Triple Trouble by Julia DeVillers Page B

closer to our tablejust as Jason threw a chicken nugget at Mason. However, Jason wasn’t known for his aim. The nugget flew past Mason and landed on Jazmine’s table.
    â€œAUH!” Jazmine screeched as ketchup splatted her.
    â€œWoo yah! Food fight!” Mason yelled.
    â€œNo, no.” I tried to shush him. But it was too late. The words had been spoken.
    â€œFood fight!” Someone took up the rallying cry.
    Duck and cover! Duck and cover! I started to slide under the table, but it was too late. Splat! A piece of lettuce splatted on my cheek. Salad dressing dripped down onto my (Payton’s) sweater.
    â€œFood fight!” people were yelling.
    Chaos! Yelling! Squealing! And then a piece of lunch meat flew over my head. Food was flying everywhere!
    â€œBoys!” Mason and Jason were winging mac and cheese and nuggets. Please tell me I can’t be held responsible for this, can I? I grasped each boy by the neck and lifted them like kittens.
    â€œRead my mind, guys,” I growled at them.
    â€œBut that’s scientifically impos—” Jason protested.
    â€œGuess!” I cut him off, dragging both of them away from the table.
    â€œStop throwing food?” Jason asked.
    â€œAnd get out of here?” Mason asked.
    â€œExactly,” I said. “Let’s go find your mother.”
    We maneuvered around the tables and the cafeteria aides trying to avoid the flying food and get to the door. Counselor Case rushed in just as we reached it.
    â€œWhat on earth is going—?” Counselor Case started to say, but didn’t get to finish. Because a carton of chocolate milk flew past her, spraying her from head to toes.
    â€œAwes—” Mason started to say, but Jason read his mind.
    â€œâ€”ful,” Jason elbowed him. “That’s just awful.”
    Good save, Jason.

Eleven
    AT DINNER
    â€œSo Counselor Case tried to blot the chocolate milk off, but it was fruitless,” Emma said as she reached over and plucked the last of the chow mein fun with her chopsticks.
    We were finishing dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant. Emma was filling us in on the details of the epic food fight at lunch. It was the only time I’d ever wished I’d had third-period lunch.
    â€œI remember this food fight I was in once,” my dad said looking gleeful. “It was spaghetti day at school, and the principal walked in just as I was throwing a plate and—”
    â€œAhem,” my mother said. “Don’t be a bad influence on the girls.”
    â€œAnd that’s my cue to pay the bill,” Dad said, cheerfully sliding out of the booth and heading up to the front room where the cashier was located.
    â€œYou’re so lucky,” I grumbled. “I’ve never been in a food fight.”
    â€œNow, that’s something to be proud of,” my mother told me. “Although Emma, I’m glad you helped Counselor Case.”
    â€œWell, it worked out great for me,” Emma said. “Because as punishment, the twins have to do an extra day with me.”
    â€œThat is punishment, spending extra time with you,” I snorted.
    Emma shot me a look.
    â€œI’m getting paid extra money too,” she said. “So, ha!”
    â€œDon’t forget your fortune cookies,” the server said as she came up and placed four of them on a silver tray. She looked at me and then at Emma and then back at me. I knew what she was thinking.
    â€œYes, we’re twins,” I told her. “Identical.”
    â€œI see it’s a night for that,” the server said. “You should see the three twins in the front room. They look even more alike than you too!”
    I guess I didn’t know what she was thinking after all.
    â€œThree twins?” my mom asked. “Triplets?”
    Emma and I looked at each other. We hadn’t mentioned the new triplets to our parents yet. We’d talked about it when we had gotten