Virtual Friends Again: Part 6

By MARY HOFFMAN

Ben tried over lunch. "Dylan," he began, "you know when I first came here, last term?" "Yes," said Dylan, munching on a chip. "You were a right wimp."

They stopped eating for a bit to exchange friendly thumps.

"Anyway, what about it?" continued Dylan, picking up another chip. "Well, you know I came late, after the start of term and I didn't have any friends?"

"Yeah," said Dylan.

"Do you remember why that changed and why you and Gerry and Assad and Kieran all started to be my friends?" asked Ben. Dylan frowned. "We found out you were into the same things, like skating, that's all."

"Do you remember my friend Rory?" asked Ben, his heart beating loudly. Dylan looked at first as if he did remember, then he shook his head. "Sorry. Was he at your old school?" Ben gave up.

"Something like that," he said.

Publisher: Barrington Stoke

Price: $14.95

Age group: 8 plus years