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Chapter Eight
A Problem Like Maria
When Lizzie woke up that morning, she got dressed and ate breakfast, and still had a few minutes to spare. She figured she would try to call Larry to get some advice. She knew he was still at the beach, so she called him on his cell phone, and as expected, got the answering machine.
"Hi. You have reached Lawrence Tudgeman. I am busy at the moment, but if you leave a message, I will try to get back to you shortly."
Lizzie left a message, "Hey, Larry. It's Lizzie. Hi, I just wanted to call you and . . .see how you are doing. Also," Lizzie said nervously, "I have something I want to talk to you about it. It isn't an emergency, but if you could call me, that would be great. Thanks!"
She hung up the phone and sighed. That was simple. She had no idea what to ask him or if he could help, but he was her only hope.
Lizzie was waiting for Gordo because he said he was going to come early, but at 8:55, he still wasn't there. She waited and looked out the window. Jo walked by and noticed Lizzie waiting.
"What time is he supposed to come?" Jo asked.
"Any minute," Lizzie said, still looking out the window.
"Maybe he overslept," Jo said.
"He probably did," Lizzie said.
"He'll be here any minute."
"Well, he better hurry!"
Jo started upstairs, and yelled back, "Don't forget to give him the money!"
"I won't," Lizzie yelled back.
At 8:58, she spotted Gordo. "Finally," she told herself.
She opened the door and waited for him. He walked up to the doorstep. "What took you so long?" Lizzie asked.
"I overslept," Gordo said, sheepishly, "sorry."
Lizzie smiled and shook her head, "Its okay. You were the one who wanted to take the bus this early."
"Well, we better get going," Gordo said.
"Yeah," Lizzie said and she started to close the front door, "Mom! We are going now!" she yelled.
"Do you have his money?" Jo yelled back.
Lizzie closed her eyes and then opened them as if she were annoyed. She opened the front door and headed up the stairs.
"Where are you going? We're going to be late," Gordo asked.
"I forgot something!" Lizzie said, "Come upstairs with me to get it."
Gordo sighed and went up the stairs and went into Lizzie's room. Lizzie went to her shelf to look for his money while Gordo looked around the room. All that cleaning made Lizzie's room practically spotless.
Gordo was looking around her room when he spotted a piece of paper near the phone that said in Lizzie's handwriting, "Call Larry!!!" Whoa. Was Gordo reading right? Call Larry? Lizzie? Why would Lizzie call Larry? She had absolutely no reason to call Larry that he knew of.
"Lizzie, why do you need to call Larry?" Gordo asked.
Lizzie blushed, but Gordo couldn't see, "H-How did you know I was supposed to call Larry?" she asked.
"You have a note," Gordo said.
Lizzie turned around with the money in her hand, "Okay, here," Lizzie said and she gave Gordo the money. Then she went downstairs. She hoped he would forget the Larry thing.
They started running to the bus depot. They got there and got on the bus. They were on their way to Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, the Larry thing was still making Gordo curious, "So did you talk to Larry?" Gordo asked, trying to sound casual.
Lizzie laughed nervously, "I left a message."
"Are you supposed to hang out later or something?" Gordo asked. He was trying to push the reasons out of Lizzie.
Lizzie shook her head, "No, he is still at the beach. I just had a question about something," Lizzie said.
"Oh," Gordo said. He was a little relieved. He hated to say it, but for a few seconds he felt jealous of Larry Tudgeman. He decided to drop the topic.
"So, have you started your journal?" Lizzie asked. They had a whole hour to make pass, so they might as well talk.
"Yeah, I wrote a little in it," Gordo admitted.
"Good. You know, I am keeping a journal, too."
"I know," Gordo said, without thinking.
"How did you know?" Lizzie asked.
Oops. Gordo slipped up, "Well, you told me yesterday," he said. He hoped that was true.
"Oh, I must have forgotten," Lizzie said, "Just think whatever you write now may be read by someone fifty years from now."
"I know," Gordo said, "I thought about the same thing."
"Really?" Lizzie said, "Although, it will be hard to live up to Addy's"
"I wouldn't say that," Gordo said.
"Is yours exciting or something?"
Gordo shook his head quickly, "No, not particularly. I-I just think yours is probably interesting because you are an interesting person."
"Thanks-I think."
"It's a compliment," Gordo said, smiled.
Lizzie blushed. She never took compliments very well, "Thanks. You are a very interesting person, too, Gordo"
Gordo blushed, "Thank you." He wasn't any better at receiving compliments.
"You are welcome," Lizzie said.
Less than an hour later, they were at the Los Angeles Bus Depot near the large library. As soon as they got off the bus, Lizzie asked if he was ready to go to the library.
