SWeet Valley High #69 Friend Against Friend
At last, book number sixty-nine! And while you’d think it might be about something racy, it is actually about something race-y. Okay, that was an awful pun. But this is a SERIOUS book as evidenced by the dark, moody blue of the cover. The other covers are usually pastels but this one is dark and serious to show us how dark and serious the book is. Thus, the cover:
and it features Neil and Andy and it looks like Neil is feeling up Andy’s man boob. The caption reads: What is happening between Neil and Andy? I think we all can see what is happening as one feels up the other, they grasp hands and stare moodily into each other’s eyes. Andy apparently shares Liz’s taste in shirts while Neil goes for jean jackets. Hawt. Oh, and this book is only 138 pages long rather than the usual 150-154ish, so despite its race-y topic, the ghostwriter must’ve had trouble finding enough to say. Probably not enough opportunities for Jess to scheme or Liz to cry.
The story begins with Liz and Jess. Jess makes some statement about dying of hunger and Liz isn’t worried because “Jessica made an average of six melodramatic statements a day.” Only six? Well, Jess is so hungry because she didn’t eat lunch-she is on a diet because she could barely fit into her cheerleading uniform. But really, that was totally true because both Liz and Jess are “perfect size-sixes” with “sun-streaked blonde hair” and a couple more descriptive words that belong more in purple prose than this book. At least we found out their sizes by page 2. Then the yadda yadda about them being so different personality-wise.
Elizabeth and Jessica go their separate ways. Liz walks to The Oracle office with Penny Ayla. Penny spots her boyfriend Neil and her face brightens. Penny “got” Neil through a personal ad in the paper and by wearing a short skirt. Neil is staying after school for a biology project. Neil’s lab partner is Andy Jenkins who is the best science student in the school. Andy is also one of the few black kids in the school. He plays the French horn and the guitar and is in a band that isn’t The Droids. Once in the newspaper office, Liz tries out her idea of surveying the students about what they’d change about the school with Olivia. Did that make any sense? Well, Olivia makes a joke at first but then says she’d outlaw the sorority Pi Beta Alpha. It is about exclusivity and Olivia is about inclusivity. Liz had thought the answers would be about getting shorter classes or better cafeteria food, so Olivia’s blunt answer surprised her.
Andy and Neil are working on the project. Besides being a science-smarty and musician, Andy is also “muscular” and “handsome.” Whew, send him my way! We also learn that Andy and Neil have become fast friends since becoming lab partners and Neil and Penny often double date with Andy and Tracy Gilbert-Andy’s girlfriend. The two finish their experiment and head out. They get to Andy’s locker and when he opens it, the two see it is filled with trash. Real trash like apple cores and crap like that. And written on the door is the message: Go back to Africa where you belong! Neil is horrified but Andy blows it off as stupidity that shouldn’t get any acknowledgment. Neil starts to feel “white guilt” but Andy won’t let Neil report it. Andy will handle it in his own way. He is going to try the whole thing you are supposed to do with bullies---ignore them and they’ll go away
The next day, Neil tells Penny about the garbage incident. Penny and Neil reluctantly agree that it is Andy’s decision and they’ll abide by it. Neil can’t hang around and talk because he has to go to a family picnic between the Freemounts and the Cashmans. We also learn that Charlie Cashman is a total Neanderthal. Turns out the trait is inherited. Neil is at the picnic but Charlie couldn’t make it. The talk turns to sports and we learn that Neil plays soccer and tennis. Mr. Cashman doesn’t like soccer because it’s the game those untrustworthy people from South America play. Mr. Cashman is bombastic and ethnocentric and Mrs. Cashman is timid and flustered. Neil is not having fun. Mr. Cashman and Neil’s dad start complaining about a new boss at work. Turns out he expects them to be punctual. No wai! But the guy is only a supervisor because of that affirmative action thing. The man’s name is Willis. Mr. Freemount starts agreeing with Mr. Cashman (who I want to keep calling Assman so I think I might just do that) but Willis is as qualified as you can expect from someone like “that.” “Like what, dad?” is Neil’s rejoinder. Go Neil! Shove his bigotry back into his face! Well, Mr. Freemount hems and haws and says that while he is sorry some people are disadvantaged but affirmative action isn’t fair. But what Mr. Freemount basically insinuates is that black people are lazy and stupid. Neil can’t believe it-he thought that stupidity went out in the sixties. Guess not. But hey, at least Neil’s mother isn’t putting up with that shiat. The lunch finally ends, and Neil heads to his room. He now knows he has to keep Andy away from his possibly bigoted father.
The next Monday, Neil meets up with Andy. They joke around before class and show how they are good friends. They head in to Marine Biology class. My high school didn’t have that one. Of course, my school was in Indiana so I guess that makes sense. The teacher has a big announcement-Andy has won a scholarship to study marine biology. Andy and Neil make plans to have a celebratory dinner with their girlfriends that night. Neil just hopes that nothing happens to spoil Andy’s celebration. Methinks some foreshadowing hath appeared.
At lunch, everyone is talking about the article in The Oracle. What would you change about Sweet Valley? Well, Manuel Lopez, one of our few ethnic SV-ites, would change how history is taught at the school. Seems the Spanish discovered California before the pale-face did. He says, “The Spanish were the real discoverers of California.” Nice how he conveniently forgets the people who were there first, like you know, the Native Americans. Jade Wu breaks some tension by suggesting pizza ovens for the cafeteria. Dana Larson wants more attention for girls’ sports. That gets everyone going--Liz is shocked, shocked that her innocent question has sparked so much controversy.
Tracy, Neil, Andy, and Penny head out to the Dairi Burger (and have I mentioned how much it IRKS me to see it spelled Dairi?) for their celebration. We learn that Tracy is also black. Does that mean black boys can only date black girls or am I reading too much into that? The dinner goes great with everyone joking and friendly. When it is time to leave, Penny goes to talk to Jade, Tracy heads off to change for work and the boys go to get the car. While in the parking lot, they run into Charlie Cashman and thugs. They can tell from his voice that a confrontation is brewing. They try to avoid it but Charlie gets all up in Andy’s face and says that Andy only won the scholarship because of affirmative action. That affirmative action sure gets around. Well, that’s the end of the “rumble” as Andy and Neil stalk off. Neil tries to excuse Charlie’s arseholish behavior but Andy doesn’t want to hear it. The girls come out, and they don’t tell them about the confrontation. Andy walks Tracy to her car but when they get there, they find all the tires flat. Guess who did that?
