Cheerleaders
- Melinda is still at the pep rally and her mood is getting worse and worse.
- We learn that Melinda's family isn't religious. The only thing they worship is their credit cards. Melinda feels that a bit of religious training would have prepared her to understand cheerleaders. She thinks, "It has to be a miracle. How else could they sleep with the football team on Saturday night and be reincarnated as virginal goddesses on Monday?" (13.2).
- It seems like cheerleaders lead double lives. In one life, teachers and parents and students adore them and give them everything because they are perfect. On the other, they party like crazy, have wild Spring Break sex, and get lots of abortions.
- But, it doesn't matter what they do in their private lives, because they are perfect on the outside.
- Melinda is sure none of them are ever like her. They always speak and think clearly and have lovely, shiny lips.
- After the pep rally, some kids push Melinda and she falls down three rows of bleachers.
- If she ever starts a group, it'll be called the Anti-Cheerleaders. They will hang out under the bleachers during pep rallies and "commit acts of mayhem" (13.5).