got me. My secret decoder ring is
just for in case.”
The quiet in the car started to
change. From the way the back of
her head looked, Vivie wondered
if her mom was smiling.
BBB
At school, kids milled around
the gym waiting for their turn to
stand in front of the big blue screen.
The girls mostly wore matchy outfits
and shiny shoes. The boys wore
tucked-in shirts and some had new,
sharp haircuts.
Vivie stood near the wall. She
looked down at her tutu and dusty
boots and saggy new leggings. Then
she remembered she hadn’t brushed
her hair. She started to get a mad-ish,
crumpled feeling.
Pretty Autumn Harold was rushing
over. She wore a new purple sundress
and super-shiny purple shoes. Vivie’s
face got prickly hot.
“Hi Tummie,” Vivie said, looking
everywhere but at her friend.
“Where’d you get that T-shirt,
Vivie?” Tummie marveled.“I wore all the things I like best!”
Vivie said. “I wore my leopard cat
shirt because I love cats, Nona’s
pearls because I love Nona, and my
favorite sweater from New Year’s
Eve when you let me stay up. My
cowgirl boots came from a real
ranch... sort of. And my tutu is
because I’m a ballerina. I wanted it
all to go with the new leggings you
How did it go at
the store?They didn't have the
jersey I want.Or a hat my size. So we just milled around—moved
around without purpose.
I found a corn dog
under my seat!