The Great Interactive Dream Machine by Richard Peck Page A

boy. What’s she going to say, ‘My, how you’ve grown since breakfast’? Please.”
    Aaron shrugged. Then we were at my front door, and I was slipping a quiet key into the lock.
    The apartment seemed empty at first. But in the front hall we heard a voice from the living room. And a squeal.
    â€œThis is the truth, Heather, and I’m never wrong. Every boy in America is going to be at the Hamptons this summer. I’m talking upper school. I’m talking boarding school. Heather, I’m talking college.”
    Heather squealed. I know her squeal.
    â€œSummer boys in Speedos, Heather. Trust me, we’re going to have a beach full of Brad Pitts.”
    Heather squealed.
    I whipped around and ran into Aaron. “It’s Heather and Muffie Mclnteer. They’re out of school early or something. They’re in the living room. We can’t get past them.”
    â€œForget about it,” Aaron said and gave me a shove. I staggered into the living room doorway, in plain view of Muffie and Heather.
    If you know Heather, you’d recognize Muffie. Heather copies everything from her: clothes, hair, boots, you name it. Heather’s a Muffie clone. They were on the sofa with their combat boots tucked up under them. They looked at me and blinked.
    Before I could think, Aaron stepped up beside me. We filled the doorway.
    Heather’s and Muffie’s jaws sagged. “Who—” said Heather.
    â€œWow,” said Muffie.
    I don’t think too well on my feet. But Aaron adjusted Stink’s tie and made his move.
    â€œHel-lo, ladies,” he said in a rich baritone. “Allow me to introduce myself.” He put out a square hand.
    Muffie and Heather were all eyes.
    â€œI’m Stink Stuyvesant,” Aaron rumbled. “Call me Stink. I’d like you to meet my friend, Hulk. Hulk Hotchkiss.”
    We didn’t look anything like Stink and Hulk. But we were their size, and Muffie and Heather wouldn’t know them from Adam anyway.
    Heather’s hand came to rest in Aaron’s large mitt. Muffie’s came out for mine. We bowed slightly.
    Muffie’s never at a complete loss for words. She scanned our ties. “It’s Stink Stuyvesant and Hulk Hotchkiss. Everybody knows them, Heather. They’re Huckley upper school.” Heather didn’t have a hope of recognizing me. She couldn’t tear her eyes off Aaron.
    â€œWhat hunks,” Muffie murmured.

7
    What Hunks?
    Muffie couldn’t drag her eyes off me, and Heather wouldn’t let go of Aaron’s hand. They’d spent all afternoon discussing older guys, and suddenly two appear before them. Magic.
    â€œWhat ...” Heather said, stunned. “How ...”
    â€œWe found your front door unlocked,” Aaron lied in a deep voice. “You need to watch that. There are a lot of crazy people out there these days.”
    Heather gaped. Personal safety was the last thing on her mind.
    â€œWe dropped by on the off chance we might find Josh and Aaron around,” Aaron said to her.
    â€œWho are Josh and Aaron?” Muffie asked. Boys buzzed in her brain.
    â€œJosh is my geeky little brother,” Heather explained. “Aaron is his nerdy friend, Pencil-Neck.”
    â€œIs Josh the kid with the dweebish voice who keeps answering the phone when I’m trying to call you?” Muffie asked.
    â€œUmmm,” Heather replied, lost in Aaron’s eyes. “Why do you want them?”
    â€œIt’s like this, Heather—it is Heather, isn’t it?” Aaron’s hand slipped smoothly out of her clutch. “Hulk and I are cocaptains of the Huckley upper-school soccer team. I don’t know if you know that. We’ve had a certain amount of publicity.” Aaron stubbed his toe modestly in the carpet. “And we’re scouting the most promising young players in middle school.”
    â€œThen why do you want to see Josh and Pencil-Neck?” Heather