Read Here's Lily for Free Online

chairs behind her, a ripple of chuckles, and a few “Oh dears.” Lily looked frantically over her shoulder to see half the people covering their mouths with their hands and the other half pointing right at her.
    Well, not at her face. At the seat of her skirt.
    Lily grabbed at it just as her mother got halfway out of her chair and whispered loudly between her hands, “Do a fanny check, Lil. I think you brought in some debris from the car.”
    To her horror, Lily’s hand did touch something sticky. When she tried to pull it off, part of it stayed there, and part of it stuck stubbornly to her hand.
    Her face, she knew, was one big blotch as she twisted around to examine the back of her skirt. A large wad of grape gum—already chewed grape gum—hung from her seat and was connected by an ever-growing string to her fingers.
    â€œYou must be Lily,” someone whispered near her ear.
    Lily looked up to see Tess at her elbow, but she couldn’t say anything except, “Gum.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it,” Tess whispered. “Kathleen told me about you. Just go in and be yourself.” She winked. “It’s a piece of cake.”
    â€œBut . . . shouldn’t I go get this off?”
    Tess shook her head. “Pretend it isn’t there.”
    By now Lily was no longer hearing the smothered laughter of the other candidates and their parents. Pretend it isn’t there? she wanted to scream at this Tess person. I wish I could pretend I wasn’t here!
    For a second she seriously considered making a run for the door and escaping to the parking lot and running for the New Jersey Turnpike. As it was, she looked back again at her parents. Dad was looking bewildered, as if he didn’t see what was so funny. Even though her mom was nodding for her to go on, she had her hand halfway over her eyes.
    Lily could feel her face going beyond blotchy. She was sure all the color was draining right out of it. She had to get away from these people and their sick senses of humor, and Kathleen’s door was the closest. She went for it.
    â€œAtta girl,” Tess whispered. “Stand straight. Focus.”
    Lily pushed open the door, certain that she was leaving a clothesline of gum behind her. Kathleen looked up at Lily from her desk and smiled.
    â€œHi,” Lily said. “I’m Lily Robbins.”
    Kathleen put out her hand. Lily stood frozen for a moment, trying to remember which hand she’d touched the gum with. She still couldn’t remember as she desperately stuck one in Kathleen’s. She nearly fainted on the desk when it came forward clean and gum-less.
    â€œVery nice to see you again, Lily,” Kathleen said. “Very nice. You can go on back to the meeting room.”
    Lily panicked. “Now?”
    Kathleen’s smile got wider. “Now would be good. Unless you have a question.”
    I do! How am I going to get out without you seeing this bubblegum plastered all over the back of my skirt?
    Lily shook her head and began to back toward the door, feeling behind her for the doorknob. “Thank you,” Lily said, still groping. So far she was coming up with only air.
    â€œYou’re certainly welcome. I’m so glad you came this afternoon. After I talked with your mother, I wasn’t sure you would. She seemed to have some reservations. Just a little more to your right, and you’ll have it.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œIf you move a little more to your right, you’ll find the doorknob. There you go.”
    I want to die , Lily thought. Or at least run for the exit the second I get out of Kathleen’s office. But somehow she managed to get back to her seat between Mom and Dad without bolting from the building.
    â€œI’m sorry, Lil,” Mom said. “Really, I am. I’m going to make Joe clean the whole car tomorrow. He’s the only one who chews that color.”
    â€œAre you going to make him