LITMIR.BIZ

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dad’s a—” began Carla, then bit her lip.

      “A what?”

      “Well, he’s a doctor, like I said. But he told me he’d love to be a detective.”

      “Spies are much more glamorous,” Tracy said, raising her eyebrows archly. “Like in those James Bond movies.” Then she left them, calling “Ta-tah, dahlings!”

      The girls curled up on Julie’s bed to continue talking about their future plans. Sometimes Julie was sure that being a detective would be the perfect job for her, but other times she wanted to be an ecologist and save endangered species. Sometimes she wanted to become a mayor or a senator—maybe even run for president someday. “Sooner or later,” she told Carla, “America will have a woman president. So why shouldn’t it be me?”

      “It would be cool to live in the White House,” Carla said. “Although it feels like our new house is nearly that big!”

      If only she and Mom and Tracy still lived in a house—just big enough to have a border collie, Julie thought fleetingly. Carla was lucky.

      Mrs. Albright came home, and Julie introduced her new friend.

      “Would you like to stay for dinner?” Mom asked Carla.

      “Oh, please stay!” cried Julie, but Carla shook her head.

      “I have to get home,” she said. “To help with the baby, and everything.”

      Tracy popped out of her bedroom and grabbed her mom’s arm. “I’ll drive her! Okay, Mom? Can I drive her? May I?”

      “Hmmm,” said Mrs. Albright, considering. She stared up at the ceiling for a moment, then winked at Julie and Carla. “Do you think if we ask Tracy very, very politely, she might possibly consider driving Carla home?” Her voice was teasing. Tracy gave a yelp of assent and hugged her mother. Then, beaming, she hurried to get the car keys.

      “Oh, good,” said Julie. “I’m coming too!” She wanted to see Carla’s painted lady house.

      But Carla was shaking her head. “No, that’s okay,” she said. “It’s not far, really. I really should walk—I need the exercise.” She grabbed her book bag and headed across the living room.

      “But it’s getting dark,” objected Mrs. Albright. “And it looks like rain again.”

      “Really, I’ll be fine,” Carla insisted.

      “Well, come over again soon,” begged Julie. “We can play spies! Or else bring your dog and we’ll go for a walk—”

      “I will,” promised Carla. “Thanks for having me. See you again soon!” She was out the apartment door and down the stairs before Julie could say another word.

      Tracy sighed. “Guess she doesn’t trust my driving either,” she said glumly. “Nobody does.”

      “Now, Tracy dear, you know I trust you,” said Mrs. Albright. “You did just fine getting the groceries, and didn’t I just give you permission to drive her home?”

      “Yes, but—”

      “Mom,” interrupted Julie, “can’t we move into a bigger house so that I can get a border collie? Please?”

      chapter 4

      Puzzle Pieces

      AT LUNCH IN the school cafeteria the next day, Julie and Joy traded halves of their sandwiches. Julie’s mom had packed her a ham and cheese sandwich, while Joy had peanut butter and strawberry jam. They also traded a cookie apiece: Julie had Oreos, while Joy had brought home-baked oatmeal. Julie wished her mom had time to bake cookies. Once she and Ivy had baked Chinese almond cookies together, and they’d turned out pretty well. Maybe next time they would make oatmeal cookies, and Julie would bring some to school. T. J. sat across from them, watching the daily trade, and kept trying to sneak bites of their sandwiches and cookies.

      Carla slid onto the bench next to Julie and opened her brown paper sack. She withdrew an apple, a chunk of cheese, and a small green pepper.

      “That’s your lunch?” asked T. J.

      Carla frowned at him. “Why not?” She bit into the pepper. “It’s a perfectly good lunch. My parents are doctors, and they say fruits and vegetables are healthy and nutritious.” She finished the pepper and started crunching the apple.

      “You can have one of my cookies,” Julie offered.

      Carla hesitated, then took the Oreo. “Thanks.” She stuffed the cookie into her mouth.

      “So much for healthy and nutritious,” T. J. teased.

      Carla shot him a glare.

      “Sorry!” he said. “Want half of this sandwich, too? I’m sick of peanut butter and jelly.”

      Carla hesitated, then reached for it. “Um…okay,” she said and wolfed it down.

      Julie finished her sandwich. “Lunch will be over in five minutes. Let’s go out to the playground before the bell rings.”

      Outside, the playground was dotted with kids wearing brightly colored jackets. Julie, Joy, and Carla walked over to the swings, while T. J. chased off after some boys playing kickball. The girls pumped their legs, swinging higher and higher. Julie leaned back and looked up at the tree branches spreading like black fingers across the gray November sky. She felt as if she were flying. How fabulous it would be to soar across the sky like an eagle and perch on one of those black branches…

      “Hey, Nancy!”

      Carla’s voice jolted Julie out of her musings. She opened her eyes and saw Carla waving at some little kids who were playing hopscotch on the other side of the playground.

      “That’s my kindergarten sister, Nancy,” Carla told Julie and Joy. “Nan for short.”

      “In the green hat?” asked Julie.

      “Yup.” Carla called Nan’s name again and waved, but the child was busy with the game and didn’t look up.

      “Nan is a cute name.” Julie wished again that she had a little sister. “And she’s cute, too! Let’s go over and say hi. I want to meet her.”

      “Okay, but wait a sec—I’m almost swinging as high as you!” Carla pumped harder. “Do you think it’s possible to go so high that you can loop over the bar? My brother Todd told me he knew a kid who said he did it—but I don’t see how you could, really.”

      “I don’t either,” said Julie. “But it would be fun—as long as you didn’t fall!”

      “Wait for me!” yelled Joy, kicking her legs and straining to reach the same height.

      The three girls pumped harder and flew higher until the bell rang. As she slowed her swing, Julie watched the kindergartners line up by the door. By the time she and Carla and Joy had jumped off the swings and were running toward the building, the kindergartners had gone inside.

      ...

      After school Julie and Carla walked out to the playground gate together. Julie hoped Carla might invite her over to her house. She wanted to see Carla’s big house—was it really nearly as big as the White House?—and meet Carla’s dog, Blackjack. She wanted to see all of his tricks. It would be fun to meet Carla’s family, too. But Carla didn’t say anything. So Julie invited Carla to come over to her apartment instead, hoping the invitation would remind Carla that it was actually her turn to invite Julie.

      Carla shook her head. “Sorry, I can’t today. I have to go straight home to babysit for Nan and baby Debbie. And walk the dog. I’ll take them all to the playground. The boys all have sports after school, or music lessons—I forget what—but they’re not going to be home.”

      “I could help you babysit,” Julie offered

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