Tracy is understandably upset; she needs to get to work and her car is out for the count. Neil offers to drive her to work, and they’ll come back and fix her car. They all stand around looking at the car. Andy knows that Charlie did that and the locker thing but Neil councils him to not jump to conclusions. Andy then swears. SWEARS. He says…darn. Wash that mouth out with soap, young man! Neil, Tracy, and Penny head off and leave Andy to deal with the car.
The next morning, Neil sees Andy walking across the lawn and runs to catch up with him. The tow truck cost forty-five dollars and the place couldn’t fix the car til that morning. Neil knows that Andy is about angry enough to blow so he tries to council peace by invoking the name of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Andy gets upset at this ham-handed attempt, but Neil doesn’t give up. He says that Andy should tell a teacher or the principal or something. Andy says that stuff like this happened to him in Junior High and he was told to just ignore it, so why would now be any different? Is Sweet Valley special or something? (I think we’d all say yes but mean it differently than Andy does. “special” in quotes is about right.) Andy says that he can handle it on his own and doesn’t need the help of some white person. Andy then hits Neil on his chest. But on the cover it is Neil feeling up Andy’s chest-I am so confused!
Andy avoids Neil for the whole day. Neil thinks that Andy is blaming everyone at Sweet Valley High for Charlie’s bigotry and knows that isn’t fair. He knows that if people knew what Charlie was doing, they’d stand up for Andy and kick Charlie’s butt big time. Some people who saw the confrontation at the Dairi Burger ask Neil about it, but as per Andy’s wishes, Neil downplays the thing. By the end of the day, Neil just needs to unload. He heads to The Oracle office and finds Penny there with Saint Elizabeth. He spills the beans about Charlie and his racist stunts and Liz is all like, “I don’t believe it! I didn’t think that kind of thing could happen here.” Because Sweet Valley is “special.” Neil and Penny tell what has been happening and Neil thinks that what Andy is doing by handling it himself is just as racist as what Charlie is doing to him. Andy doesn’t want help from any white people (emphasis theirs) which is just as bigoted as Charlie and not wanting anything to do with black people. Neil wants to support Andy and be his friend but it worried that Andy won’t let him do even that.
Liz heads home to ponder life, happiness, and the meaning of the universe. 42. She thought that Sweet Valley was perfect and welcoming and now she is finding that it has a seedy underbelly. Jess drops by and they talk a bit. Jess thinks that everyone at school is basically cool but Liz is now seeing problems everywhere---especially after that article-survey she wrote. The two talk about the inequality of life. Lila is a “spoiled brat” and Bruce Patman thinks he is “King of California” and people let them get away with their behavior. Liz concludes that if you are rich and good-looking, you get more in life. Or if you are a perfect size-six with ocean blue-green eyes and sun-streaked hair, but maybe that’s just me. Liz wants to meet whoever it is who made the “rules” because some new ones are necessary. Jess tells her to not rock the boat because they are in the “lucky” category. Liz retorts that because they are fortunate, it is up to them to help those who have less. And then the Angel of the Lord appeared and placed a shining gold halo around Liz’s sun-streaked blonde hair. But really, Liz then spills the beans about Charlie and his stunts. Jess says that Charlie has always been a jerk and that Andy should just ignore him.
At Neil’s house, Neil is all introspective and getting pretty steamed that Andy lumped him in the “white boys” category. Neil’s mom calls him for dinner and there is a happy family discussion about how Willis, the black supervisor at work, has it out for Mr. Cashman. Mr. Cashman is completely innocent of course, and Willis is just trying to lord over him to prove that black men are better than white men. Neil is getting pretty disillusioned about his dad because it seems like Mr. Freemount can’t be fair. And is a racist moron. Mr. Freemount accuses Neil of being on Willis’ side and Neil is replies how he doesn’t know the man and isn’t on anyone’s side. After dinner, Charlie randomly drops by the house. He and Neil discover that they are both having issues with upset fathers. Charlie asks Neil if he wants to “cruise” around for a while. Sure, hop in the car with the bigot who is harassing your friend, that’ll end well. Neil and Charlie head off in the car and listen to music. It’s like a date! But Neil wants to talk to Charlie about harassing Andy but Andy told him to butt out so Neil obeys and says nothing. I am sure that is a good choice. Charlie thinks it is good fun to pull up to the homes of school administrators, lay on the horn, and then peel off. Neil gets bored of this pretty quick, and they head home. Neil now feels guilty for hanging out with Charlie.
The next day at school, Neil is still feeling guilty for hanging out with Charlie so he makes an extra effort to be nice to Andy to make himself feel better. After school, Neil is waiting for Andy in the parking lot when Charlie and his thugs come up. They are going to Secca Lake to party and want Neil to join them. He politely demurs. At this point, Andy arrives on the scene and accuses Neil of being friends with Charlie. Neil says that he isn’t Charlie’s friend, he is Andy’s friend and that’s why he was just standing up for him. Andy again makes it about race (which it was but it also wasn’t exactly if you know what I mean) and Neil says that he’d stand up for any of his friends. Andy says that Neil can’t be friends with Charlie and with him. Apparently he missed the part where Neil said he wasn’t Charlie’s friend. But Neil gets upset and says that he can be friends with whoever he wants. Tracy pulls up at that moment and offers Andy a ride home. He takes it with a parting glare at Neil. Trouble in paradise. Neil heads back to his car where Charlie + Thugs are still loitering. Charlie mocks him for the confrontation with Andy and tells Neil to stick to his own kind. Neil silent-treatments Charlie until they let him into his car and then drives off.
In the school, Penny is cleaning up the newspaper office. She sees the responses to Elizabeth’s survey. The first is about how it is unfair that the Pi Beta Alpha girls always get to head the dance and prom committees. The second is how a girl should be able to be quarterback if she wanted to be. Penny dwells on this one more than necessary because it is good foreshadowing for the next book. The third suggestion is a winner about kicking out of the school anyone who isn’t a real American aka anyone who is black, Hispanic, or Asian because they are always getting unfair advantages. Penny is pissed off by that one, and she too is now aware of the seedy underbelly of SVH. But at least they are warned that the idiots are out there and lurking-waiting to eat everyone’s brains….brains…mmmm…. Penny’s solution is that that prejudice needs to be exposed to get rid of it. Like a seeping puss-filled wound.
Penny calls Neil to talk. She wants to know how things went with Andy that day. Truth is, Neil is confused. Everything he does seems to be wrong. Ah, white guilt. Well, Neil thinks that Charlie is going to get worse. Turns out Charlie’s dad was fired from his job by the black supervisor. Penny can see that trainwreck happening and tells Neil that Andy needs him more than ever. Neil can’t see that because Andy has been treating him badly but of course doesn’t tell Penny that. Neil is so confused!
