TBH #5 Read online

  DEDICATION

  For my friends who went to

  Outdoor Ed with me in 1993:

  Blair, Lynne, Randi, Sarah, and Sonia

  CONTENTS

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  1st Day of 7th Gradeeeeeeeee

  Swim Team Woo Hoo

  Ummmmmm

  Mara, Cecily

  FYI

  Home Sick

  Lunchieeeessssss

  OMG Lunch

  Prianka, Cecily

  Gabrielle, Prianka, Cecily, Victoria

  Sage, Prianka

  Drama for Real :)

  Ingrid, Cecily

  Sami, Hannah P., Hannah F., Miriam, Eloise, Gabby

  Miriam, Gabrielle

  Lunch Updates

  Colin, Gabrielle

  Sami, Hannah P, Hannah F, Gabrielle, Eloise, Miriam

  Phewwwww

  OMG

  Miriam, Gabrielle

  Help Me

  OMG

  Cecily, Mara;

  Miriam, Gabrielle

  Ummmm

  Prianka, Gabrielle

  Vishal, Prianka

  Miriam, Gabrielle

  Arjun, Victoria

  Sami, Gabrielle

  Super Secret Stuffffffff

  Cecily, Prianka, Victoria, Gabrielle

  Wahhhhhhh

  Wahhhh

  Ummmmmm???

  Friends

  Gabrielle, Sami

  Cecily, Gabrielle

  WIGO???

  Feeelingssssss

  Gabrielle, Mom

  Ugggghhhhhh

  OMG

  Arjun, Victoria

  Sage, Prianka

  Miriam, Gabrielle

  Gabrielle, Miriam

  Mama Basak, Mama Anderson, Mamacita, Gabrielle, Prianka, Cecily

  Ummm

  Kindness Does Rock

  Guysssssssss

  Thanksgiving Borrrrrinnngggg

  Glossary

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Books by Lisa Greenwald

  Back Ad

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  From: Victoria Melford

  To: Gabrielle Katz, Prianka Basak, Cecily Anderson

  FWD: Subject: Fall Trip!

  Hiiiiii loovieeeesss!!!

  So excited 4 swim! Don’t forget bathing suits! Plus WOO WOOOOOOOO about this trip & 7th grade. Can’t wait MY LOVIES! SOOOOO excited.

  Love you all!!!!!

  Victoria Melford the Fabulous!

  From: Yorkville Middle School Administration

  To: Yorkville seventh-grade students and parents

  Subject: Fall Trip!

  Dear families:

  Welcome back to another fabulous Yorkville year! We hope you all enjoyed your summers.

  As you may know, in late September, the entire seventh grade embarks on an Outdoor Education trip to a nature center in upstate New York.

  You’ll be receiving materials about the trip in the mail, but please come to the information session on Friday morning, right after drop-off.

  See you there.

  Edward Carransey

  Principal

  You must be the change you want to see in the world. —Gandhi

  1st Day of 7th Gradeeeeeeeee

  PRIANKA

  Omg I know this is rude to do but what is Sami even saying rn

  She has literally never talked to us b4 in her whole life

  CECILY

  Hahah

  I think she feels awk in the courtyard w/o her friends

  PRIANKA

  Gabs is so busy talking 2 her she isn’t feeling her vibrations

  CECILY

  LOL

  CECILY

  Kind of awk to text about her tho rn while she is talking 2 us

  PRIANKA

  Where is Vic

  CECILY

  IDK

  Late on 1st day???

  PRIANKA

  Hmmmmm

  Can’t believe Gabs still hasn’t looked @ her fone

  CECILY

  Ok let’s stop texting 4 real now

  Guysssss why is the phone policy even stricter this year? It’s the first day and we’ve barely had time to talk between classes and now we can’t even text in the hallway. Hopefully you check lockers before lunch. Let’s sit at the back table on the right. It’s the best spot because it’s near the salad bar.

  PS I snuck to photocopy this in the library to give to all of you. LOL.

  Love, Gabs

  So sorry! Just saw this and now I’m on the bus with u guys and obv we found each other but I still wanted to write back. Sooooooo happy we all got to eat lunch together. Thrilled I got the grade’s lunch schedules changed. I like our new table. And yay we all survived the first day. Xoxoxox Cece

  Swim Team Woo Hoo

  PRIANKA

  Guysssss I had to run home & get my bathing suit for swim team

  Forgot to pack it

  See u guys there

  CECILY

  Pri, where r u

  We r about 2 go in the pool

  Hi Cecily,

  I want to talk to you sort of face-to-face but sort of not. Can you meet me on the little strip of sidewalk between our houses after we get home from swim team?