Gordo heard his stomach grumble. He hadn't eaten anything all morning, and was really hungry. "Sure, can we stop by some place to eat, though? I mean, I didn't eat anything this morning," he said.
Lizzie laughed, "Of course! Let's try to eat close to the library, though. Time is ticking."
Gordo nodded his head, "I don't care what I eat, as long as its food."
Lizzie laughed. Gordo was so cute when he was hungry. She almost told him that, but didn't feel like causing some awkwardness between the two of them, "Okay, how about McDonalds?"
"Sounds great!" Gordo said. His stomach growled again. This time Lizzie heard it, too, and bursted out laughing. "Hey! I have a very sensitive stomach!" he said.
"Oh? Did I hurt its feelings?" Lizzie asked, through her laughter.
Gordo pretended to be offended, "I think you may have. The mention of McDonalds gave it false hope."
"False hope? But we are going," Lizzie said, confused.
"Yeah, but I haven't eaten it yet," Gordo explained.
Lizzie laughed, "You are so funny, Gordo."
"I am quite the comedian when I can barely walk I am so hungry, aren't I?"
"Let's go!" Lizzie said, and she ran toward the library, which was about a block away.
"Wait up!" Gordo yelled after her, "Don't run off on me like this!" He started running after her. Suddenly, he realized Lizzie wasn't in sight. Was she really that fast of a runner? Gordo thought.
Suddenly, right in front of a coffee shop, Lizzie jumped out in front of him and screamed. Gordo jumped back in surprise. "What was that for?" he asked.
Lizzie shrugged, "No reason." She smiled.
"I feel so weak," Gordo said.
"I am sorry. You should have eaten breakfast."
"I would have, but I overslept!" he said.
"Have difficulty going to sleep last night?" Lizzie asked.
"No," Gordo answered, "I just woke up early, and couldn't get back to sleep."
"Had something on your mind?"
"Something like that," he said.
"Like what?"
Gordo blushed, "Nothing."
"Nothing, huh?" Lizzie asked, "Somehow I find that hard to believe."
"I guess I am just thinking about high school and stuff."
"What kind of stuff?"
Gordo looked at Lizzie. He was going to tell her. It was the right time to tell her, but he couldn't. His stomach was too empty to deal with her response. Also, he wanted to know how Lizzie felt. "I'll tell you sometime when my stomach isn't so empty."
"That bad, huh?"
"I guess so."
"Okay. But I will get it out of you sometime, right?"
"Maybe," Gordo said.
"Ooh! A mystery, huh? I'll find out," she said. She sounded sure of herself.
"Maybe someday," Gordo said and he smiled.
A few minutes later, Gordo was happily eating a McDonald's chicken biscuit and hash brown and drinking a coke.
"Feel better?" Lizzie asked as she sat across him and watched him devour the biscuit.
"Yep," he answered, with his mouth full. He swallowed, "Food is good." He nodded his head to reassure her.
Lizzie laughed as she sipped her Diet Coke. "So, what made you stay up last night?"
"Are we still talking about that?"
"Yep."
"You have a good memory."
Lizzie smirked, "I know. Isn't it great?"
"No!"
Lizzie laughed, "So? What was it?"
"I'm not telling you!"
"Was it about a girl?" Lizzie asked, half jokingly.
"Not telling!"
"Ooh! So is WAS about a girl! Who?"
Gordo sighed. "Maria," he answered. She was in the soap opera, so his mind was on her at some point.
"Maria?" Lizzie repeated, "Who is that?"
"It's this girl on this show," Gordo answered.
"Ooh! You have a celebrity crush?"
Gordo laughed, "Hardly!" he said without really thinking.
"Then why were you thinking about Maria?"
"I want to know what happens on the show tomorrow," Gordo said. It was the truth.
"What show is this?"
"I don't know. It's on the Spanish Channel," Gordo said.
"I didn't know you watched that channel!" Lizzie exclaimed.
"Well, I only do if there is nothing else on."
"But still," Lizzie said.
"Do you watch it?"
"The Spanish Channel? I can't say that I've seen it lately, but if it makes you feel better, I watch TLC all the time. I love all the real life stories and stuff."
Good. She didn't know about the show. That was good.
"What's going on with Maria right now?" Lizzie asked.
Yikes! He never thought she would be that interested in it. "I don't know," he lied.
"I thought you watched the show."
"I do, but it's in Spanish."
Lizzie shook her head in confusion but decided to stop questioning him, "Whatever. I don't think I will ever understand you, Gordo, but you know what, I don't think I particularly want to, either."
"Good," Gordo said, "You ready for the library?"
Lizzie nodded her head and he threw his trash away and they headed off to the library.