The next morning, in marine biology class, Neil is studying for a quiz. Andy arrives and the two treat each other like polite strangers. Neil is so focused on the problem that he is spacing out about the test---which just makes him madder at Andy. Neil finally concentrates on the quiz but knows he isn’t going to get a great grade. Neil and Andy head out after class and Neil tries to be a friend. He suggests doing something that afternoon. Andy is evasive and heads off into the crowd when he is tripped by Charlie. Okay, no one trips the hot, muscular, sciency, musician guys on my watch! Andy tackles Charlie and a riot breaks out! Mr. Hottie Collins arrives on the scene and breaks up the fight. He sends Charlie to the principal’s office but lets Andy head off. (That never would’ve flown in my high school. If you were even within spitting distance of a fight, you were suspended. You could be jumped by a gang of hooligans and beaten to a pulp and still been suspended.) Mr. Collins asks Neil if he knows what the fight was about. Neil tells him it is complicated. Mr. Collins pushes him to explain. Neil finally admits that it was racial, and Mr. Collins immediately heads off to the principal’s office to report the harassment. ::rolls eyes:: Of course he doesn’t. He simply advises Neil to be a friend to Andy because of course Andy isn’t going to say anything about it. Also, Neil is supposed to let Mr. Collins know if Charlie gets out of line again. Neil trusts Mr. Collins, and listens to his dopey advice, but Neil is only going to give Andy one more try to repair their friendship and if he doesn’t do it, it is every man for himself.
Well, Neil and Penny decide to invite Andy and Tracy to the movies that night. Neil heads off to find Andy in the band room practicing his French horn. He lays the offer on the table and Andy thinks that he is getting a pity friendship. Well, yeah, but no also. Andy tells Neil that he can shut the door on his way out, thank you very much. I said good day! (ßThat was from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) Penny and Neil head off to the movie on their own, and Penny is disappointed that Andy and Tracy won’t be joining them. Neil is glad because Andy has been treating him like dirt. The longer he stares at the movie screen the madder he becomes. Andy is acting like he is better than everyone else just because he is black. Everyone else is wrong, never him. (Ok, I didn’t read that out of the situation but there wouldn’t be any conflict if Neil didn’t get a little dramqueenish.) Neil thinks that Andy is acting more self-righteous and judgmental than anyone because Charlie was only picking on Andy but Andy was taking it out on everyone. Penny and Neil leave the theater because Neil is just not in the mood for a movie. They head out to the parking lot but a commotion in one corner catches their attention. There are a bunch of guys rocking a car and shouting. There is someone in the car-it is Andy’s father’s car and Andy is in it! Penny runs for help while Neil runs to confront the thugs! (okay, why is Andy there anyway? He said no to the movies.)
The thugs pull Andy out of the car and fall on him like a pack of dogs. Neil feels like he is frozen in slow motion and by the time he gets to the scene, Andy is on the ground and unconscious. Jerry McAllister is a part of this group too for the record. Charlie tells Neil that now is his chance to get some payback for the way Andy has been treating him. Neil’s feelings of hurt and confusion crystallize into a swinging fist. A swinging fist of doom! No, he doesn’t hit Charlie, he hits Andy! He realizes what he is doing and tries to stop but physics waits for no man and it is too late. Neil is shocked and appalled by what he just did and stumbles away. Way to leave an unconscious guy with the dudes who are beating him up. He goes to his car and pulls away. He never wants to see Penny or any one else again because he is lower than the amoebas on fleas on rats.
He spends the weekend avoiding everyone but at school on Monday, he runs into Penny. She doesn’t know what he did but he can’t even speak to her because he feels so bad. Andy isn’t speaking so either he knows and isn’t saying or doesn’t know but still isn’t saying. Neil leaves and Liz comes up to talk to Penny. Neither of them can believe what happened-stuff like that happens in big cities, not in Sweet Valley. Jess comes over and wants to start a petition saying that they are on Andy’s side and what happened is terrible. Liz suggests some sort of racism awareness program because often racism isn’t obvious. That’s actually a tiny bit astute there Liz. Did you read that in a book? They all head off to class and make plans to figure out what to do at lunch. In Jess’ sociology class, instead of talking about urban planning, they get a lecture and demonstration on racism and prejudice. Everyone with gray or blue eyes is now a second-class citizen. They aren’t allowed to speak and the dark-eyes can say whatever they want to them. The dark-eyes make the light-eyes pick up their books, sharpen their pencils, change seats with them, etc. And the power is going to their heads. At first they are apologetic, but then they start to get into it. I know I would totally be a despot with an army of light-eyed minions, but my eyes are blueish-gray so I’d probably be a third-class citizen. The discrimination goes on for the whole class, and Jess ruminates on how dumb it is to be discriminated against because of eye color or something equally silly as skin color, religion, or accent. Whose religion you calling silly, bitch? You wanna fight! It’s on! Winston responds during the discussion at the end of class that it was pretty easy to discriminate once you got started.
Neil is suffering too. Everyone is treating him like a hero but he knows he is really scum. He leaves school as soon as he can and heads home. His dad is there and has tickets to a football game. Neil is confused but they head off to go to the game. He decides to put his troubles behind him for a few hours. He and his dad are having a good time until his dad brings up that he heard from Mr. Cashman aka Assman that morning. Mr. Freemount understands why Neil did what he did and that he doesn’t blame him. All right, he admits, hitting a man when he is down isn’t fair and square, but he knows that Neil’s heart was in the right place. WTF? No, really WTF? If my dad said anything like that to me, there’d be some antifreeze in the jell-o the next night. People that stupid…yeesh. Well, Mr. Freemount continues that Andy had it coming. WTF? Okay, I know I am repeating myself here, but WTF??? Argh! Neil is confused but Mr. Freemount tells him not to worry-he is sure Andy learned his lesson. ::boggle:: Excuse me while I go pound my head against the wall. Feel free to find your own wall as we ponder that bit of idiocy.
…
…
Okay, I am back. Neil is appropriately stunned by his dad’s stupidity. The game goes on, but Neil only sits in stony and disbelieving silence (and I gotta think that a good percentage of the football players that Mr. Freemount is cheering so ardently for are black too. Chew on that one.) When the game is over, Mr. Freemount says, “We should do this again!” and Neil replies, “No, thanks.” They head to the car but Neil asks to be let out when they are stopped at a stoplight. He says he doesn’t know where he is going but he’ll be home soon. Mr. Freemount tells him to not be acting all high and mighty because Neil is no better than anyone else. Mr. Freemount then drives off. Neil heads over to Andy’s house. Even though it is late, the lights are still on. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins welcome him in like a hero because they know it was Penny and him who called the police. Well, Penny anyway. Neil goes up to see Andy. Andy is all friendly and says that he was being as much of a racist as Charlie was. Which makes it harder for Neil to confess what he did-so he doesn’t. Andy tells him that they should start over as friends and none of that black or white stuff. Neil doesn’t know what to do. He wants to be Andy’s friend but he knows he should tell. Neil hightails it out of there before confessing to Andy.
