Nobody's Perfect by Marlee Matlin Read Free Book Online Page A

chances does that girl get?” Cindy protested.
    Megan put her hand on Cindy’s shoulder. “Cindy,” she said, with a little pat-pat-pat. “You’re the only one who’s counting.”
    That afternoon at recess Megan and Cindy got up from their picnic table and headed across the playground toward where Alexis was sitting by herself on a stone ledge.
    â€œSay something nice,” said Megan. “And find out if we have anything in common.”
    â€œI do like that jacket she’s wearing today,” said Cindy. It was a blue denim jacket with red stars appliquéd on the sleeves.
    â€œThe jacket is fun, but she should wear more purple,” said Megan. “She looks good in purple.”
    â€œYou and purple,” muttered Cindy.
    They were close enough at this point to look directly at Alexis, and they both smiled as they did. They picked up their pace as though they were headed toward Alexis with a purpose. At that same moment Alexis rose from her perch and headed directly for the bathroom like it was a big emergency.
    Megan and Cindy stopped in their tracks. They exchanged a glance.
    â€œWhat was that about?” asked Cindy. “I’m not going to chase her into the bathroom!”
    â€œMaybe she had to go,” said Megan.
    â€œMaybe,” said Cindy. “But at some point—you know—I get the hint.”
    â€œWhat hint?” asked Megan.
    â€œMaybe,” said Cindy, “she just doesn’t like us.”
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    It didn’t help matters when Ms. Endee conducted the classroom spelling bee on Thursday. Ms. Endee stood at a podium, reciting the contest words in a very official manner. Jann stood beside the teacher, signing the general meaning of Ms. Endee’s remarks but not the specific contest words. The situation was a little tricky. Megan had to rely on her ability to read lips to get the contest words. Otherwise Jann would have been spelling the words for her in advance using the manual alphabet and there would have been no contest for Megan at all.
    Cindy had to be dropped in the opening rounds when she stumbled over the word “referendum.” But Megan surprised herself. She made it all the way to the classroom quarterfinals. In fact, it was down to Casey, Ronnie Jiu, Megan—and Alexis.
    Casey correctly spelled “privilege.”
    Ronnie Jiu correctly spelled “establishment.”
    Megan grinned. “Privilege” and “establishment” were easy to spell, so Megan figured Ms. Endee was giving them an easy round.
    Ms. Endee turned toward Megan and said, “Tandoori.”
    â€œTandoori?” said Megan. “I don’t even know what it is!”
    â€œYou may ask for a definition,” Ms. Endee suggested. Jann signed the suggestion.
    â€œMay I have a definition?” said Megan.
    â€œTandoori is an Indian dish,” said Ms. Endee.
    Megan waited for Jann’s sign language translation. Jann thought for a moment, then she signed the phrase, “ It is a dish from India,” and she spelled the word “India” slowly and carefully.

    Oh, great, thought Megan.
    â€œWould you use it in a sentence, please?” said Megan.
    â€œI’ll have the tandoori chicken, please,” said Ms. Endee, and the whole class laughed. Jann signed the sound of laughter—and then she signed the phrase as, “I’ll have the—spelling word—chicken, please.”
    Megan took a stab at a spelling, but tried “t-a-n-d-u-r-i-e.” Megan’s only chance at remaining in the spelling bee was if Alexis misspelled her word. Then they’d be in a sudden heat, and Megan would stand another chance at the semifinals.
    â€œAll right, Alexis,” said Ms. Endee. “If you spell this word correctly, you’ll go on to our semifinals. If you miss, then you and Megan will be in a sudden heat.”
    The class cooed with