Judith nodded I heard all about my egghead sister I figured Kaylin was behind that Meri moaned If sixth graders were talking about it then everyone in the whole world knew What happened with you and Kaylin Judith asked You two used to do everything together I don't know Meri said She doesn't talk to me anymore except to say mean things Do you want me to talk to her Judith asked a frown squinting her eyes Part of Meri wanted to say yes Judith could be scary And Meri really wanted Kaylin to stop being so mean But Meri remembered when Kaylin was her friend They read the same books They hated the same icky food And Kaylin always made Meri laugh Why couldn't she have that back Loud bangs and clumps came from the stairs Judith and Meri turned The twins
almost tumbled into the room Someone's coming Kat shouted With a package Thomas shouted even louder Judith unfolded from the couch like a lamb standing on long wobbly legs She headed toward the door and Meri followed her The pounding on the front door made it rattle Things rattled at Meri's house a lot The house was really big and really old Sometimes Meri's mom carried a toolbox into one of the shakier rooms and pounded for a while Sometimes that made things better Sometimes not Judith hauled open the door A man in a brown uniform pushed a big box into her arms Judith took the package with an oomph The man waved his clipboard Sign here he said With what Judith asked as she tried to shift her grip on the box
I'll sign it Meri offered The man looked over Meredith's head clearly hoping a grown up would appear Finally he sighed and shoved the clipboard into her hands Sign here he said Meri signed on the line She was very proud of her handwriting She liked the loops and humps and swooping tails in her name The man didn't even look at her signature He just grabbed the clipboard and ordered her to have a nice day Then he turned and ran down the front steps Judith heaved the box to the floor beside the piano She peered at the address label It's for you Meri she said It's from Aunt Prudence It's a birthday present Kat said A big one Meri looked at the box It might be a birthday present Her birthday was over a month ago but Aunt P never got things quite right
Mom Meri got a present Thomas yelled racing from the room Kat ran behind him So are you going to open it Judith asked nudging the box with her knee I would have had this thing open so fast Meri knelt and began carefully peeling the tape from the box She heard Judith making irritated huffy noises over her head Finally