At school the next day, Liz has concluded from her survey that the girls in the school feel they are discriminated against. The boys think that is funny because in their eyes, girls get all the breaks. Liz points out that girls’ sports get less money, less news coverage, and less student support than boys’ sports. The boys treat it like a joke which makes Liz and the other girls indignant. Liz asks them what they would do if a girl tried out for quarterback. The boys laugh, even Ken. Ken, of course, used to be the star quarterback but after a car accident was left temporarily blind. His eyesight was almost fully back now and he figured he was a shoo-in for the quarterback spot. He says that girls can be good at some sports, but football isn’t one of them. The girls try logic to prove him wrong but he doesn’t want to admit it. Which, of course, is sex discrimination. Andy and Tracy arrive at the lunchroom and Penny waves them over. Everyone is being nice to both of them which makes it a regular day. Neil is nowhere to be seen. He is probably off in his hair shirt doing penance. There is apparently a science and math awards ceremony the next day. Mr. Scholarship aka Andy is sure to clean up all the awards. The talk turns to a party and everyone wants Andy to come. Not as the token black guy but because they like him. But really, who wouldn’t like a handsome, muscular, sciency musician? Penny is worried about Neil being so distant but figures he’ll be back to himself in a few days.
Neil is wandering around campus during lunch beating himself up. Charlie comes up and tries to act like they are friends. Neil doesn’t want anyone to see him talking to Charlie but he can’t alienate Charlie because Charlie will tell everyone what Neil did before Neil can confess to Andy. Charlie thinks that Andy hasn’t learned his lesson and needs another dose so he and all the other blacks in the town will know their place. Neil tells Charlie to leave Andy alone but Charlie waves his blackmail in front of Neil’s face. Neil begs Charlie not to tell anyone. Charlie says that Neil is either fur ‘em or agin ‘em but can’t be both. And if he isn’t with them, then Charlie will just have to turn him into the police. An anonymous tip of course because Charlie wasn’t anywhere near the movie theater, he was bowling with his dad that night. That decides it for Neil, he is going to tell Andy because it isn’t like you can trust Charlie to keep his word.
Unfortunately, resolution does not equal action. Neil keeps putting it off. He shows up late to school so he doesn’t have to socialize with anyone but of course his first class is marine biology with Andy. Andy is really thrilled about the upcoming award ceremony. Neil asks Andy why he hasn’t said who beat him up. Andy says that everyone knows it was Charlie and he is getting his punishment by being ostracized. Andy is going to win by succeeding which is always a good plan IMO. That and outliving your enemies and then dancing on their graves. Later in the day, Neil and Penny are heading to the award ceremony. Neil still hasn’t come clean, and it is still eating him up. The awards are given and right before it is Andy’s turn, the principal makes a speech about intolerance and how Andy will succeed despite it. Everyone gives the standing ovation and Andy receives his award. At lunch everyone is happy and chatty but they all wander off leaving Andy and Penny and Neil. Neil knows it is time. He tells Andy that he was there and that he was so mad at Andy for thinking he was like Charlie that he was like Charlie and hit him too. Andy stares at him in anger and betrayal and stalks off. Penny throws out the “How could you!” and runs off. He chases after her and tries to explain. It is a pretty lame explanation. Penny claims he is not the guy she thought he was. She heads off, and he doesn’t follow her this time. He goes to the parking lot and sits in his car for a few hours. Liz comes across him in the parking lot and talks to him. Penny told her what he confessed and she actually kinda understands. What he did isn’t good but human. Liz’s compassion almost makes him lose it. She tells him that he needs to stop beating himself up over it but to never let it happen again. But it is said better than that so it doesn’t sound like a scolding mummy but a caring friend.
Neil decides to drive around aimlessly for a while. This must be back before gas was $3.00/gallon. He ends up back at the school eventually, and just as he is wishing for a chance to make it better, he sees Charlie + Thugs heading toward Andy. Neil heads over to Andy and stands by his side. He tells Charlie that he’ll have to fight the both of them. Charlie is a little wary about taking on two guys cuz he is a bully and therefore a coward. Andy reminds Charlie that if he touches him again, Charlie and his family will have a lawsuit on their hands so big, they’ll take it out of Charlie’s hide. Jerry McAllister and Charlie decide to get out of there rather than fight. Andy tells Neil that they aren’t even, and Neil replies that he knows it. He knows saying sorry isn’t enough either but he’ll always stand beside Andy. They wonder why it is always so hard and then awkwardly part.
A few days later, Penny is still trying to understand what happened to Neil to cause him to do what he did. She realizes that maybe she could have been more supportive of Neil but maybe not. She figures that she should give him another chance or at least try to understand what was going on in his head.
The next Monday, Liz comes into the newspaper office and sees Penny. She inquires how things are going with Neil and Penny replies that they are talking. Things aren’t great but they are trying to figure out what to do. Liz thinks that everything will work out fine. She also mentions that the current quarterback is failing two classes and is going to be suspended from the football team. And Ken still isn’t 100%. They hope the girl who wrote in about being quarterback actually tries out because that could really make the drama happen! The book ends there with no real resolution to any of the situations which either indicates that the ghostwriter ran out of time before the deadline or else in a rare moment of astuteness, decided that some situations are a bit murky and don’t have a rubber-stamped “The End” on them. My vote is for laziness. But whew, that wasn't your usual light-hearted escapade with those crazy twins, Elizabeth and Jessica. Oh, and no parties or dances in this one, what a downer.
Also, please remember to write your essays to be the next reader of the month! The rules state that you have to be between 6 and 16 years of age. 6 year-olds are reading these books??? Oh, whew, the contest includes Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley Kids. Your essay must be no more than 150 words and Bantam reserves the right to edit it for length or readability.
I love Sweet Valley. The sun is always shining and the beach is always filled with great and gorgeous people. In Sweet Valley, you don't have to worry about fitting in--everyone will accept you for yourself. By seeing how the twins cope with their problems, I too learn to cope with my problems. Sometimes I might be a bit of self-centered or self-satisfied, but I have a good heart and that's what counts. Everyone forgives your mistakes in Sweet Valley, especially when you are a perfect size six. If you aren’t perfect or rich, they still love you and make sure to tell you frequently how kind they are by being your friends. They are kind because they live in Sweet Valley, the most perfect place on earth where everyone is loved and valued and they are forgiving of your imperfections.
