Ava XOX Read Free

novel she was reading and said, “I have only three pages left.” I knew that was code for “See you later, Alligator.” So I took the hint and tried to find Taco because I felt a teeny bit lonely.
    I thought of calling Maybelle, but it was too late, and besides, I haven’t even told her that I am not happy about Chuck + Kelli. And maybe I shouldn’t say anything because it seems like Maybelle + Kelli are becoming friends now too.
    I guess everyone is falling under Kelli’s sparkly spell—even the new science teacher. We did a unit on space and Kelli told our whole class all about a lunar eclipse she saw on one of her fancy vacations. And the teacher was just beaming.
    AVA + TACO
    PS Petting Taco helped…until he ran away.
    PPS I bet it would be nice to like a boy who liked you back.
    PPPS I wish I liked reading as much as Pip does. Whenever she wants to take her mind off things, she can enter a whole new world without even putting her shoes on. I’m a word nerd too, but I like writing more than reading, so the only world I ever hang out in is Misty Oaks.

2/11
IN THE LIBRARY
    DEAR DIARY,
    At breakfast, Mom asked us to sign a Valentine’s card to go with a present for Nana Ethel. In my best handwriting, I wrote:
    The Wren Family would like to say:
    Happy Happy Valentine’s Day!
    Pip decorated it with flowers (mostly azaleas) and birds (mostly wrens).
    We all four signed, and Pip added a paw print for Taco, and I added an XOX for kiss hug kiss. (Another perfect palindrome.)
    Mom said, “Great job!”
    But it was not a J-O-B. It was a J-O-Y.
    Observation: one little letter can make a BIG difference!
    I put the card in an envelope and asked if I should tape it on the present. Mom said, “No, tie it on,” and handed me some ribbon.
    â€œIs that a palindrome?” I asked and wrote it down: N-O-T-I-E-I-T-O-N. “Whoa! It is!” I announced and showed everyone.
    â€œW-O-W,” Mom said, so I showed her how WOW and MOM and AVA all look the exact same in the mirror, whereas PIP and SIS and DAD do not. She smiled and said, “H-U-H, so they’re symmetrical.”
    â€œCool, right?” I said.
    She nodded, and Dad said, “Do you ladies think Dr. Seuss was a word nerd?”
    Pip said, “Definitely.”
    â€œAha!” Dad continued in a teasing way. “But do you think he had Seuss issues?”
    Mom and Pip looked puzzled, but I got it and said, “He definitely had Seuss issues! He had serious S-E-U-S-S-I-S-S-U-E-S!!”
    Mom laughed and Dad high-fived me.
    A-V-A, SYMMETRICAL

2/11
AFTER SCHOOL
    DEAR DIARY,
    Obviously, I believe in girl power and think girls should dream big and go after their goals, just like boys. But today Kelli wore a bright-pink Girl Power sweatshirt to school, and it bugs me that she acts all entitled and as if she expects to get whatever she wants.
    Emily Sherman said that in third grade, Kelli’s mom let her have a party at the Pampered Princess, an hour away. Everyone got manicures and pedicures and facials!
    â€œWhat’s a facial?” I asked.
    â€œIt’s when someone rubs cream on your cheeks and puts cucumber slices on your eyelids to help you relax.”
    â€œOh.” I tried to remember third grade. Did I need creams and cucumbers to relax? I’m pretty sure I could relax by jumping rope or watching videos or hanging out with Pip or Maybelle or…Chuck.
    Speaking of, at lunch, Kelli sat at a table near ours, and when Chuck walked by, she said, “Chuck! I saved you a seat!” So he sat down with her.
    Confession: it took away my appetite.
    Zara says Kelli’s been saving him a seat on the bus home from school every day too.
    Does Chuck even want to sit next to Kelli all the time?
    Should I ask him?
    And why do I care as much as I obviously do? Do I like-like my friend Chuck??
    In FLASH, Ms. Sickle said feelings can be messy.
    I think she’s right. It would be