Got Cake? Read Free

could choke out.
    I watched them walk off hand in hand.
    â€œThis is going to be more difficult than I thought!” I told myself.
    I heard thundering footsteps. The ground shook.
    I spun around—and saw Jennifer Ecch. Stomping toward me, head lowered like an angry bull coming after a red flag.

    Jennifer Ecch, the biggest, strongest, hulkiest girl at Rotten School. I call her Nightmare Girl.
    But it doesn’t matter what I call her. The Ecch is totally in love with me.
    But now as she thundered toward me, I froze in TERROR.
    Because I could see the fierce gleam in her one brown eye and one blue eye.
    And I knew what she planned to do.
    She planned to do The Stomp on my foot!

Chapter 6
WHY I LOOK LIKE A DUCK
    My scream sent leaves tumbling from the trees. I saw two birds fall out of the sky and land with two thuds on the grass.
    I’ll never forget the grin on Jennifer’s face. When it came to The Stomp, she knew she ruled .
    â€œWhy are you screaming?” she cried. “That was a love tap.”
    A love tap?
    My foot was buried two feet in the ground!
    I tugged it out. My shoe looked like shredded wheat. I grabbed it with both hands and started hopping in agony.

    I glanced up and saw Jennifer with a camera pressed to her face. She snapped picture after picture as I hopped on one foot.
    â€œLook what you did!” I screamed. “My foot is totally FLAT! You gave me a webbed foot! I look like a DUCK!”
    She laughed. “Keep hopping, Ducky Lips. I think you can set the school record.”
    â€œDon’t call me Ducky Lips!” I screamed.

    I couldn’t hop anymore. My foot had swelled up to the size of a cantaloupe! I plopped down onto the grass. “What are you doing with that camera?” I cried.

    She plopped down beside me. She giggled and grabbed my arm.

    â€œDucky Lips, you crack me up,” she said. Then she started planting wet, smoochy kisses up and down my arm.
    She didn’t stop until my arm was limp and soaked as a sponge.
    Do you know how embarrassing it is to be in fourth grade and have a girl totally in love with you?
    I sighed. “What about the camera?” I asked again.
    â€œThe shots of you hopping up and down are going to be awesome in the Rotten Egg !” she gushed.
    â€œExcuse me?” I said.
    She gave my shoulder a gentle slap—so gentle, it knocked me flat on the grass. “Ducky Whiskers, you know I’m the new photographer for the yearbook.”
    I stared at her until my glasses steamed up. “Huh? You? You work for the yearbook?”
    She nodded.
    I scooted away. She looked like she was going to give me another gentle tap.
    â€œYou’re the Official Photographer for the Rotten Egg ?” I asked.
    She nodded again.
    My mind whirred. I could feel my brain heating up inside my skull as I began to think. My ears started flapping again.
    Now I couldn’t lose! With Jennifer as my Official Photographer, I couldn’t lose! (Maybe.)

Chapter 7
TOTAL EMBARRASSMENT
    I jumped to my feet. I began to pace back and forth excitedly in front of Jennifer. “You know about the Most Popular Rotten Egg page?” I asked her.
    She nodded. “Of course. I’m taking the photo of the winner.”
    She leaned forward and started pulling up clumps of grass from the ground with both hands. Then she stuffed them into her mouth and chewed on them.
    I squinted down at her. “Why are you doing that?”
    She shrugged. “ MMMPH, MMMMPH . I like to keep busy.”
    I told you she’s a beast.
    â€œI want to win the Most Popular contest,” I said.
    A lopsided grin spread over her face. “You’re already Most Popular with me, Honey Face.” She grabbed my hand, jerked me back down to the ground, and began planting more smoochy kisses on my arm.
    I had to shove her away when she started to chew the buttons off my shirt.
    â€œJen, listen to me,” I begged. “You want to help me,