My Netiquette Lesson

Last week was my birthday. My parents gave me a cool gift—my own smartphone. ” Enjoying your new phone, Ella?” Dad asked. “ Don’t forget your online manners. “ “ Number one: Think before you send or post. ” I groaned as Dad started listing our family’s “ netiquette rules. ”

“ Two: Never chat or share pictures with strangers . . . ” By now I’d heard these rules a million times. While Dad continued reciting them, I looked down at my phone. I had a new message from my friend, Josh. Josh: Hey! Still want to go to the movies tomorrow?

Ella: Yes! Josh: Great! Violet? I rolled my eyes. Josh, Violet, and I had been friends since third grade. But things started to change when we entered middle school. Violet had joined the drama club and made new friends.

Now whenever she hung around with us, she sang songs from musicals—loudly. It got on my nerves. “ Ella?” “ Oops, sorry, Dad. Josh asked me something. ” He frowned. “ Dad, you don’t have to tell me about netiquette again, ” I said quickly.

“ Trust me—I know all the rules already. ” “ Good. ” He nodded. “ Then it’s time to follow rule number five: no screen time until your chores are done. ” I saluted him. “ Got it. ” Ella: No Violet tomorrow. I’m sick of her loud singing!

I inserted an emoticon with a person plugging her ears, and then I went to fold laundry. The next day when I met Josh at the movie theater, he rushed up to me. “ So, is Violet really angry?”