"Boys!" Clover taps a pink gel pen against her top teeth, making a hollow rafting noise."They never change. What idiots!"
She swivels round in her office chair and
Presses a button on her computer. The
Printer whirrs into action.
She hands me two A4 sheets
"Read this and weep, Katie."
To: Agonyaunt@gossmagazine.com
Tuesday
Dear clover,
Please help! It's boy trouble.(what else?)
I hooked up with this mega cute guy two weeks ago at a sinister teen frite night.
The year ahead of me in school.
But I have no idea where I stand.
We've been to the cinema a couple of times and he texts me a lot. But I'm confused,
One minute he's all over me, the next he's completely ignoring me. What should I do? Play it cool or play along? I'm seeing him tonight, please advise.
Anxious in Artane,
(Otherwise know as Wendy,14)
To: Agonyaut@gossmagazine.com
Wednesday
Dear clover,
I wrote to you yesterday about a boy,
Well today I found out he's been spreading
Nasty rumours about me in school. Saying
I kiss like a washing machine! I think it's because I told him to go easy on Saturday night. I wanted to watch at least some of the film.
I'm so embarrassed. All the boys in my class are calling me Wendy Whirlpool and the D4 girls are all sniggering at me in the corridoors and spinning their fingers around in a circle.
I don't know what to do. It's a nightmare.
I haven't been able to eat all day. My
Friends are telling me to pay no attention,
But I can't stop thinking about it. I feel like
Everyone's staring at me.
I'm going to pull a sickie tomorrow and Friday, but I'll have to go back to school
On Monday.
Please help me, I'm in bits.
Morto,
Wendy
My eyes widen as I read Wendy's emails. I cringe inwardly. I understand exactly how she feels. (Sick to the stomach) feeling dozens of pair of eyes boring into her.
Paranoid, unsettled, deeply unhappy.
"What do you think?" Clover says.
" I feel sorry for the poor girl. I'd hate to
Be in her shoes."
"Any advice for her?"
I shrug. "To ignore everyone I suppose,
Like her friends say. if it's anything like
Our school, it'll all blow over in a few
Weeks. I'd tell her to put her head down
And pretend she's invisible."
Clover blows raspberry.
"Wrong answer!"
She makes the uh-uh noise from family
Fortune. "If your so clever, what's the
Right answer then?"
"Duh! Fight back . Don't let the sap get
Get away with it." That does sound far
More interesting." But it's hardly
Practical.
"Wendy doesn't sound that confident."
I squirm a little. This is all getting too
Close from comfort.
Clover tilts her head. "Wendy?"
"The girl in the letter." I stab the
Printout with my finger.
To be continued ....
