Hunky Dory by Jean Ure

coming to help dig. She’d be too worried about getting her clothes messed up, or breaking her fingernails, or being rained on. If I ever have a girlfriend I wouldn’t want one that’s scared of a bit of mud.
Tuesday
    Bumped into the Microdot, coming out of school. She was lurking, at the gates. Not on her own. In this loud, trumpeting voice she went, “YOU REMEMBER MY FRIEND LINZI, DON’T YOU?”
    I said, “Oh. Yeah. Right! Hi,” and shot down the road towards the bus stop, followed by the pair of them, both giggling. The Microdot later explained that “Linzi wasn’t giggling cos she thinks you’re funny, she was giggling cos that’s how it gets her, having this thing about you. She thinks you are just sooo Hunky Dory!” And, “Oh, look!” she squealed. “He’s gone all red! I’ve embarrassed him!”
    I should think anyone would be embarrassed, being shrieked at by the Microdot in the middle of the street.
    â€œJust button it,” I said.
    She pouted. “You are so repressed, it’s just not true! There’s poor Linzi, pining away to practically nothing, and all you can say is button it . You’ll be sorry when she goes into a decline!”
    I said, “She’ll get over it. She’s only ten.”
    â€œThat is the most insulting remark I ever heard!” shrieked the Microdot. “You’re not just a sexist pig, you pig, you’re an ageist one, as well!”
    I deny that I am sexist. Or ageist. Maybe I shouldn’thave said that about being only ten, since being ten doesn’t mean you can’t have feelings. I remember being ten myself and being seriously wounded by the way my family persistently made fun of me and of my ambitions, like their “Dory and his dinosaurs” jokes. It was very hurtful. I certainly don’t want to hurt anyone, that is the last thing I want to do, but she just gets me so mad! The Microdot, that is. I don’t blame her friend. I daresay she can’t help it and anyway it’s my totally irritating sister that eggs her on. Left to herself she would probably be a perfectly harmless sort of person that wouldn’t dream of going round giggling at people and upsetting them.
    Did some digging on my own. The Herb had football practice and Aaron was out hand-holding again. Didn’t uncover anything; couldn’t seem to get as enthusiastic as usual. Dunno why. Kept thinking about going up the park with the Herb. It is all very unsettling.
Wednesday
    Had a very odd dream last night. I was down in a tomb, rescuing the Herb from a horde of beetles. I know what it was, it was that stupid conversation I had with the Microdot about The Mummy film and me looking like Brendan Fraser. In my dream I was actinglike Brendan Fraser! I’d picked up the Herb and was rushing her to safety, pursued by all these rampaging beetles. It was quite exciting, but sort of weird at the same time. The Herb didn’t look like the Herb, she looked more like some sort of Ancient Egyptian. Like Cleopatra, or someone. But I knew that it was the Herb.
    It’s a bit disturbing, really. I can understand being chased by beetles, but why did the Herb look like Cleopatra? And what was she doing in my dream, anyway? Specially dressed in all that floaty type stuff. The Herb wouldn’t be seen dead in stuff like that! I can’t begin to make any sense of it. It is a puzzle.
Thursday
    Stayed on after school to watch the football. Some boys I know jeer at the thought of girls playing football, but I am not one of them. I reckon girls can do whatever they want. I’m cool about it! I used to think Aaron was, too, but just lately I’m not so sure. He has definitely changed. I told him that the Herb was the only Year 7 girl on the team, thinking he would be impressed, but all he said was, “Most girls wouldn’t want to be on the team.”
    This annoyed me quite considerably. I