86. Her Handwriting Was Messy

Julia was known around school for having the best handwriting. It was unique, clear, and consistent. No matter how fast she wrote, it always looked the same. Her handwriting was almost like a computer font. Marilyn, on the other hand, had very messy handwriting. 

When people see Marilyn's handwriting, they think that it belongs to a guy. If Marilyn wrote fast, you couldn't even tell what she wrote. Marilyn's boyfriend requested that she write and send him a letter. He lived all the way across the country. Marilyn was embarrassed of her handwriting and did not want her boyfriend to think less of her.

Marilyn asked Julia to write it for her. "I don't think you should lie to him like that. What if he finds out one day? He'll think you are a liar," Julia said. "He will never find out. Can you please write it for me? Here, I typed out what I want to say," Marilyn said. 

Julia hesitantly agreed. The next day, Julia gave Marilyn the letter. Marilyn thanked her and shipped it out to her boyfriend. He sent her a letter back saying that he was really impressed with her handwriting.

During Christmas, he visited Marilyn at her school. While they were walking in the hallway, he noticed Marilyn's face on the wall. "Hey! It's you!" he said. Next to her picture, there was her handwritten essay that received an A+. "This writing doesn't look like yours," he said. Marilyn admitted that she had Julia write the letter. 

Her boyfriend laughed. "I don't care if you have nice handwriting or not. Just be yourself," he said.

Vocabulary

1. Handwriting – the way a person writes by hand
   Julia had the best handwriting in school.

2. Unique – one of a kind; special
   Her handwriting was unique and clear.

3. Consistent – always the same; regular
   Julia's handwriting was consistent no matter how fast she wrote.

4. Font – a style of printed letters
   Her handwriting looked like a computer font.

5. Messy – not neat or clean
   Marilyn had very messy handwriting.

6. Embarrassed – feeling shy or ashamed
   Marilyn was embarrassed by her handwriting.

7. Request – to ask for something
   Marilyn’s boyfriend requested a letter from her.

8. Typed – written using a keyboard
   Marilyn typed out what she wanted to say.

9. Hesitantly – with uncertainty or doubt
   Julia hesitantly agreed to write the letter.

10. Shipped – sent by mail or delivery
    Marilyn shipped the letter to her boyfriend.

11. Impressed – feeling admiration or respect
    He was impressed with the handwriting.

12. Admit – to tell the truth about something
    Marilyn admitted she didn’t write the letter.

13. Lie – to say something that’s not true
    Julia warned Marilyn not to lie to her boyfriend.

14. Liar – someone who tells lies
    Julia said he might think Marilyn was a liar.

15. Essay – a short piece of writing on a topic
    Marilyn had an essay on the wall that got an A+.

16. Hallway – a corridor in a building
    They walked in the hallway when he saw the essay.

17. Across the country – on the other side of a nation
    Her boyfriend lived across the country.

18. Face – the front part of a person’s head
    He saw Marilyn’s face on the school wall.

19. Yourself – your real or true self
    Her boyfriend told her to just be herself.

20. Laugh – to show happiness or amusement with sound
    He laughed when Marilyn told the truth.