zoegirl:
i hear you. can you imagine how in shape we’d be if we did that every day?
SnowAngel:
we could call it the winsome-threesome workout-of-the-century. we cld make an exercise video and rake in oodles of cash.
zoegirl:
even my toenails are tired
SnowAngel:
*flops onto pretend bed and groans*
SnowAngel:
i told chrissy what we did, and she was like, “u ran up the escalator at peachtree center? that super-duper long one?”
zoegirl:
okay, yes but the critical point is that we ran up the *down* escalator. you did explain that to her, didn’t u?
zoegirl:
that’s gotta be the longest escalator in the world. seriously, it’s as long as a football field.
SnowAngel:
i nearly lost it when maddie stopped for a breather and the escalator took her down, down, down. she was all, “noooo! i’m losing ground!”
zoegirl:
hee hee
SnowAngel:
but in the end we conquered it, cuz we can do ANYTHING, baby.
SnowAngel:
it’s like in “the cave” by my buds Mumford & Sons. “but i will hold on hope… and i’ll find strength in pain!”
zoegirl:
god, i love Mumford & Sons.
SnowAngel:
i know. and that one particular song—it’s like therapy every time i listen to it.
zoegirl:
i like the line about wanting to live life as it’s meant to be lived.
SnowAngel:
i do too, and how even when things are hard, we just keep going.
SnowAngel:
and do u know HOW we keep going? or at least how *i* keep going?
zoegirl:
how?
SnowAngel:
cuz of u and mads.
zoegirl:
awwwww
SnowAngel:
it’s true. true blue, me and u, and don’t forget to add maddie 2.
SnowAngel:
do u like my rhyme?
zoegirl:
very impressive
SnowAngel:
wait, there’s more! er, let’s c… since 7th grade they did not part, they stayed connected in their hearts. zoe’s the good girl, maddie’s wild, and sweet darling angela is meek and mild.
zoegirl:
meek? hahahahaha! mild? hahahahaha!
SnowAngel:
fine, miss brainiac. U find something to rhyme with wild.
zoegirl:
“and sweet goofy angela tends to act like a child”?
SnowAngel:
hey now!
zoegirl:
just teasing. you know i love you.
zoegirl:
i’ve just got kid-type people on my brain, because guess what? i got the job at Kidding Around!
SnowAngel:
wh-hoo! *happy dance, happy dance*
zoegirl:
there was a message waiting for me when i got home. i’m psyched.
SnowAngel:
ah, what joy, to be wiping noses and chasing toddlers. when do u start?
zoegirl:
um, don’t freak, okay?
SnowAngel:
why would i freak? ur not gonna say something to make me freak, r u?
SnowAngel:
wait a minute. don’t u DARE tell me u have to start tonight.
zoegirl:
the thing is… i do.
SnowAngel:
zoe! noooo!
zoegirl:
saturday night’s their busiest night! the director wants me to come in for training.
SnowAngel:
but we were gonna watch “Bridesmaids” again! and eat ugly carrots!
zoegirl:
i know, and i will miss eating my ugly carrot very much. but we can watch “Bridesmaids” tomorrow. that’ll be even better, because that way maddie can join us.
SnowAngel:
the point being that she has plans tonight too? yeah, rub it in. u’ve got yr job and maddie has her cousin’s wedding and i have a big old pile of poop. thanks a lot.
zoegirl:
angela, you are such a drama queen. and you don’t have a big old pile of . you have a delicious bag of carrots! with hopefully at least one ugly one mixed in for luck!
SnowAngel:
zoegirl:
you’re not really mad, are you?
SnowAngel:
of course i’m mad! *flames shoot from ears* SnowAngel: only not really, cuz this way i can watch as many episodes of “extreme makeover: home edition” as i want, and i will cry and it will be very emotional, if u would just TRY the show then u would c what i mean.
zoegirl:
umm… no
zoegirl:
but you know what’s weird? and i mean this in the nicest way ever. last year you would have been totally upset if i’d changed our plans at the last minute. i mean, truly upset, with all kinds of wounded hurt feelings. but this year, you’re so much more chill. why is that, do you think?
SnowAngel:
cuz i’m a junior, that’s why. *struts around in funky junior-ness* cuz i can drive, even tho i don’t have a car. cuz i choose to live my life the way it’s meant to be lived, even tho i will be all alone on a saturday night, and even tho there is seriously something up with my parents, not that they’ll admit it.
zoegirl:
there’s something up with your parents? explain.
SnowAngel:
it’s just this feeling i’ve been getting.
zoegirl:
like what? and for how long?
SnowAngel:
i dunno, maybe a week?
zoegirl:
a week?! why are you just now telling me???
