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I cried.
    The only person that I was going to know in class was Hal, because he lives next door, and I’d only just met him.
    I begged my parents to let me stay home for the day, for the week, for the rest of the school year, but no, they made me go.
    And then I got there and Hannah Burton was the first kid in the class to talk to me. And she didn’t seemnice, even though she tried to act nice.
    It was so good when you got to school, even though you were late.
    I, Amber Brown, remember that day.
    I’d overslept. My teeth weren’t brushed. My hair wasn’t combed.
    Hannah was mean to me.
    And then Mrs. Holt asked me to show Kelly Green around. At first, I was a little bit upset that someone else had a colorful name.
    I continue reading Kelly’s letter.
    Then you showed me around the school, and we talked, and you didn’t even make fun of me when I barfed all over myself
    I also remember that….. it was Ping-Pong Barf.
    I made a stop at the nurse’s office with Kelly, and we saw this little boy throw up.
    Kelly threw up when she saw the kid lose his cookies…and then he threw up again and then she lost hers again. It was not great to look at….. or to smell.
    Then when I came back to school after getting cleaned up, you were very nice. (Even though you did tell the boys and they sang “Happy Barfday” to me.)
    And you share your friends with me. You don’t get annoyed when Brandi and I do things without you.
    Actually, that’s not quite true. I got very upset when they went to the mall without me and got their ears pierced….. even though it wasn’t their fault…they asked me to go but my mom said no.
    Anyway, I just want you to know that you are a really nice person (funny, smart, caring, kind) and I want you tostay here. If you can’t stay, I’ll be really sad, but I know that wherever you go, people will think you are wonderful.
    I know that it’s not easy to move and that parents get to make all of the decisions, but you are going to be all right.
    I want to thank you for being a good friend.
    Your pal
,
    I reread the letter.
    It makes me want to cry.
    It also makes me want to smile.
    It makes me feel better about being able to take care of myself, no matter what happens.
    My dad left, and I survived.
    Justin left, and I survived.
    And if I have to move, and if my parents keep on fighting, I’ll survive….. and I’lldo it Amber Brown style…. and that’s okay.
    I know that now….. and I only hope that I don’t forget it.

Chapter
Ten

    “Amber, we have to talk,” my mother says.
    I just stare at her and don’t say anything.
    “Amber, we have to talk,” she repeats. “We really have to talk.”
    I continue to stare at her.
    My mother stares back.
    She blinks first.
    I win.
    Somehow it doesn’t feel like I’m winning anything great by staring my mother down….. but I’m still glad that I did.
    She sighs.

    I finally blink, but blinking after a sigh is not giving in.
    She sighs again.
    It looks like she’s going to cry, but then she just gets an upset look on her face. “Amber Brown. Your attitude is not helping the situation.”
    “This situation is not helping my attitude.” I, Amber Brown, am surprised that I say this, but I’m glad that I have.
    What is she going to do, send me to my room?
    I don’t care. I like my room, and since I’m going to have to move away from it, then I might as well spend as much time in it as I can.
    I go to the refrigerator and take out the container of orange juice.
    Pouring it into a glass, I concentrate on not spilling any.
    “Amber.” My mother speaks softly. “I know that you are angry. I understand
why
you are so angry.”
    I put down the orange juice container and finally speak. “Do you really?”
    “I think so.” She nods. “And Mr. Robinson talked to me about what you told him.”
    Good for Mr. Robinson, I think. I wonder if he would adopt me.
    I think about being Mr. Robinson’s kid…a life of Twizzlers and soda. I do