NOT a flashback!

I realized that I left sum stuff I need @ home, so I went back early this morning. The bathroom door was cracked open, and I heard Mom's voice being all, "John, I'm really starting 2 look like my mother now, aren't I." As usual w/such things, this was not a question. It ended in a period. And "starting"? Where has she been? And I heard Dad's voice going, "Oh, no.... I'm not falling in2 that trap!!" And Mom's voice sed, "What trap?" Dad's voice came back w/"Elly, U look fine. U were a beautiful woman when I married U--and U're a beautiful woman now! Stop worrying abt the packaging and look @ the gift inside!" Thru the crack in the door, I noticed they were hugging.

A moment l8r, Dad sed, "Elly, U're a surprise package w8ing 2 B opened!" And Mom sed, "No, that's Shannon Lake." And Dad sed, "Oh, rite, U're a package I opened yrs ago. I guess U're a gift that keeps on giving." And Mom sed, "That'd B the 1."

Jeremy, we'll hafta keep brainstorming on names 4 me 2 change 2 after I escape Mboro. I'm def gonna leave town B4 I'm reddy 2 get married, so a name change will hafta happen B4 whenev that does!

Apes

Shanmail

Shortly after the telethon was over, I received an e-mail from Shannon:

Hi, April guess what! The telethon made 45 thousan bucks!! It's all for kids with special neds. Thank you for singing. You and Eva were really good. I'm glad Becky is nice to you again. I stayed for all the 24 hours. It was very cool. Mr Mays who own the big car company ask me to help with the telethon next year and guess what I said yes!! Now why? Cause you help me have self confidence. I am different for a reason and I am going to make a difference.

Love, Shannon.

P.S. If you ever ned a fiend, pls let me now.

After I read the e-mail I smiled and didn't even have a lame thot bubble. NEway, I think we're finally dun focusing on the telethon here @ this blog. 2morrow oughta B the usual sumthing diff, and Monday, who knows? Shannon, I don't think I ned a fiend, but I can always use a friend. :)

Apes

2 good?

After Eva an' I were dun w/our song @ the telethon, Shannon came up 2 me backstage and was all, "April... U guys ... were awe...sum!" I was wiping off my forehead w/a paper towel and I was like, "Thanks, Shannon!" Then Becky came along and sed, "Nice work, ladies!" And I replied, "Becky! I didn't think U'd stay and listen!" And Shannon sed, "Cool!" Becky went, "Well, sumtymes... I don't listen enuf. ...U guyz rocked! I'd keep yr drummer, but I'd h8 2 split up yr band!" Ger sed, "Hoo! 2nite was a blast!" Becks asked, "Want 2 hang out B4 my next set?" And Eva, stirring shizzle again, was all, "I thot U were 2 gd 2 hang out w/us." And I was like, "EVA!!!" Becky closed her eyes and sed, "Know what? ...MayB I was 2 gd 4 my own gd." And Eva and I looked @ ea other w/gobsmacked faces.

Well, since 2 morrow's change-the-subj Sunday, it loox like I'll B continuing this on Monday. Stay tuned, blog friends!

Apes

Diff But Same

When Becky finished her set, the MC guy was all, "Put yr hands 2gether 4 REBECCA[H]!!" Then, he was like, "Folks! Keep those fones ringing, keep the donations rolling in! --This is hr 4 of the gr8 'Hearts 2gether Telethon'!" Backstage, I went over 2 Ger all, "Gerald, U were gr8!" And Ger was like, "Thanx! U're on next! --Go 4 it!!" Eva and I got on stage, and I intro'ed us, "This is a song we wrote--it's called 'Everybody's Different.' But... Deep down inside ... we're really all the same." From the front row, Shannon and her mom looked up @ us w/luv in their eyes, I think. And Faith, Dylan, Jack, and Grace were clustered behind Shan.

Apes

Telethon

So the "Hearts 2gether Telethon" @ the mall was this past weekend. Eva and I were standing in front of one of the stages, which was being set up, and Shannon showed up w/her mom. Shan was all, "U're ... gonna ... take part in ... the tele...thon, right ... buddy?" And I was like, "Yeah! Eva and I R singing a duet." Shannon went, "I'm gonna ... B ... here ... 4 the ... whole ... 24 hrs ... rite, Mom? An' ... U R 2, ... rite?" And Mrs. Lake sed, "That's rite!!" I told Shannon, "Not many moms wd do that 4 their kids, Shannon!" And Shannon was all, "I know!" And then she hugged her mom while saying, "Not ... many ... moms R ... like ... mine!"