Well, that wasn't exactly snarky, but it was from the heart! The HEART! I hope I win! I am going to go get my $0.29 stamp and mail it off ASAP!
and it features Neil and Andy and it looks like Neil is feeling up Andy’s man boob. The caption reads: What is happening between Neil and Andy? I think we all can see what is happening as one feels up the other, they grasp hands and stare moodily into each other’s eyes. Andy apparently shares Liz’s taste in shirts while Neil goes for jean jackets. Hawt. Oh, and this book is only 138 pages long rather than the usual 150-154ish, so despite its race-y topic, the ghostwriter must’ve had trouble finding enough to say. Probably not enough opportunities for Jess to scheme or Liz to cry.
The story begins with Liz and Jess. Jess makes some statement about dying of hunger and Liz isn’t worried because “Jessica made an average of six melodramatic statements a day.” Only six? Well, Jess is so hungry because she didn’t eat lunch-she is on a diet because she could barely fit into her cheerleading uniform. But really, that was totally true because both Liz and Jess are “perfect size-sixes” with “sun-streaked blonde hair” and a couple more descriptive words that belong more in purple prose than this book. At least we found out their sizes by page 2. Then the yadda yadda about them being so different personality-wise.
Elizabeth and Jessica go their separate ways. Liz walks to The Oracle office with Penny Ayla. Penny spots her boyfriend Neil and her face brightens. Penny “got” Neil through a personal ad in the paper and by wearing a short skirt. Neil is staying after school for a biology project. Neil’s lab partner is Andy Jenkins who is the best science student in the school. Andy is also one of the few black kids in the school. He plays the French horn and the guitar and is in a band that isn’t The Droids. Once in the newspaper office, Liz tries out her idea of surveying the students about what they’d change about the school with Olivia. Did that make any sense? Well, Olivia makes a joke at first but then says she’d outlaw the sorority Pi Beta Alpha. It is about exclusivity and Olivia is about inclusivity. Liz had thought the answers would be about getting shorter classes or better cafeteria food, so Olivia’s blunt answer surprised her.
Andy and Neil are working on the project. Besides being a science-smarty and musician, Andy is also “muscular” and “handsome.” Whew, send him my way! We also learn that Andy and Neil have become fast friends since becoming lab partners and Neil and Penny often double date with Andy and Tracy Gilbert-Andy’s girlfriend. The two finish their experiment and head out. They get to Andy’s locker and when he opens it, the two see it is filled with trash. Real trash like apple cores and crap like that. And written on the door is the message: Go back to Africa where you belong! Neil is horrified but Andy blows it off as stupidity that shouldn’t get any acknowledgment. Neil starts to feel “white guilt” but Andy won’t let Neil report it. Andy will handle it in his own way. He is going to try the whole thing you are supposed to do with bullies---ignore them and they’ll go away
The next day, Neil tells Penny about the garbage incident. Penny and Neil reluctantly agree that it is Andy’s decision and they’ll abide by it. Neil can’t hang around and talk because he has to go to a family picnic between the Freemounts and the Cashmans. We also learn that Charlie Cashman is a total Neanderthal. Turns out the trait is inherited. Neil is at the picnic but Charlie couldn’t make it. The talk turns to sports and we learn that Neil plays soccer and tennis. Mr. Cashman doesn’t like soccer because it’s the game those untrustworthy people from South America play. Mr. Cashman is bombastic and ethnocentric and Mrs. Cashman is timid and flustered. Neil is not having fun. Mr. Cashman and Neil’s dad start complaining about a new boss at work. Turns out he expects them to be punctual. No wai! But the guy is only a supervisor because of that affirmative action thing. The man’s name is Willis. Mr. Freemount starts agreeing with Mr. Cashman (who I want to keep calling Assman so I think I might just do that) but Willis is as qualified as you can expect from someone like “that.” “Like what, dad?” is Neil’s rejoinder. Go Neil! Shove his bigotry back into his face! Well, Mr. Freemount hems and haws and says that while he is sorry some people are disadvantaged but affirmative action isn’t fair. But what Mr. Freemount basically insinuates is that black people are lazy and stupid. Neil can’t believe it-he thought that stupidity went out in the sixties. Guess not. But hey, at least Neil’s mother isn’t putting up with that shiat. The lunch finally ends, and Neil heads to his room. He now knows he has to keep Andy away from his possibly bigoted father.
The next Monday, Neil meets up with Andy. They joke around before class and show how they are good friends. They head in to Marine Biology class. My high school didn’t have that one. Of course, my school was in Indiana so I guess that makes sense. The teacher has a big announcement-Andy has won a scholarship to study marine biology. Andy and Neil make plans to have a celebratory dinner with their girlfriends that night. Neil just hopes that nothing happens to spoil Andy’s celebration. Methinks some foreshadowing hath appeared.
At lunch, everyone is talking about the article in The Oracle. What would you change about Sweet Valley? Well, Manuel Lopez, one of our few ethnic SV-ites, would change how history is taught at the school. Seems the Spanish discovered California before the pale-face did. He says, “The Spanish were the real discoverers of California.” Nice how he conveniently forgets the people who were there first, like you know, the Native Americans. Jade Wu breaks some tension by suggesting pizza ovens for the cafeteria. Dana Larson wants more attention for girls’ sports. That gets everyone going--Liz is shocked, shocked that her innocent question has sparked so much controversy.
Tracy, Neil, Andy, and Penny head out to the Dairi Burger (and have I mentioned how much it IRKS me to see it spelled Dairi?) for their celebration. We learn that Tracy is also black. Does that mean black boys can only date black girls or am I reading too much into that? The dinner goes great with everyone joking and friendly. When it is time to leave, Penny goes to talk to Jade, Tracy heads off to change for work and the boys go to get the car. While in the parking lot, they run into Charlie Cashman and thugs. They can tell from his voice that a confrontation is brewing. They try to avoid it but Charlie gets all up in Andy’s face and says that Andy only won the scholarship because of affirmative action. That affirmative action sure gets around. Well, that’s the end of the “rumble” as Andy and Neil stalk off. Neil tries to excuse Charlie’s arseholish behavior but Andy doesn’t want to hear it. The girls come out, and they don’t tell them about the confrontation. Andy walks Tracy to her car but when they get there, they find all the tires flat. Guess who did that?
Tracy is understandably upset; she needs to get to work and her car is out for the count. Neil offers to drive her to work, and they’ll come back and fix her car. They all stand around looking at the car. Andy knows that Charlie did that and the locker thing but Neil councils him to not jump to conclusions. Andy then swears. SWEARS. He says…darn. Wash that mouth out with soap, young man! Neil, Tracy, and Penny head off and leave Andy to deal with the car.
