Finally Ms. Gallo clapped her hands once to get everyone’s attention. “All right. This piece has been fantastic for us because it’s given us a great springboard from which to deconstruct a restaurant review and cover the conventions of the form. Thank you, Allie, for sharing with us.” She went up to the board with her marker. “Now let’s list all the components of a restaurant review.…”

As all the kids in the class engaged in vigorous debate, everyone speaking, energized, interested, I let the nerves in my body settle. I felt wrung out, like I’d just run a marathon. My muscles relaxed from their tension. My red face calmed and went back to a normal color and temperature. My sweaty palms dried up, and I began to breathe at a regular pace.

I didn’t want to read in class ever again. I wasn’t a good enough writer, and I hated being the center of attention. It was just awful. I planned to sit in the back row for the rest of the classes and keep my mouth shut. I felt I’d earned a rest after being so mortified.

But then something funny happened during the break.

I stood up to go eat my granola bar in the bathroom, but I couldn’t move because all the kids in the class were suddenly swarming me. They peppered me with comments and questions.

“Hey, that was so awesome, that talk that your piece kicked off.…”

“Where are you going to write about next?”

“You were so brave to read your piece. I just could never…”

“Did you really think the radishes were good? I just couldn’t even bring myself to try them.…”

“Which M. J. Connor piece should I read first?”

There was nothing for me to do but reply to everyone. Pretty soon, I opened my granola bar and just ate it while we all chatted. I never even made it to the bathroom. It was the strangest thing, but these kids were all acting like we were friends or something.

When Ms. Gallo called the class back to order, a girl leaned over from her desk and, gesturing to herself and her friend, whispered, “Let’s go to the next place together, okay?”

I nodded and sat back down at my desk.

What on earth had just happened? Was this me doing me, as Tamiko had advised?

The rest of the class flew by, and at the end the two girls walked out with me. Their names were Jeanie and Marina, and we made a plan to check out a new Korean hot chicken place together over the weekend.

I practically floated to work after that. I couldn’t wait to share my news with Sierra. She’d be so excited for me! Except, when I reached Molly’s… she wasn’t behind the counter, even though she was supposed to be there fifteen minutes before me.