Mind If I Read Your Mind?

Mind If I Read Your Mind? Read Free Page B

Book: Mind If I Read Your Mind? Read Free
Author: Henry Winkler
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you a new pair, honey,” Billy’s mom offered, leaving her taco shells to give Bennett a little hug.
    â€œThose goggles and I have made a lot of salsa together,” he said.
    â€œTrust me, Dad. If I hadn’t thrown them out, the Health Department would have. Even Brittany thought they were gross.”
    â€œBrittany Osborne?” Billy piped up, suddenly getting interested in the conversation. “The girl with the pink streaks in her hair. She thinks everything is gross.”
    â€œFor your information, youngster, they are lavender highlights, not pink streaks. And she is the drummer in my band and one of my best friends, so I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t criticize her. Besides, the only things she ever said were gross were the onion goggles and you.”
    â€œI’m not gross.”
    â€œReally? Then what do you call that shriveled-up rotting tomato you’re keeping on our bathroom counter?”
    â€œI call it science. I’m watching that tomato decompose.”
    â€œEeuuww.”
    â€œWhen fungi attack a fruit, it causes mold, which is why the tomato has turned black and fuzzy.”
    â€œDouble eeuuww. Triple eeuuww. Everything eeuuww. That is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard in my whole life. You are officially the king of grossdom.”
    Bennett came to Billy’s rescue.
    â€œI applaud you, Billy,” he said, taking the spoon from Breeze and stirring the meat so it didn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. “Science is not always pretty, but a good scientist observes what’s around him with an unwavering eye.”
    â€œAnd a strong stomach,” Breeze chimed in.
    Dr. Fielding certainly knew what he was talking about in the category of disgusting. He was a dentist, and he spent his whole day inside people’s mouths. He knew all there was to know about tooth decay, gum disease, sour saliva, and bad breath.
    As the four of them sat down at the dinner table, the family became very jolly. There was nothing like tacos and refried beans and fresh salsa to put a family in a great frame of mind. Mrs. Broccoli-Fielding talked about how well the resurfacing of the new teacher parking lot was going. Dr. Fielding spoke enthusiastically about the new watermelon-flavored mouthwash he was experimenting with. Breeze reported that her girl band, the Dark Cloud, had been booked for the chess club dance party and although they weren’t getting actual money, they got all the chocolate chess pieces they could eat.
    Billy was quiet and didn’t contribute much to the conversation. His mind had returned to the SOC contest. With less than twelve hours to go before first-period English, he still hadn’t come up with a topic. He had already rejected at least five. His latest thought was to speak on how to stop yourself from hiccuping, but then he realized that standing in front of the room holding his breath would not make for a very upbeat presentation. Besides, if he passed out, he’d never live it down.
    â€œWhy so quiet, young William?” Bennett asked, helping himself to a third taco.
    â€œI’m just thinking, and it’s not working.”
    â€œTry using your brain,” Breeze suggested.
    â€œMost people find that useful.”
    â€œWell, since your brain is working,” Billy answered, “what did you do for the SOC competition last year? I can’t think of a topic, and I’m starting to freak out about it.”
    â€œOur theme was What It Means to Grow Up . I set my speech to music and performed a song called ‘My Nail Polish Doesn’t Define Me.’”
    â€œYeah, I almost picked that” — Billy nodded — “but I rejected it. Hate to appear shallow, but my nail polish does define me.”
    Breeze didn’t usually laugh at Billy’s jokes, but this one seemed to tickle her fancy.
    â€œNot bad,” she giggled. “There may just be a funny human in

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