didn't have to wink twice。 I smiled
and said； “Sure thing！” then jumped off the liftgate and
headed for my new front door。
I heard her ing after me but I couldn't believe it。 Maybe it just sounded like she was
chasing me； maybe she was really going the other way。
But before I got up the nerve to look； she blasted right past me； grabbing my arm and
yanking me along。
This was too much。 I planted myself and was about to tell her to get lost when the weirdest
thing happened。 I was making this big windmill motion
to break away from her； but somehow on the downswing my hand wound up tangling into
hers。 I couldn't believe it。 There I was； holding the mud
monkey's hand！
I tried to shake her off； but she just clamped on tight and yanked me along； saying； “C'mon！”
My mom came out of the house and immediately got the world's sappiest look on her face。
“Well； hello；” she says to Juli。
“Hi！”
……… Page 4………
I'm still trying to pull free； but the girl's got me in a death grip。 My mom's grinning； looking at
our hands and my fiery red face。 “And what's your
name； honey？”
“Julianna Baker。 I live right over there；” she says； pointing with her unoccupied hand。
“Well； I see you've met my son；” she says； still grinning away。
“Uh…huh！”
Finally I break free and do the only manly thing available when you're seven years old — I
dive beh