weird green frosting and little silver balls And speaking of silver I can’t wait for Roxanne to see my hair My silver hair is from Grandma Balthazar’s hair dye It looks magnificent which is another word for tremendous We’re going to watch Christmas movies and make a gingerbread house I say And we’ll listen to Christmas music in our pajamas I can’t wait until she gets here tomorrow Those things sound like a lot of fun says Dad He has a couple spots of oatmeal and a raisin down the front of his flannel shirt But remember Winicker he says Roxanne’s never been to Paris before She’ll probably want to get out and see the sights too Grandma Balthazar breathes in really deeply That means she is going to say something like an old movie star would say in an old black-and-white movie Her silver hair sparkles under the kitchen 9
lights The sights The sounds The smells She claps her hands together I can’t wait to show Bee and Roxanne around my beautiful city I mush my oatmeal around the bowl a little with my spoon Okay but remember they’re here for Christmas So we’re going to mostly do all of the Christmas things we used to do in Three Rivers Mom wipes milk off of Walter’s face and looks at Dad Then she looks at Grandma Balthazar Then she looks at me Honey let’s make plans with Roxanne and Granny Bee Not for them No matter what you do with Roxanne it’s going to be a lot of fun Just don’t get too attached to a list or schedule Roxanne may not want to do everything on your list I put down my spoon Trust me I know Roxanne She will 10
At my desk in room 3A at La Petite École Internationale de Paris I can’t concentrate on anything Mademoiselle Bennett is saying She is pointing at a colorful map of France There are pictures of cows and cheese and wheat all over it Bennett Agriculture in France France is one of the largest exporters says Mademoiselle Voici Psst Mirabel Plouffe I say I lean forward In room 3A all of the desks are pushed together in groups of four I share my desk cluster with Mirabel Plouffe awful Maizy Durand and a new girl named Amal Aziz Amal Aziz draws tiny pictures at the top of all of her homework Mirabel Plouffe leans forward Winicker we should pay attention This is our last chance to learn anything before it is the holidays I ignore her My other best friend Roxanne is coming tomorrow I say 11
