Just Grace and the Double Surprise (13 page)

WHAT HAPPENED TO ME

I started smiling and laughing too, and I had absolutely no idea why. Mimi was trying to talk but she could hardly get the words out. The more she tried, the more she laughed. Finally I was able to figure out what she was saying.

We were both laughing like crazy. It was silly and funny and the more she laughed the more I laughed. It felt like the old Mimi was back.

WHAT CAN STOP LAUGHING IN A SECOND

"Mimi funny." Mimi and I both heard it, but we were not watching to see who said it. It was either Mr. Scruffers or Robert, because they were both standing there looking at us. Either way it was the kind of thing that we knew we had to pay attention to. "What did you say?" asked Mimi. She was looking at Robert. I guess she had pretty much decided it hadn't been Mr. Scruffers. Robert looked at her, but he didn't say it again.

"Mimi, he said your name!" I knew this was important. "Good job," said Mimi, and she patted him on the head. She was still smiling from all the laughing. "Let's go inside," I said. I was suddenly thirsty and hungry. Mr. Scruffers ran to the door. She was probably thirsty too.

WHAT WAS NICE

Obviously Mom had been waiting for us to come in. She had drinks, fruit, and cookies all set out on the table waiting for us. I like it when she is in her supermom mode.

"Sit here," said Mimi. She pulled out a chair and helped Robert sit down. "His name is Robert," I told Mom. I had already kind of gotten used to his name and was hardly even thinking about Robert Walters anymore when I said it. This was good—doing lots of thinking about Robert Walters was not something I wanted.

WHAT I NOTICED

Mr. Scruffers sat on the floor next to Robert. At first I was sad because I thought maybe it meant she liked him more than me—and she had just met him. I wanted her to sit next to me. But then after a few minutes I knew it was only because she was smart. Robert dropped way more crumbs than anyone else.

WHAT CAN GO BY SUPER FAST

A Saturday that is filled with new things.

After the snack Mimi and Robert had to go home. Mr. Scruffers and I went upstairs to rest and play.

WHAT MR. SCRUFFERS DOES NOT LIKE

Accessories.

WHAT HAPPENED AT NIGHT

I was so tired, I wanted to go to bed before nine o'clock. Usually I try to get Mom and Dad to let me stay up later on the weekends, but tonight I just wanted to sleep. I guess that's what happens when you get up at six in the morning. I let Mr. Scruffers out one last time and then we went upstairs. I flashed my lights for Mimi but she was probably still up watching TV or something because she didn't flash back at me.

Before I go to sleep at night I like to think about all the things that have happened in my day, but tonight the only thought I had was
I hope Dad doesn't make Mr. Scruffers get off the bed while I am sleeping,
and then I must have fallen asleep, because I don't remember anything else.

WHAT I HAD TO DO FIRST THING IN THE MORNING

A project can be fun if you have the idea in your head about how to do it. If you are confused about the how-to-do-it part the fun can turn into worry instead.

MY PROJECT

Find out if brothers are good. Find out more about boys.

HOW TO DO IT

WHAT I NEEDED TO HAVE FOR BREAKFAST

I like to have French toast when I am really using my empathy powers. I don't know why it helps, but somehow it makes my brain think that everything will turn out all right. I was lucky that it was Sunday. Mom doesn't like to make French toast on school days.

WHAT ELSE I WAS LUCKY ABOUT

Mr. Scruffers did not get up until seven-thirty. That was still early for a weekend, but it wasn't as bad as yesterday, and for that I was glad.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN

Just because you have a special breakfast, and you really, really, really want to think of a good idea, it doesn't mean that it will happen.

I wanted to go over and see Mimi because being next to her and Robert might be a good way to get ideas, but Mom said I was not allowed to interrupt them until ten o'clock. I didn't think it could happen, but even though Mr. Scruffers was with me I was still suddenly bored. I did not feel like drawing, playing with the dog, reading, or any of the other things I normally like to do. All I could think of was that it was nine-thirty-five and I still had twenty-five more minutes to wait.

WHAT HAPPENED AT TEN A.M.

I left Mr. Scruffers in the backyard and ran across to Mimi's house. I was kind of excited to see Robert. I wanted to give him the book I had made. Mimi's dad opened the door. He was holding Robert. I was not expecting that so it took me a minute to think of what to say. In the end I just said, "Hi," and handed him the book. "Is this for me?" asked Mimi's dad. "I was looking for a new book to read." I could tell that he was joking. "I made it for Robert," I said. This part was not really true but I didn't want to say, "I made it for the new sister, but since Mimi didn't get a new sister I figured I could give it to Robert instead, and even though he is a boy and not a girl, he will probably still like it anyway." That was a lot to say, and just in case Robert could understand all those words, I didn't want him to feel bad that I was giving him someone else's present.

Mimi's dad smiled and said, "Thank you, Grace. This is so nice of you," and then he showed Robert the book. "Look, son. This is for you." I hadn't thought of Robert being a son, so that was kind of cool. Mimi's dad pointed to the kitchen and said, "Mimi's in there. Robert and I are just going to put on our shoes."

WHAT WAS NOT GREAT

Mimi and her mom were in the kitchen packing up snacks for the day. "We're going shopping and then on a picnic," said Mimi. She seemed grumpy again. "That doesn't sound bad," I said. "Furniture shopping!" complained Mimi. "Oh," I said, and then because Mimi's mom was looking the other way I stuck out my tongue. Furniture shopping was the worst! I was glad I made Mimi smile.

"We're going to get Robert some boy furniture for his room," said Mimi's mom. "Mimi is going to help be the designer. It'll be fun." Mimi did not look like she thought it was going to be fun. "The only good part is the picnic," said Mimi. "We're having egg salad sandwiches." I wanted to stick my tongue out again, but that would have been rude. Mimi and I are best friends and we like a lot of things the same, but eggs is not one of them!

"When are you going?" I asked. "As soon as we get our shoes on," said Mimi's mom. This was another reason to stick my tongue out. I turned my head and did it just for me, because now I was like Mimi—unhappy. Now I couldn't watch her and Robert to get ideas.

WHAT I SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED

After Mimi left, which was about three minutes later, I went back home. It was a good thing too, because Mr. Scruffers was barking like crazy. I thought that maybe it was a squirrel, but when I got into the backyard I saw that it was Crinkles. Crinkles was on the picnic table with all his fur fluffed up and he was growling at Mr. Scruffers. Those two were not going to get along at all. I'm sure Crinkles was on his way to visit with Augustine Dupre.