Shingaling Read Free Page A

can see, Ellie and I had a lot in common. We’ve been friends since the first day of first grade, when Ms. Diamond put us both at the same table. I remember that day very clearly. I kept trying to talk to Ellie, but she was shy and didn’t want to talk. Then, at snack time, I started ice-skating with my fingers on the top of the desk we shared. If you don’t know what that is, it’s when you make an upside-down peace sign and let your fingers glide over the glossy desk, like they were figure skaters. Anyway, Ellie watched me do that for a little while, and then she started ice-skating with her fingers, too. Pretty soon, we were both making figure eights all over the desk. After that, we were inseparable.
    Ellie and me now.

How I Continued to Stay Neutral
    Ellie, Savanna, and Ximena were hanging out in front of the lockers outside the performance space when I showed up for the dance tryouts after school. I knew the moment they looked at me that they’d just been talking about me.
    “You’re not really taking
Jack’s
side in the boy war, are you?” said Savanna, making an
eww
expression with her lips.
    I glanced at Ellie, who had obviously shared some of my lunch conversation with Savanna and Ximena. She chewed a strand of hair and looked away.
    “I’m not on Jack’s side,” I said calmly. I popped open my locker and shoved my backpack inside. “All I said is that I think this whole boy-war thing is dumb.
All
the boys are just being so jerky.”
    “Yeah, but Jack started it,” said Savanna. “Or are you saying it’s okay that he punched Julian?”
    “No, it’s definitely not okay that he did that,” I answered, pulling out my dance gear.
    “So how could you be on Jack’s side?” Savanna asked quickly, still making that
eww
face with her mouth.
    “Is it because you
like
him?” asked Ximena, smiling mischievously.
    Ximena, who probably hasn’t said more than thirty words to me all year long, is asking me if I
like
Jack?
    “No,” I answered, but I could feel my ears turning red. I glanced up at Ellie as I sat down to put on my jazz sneakers. She was twirling yet another part of her hair in preparation for putting it into her mouth. I can’t believe she told them about Jack! What a traitor!
    At that moment, Mrs. Atanabi came into the room, clapping to get everyone’s attention in her usual, theatrical way. “Okay, girls, if you haven’t signed your name on the tryout sheet, please do so now,” she said, pointing to the clipboard on the table next to her. There were about eight other girls standing in line to sign in. “And if you’ve already signed in, please take a spot on the dance floor and start doing your stretches.”
    “I’ll sign in for you,” Ximena said to Savanna, walking over to the table.
    “Do you want me to sign in for you, Charly?” Ellie asked me. I knew that was her way of checking to see if I was mad at her.
Which I was!
    “I already signed in,” I answered quietly, not looking at her.
    “Of course she signed in,” Savanna said quickly, rolling her eyes. “Charlotte’s
always
the first to sign in.”

How (and Why) I Love to Dance
    I’ve been taking dance lessons since I was four. Ballet. Tap. Jazz. Not because I want to be a prima ballerina when I grow up, but because I intend on becoming a Broadway star someday. To do that, you really have to learn how to sing and dance and perform. Which is why I work so hard on my dance lessons. And my singing lessons. I take them very seriously, because I know that someday, when I get my big break, I’ll be ready for it. And why will I be ready for it? Because I’ve worked hard for it—my whole life! People seem to think that Broadway stars just come out of nowhere—but that’s not true! They practice until their feet hurt! They rehearse like maniacs! If you want to be a star, you have to be willing to work harder than everyone else to achieve your goals and dreams! The way I see it, a dream is like a drawing in your head