Me and Miranda Mullaly by Jake Gerhardt Read Free Book Online Page B

didn’t because for some weird reason, I don’t want Chollie Muller in the play.
    It sort of burns me up, seeing Chollie’s name beneath mine. Not only does he get to work with Miranda Mullaly in science class, but now he’s going to be in the play with her, too. And seeing Chollie in the school library working on the science report with Miranda really gets me. I’d bet Chollie didn’t even know there was a school library until he started working with Miranda. You can pretty much understand why Chollie is at the bottom of my good-guy list.
    Everybody’s talking, but I don’t say anything to anyone because I don’t know anyone in the play all that much. It’s really just all the dorks that run for student council and write for the crappy student paper. They’re whispering to each other and it doesn’t take a genius to tell there’ssomething wrong. Then I realize what the whispering’s all about. Sharon’s name is on top, next to the part of Babe, and that’s the lead. Everyone thought Miranda would get that part, not a seventh-grader.
    Then everyone quiets down as Miranda Mullaly comes up with Erica Dickerson in tow. Geez, I wish Erica Dickerson would go away. I can’t even congratulate Miranda because Erica is at her side like a bodyguard. Erica must be related to Lichtensteiner.
    Then Sharon comes along and sees her name up on top and does her best not to act too excited. But I know Sharon. I’ll be hearing about this all night at dinner and all night when I’m trying to watch television. But like I said, Sharon plays it cool, kind of lifts her eyebrows as if she’s surprised, and then Miranda comes up to Sharon and they talk for a couple of seconds. Then Miranda shakes Sharon’s hand. It’s really funny, all this showbiz stuff. It’s like they all have their own little world and their own little rules.
    So as I’m walking off to class, thinking about Miranda, I let my guard down and walk right into Lichtensteiner.
    â€œWhere you going, Dolan?” he asks, apparently unaware we’re in a school.
    â€œTo class.”
    â€œWhere’s your class?”
    â€œBiology, and I don’t want to be late.”
    â€œHave you been to the bathroom yet today?” Lichtensteiner asks, just like it’s a normal question. God, this school is really horrible sometimes.
    â€œIsn’t that a little personal?”
    Lichtensteiner has to think about this, he really does.
    â€œAll right, Dolan, don’t be late.”
    I don’t even bother saying anything else. If I didn’t have basketball and the play and Miranda Mullaly, I would really go off on Mr. Lichtensteiner and tell him what I really think about his nose hairs and how he runs the school and how he should invest in a toothbrush. But I have a lot going on and can’t worry about Lichtensteiner’s toilet paper problem.
    In science class Duke comes up to me, rocking back and forth on his feet, and starts talking to me about the play, just like we’re old buddies.
    â€œSo, Sam, I see you’re in the play,” he says.
    â€œYup,” I say.
    â€œI look forward to working with you,” Duke says, but it kind of seems like he’s lying.
    â€œYup,” I repeat, hoping he gets the idea that I don’t want to talk to him.
    â€œOf course,” he goes on, “I have the lead and you’re only First Helper.”
    I’m not liking the way Duke is talking about this, likehe’s better than me, if you know what I mean. But I keep my cool.
    â€œThe cast is dye,” I tell Duke. I’m not sure what this means, but I know I’ve heard it before and I know enough to know that I’m in the cast.
    It works, too, because Duke, the weirdo, gets a confused look on his face and doesn’t know what to say and finally leaves.

Duke
    The roles for the spring musical were due to be posted on the bulletin board outside