Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting! by Tommy Greenwald Read Free Book Online Page A

say?” she said. “Do we have a deal?
    We had a deal.
    After we shook hands on it, Jane turned around and grabbed another guitar and handed it to me. “Now let’s make some music.”
    For the next half hour, we jammed. That’s right, I jammed with Jane Plantero . We played three Beatles songs, a Stones song, a Joan Jett song, and a Patti Smith song. No Plain Jane songs, though: “That’s the last thing I want to hear right now,” Jane said.
    We didn’t stop until Nigel stuck his head in and said two words: “Satellite interview.” Jane put down her guitar, hugged me, and said, “One week. No phones. You can do it. Can’t wait to hear the song.”
    Then she was gone.
    As my mom and I drove back out through the gates and headed home, I stared at the huge statue of the guitar-playing pelicans.
    Jane was right, I thought—they really are amazing-looking creatures.

 
    17
    A NOT-SO-BUSY MORNING
    Here’s what happened before breakfast on Monday, April 30:
    I woke up, showered, brushed my teeth, and got dressed.
    *   *   *
    Here’s what happened during breakfast on Monday, April 30:
    I ate cereal and talked with my parents.
    In the middle of our conversation, my mom suddenly realized something. “Where’s your phone?” she asked. “Why aren’t you texting your friends?”
    â€œDon’t feel like it,” I answered, shrugging.
    *   *   *
    Here’s what happened on the bus ride to school on Monday, April 30:
    I read a book.

 
    18
    CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO WHY TEXTING IS AWESOME
    Charlie Joe was the first one to notice. He cornered me at school, just before lunch.
    â€œWhy aren’t you returning any of my texts?”
    â€œI don’t know, just haven’t gotten around to it, I guess.”
    â€œNobody doesn’t get around to texting,” he said. I wasn’t sure that was proper English, but I knew what he meant.
    â€œWell, I didn’t,” I said. “I’m giving up texting for a while, and Instagram, and all that stuff because it was starting to control my life and dominate my thoughts.”
    â€œYou say that like it’s a bad thing,” Charlie Joe said.
    I smacked him on the arm. “It is a bad thing. You just have your nose buried too far into your phone to notice.”
    â€œThis thing changed my life,” Charlie Joe said, holding up his cell phone. “Now I can send seven-word texts instead of getting into long, boring conversations with people. Get in, get out, that’s what I say.” Right on cue, his phone beeped. He checked it and laughed. “See that? Timmy, texting me that Sheila’s hairnet is on backward today.”
    I glared at him. Sheila is one of our lunch ladies and one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet.
    â€œSee, that’s what I mean,” I said. “Who cares about Sheila’s hairnet? It’s just another opportunity for you to make fun of someone behind their back.”
    Charlie Joe looked annoyed. “Hold on a second. Come with me.” He took my hand and dragged me over to the lunch line, where Sheila was slicing pizza. “Hey, Sheila,” Charlie Joe called. “Do you know your hairnet is on backward? It looks kind of goofy.”
    Sheila laughed. “Yeah, well, that’s pretty funny coming from a kid who never manages to wear matching socks.”

    â€œThat’s not true,” Charlie Joe protested. “I wore matching socks two Thursdays ago.”
    â€œWell, I’ll be sure to alert the newspapers,” Sheila said, still chuckling.
    Charlie Joe pretended to be confused. “What’s a newspaper? Oh yeah, those weird things with writing on them, for old people like you.”
    â€œHA!” Sheila gave Charlie Joe a little pat on the cheek. “Thanks for giving me a laugh every day, you little rascal.”
    As Sheila went