The Kissing Diary by Judith Caseley Read Free Book Online

suspiciously. “Why are you so happy, Mom?” she asked.
    Her mother laughed and said, schoolgirl giggly, “Sam called me early this morning.”
    â€œWe have an alarm clock,” Jimmy said in between bagel bites.
    â€œBe nice,” said Mrs. Goldglitt, her smile undimmed.
    It was unsettling. Wasn’t Rosie supposed to be the one feeling giddy after a boy she liked showed her some attention? If her mother had never seemed happier, it felt like the opposite for Rosie.
    â€œBreak a leg,” Mrs. Goldglitt told her as she got out of the car.
    â€œDon’t make a fool of yourself,” Jimmy added, bounding ahead of her.
    Would it kill her brother to be seen walking in with her? thought Rosie, nearly killing herself when her foot caught on the inside of her very flared jeans. A hand found her elbow and steadied her. She looked into the blue eyes of Billy Jones, who said, “Your mother didn’t really mean you should break a leg, Rosie!”
    â€œWhat can I say?” said Rosie, laughing. “I follow directions!” It was funny how easily she could talk to Billy, whose friendly smile forced her to overlook the whoosh of body odor that nearly knocked her out on a queasy stomach. Red-faced and sweaty, he must have run to school at breakneck speed. His deodorant, if he used one, wasn’t working.
    â€œI’ll see you in English,” Billy threw over his shoulder. “I’m up first!”
    Rosie resisted telling him to shower first. “Break a leg!” she yelled after him down, the hallway. His laughter echoed back to her. Billy hadn’t changed much since kindergarten, when he had given her a bracelet made of painted Cheerios. The crossing guard had told her mother, who had told the neighborhood, and by the end of the day, the whole world knew that five-year-old Rosie had a boyfriend. By six, the two of them were playing separately. By twelve, they barely knew each other.
    Mr. Woo called Billy and Lauren’s group first, which meant that Rosie’s group was next. Billy Jones galloped through the doorway, looking like a clown with two squished toilet paper rolls that were supposed to be horns taped to the top of his baseball cap. One of them immediately flopped over on its side, reminding Rosie of her collapsed castle walls, except that Billy was onstage with no chance for an emergency trip to Home Depot.
    â€œI’m Pan, and that’s a pan in the neck!” said Billy, pulling the horn off his hat and tossing it in the wastepaper basket. “That’s a pun,” he added. “Instead of ‘pain in the neck,’ get it? I’m God of the Shepherds, and you’re not supposed to see me throwing one of my horns in the garbage can.”
    A smattering of giggles followed, and Billy, encouraged, said, “Pretend that I have two horns on my head, please. Oh, and I have the legs of a goat!” He lifted up his pant leg with a flourish, and down its side he had written “GOAT’S FEET!”
    The class started laughing, and there was a chorus of shrill whistles. Mr. Woo stood up, saying, “I can’t grade them if I can’t hear them!”
    Lauren burst into the room, saying, “I am a wood nymph!” She ran past Billy, who took off after her, galloping strangely. He pulled a stick out of his pocket and tapped it on Lauren’s shoulder as if he were a fairy godmother turning her into a princess. “Poof!” said Billy. “You’re a reed.”
    Lauren stopped and stood like a statue, her hands jammed to her sides.
    â€œThat’s where the expression reed-thin comes from!” said Billy. “Now I’m inventing a shepherd’s pipe out of reeds.” He pulled a child’s recorder out of his pocket and started playing a squeaky “Three Blind Mice.” The audience squealed and plugged their ears.
    Tommy Stone entered the room, wearing a dress and a long red wig.