Where Triplets Go, Trouble Follows

by Michelle Poploff

  “You know, it’s not about winning, it’s about doing the work on your own project,” Lily said, walking over to her sister. “We would have teamed up with you, but you were never interested in science.”

  Violet bounced off her bed. She threw the flyer on the floor and faced her sisters. “I’m your own flesh and blood, but you’d rather team up with strangers. And one of them is a booger-brained boy!” She marched across the room and pulled open the door. “You’re nothing but traitors!” she called out, shutting the door with a bang.

  Chapter 3

  Strikeout

  Frostine wouldn’t stop bragging about her science fair experiment. “My project will save the planet,” she announced.

  “I wish it would save my ears,” said Violet. She turned and flashed a smile at Tillie.

  Tillie grinned back.

  “Look who’s talking. You should get going on your own project,” Frostine said.

  “You’re right,” Violet agreed. “I should get going.” She couldn’t get away from Frostine fast enough.

  After school, she and Lily went to the baseball field to cheer for Daisy and her team. Violet was glad to take her mind off science and Frostine. They got good seats in the bleachers and waved to Daisy, who was warming up. The Eagles were decked out in their blue uniforms. They were playing against the Red Rovers.

  The sisters cheered when Daisy took her position in left field.

  Then Frostine and Kristen loudly clomped up into the bleachers and took seats right behind them.

  Violet’s heart sank.

  “Danny looks so cute in his uniform,” said Kristen. “I think he likes me.”

  “Justin’s cute, too,” Frostine said. “I asked about doing the science fair project together, but he’s doing something with his friend.”

  Lily nudged knees with Violet. They knew who Justin’s science fair buddy was, all right.

  Though Violet would have loved to spill the beans, Frostine would find out soon enough. But right now, her sharp, bony knees kept digging into Violet’s back. Violet inched closer to Lily. Frostine’s knees followed her.

  Finally Violet had had enough. She whirled around. “Keep your knees to yourself, Frostine,” she said.

  “Well, excuuuse me,” said Frostine. “Anyway, shouldn’t you be home working on you know what?”

  Lily poked Violet. “Daisy’s coming up to bat.”

  “Go, Daiseeeey, go, Daiseeeey,” the sisters chanted.

  Daisy lifted the bat over her right shoulder. She gripped it with both hands and bent her knees. The pitcher threw the ball and Daisy swung.

  “Stee-rike one,” the umpire called.

  The second pitch was wide, but Daisy swung anyway.

  “Stee-rike two,” said the ump, holding up two fingers.

  “Couldn’t your sister see that ball was a mile away?” said Frostine, sticking her head in between Lily’s and Violet’s shoulders.

  “She’ll get a hit, don’t you worry,” Violet said, hoping she was right.

  “What, me worry?” said Frostine.

  On the next pitch, the tip of Daisy’s bat finally connected with the ball. Daisy dropped the bat and ran, but she was tagged out at first base.

  “Better luck next time,” said Kristen.

  “Just you wait,” said Violet.

  Daisy was usually a good fielder. But when the Eagles took the field again, she missed some easy fly balls and pop-ups.

  “Daisy’s sure having a bad day,” Lily said to Violet.

  Violet agreed.

  “How did your sister ever make the team?” Frostine asked.

  The girls ignored her.

  Daisy’s bad day got worse. Later a ground ball went right through her legs. When she got up to bat again, she kept missing the ball.

  Violet turned to Lily. “She needs to focus and wait some more,” she said.

  Lily nodded. “Wait for your pitch, Daiseeeey!” she called out.

  “Stee-rike three! You’re out,” called the umpire. Daisy’s head slumped to her chin as she slowly walked back to the dugout.

  The girls cringed when their sister missed a high fly ball. Daisy ran far out for the ball. It bounced, and by the time she got it and threw it to a teammate, the runner was sliding into home plate. The Red Rovers had scored.

  “Maybe the sun was in her eyes,” said Violet.

  “Hah, what sun are you talking about?” said Frostine. “It’s cloudy and getting chilly.” She stamped her feet behind Violet.

  Violet couldn’t wait for the game to end. Still, she hoped something good would happen for Daisy.

  When Daisy finally got another chance at bat, she hit a single.

  Her sisters cheered.

  A few minutes later, they held their breath as they watched Daisy stepping and waiting and trying to steal second base. When it looked like a good time to make her move, Daisy ran and slid but was tagged out at second. Shaking her head in disgust, she walked back to the dugout.

  “What a show-off,” Kristen said. “She should have waited.”

  Violet agreed, but would never say so.

  It was finally the bottom of the ninth inning. The score was one to nothing in favor of the Rovers. If the Eagles didn’t score now, the game was over.

  Max came up to bat, and on his second swing, the ball connected with a whack, and he was safe at second. The fans in the home team bleachers stood up and roared.

  When Justin stepped up to the plate, the crowd chanted, “Justin, Justin, he’s our man, if he can’t do it, no one can!”