SnowAngel:
it’s like they’re hiding something, i can’t explain it better than that. i keep thinking that maybe i’m making it up, but then i think that i’m not.
zoegirl:
hmm
zoegirl:
maybe it’s a *good* thing they’re hiding—like that they’re taking you to hawaii
SnowAngel:
i dunno, that somehow doesn’t seem very likely.
SnowAngel:
but, whatever. i’m not gonna worry about it, cuz i’m the new and improved Chill Angela. u think they wld name a Barbie after me?
zoegirl:
definitely. for her accessory, she could have a tiny iPhone.
SnowAngel:
no, her accessory would be a tiny picture of u, me, and mads, cuz that’s why i’m chill for real. cuz no matter what, i’ve got u guys giving me my me-ness.
zoegirl:
maddie and i don’t give you your you-ness. you give yourself your you-ness.
SnowAngel:
“you-ness.” now there’s a word for ya.
SnowAngel:
my granddad’s name was eunice, btw
zoegirl:
your granddad? don’t you mean your grandmom?
SnowAngel:
nope, my granddad. only he spelled it “unus.”
zoegirl:
ugh. what were his parents trying to do to him?
SnowAngel:
his full name was unus faye. he went by U.F.
zoegirl:
i am so sorry to hear that.
SnowAngel:
yep
zoegirl:
well, on that note, gtg. wish me luck on my first day, which is really my first night!
SnowAngel:
good luck on yr first day which is really ur first night!
SnowAngel:
ta ta for now!
A CONVERSATION WITH
LAUREN MYRACLE
Why were your books banned and do you personally believe that they should have been?
Lots of my books have teen girls in them. Teen girls sometimes talk about sex. Teen girls sometimes have sex. Lots of grownups would li
ke to believe that this is not true. I am not one of those grown-ups, and I think it’s important and meaningful to give readers stories that reflect reality—in a respectful way. Like, not salaciously, but with the intent of saying, “Let’s look at how this story played out. How’d it seem to work out for so-and-so?” And then the readers—who are SMART, damn it—can grapple with those issues themselves. And no, I do not believe my books should have been banned. I do not believe that any author should be banned, ever. Freedom of speech, dude. :)
What’s your response when you are censored? Are you ever frustrated, or do you take pride in it?
At first I cried. And called my editor and apologized, because I felt so terrible about it. Now I take pride… but it requires a bit of emotional effort, because it still hurts to have people say, out loud and with venom, “your books suck. YOU suck.”
What was your favorite part of writing the Internet Girls series?
My fave part of writing this series was NOT HAVING TO WRITE SETTING. I hate setting. In other books that aren’t purely written in text/IMs, my annoying (awesome) editor makes me include setting, and it is hard.
Which of your characters is most like you, and which character do you wish you were more like?
I’m most like Winnie from the Winnie Years series. She’s a good girl, funny, tries to do the right thing. Often gets into embarrassing situations. I once ran over a squirrel on my bike.
Whom do I wish I were more like? I’m going to go with Cat from Shine, because she has courage in spades. She doesn’t let the haters get to her. Sometimes i do.
How do you come up with your characters?
I follow my children around as they go through their lives and I spy on them. I wear a trench coat and carry a notepad. I am vair vair subtle.
Except, really, I do.
As an author, what’s your average day like?
Oh, an average day of writing means MAKING MYSELF WRITE. And then thinking, “Oh, this is fun.” And then writing some more.
What do you think books offer that other forms of entertainment don’t?
Books engage readers in a more intimate way than other forms of entertainment/media, I think. They encourage critical thinking.
What is your very best life advice?
Best advice? Sheesh. Imagine life is like this: You’re waiting at a red light. You’re stuck there. You didn’t choose to be, but there you are. How are you going to spend your time? Bitching and moaning and looking at your watch, or thinking INTERESTING thoughts? looking at the beautiful sky? Laughing at a joke? so, use this life WISELY—we’re dead a lot longer than we’re alive—and leave the universe a better place than when you got here.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to my informants—er, consultants—Sarah Chesney and Laura Chaddock, for helping me with the form. Thanks to Jack, Laura, Suzy, Julianne, Mag, and Gin for giving me great advice on the story itself. And finally, a special Angela-style thank you to my editor, Susan Van Metre, whose idea this novel was in the first place: Wh-hoo! We did it! *SUPERFLYINGTACKLEPOUNCE*
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LAUREN MYRACLE is the author of many books for teens and young people, including the New York Times bestselling internet Girls series, Shine, Rhymes with Witches, Bliss, The Infinite Moment of Us, and the Flower Power series. She lives with her family in Fort Collins, Colorado. Visit her online at laurenmyracle.com.
Want to check out what Zoe is listening to? Go to http://www.laurenmyracle.com/site/ttyl.html for an exclusive Internet Girls playlist, curated by Lauren Myracle!
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