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too?”
    Maggie opens her mouth to day yes. But nothing comes out.
    I can tell the comment has hit home.
    Her eyes have become red.
    “You don’t get it,” Maggie says. “You don’t have my family. You don’t have the pressure of—”
    “Of what? Of having to fix things? Of having to make it all better? Being the shining star? The one who makes everyone smile? ‘We Blumes may be falling apart, but Maggie’s acing her exams and laying a recital and singing in a band and winning awards and looking thin and beautiful.’ is that it?”
    Maggie’s shoulders heave a bit. She shudders.
    Don’t cry, I’m thinking.
    Maggie is a rock. She never lets her anger or sadness or frustration show. Seeing her like this is scary.
    Then I realise something, Nbook. Now I’m being like everyone else. I’m
    expecting her to be perfect.
    “You don’t like to cry, do you?” Dr. Fuentes asks softly.
    Maggie shakes her head.
    “You hate when everything feels out of control. Especially your emotions.”
    Maggie nods.
    Then, finally, she breaks down into sobs. Kind of pent up and squeaky at first, then louder until she’s practically gasping for air.
    I walk over to her and put my arm around her shoulder. We rock back and forth.
    I’m pretty weepy myself.
    I know it’s time to end the session, but Dr. Fuentes doesn’t mention it.
    Finally Maggie says, in a tiny voice, “You’re right.”
    “Maggie, some things are beyond our control,” Dr. Fuentes says softly. “You can’t solve everyone’s problems. Yours are hard enough.”
    “I want to get better,” Maggie says.
    Cr. Fuentes nods, “I believe you. You’re here. That means you want to change.
    Which is a good thing. Because anorexia can be very serious.”
    Maggie blanches, “What can I do?”
    “First of all, realise it may take awhile,” Dr. Fuentes replies. “What’s causing the problem—the tension, the family trouble—none of that will magically disappear.”
    “Which means what? I won’t get better until it does?”
    “No. you can get better. In our next session, we’ll begin mapping out a plan. To put Maggie first. Friday sound okay?”
    “Sure,” Maggie shoots back.
    “Meanwhile, try not to be so hard on yourself, Maggie. That’s step one. And remember, we’re born to eat. Our bodies want food, and they deserve it.”
    “Okay,” Maggie murmurs.
    The session has gone way overtime, and Dr. Fuentes leads us back to the waiting room, she shakes hands with both of us and says to Maggie, “beautiful people attract beautiful friends.”
    That, Nbook, it her good-bye.
    Homeroom
    Yesterday, as we leave the session with Dr. Fuentes, everything seems fine.
    Maggie’s happy. Her smile is back. I realise I’d practically forgotten what it looked like.
    Ducky’s waiting for us outside and she flies into the car.
    “So, how’d it go?” he asks.
    “Fine,” Maggie says. “She’s a good therapist, Ducky. For future reference.”
    She doesn’t go into detail. And Ducky doesn’t pry. I give him credit for that.
    Well, we’re all I a good mood until we reach Maggie’s neighbourhood.
    Somewhere around Pine Canyon Road, her smile disappears.
    Ducky and I both notice I. we start telling jokes. Trying to lighten it up.
    But when she gets out of the car and says good-bye, her face is all glum. She’s worried.
    She’s home.
    I can tell she’s rather be anywhere else in the world.
    Later on, I call Dawn and tell her what happened. Dawn is amazed that I stayed for the session, but she’s glad I did. She tells me I’m a great friend.
    I don’t see Maggie again until this morning at the lockers. She’s subdued. She mentions that she likes Dr. Fuentes but doesn’t seem to want to say much more than that.
    I hope this works, Nbook.
    I hope the atmosphere at her house doesn’t ruin everything.
    Study hall
    Brendan spots me with you in homeroom, Nbook.
    The bell has already rung and I’m still writing.
    He’s nt snooping or anything, just waiting for