Chapters (68)
- Cover
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Chapter One
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Chapter Two
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Chapter Three
- Ten
- Eleven
- Chapter Four
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Chapter Five
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Chapter Six
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Chapter Seven
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Chapter Eight
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Chapter Nine
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Chapter Ten
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Chapter Eleven
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Chapter Twelve
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Chapter Thirteen
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Chapter Fourteen
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Chapter Fifteen
- The Following Summer
- About the Author
- About the Publisher
“I’m still working on it,” Emily said. “It can be better.” She pressed the return key and the images swirled away, replaced by a cartoon of a cell on a microscope slide and the words: WHY DID THE GERM CROSS THE MICROSCOPE? TO GET TO THE OTHER SLIDE.
“That’s so funny!” Ali exclaimed.
Emily gave her a pleased grin, then turned serious again. “We should speak to alternate slides, don’t you think?”
“Whatever you think.”
Emily frowned. She read the germ joke and pushed return. A new slide explaining the methodology for the field study filled the screen. Ali read it quickly, self-conscious in front of Emily. When she finished, Emily held up her hand.
“Your delivery was flat. We need to keep people interested.”
Ali tried again. Emily shook her head. After Ali’s fourth try, Emily gave her a half-hearted nod. “I guess that’s okay.”
Ali knew it wasn’t okay, because Emily had pressed her lips together into a tight line. “Show me how you’d do it,” Ali said.
Emily pressed restart. Ali listened with rapt attention as Emily made each slide interesting and funny.
“Let me try,” Ali said, sure she could mimic Emily’s delivery. “If I’m not better, then you can present by yourself tomorrow and I’ll push the buttons, okay?”
She could tell Emily believed she’d be the button pusher. They began again, and this time the smile Emily gave Ali when they finished was genuine. “That was awesome! You sounded just like me! Let’s do it again to be sure.”
After four more run-throughs—Emily said a person could never practice too much—they were a well-oiled machine.
“We’ll be the best,” Emily told Ali as they headed back to the classroom.
Ali sure hoped so.
Ms. Ryder handed out forms as soon as they arrived at debate after school. “These information sheets explain the Toastmasters event this Saturday. It’s wonderful that Cassie’s mom has arranged this great opportunity for us. Debating in front of strangers is hard at first, but at least you know the Toastmasters will be rooting for you. I spoke with your mom at lunch, Cassie, and we’ve decided to have teams of three, not two.” She turned on the Smart Board. “Here are the topics: ‘Be it resolved that the age at which a person should vote should be lowered from eighteen to sixteen’ and ‘Be it resolved that students at Princess Elizabeth School should wear school uniforms.’ You’ll debate each topic for twenty minutes, followed by ten minutes of helpful suggestions by the Toastmasters. The entire event, including the reception afterward where you’ll be able to interact with the Toastmasters, will last two hours.”
Debating and talking with strangers? Ali clutched the seat of her chair.