Zack Files Book 20

As I cut through the park, I saw a girl who was about my age. She looked so amazing, I almost blew my cool.

blow (one's) cool Slang
          To lose one's composure.

"I don't see why we have to ask girls to

this stupid dance anyway," said this big kid,

George Van Zandt. "Girls are boring." George

is a jock. He only cares about sports.

AmE someone, especially a student, who plays a lot of sport and is often considered to be stupid

I scratched my back. I had started itching

while I was talking to Prudence. I wondered

if there was any connection. Maybe Prudence

had cooties. Not that there was anything wrong

with cooties.

coo·tie (ktē) n. Slang
A body louse.

They had fits. They shouted gibberish.

fit - a short period of time when someone loses consciousness and cannot control their body because their brain is not working properly

　She used to have fits as a baby.

gibberish--something you write or say that has no meaning, or is very difficult to understand

Twenty innocent people died.

If someone is innocent, they did not commit a crime which they have been accused of.

"Ssshhh!" she said. She looked nervous enough 

to jump right out of her skin

Fig. to react strongly to shock or surprise.

"Why, how short your skirt is!" said

Prudence. "Will they not take you to the

ducking stool and hold your head underwater

until you gasp for breath?"

    The waitress got very huffy.

Someone who is huffy is obviously annoyed or offended about something. (INFORMAL)

I really didn't want to sound like a wuss.

If you call someone a wuss, you are criticizing them for being afraid. (INFORMAL)

Prudence suddenly leaned across the table and kissed me.

That really caught me off-guard.I guess it left both of us pretty flustered.

catch/throw sb off guard
to surprise someone by doing something that they are not ready to deal with

flustered--confused and nervous

Dad managed to tear himself away from his article 

on antique stores long enough to drive me 

to Mrs. Coleman-Levin's to pick up Prudence.

tear away [tear sb away] phr v
to make yourself or someone else leave a place when you or they do not want to leave

Prudence, your escort is here!

to take someone somewhere, especially when you are protecting or guarding them

crepe `paper 

thin paper with a wavy or wrinkled surface 縐紋紙.

punch bowl--

Punch is a drink made from wine or spirits mixed with things such as sugar, lemons, and spices.

Principal Underpence scampered away in embarrassment.

When people or small animals scamper somewhere, they move there quickly with small, light steps.

I had to think about this. I was terribly torn.

I really didn't know what to do.

If you are torn between two or more things, you cannot decide which to choose, and so you feel anxious or troubled.

I fished in my pockets for something to jimmy the lock.

jimmy--a short strong metal bar used especially by thieves to break open locked doors, windows etc

She closed her eyes, held her breath, and scrunched up her face.

scrunch up your face/eyes
to move the muscles in your face in a way that makes your eyes seem narrow

"Boy, you can say that again.

I agree with you completely 

The court of Jailem Village is now in session, Magistrate John Harthome presiding!

to be in charge of a formal event, organization, ceremony etc