Mia Goes Fourth

'You hang up first,' I said.

Sadly, he got less bossy after this. Instead, he started talking in this voice I had only ever heard him use once before, and

that was on the stoop in front of my mom's apartment building the night of the Non-Denominational Winter Dance, when

we did all that kissing.

Which was actually even more exhilarating than when he was bossing me around, to be truthful.

'No,' he said. 'You hang up first.'

'No,' I said, thrilled to pieces. 'You.'

'No,' he said. 'You.'

'Both of you hang up,' Lilly said, very rudely, over the extension. 'Grandma needs to call Uncle Mort in Schenectady to

see how his toe surgery went.'

So we both said goodbye very hastily and hung up.

But I'm almost positive Michael would have said 'I love you' if Lilly hadn't been on the line.

Saturday, January 9, 2 p.m.,

Royal Genovian Limo

Grandmere can be so mean. Seriously. Imagine pinching me, just because she thought I had dozed off for a few seconds

at lunch! I swear I am going to have a bruise now. It's a good thing I don't have any time to go to the beach, because if I

did and anyone saw the scar she'd left, they'd probably call the Genovian Child Protection Services.

And I'm sorry, but the Genovian Historical Society was really, really boring. Worse than the FOIL system, practically.

How many times can you hear about marauding Visigoths, anyway?

And I wasn't asleep, either. I was just resting my eyes.

Grandmere says it is thoughtless of Michael to keep me up all hours whispering sweet nothings in my ear. I informed her

very firmly that Michael had actually told me to hang up, because he cares very deeply about me, and that I was the one

who kept on talking. And that we don't whisper sweet nothings to one another, we have substantive discussions about art

and literature and Bill Gates's stranglehold on the software industry.

To which Grandmere replied, 'Pfuit!' which is French for Big Deal.

But you can tell she is totally jealous because she would like a boyfriend who is as smart and thoughtful as mine. But that

will so never happen, because Grandmere is too mean, and besides, there is that whole thing she does with her eyebrows.

Boys like girls with real eyebrows, not painted-on ones.

Saturday, January 9, 10 p.m.,

Royal Genovian Bedchamber

I am so excited! Tina, not being able to join her family on the ski slopes, spent all day in an Aspen Internet cafe looking up

all of her friends' horoscopes. She just faxed over my and Michael's astrological chart! I am taping it here in my journal so

I won't lose it. It is so accurate it is making my spine tingle.

Michael — Date of Birth = January 5:

Capricorn is the leader of the Earth signs. Here is a stabilizing force, one of the hardest-working signs of the Zodiac. The Mountain goat has intense powers of self-concentration, but not in an egotistical sense. Members of this sign find a great deal wore confidence in what they do than in who they are. Capricorn is one very high-achiever! Without balance, however, Capricorn can become too rigid, and focus too much on achievement Then they forget the little

joys in life. When the Goat finally relaxes and enjoys life, his or her most delightful secrets emerge. No one has a

better sense of humour than the Capricorn. Oh, that Cap might let us bask in that warm smile!

Mia — Date of Birth = May 1:

Ruled by loving Venus, Taurus has great emotional depth. Friends and lovers rely on the warmth and emotional accessibility of the Bull. Taurus represents consistency, loyalty and patience. Fixed Earth can be very rigid, too cautious to take some of the risks necessary in life. Sometimes the Bull ends up temporarily stuck in the mud. He