Joy pushed the buttons on her phone as her dog, Jellybean, nudged her arm, launching it away from her phone screen.
“You’re so independent,” Joy said, placing her phone down and giving Jellybean a pat on the head.
At only eight pounds, Jellybean, a Havanese, had soft white and black fur, and her eyes were the size of quarters. She made up her size in personality, making sure she had Joy’s attention and, more importantly, belly rubs, twenty-four-seven.
“What do you want for dinner?” her mom popped into Joy’s room. “Chicken or steak?”
Joy thought about her upcoming jampacked week of basketball games. A Sunday dinner of steak was on the radar. “Steak, for sure. We’ve got Northern High School tomorrow.”
“How could we forget? It’s the biggest game of the season.” Her mom nodded. “Steak fajitas it is.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Joy picked up her phone and quickly texted her friend, Nya.
Jellybean scratched at her leg.
“You’re a needy little thing, aren’t you?” Joy said, squatting down to pet the dog before finishing her text to Nya.
Then, she tossed her phone into her bag, gave Jellybean one more pat on the head, and headed out the door.
“Be back in time for dinner,” Joy said before leaving. “I’m going to get some shots up to prepare for the game tomorrow.”
****
“Mom, have you seen my phone?” Joy ravenously searched her room for her iPhone.
“Did you leave it at the gym?” her mom asked from the kitchen. She was cleaning up the dinner table with her dad.
“I don’t think I did,” Joy said, feeling her heart hammer in her chest. Her phone had her schedule, notes for an important test, and other stuff she didn’t want anyone to see.
Her dog, Jellybean, looked up at her with big brown eyes. Joy took a moment to pause and pet her favorite nonhuman. “Ma, can you call it? Maybe that’ll help me find it.” Joy shouted to her mom.
“I just did,” her mom answered.
The room was, unfortunately, silent. Not good.
****
Joy yawned during class the following day.
“What’s up with you?” Nya asked, tapping her pencil on her desk. “We’ve got a huge game today. Didn’t you get enough sleep last night?”
“Tons, and that’s why I’m yawning,” Joy said, shaking her head. “I can’t find my phone.”
“No way,” Nya said, her eyes wide. “So that’s why you never texted me back last night.”
Joy nodded and placed her head on her hands. “It’s making me crazy. I spent all last night looking for it, and then, I went to the gym early this morning to see if I left it there.”
“And it wasn’t there?” Nya asked.
“Oh yeah. It was there,” Joy said.
“Huh?” Nya said.
“Of course, it wasn’t there, or I’d have it right now.”
“What are you going to do?”
“First, figure out how I’m going to play this basketball game today with two hours of sleep,” Joy said.
“Is there anything you don’t want people to see on the phone?” Nya asked.
“That’s why I’m worried about it.”
“Okay. I get it,” Nya’s eyes widened. “Wait. I think I….”
“What?” Joy said desperately.
“Do you think Northern High sent someone to the gym to steal your phone? So you’d be distracted before the game?”
Joy’s stomach sank. “We did see their point guard working out at the gym last night. Do you think she stole it?” It made sense, considering they would know that Joy would be up looking for it all night and be too tired to play in the game. The team was probably checking it to see if they could find anything on the phone to embarrass Joy.
“Makes sense,” Nya said, standing up.
Joy followed Nya to the Athletic Director’s office.
****
“We really can’t go forward with a complaint without some proof,” Ms. Cordeiro said from her spot behind the desk.
“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Joy said.
“Are you sure you didn’t lose your phone?” Ms. Cordeiro tilted her head.
“There’s more chance I’d lose my head,” Joy said. “I’ve never lost my phone.”
“But without proof, my hands are tied,” Ms. Corderio said.
“So, they just get to cheat?” Nya said.
“My advice would be to contact the gym and see if they have a camera or something,” Ms. Corderio said. “Maybe they have it on film.”
“Great idea!” Nya shot up. “Joy, call the gym….”
“Oh, sure. I’ll just use my phone,” Joy deadpanned.
Nya chuckled.
****
After Nya called the gym, she told Joy she’d let her know as soon as she heard anything. A few hours later, Joy was home getting ready for the game inside her bedroom.
She’d never been so tired, so much so that she couldn’t even drum up enough energy to look for her phone.
What was the point anyway? They’d solved the case. All she had to do was wait for the proof.
Jellybean looked up at Joy with wide brown eyes. Joy was tired but not tired enough to skip Jellybean’s afternoon belly rub.
She squatted as the pup rolled over so Joy could rub her belly. It was at that moment that something shiny caught Joy’s eye. She shoved her hand underneath Jellybean’s bed and pulled out her phone.
It all made sense—Joy would have more time for belly rubs without a phone.
“Jellybean, seriously?” Joy said, shaking her head.
Jellybean nudged her hand, signaling that the pup wanted another pat.
What is ironic about the line “Oh, sure. I’ll just use my phone,” in the passage, The Missing Phone? Responses A Joy is saying the opposite of reality. She doesn't have a phone at the moment. Joy is saying the opposite of reality. She doesn't have a phone at the moment. B Joy is annoyed. She's saying exactly what she wants to happen. Joy is annoyed. She's saying exactly what she wants to happen. C Joy is saying what she wishes would happen. She wants her phone back. Joy is saying what she wishes would happen. She wants her phone back. D Joy is saying exactly how she feels. Joy found her phone.
1 answer
The correct answer is A: Joy is saying the opposite of reality. She doesn't have a phone at the moment.
In that line, Joy is making a sarcastic remark because she indeed cannot use her phone to call the gym since it is missing. The statement is ironic because it highlights her lack of ability to make the call, emphasizing her frustration in the situation.
