Livvy folded her arms and declared She lied That wasn’t very nice I said I was just kidding said Livvy patting Maxi on the back Why I bet you didn’t rip them just going down a slide anyway You were probably trying to escape the jaws of a T rex or running away from a bank robber Am I right It was a bank robber with bad breath said Maxi waving her hand in front of her nose Stiiiink-y Livvy laughed Aren’t you clever Then she leaned closer to Maxi and whispered Maybe it was just DJ that you smelled I made a face at her Well I like Maxi’s pants Livvy glared at me Listen RJ It’s TJ I said 8
It’s just that I like to be neat and clean she said She stared at the green streaks on my sleeve Obviously you don’t They’re grass stains I said From football Livvy smirked If you say so Maxi bit her lip when she looked at her jeans again I forgot to wash my good dress last night She shrugged My bad I’ve known Maxi since kindergarten She’d rather eat a bowl of bugs than wear a dress Then Maxi’s eyes lit up But it got dirty after I climbed back into the castle after I slayed the dragon Livvy’s eyes grew wide You’re so brave Maxi I knew you’d only wear tattered clothes if your good dress was dirty I just knew it 9
Hey I said to Livvy what’s your problem Who cares what she’s wearing Pick on someone your own Size said Livvy Don’t be mean DJ Then she dropped her voice to a loud whisper Though Maxi you really are the shortest girl I’ve ever seen in fourth grade Shouldn’t your name be Mini Livvy laughed You’re adorable She pinched Maxi’s cheeks You’re like a cute puppy dog Mini Maxi smiled Thanks Then she added I think Her name is Maxi I said Don’t call her Mini Geez I’m just kidding Livvy said What does TJ stand for anyway It doesn’t stand for anything I said It’s just TJ 10
Livvy frowned It must stand for something She leaned over to put a notebook inside her desk That’s when she saw the inside of mine What a mess she shrieked I know what TJ stands for Too Junky Just like your desk Before I could say anything she winked Just kidding I knew you were kidding said Maxi standing on her tiptoes Even on her toes she was still the shortest kid in the class Maybe even the whole school I clenched my jaw and walked away I had better things to do Like pass out my birthday invitations I walked to the mailboxes and started to toss invitations into each one Do you have one for everyone asked Ms Perry from her desk You know 11
