Just Ask by Melody Carlson Read Free Book Online

passed by the girls’ bathroom. And for whatever reason, I thought maybe it was her. All right, maybe I do need professional help.
    When I get home, I discover a large manila envelopefull of “Just Ask Jamie” letters sitting on the kitchen counter—some are still in their envelopes, and some have been printed off from the e-mails received at the newspaper office. On top of this stack is a Post-it note from my dad.
    “Today's column was great, Kim. Keep up the good work. We re all proud of you. Love, Dad.”
    Well, that's all just fine and dandy, but when I open the envelope and start reading the letters, I feel like crying all over again. Most of them were written after Tiffany's accident and have serious questions about heavy topics like life and death and God. My favorite subjects. Yeah, right.
    I sift through the stack again, until I finally locate a few of the lighter weight letters—letters I will answer. The other ones will be filed in my new JUST FORGET IT box (which is really a large shoebox from a pair of boots that I recently got). I will keep this box under my bed and hopefully, like it says on the top in bold black letters, I can JUST FORGET IT. But I'm not so sure. In the meantime, I will answer those rather obvious letters like this one.
    Dear Jamie,
       I've been best friends with “Lisa” for about a year. But sometimes I think she's just using me. Like she always expects me to be available to hang with her nomatter what's going on in my life. And I do. But then lots of times (like when I need someone to talk to), she's too busy. Like last week when I was really bummed over a stupid boy, she wouldn't even listen to me. It's like she didn't even care that I was hurting. I wanted to blow off our friendship right then, but I didn't. Do you think I should give her another chance?
       Hurtin’ 4 Certain
    Dear Hurtin’,
       
It sounds like “Lisa” needs to take Friendship 101 again, since she obviously doesn't understand that a good friendship is like a two-way street, meaning it comes and it goes-both ways. I think you need to be honest with her and tell her that you feel used by her. It's possible she doesn't know. Or she may not care. Either way, you should get to the bottom of it. Then you have to decide if you enjoy her friendship enough to continue with it, or if it's time for you to move on. Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll be okay since you sound like a sensitive and caring person. And if you want to have a good friend, you first must be a good friend.
       
Just Jamie
    Now I am seriously thankful that Natalie is such a good friend to me. And I just realized that I forgot to ask her if she wants a ride to Tiffany's funeral tomorrow. I decided that I need to go. At first I thought it would behypocritical to attend (since I really wasn't a good friend to her), but now I feel like I can go as sort of an apology to her and to honor her. Somehow it seems the right thing to do. And it will be much easier with Natalie sitting beside me.
Wednesday, September 7
    The funeral is packed out, mostly with kids from Harrison High. You'd think that Tiffany had been the most popular girl in the school, but I wonder if some of these kids aren't here just to get the afternoon off. Okay, that's terrible of me, but I still wonder.
    Natalie and I sit way in the back, but I feel it's appropriate since neither of us were close to her. The room is stiflingly quiet, like everyone is as uncomfortable as I am. And suddenly I almost wish I hadn't come. But there's no leaving now. That would draw attention, and I hate that. Mostly I like to slip by without too much notice. Not that I want to be ignored. But I don't want people staring at me either.
    Here I go on and on again, thinking primarily of myself. Sometimes I wonder if I have a narcissistic personality. I hope not. It certainly wouldn't bode well for an aspiring Buddhist. If I really am.
    As the pastor comes forward to speak, I tell my brain to shut up.