve heard about it from my older sisters.”
“That was brave, Katani. As the Aussies say, Good on you,” Charlotte said.
Avery piped in, “That was hard to do. I think it’s awesome that you stood up for what you thought was right, knowing that other kids might make fun of you for it.”
The other girls nodded in support. Katani almost cried. To have such good friends as the BSG was the best thing about being in seventh grade at Abigail Adams Junior High.
“I wish that I had never gone to that party.” Maeve looked depressed.
“It wasn’t like you were actually responsible for the fighting, Maeve,” Katani said. “Bobby started it by bringing his friends to the party when Julie had asked him to stay away. In fact, Mr. and Mrs. Faber should have made sure Bobby had something else to do.”
“But the fight was about me. I should have gone with you when you asked.” Maeve toyed with her lunch, dipping a carrot stick into spaghetti sauce.
“The drinking was Bobby’s fault, too,” Isabel said. “My sister says he looks for ways to cause trouble.”
“So let me get this straight,” Avery said. “Riley came to Maeve’s defense with DJ. DJ meant to hit Riley, but Dillon stepped in at just that moment, so DJ hit Dillon.”
“I didn’t ask them to help me. Honest I didn’t. I would have been all right. I feel so bad for Dillon. He’s the one with the black eye.”
“He’s getting lots of attention because of it,” Avery said. “Dillon loves attention. But maybe you s
hould say sorry, Maeve. It can’t hurt.”
“Do you think I should write up the party for the school newspaper?” asked Charlotte.
“No way! It wasn’t a school thing, and not everyone was invited.” Maeve looked at Charlotte. “Besides, it’s old news. Everyone in the school knows what happened by now.” Maeve giggled. “It is kind of romantic, though. Remember that movie called Sabrina where they had a big fight at the end? Both brothers liked Audrey Hepburn. One was a serious businessman and the other a playboy.”
“Leave it to Maeve to turn all this into a movie. But personally, if someone threw up right in front of me, I wouldn’t be thinking any romantic thoughts.” Avery finished up her lunch, blew up her paper lunch bag, and popped it. Then she hid it immediately, since such behavior was frowned on in the cafeteria.
“I feel like that paper bag,” Avery said. “I’m about to pop. How many are coming to the game to watch Isabel and me score all the points, except for the last, winning basket, of course? We’ll give the ball to Betsy, she’ll cause someone to foul her, get a free throw, and she’ll be the heroine.” Avery acted out the scenario as she made up the story.
“We’re all coming, Ave,” Charlotte said. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world. Then we’ll go straight to the Tower to finish this discussion. Dad said he’d have pizzas by six.”
“Char?” Maeve asked. “We haven’t talked nearly enough about your poem, and Riley turning it into a song. That was so cool.”
“Yes, it was unbelievable.” Charlotte got a dreamy look on her face.
Maeve picked up her lunch tray and hurried ahead of them to turn it in and go to afternoon classes. “Play your heart out, Ave. You too, Isabel.”
“Be there or be trapezoid.” Avery bounced an imaginary basketball all the way back to class. Occasionally, she tossed the ball to Isabel, who tossed it back. Charlotte and Katani were their designated cheerleaders.
By the time they got to the locker area, Maeve had disappeared.
“Do you think Maeve’s all right?” Charlotte asked.
“Oh, she is. Maybe she went on to class with Dillon.”
CHAPTER 19
Points for All
It’s just too hard to get back in the swing of things today,” Charlotte complained.
“When I am the CEO of Kgirl Enterprises, we’ll go to three-day weekends,” Katani said. “Monday will be set aside for recovering from Saturday and Sunday.”
“Absolutely smashing idea.” Charlotte mulled over what books to take home for their study session that night in the Tower. Math…she suddenly remembered that they still needed to help Maeve with math.
“But first things first,” Katani said. “Isabel and Avery got out fifteen minutes early to suit up for the game, but where’s Maeve?”
“I don’t know. She disappeared after last class.” Charlotte felt a little bit worried, but Maeve knew they were going to the game.
“We’d better go on. I have to take Kelley.” Katani looked up and down the hall.
“Hi, Charlotte,” Kelley said when Ruby Fields delivered her to her sister’s locker. “Are you going to the basketball game? It’s going to be supercalifragilistic fun. I love basketball. It’s so round.” Kelley began jumping about like one of the dancing hippos in Fantasia.
Katani leaned her head against her locker. “Grandma Ruby, I don’t—”
“We’re all going together, Kelley.” Charlotte hooked her arm into Kelley’s and started walking down the hallway. “Come on. We’ll come back for books later.”
A relieved Katani gave her grandma a quick hug and traipsed after her sister and Charlotte.
“You’re my best friend in the whole world, Charlotte,” Kelley said. “I liked you since the first day of school, didn’t I?”
“Yes you did. Despite it being the disaster of all time.” Charlotte smiled.
“Today was a big disaster,” Kelley said. “I spilled my milk all over Denash at lunch and then I couldn’t do my work.”
Katani looked at Charlotte. “I hope you’re finished with spilling things today, Kelley,” Katani said as she rolled her eyes at Charlotte.
“Oh, yeah, it was just one of those crazy unfortunate things. Unfortunate.” Kelley had obviously fallen in love with a new word. “Unfortunate! Unfortunate!” She repeated it all the way to the gym.
