It’s two years later now. I’m back in Beach Meadows. I’m in Grade Nine. I’m still shy, but I did talk to a boy yesterday. (“You dropped your pencil.” It’s not much, I know, but it’s a start,) My language arts teacher is really impressed with how “imaginative” my writing has become.
Bitsie ’n’ Bytesie got renewed for one more season. Production didn’t go into overtime once.
Kathleen has a huge hit on her hands with Obsessive-Compulsive Home. Laird has no idea why she keeps thanking him when she wins yet another award for Excellence in Lifestyle Broadcasting. When Kathleen’s lonely, she calls me. We usually just talk about new trends in window treatments and closet organizers, but it’s always nice to hear her voice.
Zola lied and told Kathleen I spent that weekend with her. I never had to ask her to do it and she never asked me to explain. Zola said she knows I only did what I felt I had to do. No wonder I love her.
Nick married his girlfriend and it didn’t bother me a bit.
I did crawl into Dreemland when I found out, but I was planning on doing that anyway.
Arnold van Gurp is pitching a television series about a puppet who comes to life as a dance instructor. He has several broadcasters interested in it.
Mum doesn’t talk about the time Bess stole the Winnebago and drove nonstop to Toronto. She talks about Bess’s “rescue mission.” She’s very proud of her, even though she can’t understand for the life of her why Bess would have thought that blurry picture in the paper was of me.
Dad got a tattoo and now Bess and he have a lot more to talk about.
Bess is doing community service at the children’s hospital instead of jail time. She’s really good with the patients. They love her “energy.” Sometimes I come along with her and bring my puppet. His name is Gord. He has black hair and a black mustache and a completely normal nose.
Only a few kids with really high fevers have ever suspected that he might just be Bitsie.