November Blues by Sharon M. Draper Read Free Book Online Page B

deeply her mother had been hurt. Her mom had suffered so much already—it seemed to November that the least she could have done was to bethe dream child her mom needed. I am such a screwup!
    She picked up the phone to call Dana, but then remembered that her friend was out of town visiting her dad. Feeling edgy, she scrolled through the numbers of her friends and found there was no one to whom she could talk or unload her feelings. Finally she noticed a number that took a moment to recognize. It was the number Olivia had given her that day in the bathroom. On a whim, November dialed.
    Olivia picked up right away. “Hello,” she said tentatively.
    â€œHi. This is November. Were you asleep?”
    â€œNo, just sitting here looking at the home shopping channel.”
    â€œYou watch that too? You ever buy anything?”
    â€œNo, I’m too cheap. I think it’s funny how hard they try to convince you that if you don’t buy that stuff—in the next three minutes—your life will come to a complete stop!” She had a warm, reassuring laugh. “How you been feeling?”
    â€œBetter, thanks.” November paused. “I finally went to the doctor.”
    â€œWell, that’s good. What did he say?”
    â€œI went to a lady doctor. She said the first week of November.”
    â€œHeavy stuff. Will you come back to school in the fall?”
    â€œOh, snap! I hadn’t even thought about it. I’ll be as big as a house! Everybody will be laughing at me and making fun of me and talking about me behind my back.”
    â€œJoin the club,” said Olivia quietly. “You tell your mama yet?”
    â€œYeah, I finally did.”
    â€œDid she freak out?”
    â€œWell, she didn’t get out the chain saw, but she was real hurt. I hate making her feel so bad.”
    â€œIt’s not your mother who has to go through this,” Olivia observed. “She’s not the one who’s gonna swell up like a blimp.”
    â€œThanks for reminding me.” November groaned. “That’s one part I try not to think about.” Then she paused. “Can I ask you something, Olivia?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œWhen we were in the bathroom that day, why did you come back? I mean, for real now, if I knew somebody was throwing up, I’d lace up my kicks and jet out of there as far away as possible!”
    Olivia was silent for a long time. Finally she said, “Well, I envy you a little. I never had anybody cool like Josh who really cared about me. Hold on a second.”
    November could hear the rattle of a candy wrapper. “I needed a chocolate fix,” Olivia said finally, her words suddenly thick-sounding.
    â€œI feel you. I never used to like chocolate that much, but now I wake up in the morning needing a Hershey bar,” November admitted.
    â€œI can’t even use pregnancy as an excuse. I just crave chocolate. It’s my favorite food group!” Both girls laughed.
    â€œSo finish what you were telling me.”
    Olivia’s end of the line grew quiet again. “Well, two years ago I went out with one of those morons on the basketball team.”
    November made a slight sound.
    â€œYou think girls like me can’t get dates?” Olivia asked sharply.
    â€œI didn’t say anything,” November protested.
    â€œWell, usually, we can’t. At least I can’t. I was really flattered when Logan asked me out. But I thought he liked me for my mind, my wit, my ability to quote long passages of Shakespeare!”
    â€œLet me guess. He wasn’t after your intelligence,” November suggested.
    â€œYou got that right.” Olivia laughed harshly. “When he first asked me out, I couldn’t believe it. I was so excited. I went and got my hair and my nails done, bought a new dress. I even went on a diet. How stupid is that?”
    â€œYou were just a kid—ninth-grade girls aren’t the sharpest