  Love, Mara

  Yes. Sorry this note is wet with pool water. Why didn’t you just text me? Xo Cece

  I forgot my phone! :(

  Ummmmmm

  CECILY

  Um guys that swim practice was insane

  How r we going 2 do that 3x a week

  GABRIELLE

  No clue

  I don’t even feel like doing it anymore

  PRIANKA

  Same

  Can we bail

  VICTORIA

  Guyssssss

  VICTORIA

  We made a commitment

  It only goes thru December

  CECILY

  Ugggghhhh IDK

  & I heard they r posting info about play tryouts soon

  I wanna do that 2

  I’m gonna be sooooooo busy

  PRIANKA

  I just wanna hang out & watch tv

  Is that bad

  GABRIELLE

  LOL Pri

  VICTORIA

  Guys come on

  VICTORIA

  We were so excited about it

  GABRIELLE

  IK but that’s bc it was summer

  Now I’m in fall mode

  I just wanna wear sweaters and eat cider donuts

  PRIANKA

  LOL

  Now Gabs is speaking my language

  CECILY

  LOL LOL

  VICTORIA

  Whatevs peeps

  VICTORIA

  Talk laterzzzzz

  Mara, Cecily

  MARA

  I know it’s awk that I am texting u & we r standing next 2 each other

  CECILY

  Yeah what’s up

  MARA

  I wanted 2 talk 2 u but it’s hard 2 actually talk

  Know what I mean

  CECILY

  Kinda yeah

  MARA

  I feel like I just want 2 be friends & not anything more but I don’t want it to be weird

  CECILY

  TBH I was feeling the same way

  MARA

  Really?

  CECILY

  Ya I feel like 7th grade is super busy & stuff & I just don’t want any awkwardness

  MARA

  Agree

  CECILY

  We r still BNF tho

  MARA

  BNF?

  CECILY

  Best neighbors forever duh

  MARA

  Oh LOL yes


  CECILY

  K gonna say gnight IRL now

  FYI

  CECILY

  Guys fyi Mara & I r just friends now

  PRIANKA

  R u ok

  CECILY

  Yeah I am so relieved

  I was feeling this way and so was she

  GABRIELLE

  Oh cool

  VICTORIA

  Glad u r ok

  Now u need a new crush

  CECILY

  Nooooo just wanna do my own thing now

  VICTORIA

  LOL ok

  PRIANKA

  Not everyone is like u & Arj, Vic

  VICTORIA

  Haha

  CECILY

  K going 2 sleep 4 real

  GABRIELLE

  Same

  PRIANKA

  Love u guysssss

  VICTORIA

  Ditto 4ever

  ATTENTION, YORKVILLE STUDENTS!

  Come try out for the Yorkville Middle School musical! Information sessions will take place during all lunch periods TODAY.

  Grab your food and meet in the auditorium.

  See you there!

  Ms. Golota & the theater department staff

  Home Sick

  VICTORIA

  Guyssssss I don’t know if u will c this but I’m home sick today

  Fever wahhhh

  Hope u don’t get it

  Do germs spread quickly in a pool???

  Leaving you all locker notes to tell you I won’t be at lunch. Going to the play info session! So don’t wait for me to sit. Pulled a Gabs and photocopied this in the library. LOL. Xoxoxo Cece

  Guyssssss—passing this to Gabs and then pls pass along—I need to speak to my guidance counselor about switching electives. I am not into astronomy. I just realized there’s a poetry elective! How me is that?! Anyway, won’t be @ lunch. Sorry to miss u all! Smooches, Pri PS Write back! This notebook is lonely!

  OMG no one is going to be @ lunch???? What am I going to do? I am crying for real. :( Luv, Gabs

  PS I miss this notebook. Glad it’s back in action!

  PPS But will any of you even see this?????

  Lunchieeeessssss

  SAMI

  Gabs! So glad u sat w/ us @ lunch

  Did you ever find out where ur friends were?

  GABRIELLE

  All diff stuff

  Will explain later

  I had fun @ ur table btw

  MIRIAM

  Sit w/ us again!!!!!!!!

  GABRIELLE

  LOL ok

  ELOISE

  Did u just come to this school

  Why did we not know u last yr

  GABRIELLE

  IDK I was here

  ELOISE

  Ha ok

  HANNAH P

  Gabby remember when we were in that dance class in preschool

  GABRIELLE

  LOL yeah

  I had an accident in my tutu

  & I had to wear a random leotard from lost & found and it was sooooooo big on me

  HANNAH P

  Omg I vaguely remember that

  SAMI

  For reallllls Gabssss

  SAMI

  Ur so funny

  Can’t wait to tell u guys about my super secret project

  Will be ready to reveal tomorrow I think

  GABRIELLE

  MIRIAM

  K c u guys laterrssssss

  HANNAH P

  Peace

  HANNAH F

  Tata

  SAMI

  Xoxo

  GABRIELLE

  Bye!

  OMG Lunch

  GABRIELLE

  U guys I was the only one out of all of us @ lunch

  VICTORIA

  Omg 4 real?

  GABRIELLE

  Yes!

  Cece was @ play info session, Pri @ guidance, Vic home sick (sorry for rhyme LOL)

  PRIANKA

  So where did u sit

  So sorry, Gabs!!

  GABRIELLE

  Ur never gonna believe this

  CECILY

  ???

