Free The Secret Talent by Jo Whittemore

face.
    The other girls agreed and then startedhelping Brooke come up with a new flyer. While they worked I stirred my mashed potatoes and watched Ryan scratch his neck with a french fry before dipping it in ketchup. Right before he put it into his mouth, he glanced in my direction and lowered the fry back onto his tray.
    The kid definitely needed a serious overhaul.
    I just hoped I had enough time to do it.

CHAPTER
5
Manners Maketh Man
    A s much as it pained me to schedule Ryan into my life, I had to do it. Especially if I wanted to meet Adrenaline Dennis. While my friends and I sat in the newsroom, waiting for Journalism to start, I studied the calendar on my phone. All my time during the day was spent in classes, so I couldn’t train Ryan then, and I couldn’t skip my basketball games. But I could probably give up a few dance practices.
    I sent two texts. One was to my uncle, saying I had to skip dance practice and asking him to pickme up from school later. The other was to Ryan, telling him to meet me in the student lounge after school so we could work on his manners.
    I know about manners, Ryan texted back.
    And you know about deodorant and toothpaste, but you never use them either, I texted back. If you want to be the coolest guy in the sixth grade, just be there.
    The bell rang and I put my phone away, returning my attention to my friends, who were reviewing advice requests.
    â€œWhat’ve we got this week?” I asked, picking one up.
    â€œBoy wants to grow a beard,” Brooke said, handing me a paper.
    â€œHmm. Girl wants to get rid of hers.” I held up a different one.
    â€œWhat?” Vanessa squawked, reaching for the request.
    â€œI’m just kidding,” I said with a grin. “She was actually wondering how to handle crazy static in her hair.”
    â€œLotion,” said V.
    â€œReally? Won’t that make her hair all greasy and flat?” asked Heather.
    V shook her head. “Not if it’s just a tiny amount.”
    â€œI’m gonna try that!” Heather said, reaching for her purse.
    Mrs. H clapped her hands at the front of the room. “Good afternoon, students! It’s time for Issues with the Issue!”
    Issues with the Issue was something we did every Monday so we could make corrections and improve the next week’s paper. Usually, it had to do with fact-checking the news or sports stats. Only once has the advice column ever been in it, and that was because of Ryan.
    â€œThis week’s major issue,” Mrs. H said,holding up a paper, “has to do with the article on viral videos. Particularly the mention of Dancing Teen.”
    I was too surprised to be annoyed by the nickname. Someone actually had something to say in the defense of Danc . . . me?
    â€œWha—” I started to say, but Brooke elbowed me into silence.
    â€œWhat’s wrong with my article?” Felix asked.
    Mrs. H held up a handwritten sheet of paper. “According to an anonymous tipster, you described this dance as a Russian barynya when it’s actually a Greek kalamatiano .”
    I couldn’t help smiling to myself. The anonymous tipster no doubt had the same handwriting as my sister.
    â€œWe’ll need to mention that correction,” Mrs. H continued. She moved on to a different piece, and soon, it was time to discuss content for the coming week’s issue. Mary Patrick took over,marker poised on the whiteboard.
    I sat on the edge of my seat, jiggling my leg a mile a minute while I waited for Mrs. H to call on the sports team. With Adrenaline Dennis going to Berkeley’s house, I’d gotten an idea for a piece that might actually land me extra time with him and get me bumped up to lead sportswriter.
    Finally, Mary Patrick turned away from the scribbles for each section and called, “Sports?”
    Stefan Marshall leaned sideways in his desk, all confidence. “Adrenaline Dennis is coming to Berryville for a charity