Shingaling Read Free

really surprising to me, for a lot of reasons.
    “Anyhow, what’s up with you, Charly?” she said. “I feel like I’ve hardly seen you since we got back from winter break!” She picked up my wrist to inspect my new bangle.
    “I know, right?” I answered, though I didn’t point out that that was because she had canceled on me every single time we’d made plans to hang out after school.
    “How’s Maya’s dots tournament going?”
    She was referring to Maya’s obsession with making the world’s largest dot game to play at lunchtime. We kind of made fun of it behind her back.
    “Good,” I answered, smiling. “I keep meaning to ask you about this whole boy-war thing. It’s so lame, isn’t it?”
    She rolled her eyes. “It’s totally out of control!”
    “Right?” I said. “I feel kind of sorry for Jack. Don’t you think Julian should just call it quits already?”
    Ellie started twisting a strand of hair around her finger. She took a fresh juice box off the counter and popped the straw into the hole. “I don’t know, Charly,” she answered. “Jack’s the one who punched
him
in the mouth. Julian has every right to be mad.” She took a long sip. “I’m actually starting to think that Jack has serious anger-management issues.”
    Hold up. What? I’ve known Ellie since forever, and the Ellie I know would never use a phrase like “anger-management issues.” Not that Ellie isn’t smart, but she’s not
that
smart.
Anger-management issues?
That sounded more like something Ximena Chin would say in that sarcastic way of hers. Ever since Ellie had started hanging out with Ximena and Savanna, she’s been acting weirder and weirder!
    Wait a minute!
I just remembered something: Ximena plays clarinet!
That
explains why Ellie switched electives! Now it’s all making sense!
    “Either way,” said Ellie, “I don’t think we should get involved. It’s a boy thing.”
    “Yeah, whatever,” I answered, deciding it was better if I didn’t tell Ellie I had spoken with Jack.
    “So are you ready for the dance tryouts today?” she asked cheerfully.
    “Yeah,” I answered, pretending to get excited. “I think Mrs. Atanabi is—”
    “Ready, Ellie?” said Ximena Chin, who had just appeared out of nowhere. She nodded a quick hello my way without really looking at me, and then turned around and headed to the lunchroom exit.
    Ellie dropped her unfinished juice box into the trash can, clumsily heaved her backpack onto her right shoulder, and trotted after Ximena. “See you later, Charly!” she mumbled halfway across the lunchroom.
    “Later,” I answered, watching her catch up to Ximena. Together, they joined Savanna and Gretchen, a sixth grader, who were waiting for them by the exit.
    The four of them were all about the same height, and they all had super-long hair, with wavy curls at the ends. Their hair colors were different, though. Savanna’s was golden blond. Ximena’s was black. Gretchen’s was red. And Ellie’s was brown. I actually wondered sometimes if Ellie hadn’t gotten into that popular group because of her hair, which was just the right color and length to fit in.
    My hair is white-blond, and so straight and flat, there’s no way it would ever end in a curl without massive doses of hair spray. And it’s short. Like me.

How to Use Venn Diagrams (Part 1)
    In Ms. Rubin’s science class, we learned about Venn diagrams. You draw Venn diagrams to see the relationships between different groups of things. Like, if you want to see the common characteristics between mammals, reptiles, and fish, for instance, you draw a Venn diagram and list all the attributes of each one inside a circle. Where the circles intersect is what they have in common. In the case of mammals, reptiles, and fish, it would be that they all have backbones.

    Anyway, I love Venn diagrams. They’re so useful for explaining so many things. I sometimes draw them to explain friendships.
    Ellie and me in first grade.
    As you