I tried 2 imagine Mom pulling an all-nighter 4 me, and I got kinda, like, jellus, I guess. Cuz I cdn't imagine it. But then I thot abt what Mom wd B like on no sleep? And I thot the world is prolly thankful she's not likely 2 try it.

Apes

When did Shannon start riding our bus?

So, riding home on the bus Monday of last wk (18 June), I was sitting next 2 Eva, who was all, "Whatcha gonna do this summer, April?" And I sed, "Go back 2 the farm." Eva asked, "Still think U'd like 2 B a veterinarian?" And I was like, "Yeah. It feels rite 2 me. What feels rite 2 U, Eva?" And she sed, "I'm not sure... But since I've been in the band, I've found out that I gotta keep singing!" Just then, Shannon, who'd been sitting b-hind us, was getting off of the bus, and she was all, "'Bye, April." And I sed, "Goodbye, Shannon." And as I saw her getting off of the bus, I had this really contrived-sounding thot: "Life is like Christmas--when U think all the boxes have been opened....U discover another gift." And I thot, "Y'd I think such a strange thot?" And I remembered that there was something I'd read abt Shannon being "a surprise package w8ing 2 B opened." And I cd swear I cd almost hear the voice of the Witch of Corbeil saying, "Finally, I got a chance 2 refer 2 that 'surprise package' analogy."

NEway, Monday the 18th sure was a wacky day, eh?

Apes

Ger and I = More Than Friends Again

Ger an' I have been sharing a secret since Monday of last week.

U C, after Shannon's speech in the hallway, I went up 2 him, all "Gerald?" Ger was cleaning out his locker, and he turned 2 me, all "I thot U weren't speaking 2 me." And I sed, "Well I am. Our band shd do the telethon. I don't care if U R playing drums 4 Rebecca[h]... It's 4 a gd cause." And Ger sed, "Friends again?" And we stared @ ea other 4 what seemed like a silent penultimate panel, and then I sed, "MORE than friends again!" as we hugged.

In rel8ed news, Ger posted a comment l8 last nite:

Formerly dearest Becky flower,

I am sorry to have to break your heart, but I cannot be your concubine any longer. My dearest April flower came to me that day after Shannon made her speech in the cafeteria and told me she wants us to be "more than friends" again. I am not quite sure what caused her change of heart. Pater says that Patterson women have fickle and violent temperaments. I am kind of afraid of the "violent" part. Also, April is a Patterson, and Mater wants me to marry into the First Family of Milborough.

So, April and I have been secretly "more than friends" for a little while now. My relationship with you has been a sham for some time. However, I can no longer continue to see both of you, as my little April flower says there will be no more "comfy accommodation" from her until I break it off with you.

Anyway, thanks for the public exposure on that TV show and all. Also, it was fun losing our virginity together. That was the best day of my life.

Thanks again, and sorry, Gerald

I hope the "losing virginity" thing ends up b-ing an untrue thing staged 4 the Newlyfoobs reality show, like Howard hinted. If not, I mite hafta retcon myself 2 having slept w/Axel. Foob oper8ors R standing by.

Apes

Shannon's Shining Moment

So, back 2 Monday of last week. Shannon's speech. U'll remember the clapping and cheering I told U abt yesterday. Once Shannon had gotten down from the table, I hugged her and was all, "Shannon, that was the best speech EVER!!" I mighta been xxager8ing a bit, but NEway, kids in the caf were still cheering, like "Yeah!" And "U go, girl!" And "Yes!" And Shannon went, "Whoa! ... I'm ... sha...king! ....That took.... guts, ...man!" And Jack decided 2 try out the echolalia since it seems 2 work so well 4 Dylan, so he was all, "Guts!" Then some kids started coming up 2 Shannon. One girl w/a pointy 'fro came up w/2 friends, and was all, "Hey, we're really sorry. We've sed sum stuff that was totally out of line." And then a guy and a girl came up, and the guy was all, "Way 2 go, Shannon." And the girl was like, "Yeah. We totally needed 2 hear that." Then Shannon sed, "U know what, ...April? ...May...B ... I ... was born ... dif'rent ... so I cd ... make a differ...ence." And I felt this weird look forming on my face, I don't know xxactly howta describe it, both proud and smug. "Smroud"? "Prug"?

