Jennifer Weiner'sLittle Bigfoot, Big City: Read an excerpt

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Will she make it onThe Next Stageand find stardom?

Time with her parents offered no such hope.

Credit: Tamara Staples

They didnt like her.

Worse, they were ashamed of her.

And nothing Alice could do or say would change it.

Mark and Felicia Mayfair had arranged her life so that they saw as little of her as possible.

When she wasnt away at school, she was at camp.

Alice, who resembled neither of her parents.

Alice, who didnt fit.

And did her father flinch a little when she looked at him?

Was Felicia looking a little sneaky and strange as she stroked Alices hair with a fragile hand?

They werent her parents.

Her parents exchanged a surprised glance.

you’re free to cook?

Ill go grocery shopping, Alice announced before her parents could object.

Well eat at seven.

After a moment of startled silence, her parents agreed and handed over a credit card.

If she wasnt human, she might be Yarewhat humans called Bigfoots.

She might be part of the same tribe as Millie, her best friend.

Which would, of course, be wonderful.

Millie had thought, then shaken her head.

I am not hearing of those ones, she said.

Probably they are stories that the No-Furs tell their littlies, to keep them behaving.

Like the Bad Red-Suit No-Fur, which is, of course, Santa Claus.

How about the Loch Ness Monster?

Oh, she is real, Millie said immediately.

Also, she does not like to be called Monster.