Free Confessions of a Teen Nanny 03 - Juicy Secrets by Victoria. Ashton Page B

getting hooked on phonics?

    "Can you believe it?" Cameron asked, taking back the paper and smiling down at it. "Poor, poor Mimi. How humiliating for her!"

    "She must be totally wrecked," Isabelle agreed.

    "I feel terrible for her," Cameron continued as girls began to gather around her and peer at the newspaper, which Cameron just happened to keep waving. "We must all be very supportive of her in her time of need."

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    "You are such a good friend," Isabelle gushed. "You know, Cameron, you were totally the other contender for Deb of the Year. They should ask you to replace her as committee head."

    "Isabelle, that's sweet of you to say," Cameron said in a voice that indicated her response had been carefully rehearsed. "But I'm very busy with my other charities. If the library asked me, I'd be honored, of course, but really, the kids need me."

    "Which kids, Cameron?" Isabelle asked in the same artificial voice, designed to be overheard by the girls who were clustering around Cameron, excited by Mimi's demise.

    "Why, the kids at the Warner Center of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, of course. Kids without the chances that my brother, my sister, and I have had over the years. It is my obligation and my privilege to be able to help those amazing little children."

    Oh, my God, Liz thought, nauseated by the display. Cameron will totally win the Oscar for her role as someone who cares.

    "But really," Cameron said, "my heart is breaking for Mimi. She doesn't deserve this kind of treatment in the press. I'm going to see her tonight to find out if there's anything I can do. She is beside herself over this, and all the papers are trying to get a shot of her looking miserable. It's so unfair."

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    "You're, like, a saint, Cameron," Isabelle said."To stick by Mimi in the middle of all this."

    "Isabelle," Cameron said, smiling. "What are friends for?"

    With friends like Cam, who needs serial killers, Liz thought, walking away from the group of gossiping girls. The one good thing about the whole mess with Mimi was that it seemed to be taking up most of Cameron's atten- tion.Which meant she'd leave Liz and Parker alone. Maybe even long enough for Liz to figure out what to do.

    After school, Liz watched Heather walk slowly around the circle on Mindreader, her face contorted in an expres- sion of agony. Poor Heather had faced the inevitable and didn't protest the lessons anymore. At least not at home. Still, four lessons in and the little girl hadn't shown any improvement--in technique or in attitude.

    "Shoulders back!" Ms. Winters shouted. "Keep your heels down!"

    Heather's lip quivered, and Mindreader stared blankly ahead.

    "Good!" Ms.Winters said."Now, we're going to trot a bit.When we trot, we do something we call posting. When we post, we lift ourselves out of the saddle just a little bit as the horse moves. That way, we don't bounce around in our seat. Ready?"

    92 I K N O W T H E T R U T H

    Ms. Winters clicked her tongue, and Mindreader picked up the pace. Heather bounced wildly in the saddle, her voice breaking every time she smashed back down in the saddle.

    "L-IZ, I c-AN'T d-O th-IS any-MORE!" Heather wailed as Mindreader blithely trotted around the circle. "I WANT to STOP! NOW!"

    "Let's take a break," Ms. Winters said, exasperated. "She'll have to get over these hurdles and adjust her atti- tude or she'll never move on."

    "Yes, Ms.Winters," Liz said."I'll have a talk with her."

    "If you think it will help," Ms.Winters said."Do what you can."

    Heather dismounted and stumbled toward Liz, who was leaning against the wall of the office.

    "I want to go home," Heather complained.

    "Come on, Heather," Liz said."I know you can do it!" She turned Heather to face the ring and put her arm around her."Mindreader isn't so bad. She really seems to be taking to you, and you look good on her."

    "I do?" Heather said.

    "Sure you do! You just have to be a