(From the novel Blogs of Wrath by Todd C Noker and Zack D Shutt, available in its entirety for free at www.blogsofwrath.com)

December 19

I put Angela’s gift basket into a big decorated Christmas bag with a bow.  I took it to school and kept it in my backpack.  Before the bell rang for the beginning English class, I told her that I had a surprise.  “For me?” she said, like she was actually surprised that I would think of her.  (If she only knew how much time I spent thinking of her, she’d probably be frightened.)  “Yeah.  Just a little something from Santa Claus,” I said.  She smiled, and I felt like I would explode right there in class.  The bell rang, we started our journal entries, and I helped the skater kid spell nativity scene, manger, abduct, hostage, and ransom.....

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I knew Angela and I were not finished with our discussion, but we had to wait all through class to resume.  It seemed to go on forever.  How could subject-verb agreement be more important than what Angela and I were saying?  I wanted to scream.  I wiggled and tapped my feet all through class as if my constant movement would somehow speed up the passage of time.  It probably looked like I had to take a massive leak.....

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Finally the bell rang.  I wanted to jump onto the table and tap-dance, just because I was so excited to continue my chat with Angela.  Of course I didn’t want to look that obvious; she’d think that I was a nerd for sure, and I’ve had good luck keeping that fact from her so far.  “Hey Angela,” I said, trying to sound normal.  “Can I meet you after school?”....

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 “OK,” she said.  She told me where her locker was even though I had already followed her there once before.  She didn’t know this, of course.  And I’m not a stalker; I just figured it was in my best interest for our paths to cross occasionally throughout the day.....

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I totally felt like a nerd walking to her locker after school to give her a present.  What if she thought it was lame?  What if it was too much?  What would she think of the little bottle of bubble bath?  Would she think it was my subtle way of telling her that she needed to bathe a little more often?  Or that I was a total pervert and wanted to picture her in a tub full of bubbles, steam rising from the water …....

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I wanted to cut through the plastic wrap and remove the bubble bath bottle.  It was probably way too suggestive and she’ll hate me for sure.  I seriously considered running out the nearest door—in any direction, away from this.  But no.  I took a deep breath and continued to her locker.....

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She was as nervous as I was, even dropping her wrapped box that she had for me.  She loved her present and gave me a big hug.  I opened mine and it was a pink Hurley International T-shirt.  Me in a pink T-shirt?  If Angela thinks it’s a good idea, then I’m there.....

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I floated all the way home.....

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