Charlotte, Katani, and Kelley got seats in the middle, three bleachers up so they could see really well.
“I’ll save a seat for Maeve with my jacket.” Charlotte placed her favorite vintage blue jean jacket across the bleacher beside her.
“Where’s Maeve?” Kelley asked. “I like that red-haired girl. She’s sparkly.” Charlotte chuckled. Kelley was so on target sometimes.
“It’s a mystery,” Katani said, “unless she’s secretly practicing with Riley’s band again. Now hush, Kelley, and get ready to watch and cheer for Avery and Isabel.”
“Yay, Avery! Yay, Isabel!” Kelley shouted, and then she waved when Avery and Isabel stopped their warmup practice to wave back.
“Sit down, Kelley,” Katani hissed. It was just so embarrassing to be with Kelley sometimes. Katani wished that she had her favorite hoodie on right now so she could hide her head. Maybe it was the whole tattletale incident, but she had had enough embarrassment for one day. Kelley sat down, crossed her arms, and stuck her face up to Katani’s.
“Miss Cranky Crank,” she called her sister, and then turned back to watch the game.
So Sorry
Maeve had left last period science class with Avery, Isabel, and several cheerleaders, hoping Mr. Moore wouldn’t know who was supposed to leave and who wasn’t. Whatever. There were only fifteen minutes left.
Slipping out the school’s back door, she pulled on her jacket, sat on the steps, and pulled out the letter she’d found stuck in the vents of her locker after lunch. She had read it once, quickly, but wanted to read it again.
Dear Maeve,
I am really sorry (I mean really, really sorry) about what happened at Julie’s party. I don’t know what got into me. Well, I do know. It was beer, three beers. I’m not used to drinking, and I also ate too much pizza (you probably figured that out already). I hope I didn’t mess up your jeans too badly. I hope you don’t think I drink all the time, since I don’t. In fact that was the first time ever.
Bobby dared me to chug a whole beer before we came to the party. It was a huge mistake on my part. If I’d known how it would make me act, I’d have said no. I do like you and you are a great dance partner.
I’ll apologize to Dillon in a couple of days. I probably won’t write him a letter, though, ’cause guys think that kind of stuff is weird. You may never want to see me or talk to me again, but if you do, meet me behind the school after last class for just a couple of minutes.
If you aren’t there, I’ll understand. Your friend, and dance partner, I hope,
Tim
P.S. My mother did not make me write this letter.
Maeve thought it was pretty brave of Tim to write her a letter. And to want to see her to apologize. She didn’t know if they could be friends, but she would talk to him.
Where was he? She looked at her pink Minnie Mouse watch. She didn’t want to miss any of the basketball game. And Charlotte and Katani would wonder where she was.
“Maeve?” Tim had walked up behind Maeve without her hearing.
She swung around, stuffing the letter in her purse. “Thanks for writing me this letter.”
“I didn’t know what else to do. I was afraid you wouldn’t speak to me again.”
“I wasn’t sure either. But it was a nice letter. It’s just that I didn’t like how you acted at the party. I don’t like being around boys who drink and throw up on my pants. I did like dancing with you in our hip hop class.” Maeve was rarely at a loss for words, but she didn’t know what else to say to Tim.
“Will you dance with me next class?”
“I don’t know.” Maeve got up. “I have to go. I promised my
friends I’d watch their basketball game.”
“I was going to the game too. Can I walk you there?”
“Ah…They’re saving me a seat. See you later.” Maeve practically ran back in the school, down the hall to the gym, to get ahead of Tim. Walking into the gym with him would finish off the disaster of the weekend. Shouting and cheering spilled over into the hall, so she knew she was late.
She hurried inside, looked around, and finally spotted Kelley waving at her. “’Scuse me, ’scuse me.” She made her way down the row.
“Maeve!” Kelley yelled over the crowd. “Where were you? The BSG were soooo upset. But we saved you a seat.” Katani rolled her eyes at Maeve. Kelley was so full of herself today.
Maeve sat down quickly. She had already called enough attention to herself this week. “Thanks, Kelley. What’s the score?”
“Sixteen to fourteen. Very unfortunate.” Kelley took Maeve’s hand. “I’m glad you’re here. You’re one of my very best friends. I like your red hair.”
Maeve didn’t know why, but Kelley’s declaration of friendship was very reassuring. She needed her friends right now. Maybe she was feeling a little afraid that like in Charlotte’s poem, if she wasn’t careful, they could all wash right out from under her feet like sand when the tide goes out, and she’d be left alone. No friends? Life without the BSG was a disaster she couldn’t even imagine.
Suddenly, the crowd surged to their feet, wildly cheering. Avery had sunk a jump shot from the top of the key.
“Yay, Avery!” Maeve shouted. The BSG all clapped for their friend.
The opposing team, Lincoln, inbounded the ball to a girl wearing number 23, and she started to dribble up the court. Since Avery was playing point guard, she guarded number 23 as the girl dribbled the length of the floor. After they crossed midcourt, number 23 spotted an open teammate and tried to pass the ball to her, but Avery was too quick. She reached out just in time to block the pass, steal the ball, and sprint toward the other basket.
Julie and Anna also took off, and it was three on one going down the court. Avery passed to Anna, who passed to Julie, who laid it up and in off the backboard. Abigail Adams 24, Lincoln 22. Avery and Julie high-fived as they ran back to play defense.