Just Grace and the Double Surprise (16 page)

 

BECAUSE OF MY BAD MOOD

Comics are my thing.

WHAT IS AUTUALLY GOOD

It's a good thing that I don't have laser eyes or I would have completely fried Robert's brain with all the "GRRRRRR" looks I was giving him.

WHAT WAS FINALLY HERE

Recess!

Sometimes moving around can help unhappy feelings go away. Mimi and I walked outside. "Aren't you excited about the comic thing?" she asked. I think she was trying to cheer me up. "No!" I said it in a real grumpy voice. I was in a bad mood and it was all Robert's fault. I crossed my arms and made a big sigh. "If everyone does comics, they won't be special. I should just stop making them."

"What?" asked Mimi. I could tell she was confused. "No one does comics like you. You love them, and you're so good at them. You can't stop. I thought for sure you'd be happy that more people were going to try making some. More people doing and reading comics is a good thing."

I was thinking about what she was saying when she started talking again.

WHAT MIMI SAID NEXT

"It's like Roberts," said Mimi. "In all the world there are good Roberts and not-so-good Roberts. If you want people to be nice to any of the Roberts, you really need the good Roberts to be around. If you don't have enough good Roberts, then people start to think that all Roberts are bad, and they won't be nice to them—even if they meet a friendly one. The good ones are really important. The more good ones the better."

THE ROBERT STORY

Mimi stopped for a second and then she said, "That's why we have to help my brother be a good Robert." Then she looked at the ground like she was embarrassed or maybe like she couldn't believe what she had just said. It was true. She had said something pretty big. It was surprising to both of us. She had used the words "my brother" for the first time ever. It's the kind of thing that most people wouldn't have noticed, but a best friend is different. I knew it was special. Mimi was making her love change from sister love to brother love. "Oh, Mimi," I said, and I put my arms around her. "You are ... Wow!"

AND THEN

Mimi and I spent the whole rest of recess smiling—we couldn't help it. Sammy saw us and said, "It worked, right?" Mimi looked confused. "Yes, it was good," I said. "Okay, you should try Glenda next. That's a good girl name. See ya." He did a half wave and was gone. It was nice. Sammy was easy. He asked hardly any questions and seemed perfectly happy with a fast answer. I looked at Mimi. I was not thinking the same thing about her. She was complicated. She was a girl. She was always going to be full of questions, and I could tell that she was thinking of about a hundred of them right now. It was going to take a while to get them all answered and explain everything.

But that was not my biggest thought. My really big thought was one I had never had before. It was about Robert. Mimi and I are girls. We are not easy. Poor Robert. Was
he
going to be able to handle us?

THE BEST WHAT HAPPENED LATER

Mimi and I found the perfect way to end our day. I'm hoping that even when I get old and my brain gets filled up with all sorts of other things that I will still remember it, because there was one thing I was knowing. It was special.

SIX PERFECT FLASHES!

WHAT GRACE WILL BE THINKING ABOUT IN HER NEXT BOOK