CHAPTER 2 Closer to Nine Stella there’s a phone call for you Mom said I love getting phone calls Hello this is Stella Batts I said pressing the phone against my ear Who is this Next to me my sister Penny whined in my other ear How come I didn’t get a phone call Shhh Penny I can’t hear I said Who is this I asked again Guess said a voice on the other end of 11
the phone Willa I nearly screamed Of course I know who it is You’re my best friend I can’t wait to see you in person It will be my best birthday EVER Me toooooo Penny cried leaning toward the phone It’s not going to be your birthday I told her I mean I can’t wait to see Willa too she said WILLA Inside voices girls Mom said Please Let me talk to Willa Penny said in a soft inside voice No I told her in my soft inside voice I don’t mind if Penny wants to talk to me Willa said Willa is very nice As a matter of fact she’s the nicest person I’ve ever met in my 12
whole entire life But I knew she’d called to talk to me not Penny It’s not fair Penny told Mom Hold on I said into the phone I walked out of the kitchen down the hall and into my room You know what’s weird I asked Willa You know exactly what my house looks like But when you walk in yours I have no idea what it looks like You’ll know in two more days Willa said I know I said I’m so excited If you haven’t guessed already that was the amazing trip I mentioned in Chapter One a trip to Willa’s house in Pennsyl vania From Saturday morning until Tuesday night four days and three nights I’m more excited Willa said 13
