perfect heart reliever

Thats what they call a ship clock, Mom explained. Its how long until Samantha 2 ships. They put it up as motivation. No comment. The same clock was in the elevator, the hallways, and even the bathrooms. It ticked down that whole meal in Dads office, where we sat on the inflatable balls he uses instead of chairs, our takeout containers wobbling precariously on our knees. I was telling them about all the different kinds of penguins we were going to see on the trip. You want to know the coolest part Mom chimed in. There isnt assigned seating at the dining room, and they have tables for four. That means the three of us can sit down and if we pile the extra chair with our gloves and hats, nobody can sit with us Dad and I looked at each other, like, Is she joking And penguins, Mom quickly added. Im wildly excited about all those penguins. Dad must have told everyone we were coming, because people kept walking by and peeking through the glass, but acting like they werent, which is what it must feel like to be famous. I wish this was more of a celebration, Dad said, glancing at his email. But I have a video conference with Taipei. Thats OK, Dad, I said. Youre busy.

From Dad Ms. Loundes, The only thing now is Im short and dont have breasts, which is annoying. Plus my asthma. Lots of doctors said I could have asthma even if I was born with a good heart. It doesnt keep me from doing anything like dancing or playing the flute. I dont have the thing where you wheeze. I have the even grosser thing where any time I get sick, even if its a stomach virus, its followed by two weeks of disgusting phlegm, which I have no choice but to cough up. Im not saying its the most pleasant thing to be sitting across from, but if you care about how it feels to me, Ill tell you that I barely notice it. The nurse at school, Mrs. Webb, is totally ridiculous the way shes obsessed with my cough. I swear, on the last day of school I want to pretend to drop dead in her office just to freak her out. I seriously think that every day Mrs. Webb leaves Galer Street and its a day I didnt die on her watch, she feels this soaring relief. Im totally offtask. Why did I even start writing all this Oh, yeah. Im not sick THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2 From: SooLin LeeSegal To: Audrey Griffin You have been very not to ask me how the Microsoft town hall went. Im sure youre dying to know if I was a casualty of the epic downsizing that has been all over the papers. Tmay not be able to make the Prospective Parent Brunch. Good news: Ill definitely be able to pay for the food. Talk soon, and go Huskies

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6 That day, we had art sixth period, and I had gunk in my throat, so I stepped into the hall to spit it in the water fountain, which is what I always did when I was in art. Who turned the corner as I was hawking it up Mrs. Webb, the nurse. She got all panicked that I was spreading germs, which I tried to explain I wasnt, because white phlegm is dead germs. Ask a real doctor and not some office administrator whose only justification for calling herself a nurse isnt nursing school but a box of BandAids she keeps in her desk. Ill get my backpack, I grumbled. Id like to point out that Mr. Levy, my biology and homeroom teacher, has a daughter who has viralinduced asthma like me, and she plays travel hockey, so he knows my cough is no big deal. In a years he would never send me to Mrs. Webbs office. When I get gunk in my throat, its easy to tell because Ill be answering a question and my voice will start cutting out like a bad cellphone connection. Mr. Levy will do this thing where he passes me a tissue behind his back. Mr. Levy is really funny. He lets the turtles walk around the classroom, and once he brought in liquid nitrogen and started freezing our uneaten lunch.