My New Best Friend Read Free Page A

she says. "I'm not breakable."
    "It's a good thing I showed up," Jenna says when we get to the van.
    "Um ... how do you figure?" I ask.
    "Just look at you two," she says, giving me and Stacey the once-over. "Going to a party dressed like that. How are you going to drink punch? Your arms barely poke out. Plus, you'll be bumping into people and tripping over furniture the whole time."
    "We'll manage," I say as we pile our boxes into the back of the van.
    Jenna lifts her buggy chin. "You need me," she says, hopping into the front seat.
    "Um ... no, we don't," I mumble and hop in back.

    We stop at the Purdee Good on our way to the party. Kelli takes pictures of us to send to Stacey's dad.
    "Can't your dad even show up to take his own pictures?" Jenna asks Stacey as we head back to the van.
    "It's not like that," Stacey says. "He wants to be here ... it's just ... it's complicated."
    Jenna huffs. "I'd never let my parents split up."
    "It's not like I had a
choice,
Jenna," Stacey replies.
    "Still," Jenna says, "it's not going to happen in
my
family."
    It's a good thing Brooke has a big house because lots of people are at her party. Almost all the kids from our class are there, plus a bunch of strangers who look a lot like Brooke with their dark, shiny hair and perfectly straight teeth. Relatives.
    Jenna pulls Stacey through the crowd like a box kite on a string. She feeds her punch and treats. She even yanks down streamers and balloons and decorates Stacey until she looks more like a parade float than an outhouse.
    Every time I try to get within bumping distance of Stacey, Jenna drags her away to another part of the house. Rachel goes off to play with one of Brooke's little cousins. I just grab a handful of chips from the snack table, lean against a wall, and pull my arms inside my box. I eat chips and watch the party through my half moon. It isn't long before one of Brooke's relatives stops right in front of me, blocking my view. She gulps down the last of her punch, sets the empty cup on top of me, and walks away.
    "Use a coaster next time," I mumble.
    When it's time for Brooke to open her presents, Jenna puts herself in charge of handing them to her. She gives Brooke the gift she brought first. "It's a diary," Jenna says before Brooke even gets all the wrapping paper ripped off. "My dad helped me make it. We put water and old newspapers into a blender and churned it into
pulp.
Then we spread the pulp on a screen and let it dry to make the pages." Jenna takes the diary from Brooke and opens it up to show everyone. Each page looks like a pan of oatmeal.
    "Um ... thanks," Brooke says.
    "You're welcome," Jenna replies. She props the diary up on a shelf like it should be in a museum.
    Next, Jenna hands Brooke Stacey's gift, but not mine.
    "Um...," I say, tapping on the inside of my box. "That's actually a two-part gift."
    No one hears me. All I can do is watch as Brooke pulls one sock, glove, and earring out of the gift bag from Stacey. She does a puzzled look. But Stacey is too busy giggling with Meeka and Jolene to tell Brooke that the rest of her present is in the bag from her
best friend.
Me. Ida May.
    When my mom finally shows up to take us home, Mrs. Drews shows up, too. I guess her meeting with Mr. Drews got done early. She insists on giving Stacey a ride home to make up for any trouble Jenna and Rachel caused my mom.
    "They were no trouble at all, Pauline," Mom tells her.
    "That's right," I chime in, not wanting her to take Stacey.
    "I insist," Mrs. Drews says, herding Stacey, Jenna, and Rachel down the sidewalk.
    Jenna shoots a satisfied look at me as Stacey ditches her outhouse and climbs into Jenna's car.
    Jenna climbs in next to Stacey and closes the door.
    I pull off my box and wave good-bye to Stacey as they drive away.
    Stacey doesn't see me because Jenna's big, green head is in the way.

    As soon as I get home I stomp upstairs. I change into my grumpy-face pajamas. I rip open my birthday treat bag and yank out two