by Robin Palmer
“Uh-huh,” I said.
“You and Laurel got along well?” she asked.
I nodded. I decided going into the whole story of Laurel being a jerk and then our make-up fight was a waste of time, because the truth was, we worked through stuff and it was okay now. And Mom would just go tell Alan, who would freak out all over again. Not that Laurel and I wouldn’t fight again, because we probably would. But that was okay, too, because it meant we were fristers and we loved each other.
She flopped down next to me on the bed. “So what was your favorite part of the trip?
What was my favorite part? Ordering pancakes for dinner from room service? Walking-slash-tripping down the red carpet? Lady A giving me her personal e-mail address so we could keep in touch? Finding out what it felt like to have a crush? Being kissed for the very first time? Laurel telling me I was her best friend?
“I’m not sure yet,” I said. “Kind of a lot happened. It’s a long story.”
“Come on, Lucy. I want to hear everything!” Mom said.
I smiled. It was nice having my mom back. “Okay,” I said, flopping down next to her.
Although maybe I’d leave the kiss part out for now.
chapter 16
Dear Dr. Maude,
I’ve been home for a few days now, and I think I’m finally over my jet lag. And you want to know the coolest thing? For the first time, it really DOES feel like home. Just like it’s starting to feel like Laurel and I really ARE sisters.
I keep waiting for something huge to happen now that I’ve been kissed. Like, maybe, my period to arrive. But it still hasn’t. Although Marissa just sent me an e-mail saying that she overheard a girl at the Northampton community pool say that if you drink ginger tea and stand on your head for fifteen minutes a day, that should do the trick. Would you happen to know if that’s true? Or where I can find ginger tea in our neighborhood?
Anyway, I have to go, because Laurel and I are going to the movies to see Austin and Connor’s new movie Apin’—American Style. Have you heard about it? It’s about a chimp that comes to live with an American family as part of a foreign exchange program. It’s supposed to be really good.
If you want to hang out one day, let me know. Laurel has to go back to L.A. for the movie, and all of my friends (all two of them) are at camp, so I’m around. And I have a feeling I’m going to need a break from all the quality-time activities that Mom has planned for us.
yours truly,
LUCY B. PARKER
An Interview with Robin Palmer, by Lucy B. Parker
Q: As you know, I’m in middle school. I know you’re a lot older than me, but do you remember what you were like back then? Did you have as many embarrassing moments as me?
A: You’re right—middle school was a long time ago for me. But I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was actually a lot like you, Lucy. You know how you want to get your period and hate wearing a bra? Well, I felt the same way. . . and, unfortunately, I needed a bra really early, which was completely embarrassing and had me crossing my arms in front of my chest a lot.
When I think of middle school, I remember reading Judy Blume books in my room with a flashlight when I was supposed to be sleeping. I would read her books and feel this huge sense of relief. She just totally, completely understood me. It made me feel like I wasn’t the only one having a tough time. And now when I’m lucky enough to get e-mails from readers who say that I do the same thing for them, it’s the biggest honor in the world, because I know how much it means at that age to feel like someone just gets you.
As for embarrassing moments, I’m sure I did have as many as you, but because I’m so old I conveniently can’t remember them.
Q: You weren’t always a writer, though, were you? Didn’t you live in L.A.? I hope this won’t be considered bloversharing, but I don’t really like it out there. Mainly because no one eats bread.
A: You’re right—barely anyone does eat bread there, which I think is part of the reason I moved to New York. And I wasn’t always a writer. I always wanted to be one, but I was too afraid to show people stuff I had written. I thought you had to be a really special kind of person to write, but now I know you just have to sit down and do it. So after I graduated from college, I moved out to Hollywood and worked in the television business. It was a lot of fun, and I got to meet some famous people and to go on the sets of some movies and premieres, but at my thirtieth birthday party, I remembered how I felt when, in second grade, Mrs. Rokosny had read a story I had written to the class. It was the most incredible feeling in the world. So I left my job and started writing. And writing. And writing. And writing. And then I wrote a book for teens called Cindy Ella, and the rest is history!
Q: As you know, I keep two logs—one that lists when all the girls in my grade got their periods, and the other that lists their three crushes. Did you keep logs when you were a kid?
A: Sadly, I was not smart enough at your age to come up with such a genius idea. But you and I are alike in a lot of other ways. For instance, we both think Billy’s Bakery has the best cupcakes in New York City. And we both love cats. (Although my two—Onyx and O’Neill—are a little nicer to me than Miss Piggy is to you.) And we both like to wear a lot of color. And my first friend when I moved to New York was my doorman, who was, strangely enough, also named Pete. And I have a lot of experience knowing what it’s like to be the New Girl in school, too, because I moved a bunch of times. I did not, however, send e-mails to anyone who was like Dr. Maude, because back in the old days we didn’t have e-mail! Okay, Lucy, we have to stop talking about this because it’s making me feel very old.
When I’m not busy overlistening to my mom’s conversations or keeping the Official Crush Log of the Center for Creative Learning, I’m updating my Web site!
LUCYBPARKER.com
Check out my site for:
• A sneak peek at upcoming books
• My personal “Why Me?” diary
• The purr-fectly funny “As Seen by Miss Piggy” feature
• Author Robin Palmer’s advice column (She’s a LOT better at responding than Dr. Maude!)
• Fun downloadables and more exclusive content!
Get to know Lucy B.!
yours truly,
Lucy B. Parker 1:
girl vs. superstar
Coming soon!
yours truly,
Lucy B. Parker 3:
Vote for me!
Lucy B. Parker loves a lot of things—red velvet cupcakes, Converses (she has them in all different colors), and French apple pie are some of her favorites. When it comes to lip gloss, she definitely has her favorite, too . . . Lip Smacker®!
Visit LipSmackerLounge.com for a special Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker quiz, wallpapers . . . and more fun with Lucy!
Books by Robin Palmer:
Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker: Girl vs. Superstar
Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker: Sealed with a Kiss
Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker: Vote for Me!
(coming soon!)
For teens:
Cindy Ella
Geek Charming
Little Miss Red