Ava XOX by Carol Weston

day.
    Zara was too .
    And Bea was… three . In the hallway, she even said that those older girls had had no right to “dump on me,” and there was “nothing wrong with our list.” I was glad she didn’t add, “Except your title,” since I was the one who’d idiotically called it “FIT OR FAT.”
    Tanya actually left a note in my locker. It said, “Don’t let the turkeys get you down. (Not easy, I know.) Gobble, gobble.” She even sketched an excellent turkey with a droopy wattle and trusting eyes. An hour later, I left a note in her locker that said “Thanks!” and drew the only turkey I know how to draw, which is the kind you trace with your five fingers, the way we learned in first grade.
    At lunch, Alla, a sixth grader whose name is a palindrome (A-L-L-A), told me that some of those same girls picked on her when she moved here from Russia. She also said that at her bus stop this morning, Tanya told her that her whole family is giving up soda.
    â€œThey are?” I asked.
    Alla nodded and added that Tanya had asked her if she wanted to start taking walks after school.
    â€œWhat did you say?”
    â€œI said sure. So we’re going to try to walk on Thursdays.”
    Okay, I am now about to tell you the best part. One other person was really nice to me today. Can you guess who?
    Chuck! Yes, Chuck!
    He and I got to English before anyone else, so we were alone for about one minute, maybe two. He said, “I heard what happened.” I looked right at him, and my nose got tingly and my eyes got hot. “I wish I could help,” he said.
    â€œMaybe I’m just not cut out to be a writer,” I said. I didn’t expect to say that, but sometimes with Chuck, all I can be is honest. And after all, my writing does keep causing trouble, whether I write about a queen bee or rescue cat or weight loss. “I probably shouldn’t be trusted with a pen.”
    â€œAva, don’t say that! You’re a great writer! The S rule was funny. So was the O rule.” He met my eyes.
    â€œWait! You saw the poster before they took it down?” Had Chuck read what I wrote about Seconds, Sweets, Snacks, and Sugary Soda? And Fritos, Cheetos, Doritos, Tostitos, and Oreos?
    â€œI recognized your handwriting, so I read it on Friday morning.”
    â€œYou didn’t think it was bossy and offensive? Or that I was acting like the ‘body police’?”
    He shook his head. “I thought it was sincere and earnest. ” He smiled because those were recent spelling words. “And brave,” he added. “And…sweet.”
    He kept looking at me, and maybe this is all in my imagination, but it felt like he was thinking “…like you.” And that he could tell I was thinking this.
    It was as if we could read each other’s minds.
    â€œChuck,” I said, meeting his eyes, “you said you wished you could help, and I think you just did.”
    AVA, FEELING A BIT BETTER

2/22
BEDTIME
    DEAR DIARY,
    For Meatless Monday, Dad made kale quiche and a salad with fava beans, avocado, radishes, and quinoa. If I had to grade dinner, I’d give it a 75.
    I don’t get why quinoa is so popular, but maybe I don’t understand popularity.
    After dinner, I opened the drawer by my bed because I wanted to take a peek at my pack of gum. The one Chuck gave me. I thought it would make me feel warm. And calm. And happy.
    Well, I opened the drawer and…the pack was opened! There were two crinkled wrappers and two missing pieces!
    I barged into Pip’s room without even knocking. “PIP!” I screamed. “What did you do?”
    She was under the covers reading I Is for Innocent . “What?”
    â€œThat was my gum !” I said loudly.
    She looked confused.
    â€œYou opened my pack of GUM!”
    She stared at me. “Since when is that a federal crime?”
    This might sound stupid, but since you are