My New Best Friend by Julie Bowe

it?"
    "No," she says, getting up from the table. "I don't give piano lessons on Wednesdays. I'll read it right now."
    "Um ... maybe it would be better if..."
    Before my brain can churn up a reason why she should skip reading the note until I have time to practice answering any questions that might come up, she takes off for the piano, finds the note, and reads it on her way back to me.
    "You want Stacey to spend the weekend?" she asks, looking up from the note.
    I nod.
    "Did Stacey ask her mom?"
    I nod again.
    "And it's okay with her dad?"
    I nod a third time.
    "Well, then, it sounds like a great plan." She
tosses the note onto the table. "Get washed up and then you can help me start supper, okay?"
    I nod a fourth time and hurry to the bathroom. I close the door behind me and do an extra-big sigh of relief because nodding doesn't require any imagining at all.
    I walk over to the sink and turn on the water. I pump soap into my hand. Then I start scrubbing. Suds and germs plop into the sink and slide down the drain. I scrub my arms, too. And clip my nails.
    Then I go back to the kitchen feeling very clean.
    After supper, I call Stacey. "Guess what?" I say. "It's for extra sure now. You can spend the weekend with me."
    Stacey does an excited little squeal. "Guess what else? My dad called earlier and while we were talking I remembered to cough twice and sneeze three times. When he asked if I was catching a cold I said, 'I think maybe I am,' and then he said, 'I hope you're feeling better by the weekend,' and I said, 'Oh, I'm sure I will be,' and then I sneezed
again.
So now when I call him on Friday to say that I'm sick it won't sound made up at all!"
    "Wow," I say. "You are so good at ... um ... imagining."
    "It's easier now that the mermaid is putting ideas into my head," Stacey says. "I can't wait for the weekend!"
    "I can't wait, too," I say back. "Just you and me!"
    "And the mermaid!" Stacey adds.

Chapter 10
    he next morning, I get to the bus stop extra early so my mom won't be tempted to start a long conversation about my weekend plans with Stacey. The first person to show up is Rachel.
    "Where's Jenna?" I ask.
    "She's running a little late," Rachel says. She holds up her wrist so I can see her frog watch. The frog's tongue ticks off the seconds. "My dad got it for me last night at Buzz's Bait Shop. We needed groceries."
    "They sell groceries at Buzz's Bait Shop?" I ask.
    Rachel nods. "Milk and eggs and wax worms," she says. "Only they keep that stuff in the cooler, not the bargain bin. That's where he found my new watch and Jenna's new shirt."
    Rachel checks her frog again. "She should be here in seven," she says.
    I nod and notice Quinn and Tess coming around the corner toward us.
    "Yes, it's a busy time in my family," Rachel continues. She pulls a red crayon and a pad of yellow sticky notes from her pocket. "Busy, busy, busy." She writes scribbles and numbers on the pad. Then she pulls off the note and hands it to me.
    "What's this for?" I ask, taking the note from her and studying the scribbles.
    "If you need to reach me," she says.
    "Um ... okay," I say and stick the note to my sleeve.
    Rachel gives me a nod. "I need you to be a good helper until things get back to normal," she adds.
    "Um ... okay," I say again.
    Then Rachel starts in on another note. More scribbles and a few letters. She's still too little to write real words.
    As soon as Quinn and Tess get to the bus stop Rachel holds the sticky note out to Tess. "In case of emergency," she says.
    Tess frowns at the scribbles. "No, thank you," she replies.
    Rachel frowns back. "I don't want to hear another word!" she shouts and jabs the note at Tess.
    Tess takes it and sticks it to her shoe.
    Rachel makes her face go soft. She pats Tess's shoulder. "I'm sorry I yelled. I've just been so tired lately."
    I glance up and see our bus coming around the corner.
    I look down the street, but there's still no sign of Jenna.
    Rachel looks, too. "Her meeting probably went