TENTS
Diving Under
Flipped
Buddy； Beware！
The Sycamore Tree
Brawk…Brawk…Brawk！
The Eggs
Get a Grip； Man
The Yard
Looming Large and Smelly
The Visit
The Serious Willies
The Dinner
Flipped
The Basket Boys
……… Page 3………
Diving Under
All I've ever wanted is for Juli Baker to leave me alone。 For her to back off — you know； just
give me some space。
It all started the summer before second grade when our moving van pulled into her
neighborhood。 And since we're now about done with the
eighth grade； that； my friend； makes more than half a decade of strategic avoidance and
social disfort。
She didn't just barge into my life。 She barged and shoved and wedged her way into my life。
Did we invite her to get into our moving van and start
climbing all over boxes？ No！ But that's exactly what she did； taking over and showing off like
only Juli Baker can。
My dad tried to stop her。 “Hey！” he says as she's catapulting herself on board。 “What are you
doing？ You're getting mud everywhere！” So true；
too。 Her shoes were； like； caked with the stuff。
She didn't hop out； though。 Instead； she planted her rear end on the floor and started
pushing a big box with her feet。 “Don't you want some help？”
She glanced my way。 “It sure looks like you need it。”
I didn't like the implication