The Granny Game by Beverly Lewis

ONE
    Abby Hunter felt like a jitterbox.
    Grandma Hunter was coming for the weekend. The pickiest grandma in the west.
    Abby dusted and mopped. She checked under the guest room bed. She looked behind the dresser.
    Everything must be spotless and neat.
    Abby stepped back for a final look. “Double dabble good,” she said.
    Mother came in just then. “Thank you for helping, Abby. What a nice, clean room,” she said.

    â€œWill Grandma notice?” Abby asked. She really hoped so.
    Her mother nodded. “Only one thing is missing,” she said with a smile. “Can you guess?”
    Abby looked all around the room. “Flowers! Grandma likes fresh flowers,” she said.
    â€œYou’re right.” Mother gave Abby a big hug. “We’ll buy some at the florist.”
    She looked up at her mother. “I’m going to miss you and Daddy while you’re gone.”
    â€œWe’ll miss you, too, honey. But Grandma will take good care of you. And your sister and brothers.” Mother kissed the top of Abby’s head. “The weekend will go fast.”
    Suddenly, Abby remembered something about Grandma’s cooking.
    Her stomach churned.
    Her taste buds faded.
    Her nose twitched.
    Grandma’s favorite foods were yucky. She liked to cook things like broccoli, Brusselssprouts, and asparagus. The greenest, smelliest vegetables in the world!
    Quickly, she told her mother, “Carly and Jimmy will make a fuss about Grandma’s cooking. And you know how Shawn likes Korean recipes.” She sighed. “What’ll we do?”
    There was a twinkle in her mother’s eye. “Your grandma’s very wise.”
    â€œOh,” said Abby.
    She thought about being very wise . Did it mean eating dark green foods? And keeping the house perfectly clean?
    Mother was grinning. “Grandma raised your father. Just think what a fine man he turned out to be.”
    Abby had heard her father’s childhood stories. “Grandma and Grandpa had a bunch of children,” she said. “Did all of them eat broccoli?”
    Mother laughed out loud. “You’ll have to ask Grandma about that.”
    Abby would ask, all right.
    First thing tomorrow!

TWO
    It was Friday morning. School was out for a teacher work day.
    Abby brushed her sister’s hair. “Hold still. I’ll make a ponytail.”
    â€œOuch, you’re hurting me!” Carly wailed.
    â€œSorry. I’ll be more careful,” Abby promised. She tried to keep her mind on Carly’s wavy blond hair. It was so pretty.
    She tried not to think about the long weekend.
    â€œWhen’s Grandma coming?” asked Carly.
    â€œRight after breakfast,” Abby replied.
    â€œShe won’t make that horrible dish, will she?” Carly asked.
    â€œWhich one?” Abby laughed. “They’re all icky, aren’t they?”
    Carly pinched her nose. “What if we die from Grandma’s cooking?” She was laughing, too.
    Abby shushed her. “Don’t say it so loud.”
    â€œWhy?—because Mommy and Daddy might not go on their trip?” Carly’s eyes spelled mischief.
    â€œGrandma won’t poison us,” Abby assured her. “You know that!”
    â€œMaybe . . . maybe not,” added Carly, frowning.
    â€œShe loves us, you silly sister,” Abby insisted.
    Carly nodded. “I know. But she cooks terrible stuff.”
    Abby understood Carly’s worry.
    What a weekend ahead!
    When Carly’s ponytail was done, Abby snapped in a bow. “Now you’re ready for our prissy grandma.”
    Carly looked in the dresser mirror. “Goody!” She touched her hair and the bow. Then she turned toward Abby. “Why didn’t Mommy ask Granny Mae to come?”
    Abby smiled. “I think you know why.”
    Carly wrinkled up her nose. “I do?”
    Abby leaned down. She whispered in her sister’s ear. “Granny Mae is crazy for