Free Drawing Amanda by Stephanie Feuer Page B

be, and hoped it would be a long time.
    Justagirl: Gave me time to do my homework.
    Megaland: That was quick. It must be easy for you.
    Justagirl: Not really. The teacher is making me write about the school and I don’t really know anyone so it’s hard. And this time it matters, ’cause we’re probably not moving again.
    Megaland: I can see why you’re worried. You want to make a good impression at your new school, but it must be hard to figure out how
    Justagirl: Exactly.
    Megaland: Used to be that if you were smart and pretty it all worked out. I know you’re smart.
    Justagirl: IDK.
    Megaland: Well your work here has been fast and smart. Bet you’re pretty, too.
    Justagirl: Not really.
    Megaland: Girls don’t always realize how pretty they are to others. But never mind that. Why don’t you take your mind off school and play a game? I have a new one. You inspired me. I’d really like to know what you think.
    Justagirl: K.
    A screen came up with instructions for a game based on visual puns. Amanda started reading.
    “Some words are not what they seem – a traffic jam has nothing to do with fruit spread, and Dr. Pepper is not a chili with a medical degree. But what if you could take these words and illustrate them?”
    When she reached the end of the screen, she clapped her hands in delight. This was just like what tripped her up in English. How thoughtful to create a game for her.
    “Try this. Pick a word from the list. Then look at the graphics to find the pictures that match. With the edit tool you can resize the elements and add backgrounds and colors.”
    Amanda looked over the list: traffic jam, chick-in-soup, Dr. Pepper, brain wash, crow bar, grandfather clock.
    She picked “brain wash.” There were more images of brains to choose from than she expected. Not just gray science-y illustrations, but also cartoons, drawings and the one picture she chose—a jello mold in the shape of a brain. For “wash” she picked a brightly colored box of detergent. She played with the editing tool a bit to get the brain the right size to fit in the box. Her creation filled the screen.
    Then a burst appeared saying, “You’ve earned points.” The text box reappeared at the bottom of her screen.
    Justagirl: That was fun. Silly. But fun.
    Megaland: I need to think of more puns. Perhaps you can help me with that. Every time you hear a figure of speech, make a note of it and tell me.
    Justagirl: K. now when girls at school say things like that, my confusion will be useful.
    Megaland: You didn’t click on the burst. Don’t you want to see what’s next?
    Justagirl: Didn’t know that was something to click on.
    Megaland: Perfect. That’s just the kind of feedback I need. Why don’t you click on it now to see?
    When Amanda clicked on the burst, the screen read: “You’re one step closer to your dream date. Who will it be?”
    Thumbnail images came up on the screen. They were pictures of guys, with the instruction “Click to enlarge.”
    She clicked on each one. There was a basketball player, a rocker, a slender guy with glasses and a briefcase and a big smile, and a guy in a suit with a confident smile and eyes that reminded her of her brother. She clicked on him.
    A new screen came up. “Coming soon. Mix and Match, where you select the right shoes for your date outfit.”

    Then another screen came up. It was a picture of a stylish girl, sophisticated like a model, dressed in a purple jacket and gray pants. Her legs seemed to go on forever. The face looked familiar, though she couldn’t place why. But it was the cool haircut that she kept looking at. It was asymmetrical and unlike anything Amanda had ever seen. She particularly liked how the part in the hair looked like a lightning bolt. How she would love to look like that.
    Amanda was so absorbed in the image on the screen that she didn’t hear her mother come in. From behind her, her mother gasped. Amanda was startled and screamed.
    “Manda, what are you