Apes

Woohoo Yes Clapclap

So here's how Shannon ended her lunchtime speech in the caf nine days ago: "Kids ... w/ .... special needs R ... ppl ... 2! ...We ... have a ... lot ... 2 ... offer! Get ... 2 know ... us! ...Don't tease ... us!" Ppl stared, entranced. Then, she wrapped up w/"PLS! E..NUF.. IS .. E..NUF!" There was this moment of complete silence w/every1 lookin' @ ea other gobsmacked. Then, every1 started clapping and letting out cheers like "WOOHOO!!" and "Yah" and "Yesss!"

In other news, I got a strange call from 1980s cinema, asking that we return its teen comedies.

Apes

Shannon's Speech

Whelp, I'm back 2 tellin' U abt one week ago, when Shannon got up on the table in the cafetorium 2 make her speech. Jack BANGed on the table 4 times 2 get every1's attention, but since every1 kept on talking when he did that, I cupped my hands around my mouth and went, "Quiet, every1! Shannon Lake wants 2 say sumthing!" 'Else Jack was gonna stand there an' bang 4evs. Shannon was all, "I ... want ... 2 say ... STOP! ...Stop ... ma...king ... fun of us! ....We're dif'rent from ... U ... but, ....SO WHAT? Don't ... give ... us a ... hard ... time ..... give us .... a CHANCE!"

And then the next thing that happed was. . . . Oh, man, there goes that Patterson memory lapse I keep getting when I tell my blog stories. Well, remember, it cd B worse. I cd B "Coffee Talk" w/my Mom! More 2morrow, when I remember the next bit.

Apes

Standing on Tables and Bloggoversary

Yeah, so I'm still talking abt that lunch w/Shannon et. al. from this past Monday, and it loox as tho I'll go rite back 2 talking abt it on Monday, cuz what I'm abt 2 tell U def. does not wrap things up.

OK, so U mighta noticed a pattern was forming during this lunch. Sum peeps talk abt the telethon 4 a bit, then sum1 walks by an' sez sumthing mean. Back 2 talking abt the telethon. Another mean comment. Lather, rinse, repeat. Well, we're abt 2 lather again w/this next installment. Faith had gone rite back 2 talking 2 me abt the telethon, saying, "April, I know who 2 ask abt being in the the telethon, if U wanna B in it." Then sum toothy guy, with his sleeves pushed up 2 his elbows and his hands in his pockets, walked over 2 the table, all "Koo-koo! Koo-koo!" And suddenly, Shannon stood up, scrunched her eyes 2gether, and yelled, "THAT'S E...NUF!!!" Then she went 2 stand on a chair, which I steadied 4 her, as Faith asked, "Shannon? What R U doing?" And I was like, "R U gonna stand on the table?" Which, Y did I assume that? But I was rite, Shannon sed, "YES!" and she climbed up on2 the table, where she was all, "I'm ... gon...na... stand ... up .... 4 ... ALL ... of us!" I kinda think she mighta gotten ahold of the Patterson Handbook of Taking the Figurative Literally, © 1979, but I didn't get a chance 2 ask.

I'd tell U what happened next, but my usual Patterson memory lapse is kicking in, so I'll hafta hold off until Monday (U know what Sundays R like around here.)

But meanwhile, 2 day is my 2-YEAR BLOGGOVERSARY! Can U believe it? And guess what? In honour of this occasion, Steph has finally yanked that mbarrassing fakey "April's Blog" she had going @ Mom's website. Tho that's not the "official" reason she gives over there. In the 1st installment of the replacement, "Elly's Coffee Talk," the reason given is "April decided she didn't want to blog anymore because she's too busy with her friends, her job, her band, and her plans for summer vacation, so she's given the blog up." LOL, rite, as U can C I'm not 2 bizzy 2 blog. And it's not like I spent NE time on that "fridge threw up its pix in2 blog 4mat" chronicle that Steph had over there, with my name on it! But big thanx 4 taking that down. And how LOLful is this: "Elly, newly retired, was up for the challenge - and she decided that it was time to learn to use a computer!" Ha, she's been vowing 2 learn how 2 use 'puters 4evs. It's sort of like how she alwayz vows 2 "lose the lard"!

NEway, happy Bloggoversary 2 me, and thanx 2 all of U who post here and read here and make this so much fun!

I'm still in Montreal, but I'll prolly B home this evening. I'm gonna check out the Disney show at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

L8rz,

Apes

Winkies? Bwuh?

Well, I'm still talking abt this past Monday's lunch @ Shannon's table, and prolly still will B 2morrow. We'll C.

