One thing I don't like to imagine, though, is my picture on the jacket flap. That's because I can't stand the way I look. I don't have a monster face or anything, but I do have frecIdes, glasses, and a terrible nose. (I'm told I inherited my nose from my grandfather, who died before I was born. I wish I'd inherited a horse farm or a million dollars instead.) I also have curly reddish brown hair which does whatever it wants. Plus, I have braces. At least they're the clear kind, so no one calls me metal mouth or anything like that. Jessi always tells me I'm better looking than I think I am, but I think she's just being a pal. Maybe I'll forget the author picture and let kids imagine what I look like. Why spoil a good book for them?

"Your grade for this assignment will make up eighty percent of your grade this marking period, and you'll have the remainder of the marking period to complete the assignment," Mr. Williams continued. "So, give it some hard thought and come up with something that will really hold your interest." I glanced at Jessi. Her chin was propped on her hands and her delicate, dark brows were knit into a thoughtful frown. She'd obviously started the hard thinking part already. Of course, I knew what her career choice would be. Jessi is a super-talented ballerina. She studies twice a week at a ballet school inStamford , the city closest toStoneybrook,Connecticut , where we live. Jessi has even danced in some professional productions. So, like me, Jessi knew exactly what she wanted to do her project on. The tricky part would be working ballet into a written project. But knowing Jessi, she'd come up with something clever.

Meanwhile, I had absolutely no idea how I wanted to do my project. Writing something about being a writer seemed to offer endless possibilities. I would have to think hard. I could have a great time with this assignment if I came up with something good.