Chapter Eight
A Problem Like Maria
When Lizzie woke up that morning, she got dressed and ate breakfast, and still had a few minutes to spare. She figured she would try to call Larry to get some advice. She knew he was still at the beach, so she called him on his cell phone, and as expected, got the answering machine.
"Hi. You have reached Lawrence Tudgeman. I am busy at the moment, but if you leave a message, I will try to get back to you shortly."
Lizzie left a message, "Hey, Larry. It's Lizzie. Hi, I just wanted to call you and . . .see how you are doing. Also," Lizzie said nervously, "I have something I want to talk to you about it. It isn't an emergency, but if you could call me, that would be great. Thanks!"
She hung up the phone and sighed. That was simple. She had no idea what to ask him or if he could help, but he was her only hope.
Lizzie was waiting for Gordo because he said he was going to come early, but at 8:55, he still wasn't there. She waited and looked out the window. Jo walked by and noticed Lizzie waiting.
"What time is he supposed to come?" Jo asked.
"Any minute," Lizzie said, still looking out the window.
"Maybe he overslept," Jo said.
"He probably did," Lizzie said.
"He'll be here any minute."
"Well, he better hurry!"
Jo started upstairs, and yelled back, "Don't forget to give him the money!"
"I won't," Lizzie yelled back.
At 8:58, she spotted Gordo. "Finally," she told herself.
She opened the door and waited for him. He walked up to the doorstep. "What took you so long?" Lizzie asked.
"I overslept," Gordo said, sheepishly, "sorry."
Lizzie smiled and shook her head, "Its okay. You were the one who wanted to take the bus this early."
"Well, we better get going," Gordo said.
"Yeah," Lizzie said and she started to close the front door, "Mom! We are going now!" she yelled.
"Do you have his money?" Jo yelled back.
Lizzie closed her eyes and then opened them as if she were annoyed. She opened the front door and headed up the stairs.
"Where are you going? We're going to be late," Gordo asked.
"I forgot something!" Lizzie said, "Come upstairs with me to get it."
Gordo sighed and went up the stairs and went into Lizzie's room. Lizzie went to her shelf to look for his money while Gordo looked around the room. All that cleaning made Lizzie's room practically spotless.
Gordo was looking around her room when he spotted a piece of paper near the phone that said in Lizzie's handwriting, "Call Larry!!!" Whoa. Was Gordo reading right? Call Larry? Lizzie? Why would Lizzie call Larry? She had absolutely no reason to call Larry that he knew of.
"Lizzie, why do you need to call Larry?" Gordo asked.
Lizzie blushed, but Gordo couldn't see, "H-How did you know I was supposed to call Larry?" she asked.
"You have a note," Gordo said.
Lizzie turned around with the money in her hand, "Okay, here," Lizzie said and she gave Gordo the money. Then she went downstairs. She hoped he would forget the Larry thing.
They started running to the bus depot. They got there and got on the bus. They were on their way to Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, the Larry thing was still making Gordo curious, "So did you talk to Larry?" Gordo asked, trying to sound casual.
Lizzie laughed nervously, "I left a message."
"Are you supposed to hang out later or something?" Gordo asked. He was trying to push the reasons out of Lizzie.
Lizzie shook her head, "No, he is still at the beach. I just had a question about something," Lizzie said.
"Oh," Gordo said. He was a little relieved. He hated to say it, but for a few seconds he felt jealous of Larry Tudgeman. He decided to drop the topic.
"So, have you started your journal?" Lizzie asked. They had a whole hour to make pass, so they might as well talk.
"Yeah, I wrote a little in it," Gordo admitted.
"Good. You know, I am keeping a journal, too."
"I know," Gordo said, without thinking.
"How did you know?" Lizzie asked.
Oops. Gordo slipped up, "Well, you told me yesterday," he said. He hoped that was true.
"Oh, I must have forgotten," Lizzie said, "Just think whatever you write now may be read by someone fifty years from now."
"I know," Gordo said, "I thought about the same thing."
"Really?" Lizzie said, "Although, it will be hard to live up to Addy's"
"I wouldn't say that," Gordo said.
"Is yours exciting or something?"
Gordo shook his head quickly, "No, not particularly. I-I just think yours is probably interesting because you are an interesting person."
"Thanks-I think."
"It's a compliment," Gordo said, smiled.
Lizzie blushed. She never took compliments very well, "Thanks. You are a very interesting person, too, Gordo"
Gordo blushed, "Thank you." He wasn't any better at receiving compliments.
"You are welcome," Lizzie said.
Less than an hour later, they were at the Los Angeles Bus Depot near the large library. As soon as they got off the bus, Lizzie asked if he was ready to go to the library.