NEway, I was starting 2 feel like Shannon and her friends had gotten 2gether an' planned this whole sales pitch abt the telethon, 2 get me 2 B "Yay, telethon!" Shannon's friend Faith sed, "The telethon's 2 raise $ 4 ppl w/special needs. Sum families don't have ramps or wheelchairs or other stuff!" And that Dylan guy, who I'm starting 2 think has echolalia, was all, "Other stuff!" Shannon told me, "Know ... who ... the ... sp...on...sor is, ... April? ...It's Mayes ...Mo...tors! The ... big car ... dealer ... guy." And I was, like, "Oh, yeah! I think I remember my Dad saying sumthing abt that-- But, I guess I wasn't listening. Sumtymez, I tune him out. U know what I mean." Shannon was, like, "Mmm hmmm." Then, like, rite on cue, the next 2 ppl in line 2 walk by the table and comment on me being there--two girls--appeared. And one stage-whispered, "Hee, hee, hee! April's with the winkies!" ["Winkies?" The heck?] The short-ponytailed girl @ our table, Grace, winced again, and Shannon sed, "...We're ... good ... @ tun...ing ppl ... out."

Then, the Witch of Corbeil walked in, carrying a huge poster board with "SPECIAL-NEEDS KIDS ENDURE HURTFUL COMMENTS EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES!" printed on it. Just kidding. Probably.

Apes

Rules

So, more on what happed this past Monday, when I was having lunch w/Shannon and her friends. Faith stopped having that grim look she usually has long enuf 2 say "We're going 2 the telethon, April! We're going 2 B there!" And Dylan was all, "Telethon!" And I went, "Cool!" Then Shannon was saying, "I've ... nev...er been ... 2 a tele...thon ... B...4 ... so .... I ...." But she didn't have a chance 2 finish cuz Jeremy showed up behind me, all, "U got a watch on, April? This story is gonna take a looong time!" As Jeremy walked off, laffing, I was all, "U'RE A JERK, JEREMY!!" Then I was like, "R U OK, Shannon?" And Shannon was like, "Yeah ... we ... get this ... all the ... time." And the girl with the short-ponytailed version of my old hairdo was all, "All the time." And I went, "But, it's against the rules!!" And Shannon sed, "...So ... is ... smoking." And it was only then that I noticed sum tall, skinny guy who was standing rite next 2 our table had lit a cigarette, and sum tall, skinny girl was reaching like she wanted 2 take it from him. This was the 1st time I ever noticed NE1 having the nerve 2 smoke inside the school!

BTW, there's a list of "Rules of Conduct for R. P. Boire Senior Secondary Students." It's posted in all of the hallways and classrooms, and it includes no smoking and no being mean to the special-needs kids.

Jeremy, yikes, I think yr "Converted 2 Good" cert from Corbeil is in peril! Also, Y were U outta uni on Monday?

Apes

Egg heads?

Back 2 the events of this past Monday. Shannon was all, "Wd ... U ... wanna ... have lunch ... w/ ... me?" And I was like, "Sure, Shannon. Y not?" So we got 2 the table, and I was thinking, "Man, Shannon's mom gave her lunch $, and I hadta bring in one of my sad little brown-bag lunches!" NEway, I'd just finished thinking that when Shannon sed, "U ... know ... sum of my ... friends, rite?" And I sed, "Hello," while a coupla ppl @ the table were all, "Hi" and "H'lo!" As I was sitting, I realized I remembered this one guy Jack from home economics back in grade eight. I remember him having this big emotional moment when we cooked hard-boiled eggs. So I was all, "We were in the same home economics class! Remember, Jack? U learned how 2 cook eggs!" And he was like, "Eggs! I cooked eggs all by myself!" I was a bit surprised he was still basking in that glory more than two yrs l8er. NEway, once I'd sat and was abt 2 bite in2 my sad little sandwich, this girl with short hair and big teeth, who mighta been one of those girls offering Becky essays and test answers last yr, walked rite up behind me and sed, "Hey, April! --I C U're sitting w/the 'egg heads'!" Which is usually the insult ppl use on kids who R smarter and better students than they R. But mayB her scare quotes meant she was being ironic? In which case, she's obviously evil and on her way 2 being punished or served w/a v. special lesson of sum kind, eh?

Dunc, don't worry. I know Eva's all hot 2 have our band do a Sound of Music Thing, but I say no way. If we do the telethon, we'll just do one of our normal sets, in our normal clothes. And OMG, do U really think U'll never come back from Barbados? If that's true, mayB I'll never come back from Manitoba!

