Only Dorks Write in Diaries!

Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So Fabulous Life

Nikki J. Maxwell recounts her difficult transition to Westchester Country Day, a new private school where she struggles to fit in without a tren

Key takeaways

• Nikki attempted to blend in with the 'CCP' group using a $12.99 used phone from eBay.
• A loud ringing from her outdated phone led to public humiliation by the popular girls at school.

Main topics

• Social hierarchy and cell phone culture
• Middle school social anxiety

Notable quotes

Only a total dork would be caught writing in a diary.

Conclusion

A humorous and dramatic look at the social pressures of middle school

Transcript preview

Speaker 3 (0:00) This diary belongs to Nikki J. Maxwell. Private and confidential. If found, please return to me for reward. No snooping allowed. Speaker 1 (0:20) Rachel Renee Russell presents The Dork Diaries Podcast. Brought to you by Simon & Schuster Audio. Speaker 3 (0:35) Episode 1. Saturday, August 31st. Speaker 3 (0:41) Sometimes I wonder if my mom is brain dead. Then there are days when I know she is. Like today. The drama started this morning when I casually asked if she would buy me one of those cool new cell phones that do almost everything. Speaker 3 (1:02) I considered it a necessity of life, second only to maybe oxygen. What better way to clinch a spot in the CCP, cute, cool, and popular group at my new private school, Westchester Country Day, than by dazzling them with a wicked new cell. Speaker 3 (1:23) Last year, it seemed like I was the only student in my entire middle school who didn't have one. So I bought an older, used phone, super cheap, on eBay. It was bigger than what I wanted, but I figured I couldn't go wrong for the clearance price of only $12.99. Speaker 3 (1:47) I put my telephone in my locker and spread the word that I had hot gossip about my new phone and that everyone could now call me. Then I counted down the minutes before my social life started heating up. Speaker 1 (2:04) Hilarious. Wanna come over after school? Speaker 3 (2:07) I got really nervous when two of the CCP girls came walking down the hall in my direction, chatting on their cell phones. They came right over to my locker and started acting super friendly. Speaker 1 (2:20) Hey, Nikki. How are you? Love your outfit. Sit with us at lunch today, okay? Speaker 3 (2:31) Um, okay. But deep down inside, I was jumping up and down and doing my Snoopy happy dance. Then things got really strange. We heard the hot gossip about your brand new iPhone. Everyone is dying to see it. Everyone meaning the rest of the CCP crew. I was about to explain that I'd said I had hot gossip about my new phone, not the hot gossip is about my new iPhone. But I never got a chance because, unfortunately, my telephone started ringing very loudly. Speaker 3 (3:18) I was trying my best to ignore it, but both of the CCP girls were staring at me. Well, aren't you going to answer it? Obviously, I didn't want to answer it because I had a really bad feeling they were going to be a little disappointed when they actually saw my phone. So I just stood there praying that it would stop ringing. But it didn't. And pretty soon, everyone in the hallway was staring at me too. Finally, I gave in, snatched open my locker, and answered the phone. Hello? Mainly to stop that awful ringing. I was like, um, sorry, wrong number. And when I turned around... Both of the CCP girls were running down the hall screaming. I