Free The Secret Talent by Jo Whittemore Page B

usual questions from girls trying to figure out guys, and a couple guys wondering how they could be more popular/cute/athletic.
    â€œWhy do girls want to know if guys miss them when they’re not around?” I asked my friends.
    â€œBecause we miss you ,” said Vanessa.
    â€œAwww, you do?” I teased.
    Vanessa rolled her eyes. “Not you. Never you.”
    I clutched my hand to my chest. “Pain. Unspeakable pain.”
    â€œSo what’s the answer?” asked Heather.
    â€œIf we miss you, you won’t even have to ask,” I said. “You’ll know because we’ll make an excuse to talk to you.”
    She blushed. “Emmett does that sometimes.”
    Vanessa giggled and bumped against her. “Awww!”
    Heather smiled and held up another paper. “I like this question from Faith Off. She and her friends are having a fight because it’s the holidays and they believe in different things.”
    â€œYou’ve got firsthand experience with that one,” said Vanessa.
    â€œYeah, but I don’t really feel it’s a fighting point,” Heather said with a shrug. “We should be free to believe whatever we want. The only thing we should all believe in is kindness.” She uncapped her pen. “I’m going to put that.”
    Vanessa studied a request. “I wish the Lincoln Log was printed in color. This girl is asking about wintery colors that aren’t the typical green and red.”
    â€œYou could put it on the website,” suggested Heather.
    In addition to our print edition, the Lincoln Log also had a website, which allowed the advice column to help more people than wenormally could in an article.
    â€œOoh, good point!” Vanessa said, setting it aside. “I’ll save this one for that.”
    I’d already moved most of my advice requests to the website pile, and out of boredom, glanced through Heather’s requests. One of them caught my eye.
    Dear Lincoln’s Letters,
    Is it more important to be honest or to be liked? I keep getting invited to slumber parties, but I have to say no because I don’t want anyone to find out I still use a night-light. I’m sad to miss spending time with my friends, but I’ll be sadder if they think I’m a baby and stop talking to me. What should I do?
    In the Dark
    I nudged Heather. “Hey, do you mind if I work this question?”
    She looked over the request and nodded. “That’s a good one! Sure.”
    Brooke hurried past with a bulging folder. “Done!” She lowered her voice to a whisper, “And I’m putting these and our new flyer in Locker 411!”
    Heather, Vanessa, and I exchanged amused glances, and Heather leaned closer.
    â€œSo, speaking of secrets,” she started, tapping the advice request, “it looks like nobody’s figured yours out yet.”
    I put on my most innocent expression. “Yeah, I’ve been really lucky so far,” I said.
    â€œYou’d think whoever sent the video would want some recognition,” V chimed in. “Especially after that article came out.”
    â€œMaybe.” I picked up another advice request and waved it. “Hey, look, someone else who wrote the paper for gift advice! Do you think we can answer it?”
    Heather shrugged but smiled mischievously. “It did come in through the advice box.”
    Vanessa giggled. “And we can’t ignore our readers. What does it say?”
    â€œShe needs help with a gift for her mom who likes gardening and dogs,” I told them.
    â€œHow about a paw print stepping-stone for her garden?” suggested Heather. “I’ll bet they have a dog that could step in some clay.”
    â€œGood idea,” I said, scribbling on the back of the note. “What about a second gift idea in case they don’t have a dog?”
    â€œOne of those little indoor herb gardens,” said V. “My mom has one, and even