walking side by side with her, right to the front door of the Burger Bar.
Itâs packed with families, kids, and old people. Country music blares from the speakers, and a crowd of people two-step on the dance floor near the salad bar.
âIâm going to grab us a table. Order me a banana-blueberry smoothie with whipped cream, please,â says Connie.
Did she just say please to me? While standing in line to order, I look around for Naomi and the twins. Theyâre not here. I donât know if Iâm happy or sad.
When our smoothies are ready, I take them to the table. Connie takes hers.
âThanks, Tibbs. That sure was nice of your dad to buy us smoothies.â
My mouth is open, trying to find the straw as I stare at Mean Connie. She said please and thank you. Bullies donât say thank you. Mean people donât say please, do they?
âIf our dads went to school together, where have you been all of these years?â I ask.
Mean Connie clears her throat. âPrivate school. I live on Bayou Bend, just three streets down from you. Letâs talk about the schedule. Monday is Dress Up Like a King or Queen. Do you have any cool ideas?â
I shrug. âIâve got a princess gown somewhere in my closet. I could wear that.â
Connie gives me two thumbs down. âLame. I hear you telling Naomi and the twins those silly taradiddles all the time about wild poker games.â
I sit up. âYou know what a taradiddle is?â
Connie sighs. âYes, but think about your poker-game taradiddles. What else has kings and queens?â
I shrug. âOther than a deck of cards, Iââ
âExactly,â she says. âLast year, my parents went to a Halloween party dressed like the king and queen of hearts. They won a prize. I think we could win the five points on Monday if we wear those costumes. Yours will probably need some adjusting. You know anyone who can sew?â
I lean back in my chair. âMy mom is the best on the planet.â
Connie nods. âGood. Iâm going to bring you your king of hearts outfit later today or tomorrow. Andwhile weâre here, letâs talk about Tuesday. You got a problem with Little Bo Peep?â
I glare at her. âLet me guess. For Mother Goose on the Loose Day, you want me to dress like a lost sheep, right?â
She tilts her glass up to get the last drips of smoothie, then puts her cup down. Sheâs got a smoothie mustache above her lip, but Iâd never tell her that to her face.
âYep, I need you to be the lost sheep, okay? Iâve got an amazing blue gown thatâs perfect for a Bo Peep costume. If you can nail the sheepâs outfit, we might have a shot at winning that day, too! Are you okay with that? You like the idea?â
I want to hold up my fist for her to bump it, but I think about that bully bacteria Naomi was talking about and change my mind. âItâs a really cool idea,â I say.
Iâm not absolutely sure, but I think I just had a good conversation with the baddest bully in Bluebonnet.
Chapter Ten
S unday afternoon, Connie drops off the king of hearts costume. I take it to Mom. âCan you make this fit me by tomorrow?â
She holds it up. âIsnât it a bit early for Halloween?â
âTomorrowâs Dress Up Like a King or Queen Day on the Spirit Week schedule,â I say.
Mom grins. âNow this is very creative. Iâll take it to my magic sewing room. Youâre going to look so cute! And you should wear your black leggings. Then youâll really look like a walking king of hearts! Wait until Naomi sees you. Howâs she doing?â
I feel a sad spell coming. âNaomiâs fine. Iâm going upstairs to find those leggings.â
Just as I open my bedroom door, the tears come again. I miss my best friend so much. I know Skye misses me, but Starr is really mad about the Fall Festival tickets. Maybe Iâd be mad, too, if I were
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