I don't have toys anymore Dad I'm ten a voice yelled ruining the song It was Emma's older brother who everyone called Big Big used to sing along with Dad He didn't do that anymore Lately he was too old for lots of stuff that Emma still liked Daddy get may toys shouted Emma's younger brother whose nickname was Little Little wanted to play with Emma sometimes but he was too young to understand most of her games He mostly knocked things over That was the thing that bothered Emma Big and Little's nicknames described them perfectly Emma's nickname was different Probably because everyone felt bad calling her Just Medium or Middle Emma knew that was who she was anyway Emma Bemma be a star while your father packs the car Dad rhymed walking into her room He wore his yellow starfish shirt the one he always wore for a beach vacation Emma rolled out of bed She put on the clothing
she picked out the night before- green shorts green socks and a green shirt It was too bad that when she said green it came out like gween no matter how much she practiced Big always made fun of her for it It would have been much easier if blue was her favorite color Next she turned to her Siamese fighting fish Special Star and Silly They lived in three separate tanks Otherwise they would attack each other Emma straightened the instructions she'd written in green crayon to Granny and Grandpa Feed a pinch once a day talk to each fish for five minutes Adios she whispered to her fish That's Spanish for goodbye she added Emma learned a lot of Spanish in the first grade She had to practice if she wanted to remember it for second grade Be extra nice to Special she added to Star and Silly Special's tank was the middle Emma knew that the middle could be an extra hard place to be Then she snapped her fingers open and shut to
say goodbye in the special crab wave She and her friend Wes the Best invented the wave on vacation last year She was pretty sure that Special waved his fin back at her Emma's stomach panged a bit She would really miss her fish But she was excited to see Wes He was a middle too so he liked the same things Emma did They always had lots of fun together Emma Bemma came a voice from down the hall Don't forget to brush your teeth and hair Ok Mommy Emma ran a toothbrush over her teeth Then she picked up the brush She looked in the mirror Her hair stood up in different directions That was just how she liked it She put the brush right back down Emma grabbed the soccer duffel bag she had packed up the night before Then she opened the door
CRASH WAAA Little lay crying at her feet Big Emma said Mommy said never carry Little on your back And you're supposed to be getting ready The boys never listened Emma Bemma you're not the boss said Big Emma Bemma no bas Emma Bemma no bas shouted Little Sometimes Emma wished she had a separate place to live from her brothers just like Special did She stepped over the pile of boys Just as she did Little stuck his leg out Emma tripped She landed in the middle of her brothers Owww yelled Emma Emma Bemma hurt may shouted Little Are you ok Little asked Big What about me cried Emma Everyone into the car called Mommy Emma
