Turning Red: Changed

Chapter 5 - On the Radio

During lunch in Pearson Middle School's cafeteria, I met Abby and Priya there. I seated on a table across Abby and Priya. It seems like the three of us have brought lunch from home. The lunch from the cafeteria doesn't look as good as our parents' homemade food.

I unpacked my lunch from my big blue container. Abby looks irritated. "Did your mom packed you a salad again?" She wonders. I sighed. I was really annoyed. "Yeah." I added. "I do still get hungry after that." I replied. Priya brings something out of her brown bag. She handed me her tortilla chips with queso and guacamole set. "I've prepared you some backup food, Mir." Priya said. She was my lifesaver. I took her Mexican snack. "Thank you, girl." I told her. Priya nodded her head at me. "Happy to help." She said. Abby became bemused. She checks out around. "Where's Mei? Did you talk to her?" Abby asks me. I do not anticipate that. How am I supposed to explain to them about math class? I was still worried about Mei. I groaned. I try to face my friends forward. "Her mom's been spying on Mei this morning." I replied.

Abby and Priya are overwhelmed. Abby looked both ways. I think she was hoping no one will hear us. Abby was really aggravated. "Tell us what happened, Mir." She whispers to me. Where to begin? Priya seems interested of this morning. So I took a deep breath. I clarify to them from what occurred this morning. I wasn't even joking. "Mei wouldn't tell me why she's being weird. Mei drank something out of her thermos. She was really conflicted. I have written on a note for her. Mei still won't tell me what's up. I looked out of the window. Then, I noticed her mom hiding behind a tree. I wrote another note to warn her. Mei looks scared when she saw her mom. Of course, Mrs. Lee made a scene with the school security guard. And lastly, she was trying to tell Mei something." I uttered. I bit my bottom lip. Priya understands me. "She's having stomach cramps." Priya believes.

I was astonished. "What? How would you thought of that, girl?" I wondered. Abby stares at Priya confusingly. She became melancholy. "I have stomach cramps once. It's not a pretty picture." Priya answered. I shook my head. I don't really get about what occurs this morning. "What does stomach cramps got to do with a box of p-a-d-s?" I asked.

Abby got her eyes widened and gasped. "Mei's mom brought that out in front of the whole math-" she almost exclaimed. Priya cupped her mouth on a nick of time hastily. She was furious. "Not in the whole middle school, Abby." Priya alerted her. I facepalmed at Abby. I thanked Priya for stopping her. I faced them with my serious expression. "Abby, Priya. Mei's embarrassed from her mom." I added. I became sad. "I think she's hiding at home for that." I aforesaid.

Priya nodded her head twice. She realized that she knows what to do next. Priya meant it. "We have to check Mei out at her house tomorrow." She decided.

Abby speaks exasperatingly in Korean. I was bothered. "Girl, English please." I told her. She translated herself. "We have to let our girl know we're here for her, Mir!" Abby exclaims. Priya acknowledged her. I can't agree more with Abby.

Me, Priya and Abby heard the craziness from one blonde girl. She can't get over what occurred in the girls' bathroom. A giant red what?

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I headed home after school. I decided to doodle on my shamrock green notebook. I have my boom box turn on to keep me active for the night. It was playing U Know What's Up by 4-Town. Listening to them makes me happy. I forget about Devon alrighty after last night's scene with Mrs. Lee. Mei's mom is so insane! I felt awful for my friend. I think Mrs. Lee is overreacting.

Anyway, I doodled more of my crush. Aaron T. Man, he's such a dreamboat. Then, the radio announcer spoke after the song.

That is U Know What's Up by 4-Town.

I smiled at my boom box. For what he says next astonishes me.

Get your tickets now before May 18th. The 4-Town concert is coming soon near you. Get your tickets now before May 18th. Coming soon.

Oh my gosh! 4-Town is coming to the SkyDome! I called Abby on my home phone. I waited after three rings. Man, I can't contain myself. I heard someone picked up the phone. It sounds like her mom. "Hello?" She asks. I settled down from my excitement. "Hey, Mrs. Park. This is Miriam." I replied. She recognizes my voice. "Oh, I'll get Abby for you." Mrs. Park tells me in her friendly tone. I was relieved. "I'm holding." I said.

A few moments, I can hear Abby screaming delightfully. I cringed in my goofy expression. "Did you hear about 4-Town, Mir?!" She shouted loudly.

I have my home phone to my right ear. I was psyched. "Yes, Abby. 4-Town is coming in a few weeks." I mentioned. Man, her volume was so high. She can be a living boom box. "Yeah, May 18th in Toronto!" Abby hollers. I laughed with her. Then, I gasped. I was going crazy here. "They're coming in the SkyDome on May 18th?!" I exclaimed. She sounds so enthusiastic. "Yeah! And I have a 4-Town concert schedule to prove it!" Abby cried out loud.

O-M-G! I was getting overexcited. "Girl, did Priya know?!" I asked her loudly. She confirms it. "I just told her before you called me! This is bonkers!" Abby answers louder. I have figured out a way to cheer Mei up. She's going to love it! "Abby, we have got to tell Mei about this! She's a 4-Townie like us!" I declared in exclamation. Abby sounded a little distant. I think she was raising her roof with both hands. "I'm loving this, girl! This is epic!" Abby screamed. I rolled my eyes and laughed harder with her. My mind's made up. We're seeing Mei first thing in the morning.