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
Yes I know Mirabel Plouffe whispers We all know says awful Maizy Durand I ignore Maizy Durand too We’re going to do all of the fun Christmas stuff we used to do in Three Rivers I say to Mirabel Plouffe You can come over and do it all with us You’ve probably never made green frosting cookies with silver balls on them before Those sound dis-gus-ting says awful Maizy Durand Those sound delicious says Amal Aziz Amal Aziz’s parents don’t let her have very much sugar They own a health food and vegan footwear store in Paris called La Nourriture We’re going to watch a bunch of Christmas movies in our pajamas I say That sounds boring says awful Maizy Durand Mm-hmm says Mirabel Plouffe She is trying to look past me so she can see Mademoiselle 12
Bennett and the agriculture map Amal Aziz doesn’t say anything She is drawing pictures of cookies all over a page in her notebook And we’re going to Winicker Wallace are you listening Mademoiselle Bennett is pointing at a picture of grapes but she is looking at me Yes Mademoiselle I say Grapes Mademoiselle Bennett looks kind of suspicious but she turns back to the map There are many breeds of French cattle including Psst Mirabel Plouffe I say Mirabel Plouffe finally looks at me Winicker I know you are very excited that Roxanne is coming tomorrow But perhaps you should also plan to do some new things with Roxanne She is coming to Paris for the very first time She will want to see all of the wonderful Parisian things in our city She will want to eat les macarons and 13