  GABRIELLE

  I sat with the middle table

  PRIANKA

  Front row middle?

  VICTORIA

  OMG

  GABRIELLE

  IK

  CECILY

  U sat with Sami and them

  GABRIELLE

  Yeah I was talking to Miriam a little in science

  So when I was walking by, she was like come sit w/ us

  PRIANKA

  That is insane

  GABRIELLE

  IK

  CECILY

  No one new ever sits w/ them

  GABRIELLE

  IK

  VICTORIA

  You sat with the Hannahs, too

  GABRIELLE

  Just Hannah P

  GABRIELLE

  I think Hannah F was @ the play info session

  CECILY

  Ya she was

  VICTORIA

  This is so crazy

  GABRIELLE

  Calm down guys it’s ok

  PRIANKA

  Ok I need 2 finish this poetry thing since I’m switching in tomorrow

  We were told to write a poem out of random words but all I have is this list so far

  Earth

  Love

  Peace

  Humanity

  Helpers

  PRIANKA

  Sunshine

  Rest

  Artichokes

  LOL

  CECILY

  Oh yay

  I need 2 finish math

  Will tell u all about the play on the bus

  PRIANKA

  K

  GABRIELLE

  Kk

  VICTORIA

  Mwah

  Prianka Basak

  Poetry Elective

  I have found my voice

  It sounds like this

  Frustration

  Exhaustion

  Contentment

  Happiness

  Laughter

  I have found my voice

  But it’s always changing

  Sometimes low

  Sometimes high-pitched

  Sometimes a whisper

  I have found my voice

  And I demand to be heard

  Prianka, Cecily

  PRIANKA

  K I know we said we were going 2 bed

  But is Gabs gonna sit @ the middle table now

  Like from now on

  Not 2 side chat but just curious . . .

  CECILY

  IDK

  PRIANKA

  She didn’t say

  CECILY

  IK

  PRIANKA

  Hmmmm

  PRIANKA

  R u there

  CECILY

  Y

  PRIANKA

  K I can tell ur busy

  C u tomrw

  CECILY

  Xox

  THANKS TO ALL WHO CAME TO THE INFORMATION SESSIONS!

  Tryouts for the musical will be Monday after school.

  See you there!

  Ms. Golota & the theater department staff

  Gabrielle, Prianka, Cecily, Victoria

  GABRIELLE

  Guys my mom is driving me 2day since we have the meeting about the fall trip

  PRIANKA

  Same

  CECILY

  Same

  VICTORIA

  Same

  Hahahahah this cracks me up

  CECILY

  Me 2

  Do u guys want 2 sleep over this weekend & do crafts

  VICTORIA

  I was thinking ice skating

  GABRIELLE

  IDK my plans yet

  CECILY

  For real, Gabs?

  Ur always with us

  GABRIELLE

  IDK don’t freak

  PRIANKA

  I’m away one day this weeken
d visiting Dad’s college friend

  But I could be into crafts

  Maybe decorating my new poetry journal

  CECILY

  Doesn’t a whole craft day sound so fun tho

  VICTORIA

  I’m in

  GABRIELLE

  Pos

  Ttyl

  OMG we have random bunks!!!!

  I know. :(

  It won’t be that bad. It’s only 2 nights.

  Wahhhhh. Why can’t we pick bunkmates?

  They just answered that! So we can branch out. LOL

  What if we are stuck with people who have super bad BO?

  Stop. But ew.

  Guys our moms totally know we are passing notes

  Sage, Prianka

  SAGE

  So fun to be ur partner in poetry today

  PRIANKA

  IK ur so talented

  SAGE

  Ha not really but thx

  PRIANKA

  Do we do the peer review thing again tomorrow

  SAGE

  I think so

  PRIANKA

  K cool

  SAGE

  R u excited for the outdoor ed thing

  PRIANKA

  Not really u

  SAGE

  Yessssssss I love nature

  PRIANKA

  LOL I went on a camping thing over the summer and haaaaated it

  SAGE

  Maybe this one will be diff

  PRIANKA

  Maybe but IDK

  It’ll be even colder

  I am an indoor gal

  SAGE

  LOL ur funny

  PRIANKA

  Poetry is . . .

  freedom

  emotion

  putting yourself out there

  feeling your feelings

  knowing yourself

  connection

  calm

  peace

  From: Gabrielle Katz

  To: Ivy Garstein

  Subject: hiiiiiiiii

  Ivy!!!

  I miss you! How’s school so far? The craziest thing happened. None of my friends were at lunch because of different things and I ended up sitting at the popular table. Does your school have one? You probably sit at it. LOL. Anyway, I’m not super popular but I’m not unpopular. I’m just regular. But I talked to one of the girls during science and then I sat with them and it was no big deal. It was kind of fun. But now where do I sit? With my friends or them? We can’t really combine tables because we wouldn’t all fit. Yesterday I skipped lunch to go to some volunteer community service thing but mostly I was stressed about where to sit. UGH. Okay, write back and help meeeeeee!!!!

  Love you,