The next morning, Neil sees Andy walking across the lawn and runs to catch up with him. The tow truck cost forty-five dollars and the place couldn’t fix the car til that morning. Neil knows that Andy is about angry enough to blow so he tries to council peace by invoking the name of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Andy gets upset at this ham-handed attempt, but Neil doesn’t give up. He says that Andy should tell a teacher or the principal or something. Andy says that stuff like this happened to him in Junior High and he was told to just ignore it, so why would now be any different? Is Sweet Valley special or something? (I think we’d all say yes but mean it differently than Andy does. “special” in quotes is about right.) Andy says that he can handle it on his own and doesn’t need the help of some white person. Andy then hits Neil on his chest. But on the cover it is Neil feeling up Andy’s chest-I am so confused!
Andy avoids Neil for the whole day. Neil thinks that Andy is blaming everyone at Sweet Valley High for Charlie’s bigotry and knows that isn’t fair. He knows that if people knew what Charlie was doing, they’d stand up for Andy and kick Charlie’s butt big time. Some people who saw the confrontation at the Dairi Burger ask Neil about it, but as per Andy’s wishes, Neil downplays the thing. By the end of the day, Neil just needs to unload. He heads to The Oracle office and finds Penny there with Saint Elizabeth. He spills the beans about Charlie and his racist stunts and Liz is all like, “I don’t believe it! I didn’t think that kind of thing could happen here.” Because Sweet Valley is “special.” Neil and Penny tell what has been happening and Neil thinks that what Andy is doing by handling it himself is just as racist as what Charlie is doing to him. Andy doesn’t want help from any white people (emphasis theirs) which is just as bigoted as Charlie and not wanting anything to do with black people. Neil wants to support Andy and be his friend but it worried that Andy won’t let him do even that.
Liz heads home to ponder life, happiness, and the meaning of the universe. 42. She thought that Sweet Valley was perfect and welcoming and now she is finding that it has a seedy underbelly. Jess drops by and they talk a bit. Jess thinks that everyone at school is basically cool but Liz is now seeing problems everywhere---especially after that article-survey she wrote. The two talk about the inequality of life. Lila is a “spoiled brat” and Bruce Patman thinks he is “King of California” and people let them get away with their behavior. Liz concludes that if you are rich and good-looking, you get more in life. Or if you are a perfect size-six with ocean blue-green eyes and sun-streaked hair, but maybe that’s just me. Liz wants to meet whoever it is who made the “rules” because some new ones are necessary. Jess tells her to not rock the boat because they are in the “lucky” category. Liz retorts that because they are fortunate, it is up to them to help those who have less. And then the Angel of the Lord appeared and placed a shining gold halo around Liz’s sun-streaked blonde hair. But really, Liz then spills the beans about Charlie and his stunts. Jess says that Charlie has always been a jerk and that Andy should just ignore him.
At Neil’s house, Neil is all introspective and getting pretty steamed that Andy lumped him in the “white boys” category. Neil’s mom calls him for dinner and there is a happy family discussion about how Willis, the black supervisor at work, has it out for Mr. Cashman. Mr. Cashman is completely innocent of course, and Willis is just trying to lord over him to prove that black men are better than white men. Neil is getting pretty disillusioned about his dad because it seems like Mr. Freemount can’t be fair. And is a racist moron. Mr. Freemount accuses Neil of being on Willis’ side and Neil is replies how he doesn’t know the man and isn’t on anyone’s side. After dinner, Charlie randomly drops by the house. He and Neil discover that they are both having issues with upset fathers. Charlie asks Neil if he wants to “cruise” around for a while. Sure, hop in the car with the bigot who is harassing your friend, that’ll end well. Neil and Charlie head off in the car and listen to music. It’s like a date! But Neil wants to talk to Charlie about harassing Andy but Andy told him to butt out so Neil obeys and says nothing. I am sure that is a good choice. Charlie thinks it is good fun to pull up to the homes of school administrators, lay on the horn, and then peel off. Neil gets bored of this pretty quick, and they head home. Neil now feels guilty for hanging out with Charlie.
The next day at school, Neil is still feeling guilty for hanging out with Charlie so he makes an extra effort to be nice to Andy to make himself feel better. After school, Neil is waiting for Andy in the parking lot when Charlie and his thugs come up. They are going to Secca Lake to party and want Neil to join them. He politely demurs. At this point, Andy arrives on the scene and accuses Neil of being friends with Charlie. Neil says that he isn’t Charlie’s friend, he is Andy’s friend and that’s why he was just standing up for him. Andy again makes it about race (which it was but it also wasn’t exactly if you know what I mean) and Neil says that he’d stand up for any of his friends. Andy says that Neil can’t be friends with Charlie and with him. Apparently he missed the part where Neil said he wasn’t Charlie’s friend. But Neil gets upset and says that he can be friends with whoever he wants. Tracy pulls up at that moment and offers Andy a ride home. He takes it with a parting glare at Neil. Trouble in paradise. Neil heads back to his car where Charlie + Thugs are still loitering. Charlie mocks him for the confrontation with Andy and tells Neil to stick to his own kind. Neil silent-treatments Charlie until they let him into his car and then drives off.
In the school, Penny is cleaning up the newspaper office. She sees the responses to Elizabeth’s survey. The first is about how it is unfair that the Pi Beta Alpha girls always get to head the dance and prom committees. The second is how a girl should be able to be quarterback if she wanted to be. Penny dwells on this one more than necessary because it is good foreshadowing for the next book. The third suggestion is a winner about kicking out of the school anyone who isn’t a real American aka anyone who is black, Hispanic, or Asian because they are always getting unfair advantages. Penny is pissed off by that one, and she too is now aware of the seedy underbelly of SVH. But at least they are warned that the idiots are out there and lurking-waiting to eat everyone’s brains….brains…mmmm…. Penny’s solution is that that prejudice needs to be exposed to get rid of it. Like a seeping puss-filled wound.
Penny calls Neil to talk. She wants to know how things went with Andy that day. Truth is, Neil is confused. Everything he does seems to be wrong. Ah, white guilt. Well, Neil thinks that Charlie is going to get worse. Turns out Charlie’s dad was fired from his job by the black supervisor. Penny can see that trainwreck happening and tells Neil that Andy needs him more than ever. Neil can’t see that because Andy has been treating him badly but of course doesn’t tell Penny that. Neil is so confused!
