Free Set the Record Straight! by Rachel Wise Page A

Know-It-All anymore.
    Minutes passed, and I collected myself. How could I talk to Mr. Trigg without someone seeing me and guessing? Could I call him at home? But what if Allie heard me? I felt so alone.
    And then I heard my mom come in. “Hi, girls!” she called.
    Thank goodness!
    â€œHey, Mom!” Allie replied.
    I paused for a minute, so I wouldn’t make Allie think anything, then I stood and opened my door and crept down the stairs. In the kitchen, I tiptoed to find my mom.
    â€œMom!” I whispered.
    â€œOoh!” She jumped in the air and dropped the bread she was putting away from the grocery bag.
    Despite myself I had to grin. “Sorry.”
    She leaned back against the counter and put her hand to her chest. Then she laughed. “Why so quiet?”
    I spoke urgently, in a low voice, and my mom’s smile faded as she listened. “Mom, a major emergency has come up with the paper. We can’t let Allie know. Do you have Mr. Trigg’s cell phone or address or anything by any chance?”
    â€œI think so, but, honey, what is it? Can’t I help you?” she asked quietly.
    I shook my head. “I need the number and your cell phone and then I need to go on a walk and call him in private.”
    My mother looked at me suspiciously, hesitating.
    â€œPlease. I’ll tell you everything after,” I promised. My eyes were about to fill with tears, but I willed them away. If I cried she would definitely insist on getting involved right now.
    She sighed heavily. “Fine, it’s just down at my desk. I’ll go get it. But I want to hear the whole story when you get back, okay?”
    â€œWhat whole story?” asked Allie, coming into the kitchen. Darn it!
    â€œUh . . .” Think, Martone! Think! “Uh.” I looked at her, then a stroke of pure genius hit me. I crossed my toes in my shoes, and began. “Michael Lawrence and I are in a fight. I don’t know how to fix it. I’m going over there to make a stand. I’m going to tell him that I like him. That I’ve always liked him. So there!” I spoke like a heroine in a movie, adding a little toss of my hair at the end, just like I’d seen Allie do.
    Allie’s face looked like I’d just given her the best birthday present ever. Her jaw dropped and then she smiled a huge smile and reached out andhugged me! Then she held me away from her by the shoulders and said, “All right, sister! You go! Go get your man!” She swatted me on the butt in encouragement. Then she spun me around. “Is that what you’re wearing?”
    Just then my mother came back into the kitchen with her cell phone and a number.
    Allie’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. She looked back and forth between the two of us. “Wait . . .”
    â€œSheesh, Mom. It’s not that far. I just couldn’t remember the name of the street. I didn’t need you to write it down for me!” I lied. I took the piece of paper from my (poor, innocent) mom and rolled my eyes at Allie. My mom was holding out her cell phone in the other hand. “What? And the phone too? Oh please!” I lied again, and I took that too. “Fine. I’ll call you when I get there. Mothers,” I said to Allie, shaking my head.
    Her face relaxed into a smile. “I know,” she said.
    I didn’t dare look at my mother, but instead headed out the door. Phew.
    Once I was safely around the corner, I duckedinto a hedge and dialed Mr. Trigg’s number.
    â€œHello?” he said.
    â€œMr. Trigg,” I began. And then I started to cry.
    Objectivity Fails When Journo Is Scared.

Chapter 10
    JOURNALIST FLOODS NEIGHBORHOOD WITH RECORD TEAR FALL!
    â€œI’m sorry, who is this?” Mr. Trigg’s voice was patient and kind, and that made me cry harder. Wow, three times in one week. That was a new record for me. Usually I only cry about once every other month! Journalist Floods