Gordo heard his stomach grumble. He hadn't eaten anything all morning, and was really hungry. "Sure, can we stop by some place to eat, though? I mean, I didn't eat anything this morning," he said.
Lizzie laughed, "Of course! Let's try to eat close to the library, though. Time is ticking."
Gordo nodded his head, "I don't care what I eat, as long as its food."
Lizzie laughed. Gordo was so cute when he was hungry. She almost told him that, but didn't feel like causing some awkwardness between the two of them, "Okay, how about McDonalds?"
"Sounds great!" Gordo said. His stomach growled again. This time Lizzie heard it, too, and bursted out laughing. "Hey! I have a very sensitive stomach!" he said.
"Oh? Did I hurt its feelings?" Lizzie asked, through her laughter.
Gordo pretended to be offended, "I think you may have. The mention of McDonalds gave it false hope."
"False hope? But we are going," Lizzie said, confused.
"Yeah, but I haven't eaten it yet," Gordo explained.
Lizzie laughed, "You are so funny, Gordo."
"I am quite the comedian when I can barely walk I am so hungry, aren't I?"
"Let's go!" Lizzie said, and she ran toward the library, which was about a block away.
"Wait up!" Gordo yelled after her, "Don't run off on me like this!" He started running after her. Suddenly, he realized Lizzie wasn't in sight. Was she really that fast of a runner? Gordo thought.
Suddenly, right in front of a coffee shop, Lizzie jumped out in front of him and screamed. Gordo jumped back in surprise. "What was that for?" he asked.
Lizzie shrugged, "No reason." She smiled.
"I feel so weak," Gordo said.
"I am sorry. You should have eaten breakfast."
"I would have, but I overslept!" he said.
"Have difficulty going to sleep last night?" Lizzie asked.
"No," Gordo answered, "I just woke up early, and couldn't get back to sleep."
"Had something on your mind?"
"Something like that," he said.
"Like what?"
Gordo blushed, "Nothing."
"Nothing, huh?" Lizzie asked, "Somehow I find that hard to believe."
"I guess I am just thinking about high school and stuff."
"What kind of stuff?"
Gordo looked at Lizzie. He was going to tell her. It was the right time to tell her, but he couldn't. His stomach was too empty to deal with her response. Also, he wanted to know how Lizzie felt. "I'll tell you sometime when my stomach isn't so empty."
"That bad, huh?"
"I guess so."
"Okay. But I will get it out of you sometime, right?"
"Maybe," Gordo said.
"Ooh! A mystery, huh? I'll find out," she said. She sounded sure of herself.
"Maybe someday," Gordo said and he smiled.
A few minutes later, Gordo was happily eating a McDonald's chicken biscuit and hash brown and drinking a coke.
"Feel better?" Lizzie asked as she sat across him and watched him devour the biscuit.
"Yep," he answered, with his mouth full. He swallowed, "Food is good." He nodded his head to reassure her.
Lizzie laughed as she sipped her Diet Coke. "So, what made you stay up last night?"
"Are we still talking about that?"
"Yep."
"You have a good memory."
Lizzie smirked, "I know. Isn't it great?"
"No!"
Lizzie laughed, "So? What was it?"
"I'm not telling you!"
"Was it about a girl?" Lizzie asked, half jokingly.
"Not telling!"
"Ooh! So is WAS about a girl! Who?"
Gordo sighed. "Maria," he answered. She was in the soap opera, so his mind was on her at some point.
"Maria?" Lizzie repeated, "Who is that?"
"It's this girl on this show," Gordo answered.
"Ooh! You have a celebrity crush?"
Gordo laughed, "Hardly!" he said without really thinking.
"Then why were you thinking about Maria?"
"I want to know what happens on the show tomorrow," Gordo said. It was the truth.
"What show is this?"
"I don't know. It's on the Spanish Channel," Gordo said.
"I didn't know you watched that channel!" Lizzie exclaimed.
"Well, I only do if there is nothing else on."
"But still," Lizzie said.
"Do you watch it?"
"The Spanish Channel? I can't say that I've seen it lately, but if it makes you feel better, I watch TLC all the time. I love all the real life stories and stuff."
Good. She didn't know about the show. That was good.
"What's going on with Maria right now?" Lizzie asked.
Yikes! He never thought she would be that interested in it. "I don't know," he lied.
"I thought you watched the show."
"I do, but it's in Spanish."
Lizzie shook her head in confusion but decided to stop questioning him, "Whatever. I don't think I will ever understand you, Gordo, but you know what, I don't think I particularly want to, either."
"Good," Gordo said, "You ready for the library?"
Lizzie nodded her head and he threw his trash away and they headed off to the library.