The next morning, in marine biology class, Neil is studying for a quiz. Andy arrives and the two treat each other like polite strangers. Neil is so focused on the problem that he is spacing out about the test---which just makes him madder at Andy. Neil finally concentrates on the quiz but knows he isn’t going to get a great grade. Neil and Andy head out after class and Neil tries to be a friend. He suggests doing something that afternoon. Andy is evasive and heads off into the crowd when he is tripped by Charlie. Okay, no one trips the hot, muscular, sciency, musician guys on my watch! Andy tackles Charlie and a riot breaks out! Mr. Hottie Collins arrives on the scene and breaks up the fight. He sends Charlie to the principal’s office but lets Andy head off. (That never would’ve flown in my high school. If you were even within spitting distance of a fight, you were suspended. You could be jumped by a gang of hooligans and beaten to a pulp and still been suspended.) Mr. Collins asks Neil if he knows what the fight was about. Neil tells him it is complicated. Mr. Collins pushes him to explain. Neil finally admits that it was racial, and Mr. Collins immediately heads off to the principal’s office to report the harassment. ::rolls eyes:: Of course he doesn’t. He simply advises Neil to be a friend to Andy because of course Andy isn’t going to say anything about it. Also, Neil is supposed to let Mr. Collins know if Charlie gets out of line again. Neil trusts Mr. Collins, and listens to his dopey advice, but Neil is only going to give Andy one more try to repair their friendship and if he doesn’t do it, it is every man for himself.
Well, Neil and Penny decide to invite Andy and Tracy to the movies that night. Neil heads off to find Andy in the band room practicing his French horn. He lays the offer on the table and Andy thinks that he is getting a pity friendship. Well, yeah, but no also. Andy tells Neil that he can shut the door on his way out, thank you very much. I said good day! (ßThat was from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) Penny and Neil head off to the movie on their own, and Penny is disappointed that Andy and Tracy won’t be joining them. Neil is glad because Andy has been treating him like dirt. The longer he stares at the movie screen the madder he becomes. Andy is acting like he is better than everyone else just because he is black. Everyone else is wrong, never him. (Ok, I didn’t read that out of the situation but there wouldn’t be any conflict if Neil didn’t get a little dramqueenish.) Neil thinks that Andy is acting more self-righteous and judgmental than anyone because Charlie was only picking on Andy but Andy was taking it out on everyone. Penny and Neil leave the theater because Neil is just not in the mood for a movie. They head out to the parking lot but a commotion in one corner catches their attention. There are a bunch of guys rocking a car and shouting. There is someone in the car-it is Andy’s father’s car and Andy is in it! Penny runs for help while Neil runs to confront the thugs! (okay, why is Andy there anyway? He said no to the movies.)
The thugs pull Andy out of the car and fall on him like a pack of dogs. Neil feels like he is frozen in slow motion and by the time he gets to the scene, Andy is on the ground and unconscious. Jerry McAllister is a part of this group too for the record. Charlie tells Neil that now is his chance to get some payback for the way Andy has been treating him. Neil’s feelings of hurt and confusion crystallize into a swinging fist. A swinging fist of doom! No, he doesn’t hit Charlie, he hits Andy! He realizes what he is doing and tries to stop but physics waits for no man and it is too late. Neil is shocked and appalled by what he just did and stumbles away. Way to leave an unconscious guy with the dudes who are beating him up. He goes to his car and pulls away. He never wants to see Penny or any one else again because he is lower than the amoebas on fleas on rats.
He spends the weekend avoiding everyone but at school on Monday, he runs into Penny. She doesn’t know what he did but he can’t even speak to her because he feels so bad. Andy isn’t speaking so either he knows and isn’t saying or doesn’t know but still isn’t saying. Neil leaves and Liz comes up to talk to Penny. Neither of them can believe what happened-stuff like that happens in big cities, not in Sweet Valley. Jess comes over and wants to start a petition saying that they are on Andy’s side and what happened is terrible. Liz suggests some sort of racism awareness program because often racism isn’t obvious. That’s actually a tiny bit astute there Liz. Did you read that in a book? They all head off to class and make plans to figure out what to do at lunch. In Jess’ sociology class, instead of talking about urban planning, they get a lecture and demonstration on racism and prejudice. Everyone with gray or blue eyes is now a second-class citizen. They aren’t allowed to speak and the dark-eyes can say whatever they want to them. The dark-eyes make the light-eyes pick up their books, sharpen their pencils, change seats with them, etc. And the power is going to their heads. At first they are apologetic, but then they start to get into it. I know I would totally be a despot with an army of light-eyed minions, but my eyes are blueish-gray so I’d probably be a third-class citizen. The discrimination goes on for the whole class, and Jess ruminates on how dumb it is to be discriminated against because of eye color or something equally silly as skin color, religion, or accent. Whose religion you calling silly, bitch? You wanna fight! It’s on! Winston responds during the discussion at the end of class that it was pretty easy to discriminate once you got started.
Neil is suffering too. Everyone is treating him like a hero but he knows he is really scum. He leaves school as soon as he can and heads home. His dad is there and has tickets to a football game. Neil is confused but they head off to go to the game. He decides to put his troubles behind him for a few hours. He and his dad are having a good time until his dad brings up that he heard from Mr. Cashman aka Assman that morning. Mr. Freemount understands why Neil did what he did and that he doesn’t blame him. All right, he admits, hitting a man when he is down isn’t fair and square, but he knows that Neil’s heart was in the right place. WTF? No, really WTF? If my dad said anything like that to me, there’d be some antifreeze in the jell-o the next night. People that stupid…yeesh. Well, Mr. Freemount continues that Andy had it coming. WTF? Okay, I know I am repeating myself here, but WTF??? Argh! Neil is confused but Mr. Freemount tells him not to worry-he is sure Andy learned his lesson. ::boggle:: Excuse me while I go pound my head against the wall. Feel free to find your own wall as we ponder that bit of idiocy.
…
…
Okay, I am back. Neil is appropriately stunned by his dad’s stupidity. The game goes on, but Neil only sits in stony and disbelieving silence (and I gotta think that a good percentage of the football players that Mr. Freemount is cheering so ardently for are black too. Chew on that one.) When the game is over, Mr. Freemount says, “We should do this again!” and Neil replies, “No, thanks.” They head to the car but Neil asks to be let out when they are stopped at a stoplight. He says he doesn’t know where he is going but he’ll be home soon. Mr. Freemount tells him to not be acting all high and mighty because Neil is no better than anyone else. Mr. Freemount then drives off. Neil heads over to Andy’s house. Even though it is late, the lights are still on. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins welcome him in like a hero because they know it was Penny and him who called the police. Well, Penny anyway. Neil goes up to see Andy. Andy is all friendly and says that he was being as much of a racist as Charlie was. Which makes it harder for Neil to confess what he did-so he doesn’t. Andy tells him that they should start over as friends and none of that black or white stuff. Neil doesn’t know what to do. He wants to be Andy’s friend but he knows he should tell. Neil hightails it out of there before confessing to Andy.
