The skate park is still my home away from home. I rock and roll like a pro, and I’ve been tackling a bunch of new tricks, thanks to Wyatt. It’s tailslides this week. My goal is to master them without the usual butt bruise before snow covers the park.
Middle school has taken some getting used to. My skater grunge look never made it to Porchtown Middle’s hallways. Most days I wear a simple tee, clean jeans, and cute sneakers. Roxanne and Odelia about died the day I showed up in a skirt. So what if I put on an orange tee, a black belt, purple socks, and my pink ankle boots? No one needs to be too matchy-matchy. The outfit came together perfectly when I added the multi-colored jeweled barrette Odelia gave me over the summer.
I’ve decided not to try out for any sports teams. I may not ever be as popular as the high scorer on the girls’ soccer team, but because of the fundraiser, kids know me as a skateboarder. And that’s enough to earn a big chunk of cool.
Roxanne and I are still best friends. We love comparing notes about our volunteer work at Smile Academy. We couldn’t give it up when the summer ended. The first thing I see when I walk in the door is a plaque near Miss Robyn’s door. That plaque makes me smile every time I walk in the door.
SMILE ACADEMY
would like to thank Faceplant magazine for sponsoring the
MADE OF AWESOME SCHOLARSHIP.
This scholarship was inspired by Bernice Baransky
and the Mighty Munchkins Skate Team.
At the academy these days, we’re pretending to be customers in a restaurant, ordering food, eating with the right piece of silverware, and remembering our manners. I find myself sounding like Odelia. “Sit up straight. Put your napkin on your lap. Say please and thank you. Speak in complete sentences.” I sound much older than a seventh grader.
Tonight is the Autumn Dance. It’s a costume party, and I’m dressed in the rosy princess gown Odelia had made for me for the prince and princess party. I have on the tulle slip that I fussed over when I wore it the first time. It’s still scratchy, but I deal with it. I tug at my itchy waistline, then smooth everything in place. I hate to admit it, but this dress rocks, and I like how I look in it and how it makes me feel.
I wander around the house, sorry I got ready too soon. Wyatt isn’t picking me up for another hour. He’s coming as a prince, which is totally ironic. I practice walking around the kitchen in something called kitten heels—heels that aren’t very high. My feet hurt and my toes are squished. These shoes are not for wimps. I wobble and gently touch the counter to keep my balance. I think back to the lesson I had with Odelia where she made me walk with a book on my head. So much has happened since that day.
I hear the backdoor open. “When will you learn to walk with grace?” Odelia asks.
We both laugh because there’s a good chance I may never graduate to graceful.
“I’m glad you came over!”
“You look awesome,” she says, flitting around me like a mother hen.
“Thanks to you! I’m sorry you’re not allowed to go to the dance. Serena is a butthead.”
“It’s okay. I’ve got a date with the newspaper. There’s an article online I must read. It’s about a factory that’s being built near where we used to live. We still own that land in Europe. That factory may dump chemicals in our stream, and Serena says we should go investigate.”
“You can’t leave me!” I say. “I need my sister.”
“Our orchards, meadows, and mountains could be in trouble. I don’t want our land ruined. You’d love it there. All two hundred square miles.”
“Sounds like you own a country.”
“Well, Bernice,” Odelia says matter-of-factly. “Actually, I do.” She gives me a girly punch on the arm. Then she leans in closer and whispers, “But guess what? So do you.”
Wait. Wait. Just. A. Minute.
I have a COUNTRY?!
Dang!
ODELIA AND BERNICE’S GUIDE TO THE SOCIAL GRACES
LESSON 13: IT’S ALL RELATIVE
OBJECTIVE: Two sisters, who are in fact real princesses, will work together to overcome any physical, emotional, or skate park obstacle that crosses their path. (Note to selves: We are unlike anyone else at Porchtown Middle. And that suits us perfectly.)
Nancy Viau soars along on a skateboard only in her dreams. In real life, she loves to ride her superfast bike, hike beautiful mountains, and travel. She is the author of the middle-grade novel Just One Thing! (2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year). Her picture books include First Snow, City Street Beat, Storm Song, Look What I Can Do! and several forthcoming titles. To learn more, please visit www.NancyViau.com.