Apes

I'm Full of Grudge-y Badness

So, more on my convo w/Shannon yesterday. She repeated, "The ... tele..e...thon ... @ the ... mall is ... 4 US, ...April!..." Then she added, "Kids ... w/ ... special needs." I was like, "I didn't know that!" Only I guess I totally wd have if I'd asked sum1, like Eva or Ger, insteada just getting my bitch on. Then Shannon went on, all, "Re...be...cca[h] ... is ... singing 4 free ... an' ... there will ... B ... dan...cers ... an' magic ... an' it will ... go 4 ... 24 hrs!" She added, "Yr ... band cd ... B there! ...They ... want ... every...1 2 par...tissss...i...pate!" And I was all, "No. I don't want 2 B on the same stage as Becky and Gerald." Shannon was like, "Then ... it's no... prob...lem, man! ....There's gonna B ... 2 ... stages!!" And I was all, "Oh." And geez, am I grudge girl or what?

Apes

Telethon

Well, back 2 me. Yeah, I know. I wanted 2 find out what happed next @ Shawna-Marie's wedding with Liz, Anthony, Mason, an' Julia, but I guess we have 2 w8. Hopefully not all the way until the July fam letters, eh?

So, I hadta go 2 the school xxtra early 2day, 4 xxam-rel8ed reazons, and Shannon was already there. She was all, "Hey...April...howya doin'?" I was all, "OK, I guess." Shannon went on, all "April ... I ... wan...na tell ... U ... sum...thing! There's gonna ... B ... a ... tel...a...thon ... @ the mall ... w/... live ... mu...sic ... an' ... every..thing!" I was like, "I know. My so-called boyfriend is playing drums 4 Rebeccah[h]." Shan was like, "R ... U ... going?" Me: "I dunno. ...Y?" And Shannon was all, "Be...cuz... the tele...thon's 4..." Then she made a dramatic hand gesture towards a few special-needs kids who were rite outside of that learning-center room, and sed, "US!!"

Hm, so the telethon. Good cause. Who cda seen that coming?

Apes

Mike's stupid party is 2nite

So, even tho all this stuff I'm telling U abt happed last week, when Ger reminded me abt band practice on "Saturday," he really meant 2day rather than a wk ago. But NEway, I was waving 'bye 2 Shannon an' told him I hafta B back home by 6 2nite cuz I'm babysitting the littlez while Mike has his "ZOMG published-book guy" party. Ger was all, "Whoa! --U're not invited?!" And I was all, "Yeah, I was--but it's all older ppl, so I mite as well make sum green." And Ger was like, "U're gonna B home all alone? Hey... after the kiddies fall asleep, we cd practice!" And I was like, "Practice what?" And Ger planted a big ol' kiss on my mouth. Oh, and BTW, we were holding hands as we walked down the hall 2gether. So, remember that time in a monthly letter when I sed that stuff abt how Ger and I didn't kiss or hold hands in public? LOLz, I prolly had U goin' there 4 a while, eh?

Oh, and even tho the party will B 2nite, I prolly won't B able 2 find out what happs there until Monday morning. U know how Sundays R w/my fam: We don't call 'em "Now 4 sumthing completely different Sundays" 4 nuthin'.

Apes

P.S. Liz, if U really think Mom will let U an' Anthony cage me, U really R stupid! Mom mite get aggro'ed w/me an' all, but she's never going 2 let the world think she's "that mom"--the one who let her batshit-crazy, lard-butt spinster daughter cage her teenager. MayB U need 2 go back on thoze antidepressant meds U stole fr Gramps! (But NOT the stool softener!)

I dunno what I was on about

Hey, peeps, so I'm still talking abt my convo w/Shannon @ school last week. This time, Shannon asked me if ppl calling her "retarded" means she's stupid, and I sed it doesn't, and I went in2 this whole thing abt how when a flite's delayed @ the airport, the French signs are all "en retard" 2 mean the planes R on their way but not there yet. And Shannon was like, "So ...what ...they're ...saying ...is ...'I'm ...on my way ...but I'm ...not there yet'?" And I was all, "Xxactly," and how I thot the peeps who call her "retarded" will prolly never GET THERE @ all. And Shannon posted her perspective in a comment last nite:

April,

I was so excited to read your Real Blog this week, since it was about how I comforted you when your sister called you “picky face.” One of the best ways to make you feel better is to ask you a question about something I already know. I got a copy of Retarded Isn't Stupid, Mom! by Sandra Z. Kaufman a long time ago. When I asked you the question, I thought you would say something like, “Stupid is as stupid does.” or “’Stupid’ comes from the Latin stupidus = stup(ére) which means ‘to be numb or stunned’ and ‘retarded’ comes from the Latin retardāre which means ‘to delay’”.