At school the next day, Liz has concluded from her survey that the girls in the school feel they are discriminated against. The boys think that is funny because in their eyes, girls get all the breaks. Liz points out that girls’ sports get less money, less news coverage, and less student support than boys’ sports. The boys treat it like a joke which makes Liz and the other girls indignant. Liz asks them what they would do if a girl tried out for quarterback. The boys laugh, even Ken. Ken, of course, used to be the star quarterback but after a car accident was left temporarily blind. His eyesight was almost fully back now and he figured he was a shoo-in for the quarterback spot. He says that girls can be good at some sports, but football isn’t one of them. The girls try logic to prove him wrong but he doesn’t want to admit it. Which, of course, is sex discrimination. Andy and Tracy arrive at the lunchroom and Penny waves them over. Everyone is being nice to both of them which makes it a regular day. Neil is nowhere to be seen. He is probably off in his hair shirt doing penance. There is apparently a science and math awards ceremony the next day. Mr. Scholarship aka Andy is sure to clean up all the awards. The talk turns to a party and everyone wants Andy to come. Not as the token black guy but because they like him. But really, who wouldn’t like a handsome, muscular, sciency musician? Penny is worried about Neil being so distant but figures he’ll be back to himself in a few days.
Neil is wandering around campus during lunch beating himself up. Charlie comes up and tries to act like they are friends. Neil doesn’t want anyone to see him talking to Charlie but he can’t alienate Charlie because Charlie will tell everyone what Neil did before Neil can confess to Andy. Charlie thinks that Andy hasn’t learned his lesson and needs another dose so he and all the other blacks in the town will know their place. Neil tells Charlie to leave Andy alone but Charlie waves his blackmail in front of Neil’s face. Neil begs Charlie not to tell anyone. Charlie says that Neil is either fur ‘em or agin ‘em but can’t be both. And if he isn’t with them, then Charlie will just have to turn him into the police. An anonymous tip of course because Charlie wasn’t anywhere near the movie theater, he was bowling with his dad that night. That decides it for Neil, he is going to tell Andy because it isn’t like you can trust Charlie to keep his word.
Unfortunately, resolution does not equal action. Neil keeps putting it off. He shows up late to school so he doesn’t have to socialize with anyone but of course his first class is marine biology with Andy. Andy is really thrilled about the upcoming award ceremony. Neil asks Andy why he hasn’t said who beat him up. Andy says that everyone knows it was Charlie and he is getting his punishment by being ostracized. Andy is going to win by succeeding which is always a good plan IMO. That and outliving your enemies and then dancing on their graves. Later in the day, Neil and Penny are heading to the award ceremony. Neil still hasn’t come clean, and it is still eating him up. The awards are given and right before it is Andy’s turn, the principal makes a speech about intolerance and how Andy will succeed despite it. Everyone gives the standing ovation and Andy receives his award. At lunch everyone is happy and chatty but they all wander off leaving Andy and Penny and Neil. Neil knows it is time. He tells Andy that he was there and that he was so mad at Andy for thinking he was like Charlie that he was like Charlie and hit him too. Andy stares at him in anger and betrayal and stalks off. Penny throws out the “How could you!” and runs off. He chases after her and tries to explain. It is a pretty lame explanation. Penny claims he is not the guy she thought he was. She heads off, and he doesn’t follow her this time. He goes to the parking lot and sits in his car for a few hours. Liz comes across him in the parking lot and talks to him. Penny told her what he confessed and she actually kinda understands. What he did isn’t good but human. Liz’s compassion almost makes him lose it. She tells him that he needs to stop beating himself up over it but to never let it happen again. But it is said better than that so it doesn’t sound like a scolding mummy but a caring friend.
Neil decides to drive around aimlessly for a while. This must be back before gas was $3.00/gallon. He ends up back at the school eventually, and just as he is wishing for a chance to make it better, he sees Charlie + Thugs heading toward Andy. Neil heads over to Andy and stands by his side. He tells Charlie that he’ll have to fight the both of them. Charlie is a little wary about taking on two guys cuz he is a bully and therefore a coward. Andy reminds Charlie that if he touches him again, Charlie and his family will have a lawsuit on their hands so big, they’ll take it out of Charlie’s hide. Jerry McAllister and Charlie decide to get out of there rather than fight. Andy tells Neil that they aren’t even, and Neil replies that he knows it. He knows saying sorry isn’t enough either but he’ll always stand beside Andy. They wonder why it is always so hard and then awkwardly part.
A few days later, Penny is still trying to understand what happened to Neil to cause him to do what he did. She realizes that maybe she could have been more supportive of Neil but maybe not. She figures that she should give him another chance or at least try to understand what was going on in his head.
The next Monday, Liz comes into the newspaper office and sees Penny. She inquires how things are going with Neil and Penny replies that they are talking. Things aren’t great but they are trying to figure out what to do. Liz thinks that everything will work out fine. She also mentions that the current quarterback is failing two classes and is going to be suspended from the football team. And Ken still isn’t 100%. They hope the girl who wrote in about being quarterback actually tries out because that could really make the drama happen! The book ends there with no real resolution to any of the situations which either indicates that the ghostwriter ran out of time before the deadline or else in a rare moment of astuteness, decided that some situations are a bit murky and don’t have a rubber-stamped “The End” on them. My vote is for laziness. But whew, that wasn't your usual light-hearted escapade with those crazy twins, Elizabeth and Jessica. Oh, and no parties or dances in this one, what a downer.
Also, please remember to write your essays to be the next reader of the month! The rules state that you have to be between 6 and 16 years of age. 6 year-olds are reading these books??? Oh, whew, the contest includes Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley Kids. Your essay must be no more than 150 words and Bantam reserves the right to edit it for length or readability.
I love Sweet Valley. The sun is always shining and the beach is always filled with great and gorgeous people. In Sweet Valley, you don't have to worry about fitting in--everyone will accept you for yourself. By seeing how the twins cope with their problems, I too learn to cope with my problems. Sometimes I might be a bit of self-centered or self-satisfied, but I have a good heart and that's what counts. Everyone forgives your mistakes in Sweet Valley, especially when you are a perfect size six. If you aren’t perfect or rich, they still love you and make sure to tell you frequently how kind they are by being your friends. They are kind because they live in Sweet Valley, the most perfect place on earth where everyone is loved and valued and they are forgiving of your imperfections.
Well, that wasn't exactly snarky, but it was from the heart! The HEART! I hope I win! I am going to go get my $0.29 stamp and mail it off ASAP!