Your answer surprised me. You said I was like a late airplane, from an airport sign in French. My dad says when airplanes are “late on arrival” all the time that means the airline company is run by idiots and stupid people, who can’t get their plane schedules right. Also, everyone knows what your family thinks about the French. When you explained “’En retard’ means it’s on its way, but it’s not there yet”, I was so confused all I could do was repeat it back to you. I told my brother Blair about it, and he said, “En retard” just means “late”. I guess you were making up a new definition to make me feel better. Or maybe you didn’t do very well in French class.

But then you compared the people who call me “retarded” to airplanes who never get there, like they crashed. I was confused again. I asked my brother Blair about it and he said, “I thought April’s boyfriend Gerald was one of the ones who called you ‘retarded’?” I said he was, but I was careful not to give you his name in my list of ‘retarded’-calling people, because it would have messed up my whole plan to comfort you. Then Blair said, “Maybe get there is about sex.” I thought about you and Gerald, and I realized my brother could be right. Everyone knows he is never going to “get there” with you, after that time with the posters about your 16th birthday.

It was a good lesson for me, April. I thought I would make you feel better to tell me something I already know, but then you told me things I had a hard time figuring out. Even though I was confused, it seemed to make you feel better, so I think I am still the best at comforting you. I notice you didn’t say anything to Eva Abuya about being called “picky face.” I can’t wait until your sister calls you another name. I will be ready for it.

Love,
Shannon Lake

Yeah, sorry I babbled, Shannon. Sumtymes I just don't know what I'm talking abt, but I run w/it NEway, esp. if I believe I'm making sum1 feel better.

Apes

On a Very Special ARB: it's mean 2 say "retarded"

Yeah, I feel like this entry's gonna B like an after-school special or a "very special episode" of sum bad show U were only watching cuz it's betw 2 other shows U enjoy an' U cdn't B arsed 2 change the channel 4 half an hr.

More abt last week in school, when I had told Shannon Lake abt Liz calling me "picky face" an' how Shannon had sed it's better than being called "retarded." So, continuing on w/our convo, I was all, "Shannon--who calls U 'retarded'"? And Shan rattled off a list: "Jeremy ...Jones ....Bianca.... ...Miriam ...An' that ....guy ...over there. They call every1 in special needs retarded." I was all, I HATE them 4 that!" And Shan was like, "I don't. They ...just don't ...understand. They just ...don't ...know us!" I was all, "They're ignorant an' they're mean!" Shannon sed, "Well ...it's ...not their ...fault if ...they were born ...that way." Hm, but WERE they? Isn't this behaviour learned? Well, NEway, I'm glad it's not like I'm d8ing sum1 who ever talks this way. I'd just HATE.... Oh, w8. Um, look over there. Yeah, behind you. I thought I saw, erm, sumthing shiny? Pretty? Never mind, it musta been the sun in my eyes!

Apes

Shannon last wk

Yeah, so one of the reasons I got so upset on Monday when Liz called me "picky face" was cuz she'd been calling me that 4 @ least a week an' I was getting s00per-sick of it. I even told Shannon abt it in school last week, back when we were still looking forward 2 this wk being March vacation (even tho my vacation suxx eggs).

So, like, I was @ my locker, and Shannon came along, as she likes to do when I'm having a crisis (not "cry-sis," Liz!), and she was all, "Hi, April! ...Are U ...OK? ...U ...don't ...look ...OK." I was, like, "Hi, Shannon. My sister and I Rn't getting along. She thinx she's so gr8! This morning she called me 'picky face'! Like I was sum kinda, I dunno. I mean, how wd U like 2 B called 'picky face'?!!" Then as we started 2 walk down the hall, she was all, "It's ...better ...than being ...called ...retarded!" And I guess I looked gobsmacked just then. This was supposta B one of those moments that puts things in perspective 4 me an' makes me realize I don't have it so bad. Xxcept the very next time Liz called me "picky face," I got upset all over again. And she mite as well have sed "retarded" cuz in the way she sed "picky face," U cd tell that's really what she meant.

Apes