  Everyone remained standing and stomping their feet. “Stee-rike two,” the umpire called.

  Justin gripped his bat tightly as the ball left the pitcher’s hand. His bat hit the ball with a mighty crack. The ball flew up and away. “It’s a homer!” the fans cheered.

  Justin rounded the bases, bringing Max home. The Eagles had won by one run. The crowd went wild!

  “Looks like your sister had a bat day,” said Frostine, cracking herself up.

  “She’s lucky Justin saved the team,” Kristen added. “Justin time.” The girls continued laughing.

  Lily and Violet couldn’t figure out why Daisy was off her game today. But they had to defend their sister.

  “No one can be the star in every game,” Lily said. “That’s why they play as a team.”

  “And the Eagles did win,” Violet chimed in.

  “No thanks to Daisy,” said Frostine. “Come on, Kristen, let’s go congratulate the boys.”

  Violet and Lily waited for Daisy to collect her gear. Then they walked home together.

  “Everyone has an off day,” said Violet. “You’ve had some really great games.”

  “Not lately,” said Daisy, kicking at a rock. “Something feels wrong, but I don’t know what it is. I sure hope I don’t get thrown off the team.”

  “The coach wouldn’t do that to you,” said Lily.

  “But I missed some easy catches, and I probably shouldn’t have tried to steal second,” said Daisy.

  “Probably not,” Violet said.

  “Thanks a lot,” said Daisy.

  “I’m just agreeing with you,” Violet said.

  “Well, you don’t have to be so agreeable,” Daisy said, thumping her bat on the ground. “And on top of everything, last week Ms. Lamb had me change my seat. I wasn’t even goofing around. Now I have to sit in the front row.”

  “My teacher did that to a boy in my class,” said Lily. “It was to help him see better. And then he got glasses.”

  “I guess I squint sometimes,” said Daisy. “But I don’t need glasses.”

  “Maybe you do,” said Violet.

  “Uh-uh,” said Daisy. “They’ll only get in my way when I’m playing ball.”

  “Maybe you’ll play better if you wear them,” said Violet. “Dad wears glasses when he’s playing tennis.”

  “You would look cool wearing glasses,” said Lily.

  “Can it, Lily,” said Daisy. “I’m poo
ped and feeling crabby.”

  Later that week, Daisy got glasses with sky-blue frames. Lily was right. She did look cool wearing them.

  Chapter 4

  Snoop Sister

  Daisy’s dad showed her how to clean her glasses with a special cloth. “I’ve been wearing glasses since second grade,” he told her. “I had a feeling one of my girls would need them sooner or later.”

  “I’m not crazy about wearing them,” Daisy admitted. “But it’s been easier copying stuff from the board.”

  “How about when you’re playing baseball?” her dad asked.

  “Well, I haven’t hit a homer yet,” Daisy said. “But everything on the field looks bigger. It’s more fun now that things aren’t fuzzy.”

  “I’m glad it’s working out,” her dad said. “It’s fun having a daughter who wears glasses.”

  “It just gets annoying when they slide down my nose,” said Daisy.

  “I’ll tighten them up for you,” her dad said. “If they’re still slipping, we’ll take you back to Dr. Tal.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” Daisy said. “This feels better already.”

  Her dad hugged her. “Have a great day at school.”

  Daisy had just been dropped off from baseball practice. Her glasses had stayed in place all day. “Mom, I’m home,” she called out, closing the kitchen door.

  “That’s great, honey. Grab some fruit from the fridge,” her mom said from the living room. “I’m talking to Grandma Rose.”

  “Send hugs,” said Daisy.

  “Will do,” her mom said.

  Daisy took a bunch of grapes and sat down at the table. It was nice and peaceful in the kitchen. The grapes were sweet and juicy. Daisy sighed happily and closed her eyes. She was daydreaming about hitting a home run when she heard her mom talking.

  “Yes, it will be fun to surprise the girls,” her mom laughed. “I can’t believe you and Dash didn’t think of doing this sooner.”

  Daisy stopped chewing and listened harder.

  “Oh, yes,” her mother continued. “They will be so thrilled.”

  Daisy didn’t mean to be a nosy pots and listen in. Still, she wished she could hear her grandmother’s side of the conversation.

  “As long as you and Dash are available, seven o’clock tonight will be perfect,” her mom said. “I’m sure the girls will remember this day forever.”

  Daisy had heard enough. She grabbed her gear and pounded up the back stairs to tell her sisters. Lily and Violet were playing a computer game when Daisy burst into their room.

  “You’ll never guess,” Daisy said, trying to catch her breath.

  “You hit a homer,” said Lily.

  “Better than that,” Daisy said, tossing her sports bag on the floor.

  “Two homers,” said Violet.

  “Even better,” Daisy said, flinging her baseball cap across the room.

  “Just tell us, Daisy,” said Lily.

  “Okay, here goes,” Daisy said. “I heard Mom talking on the phone to Grandma Rose.”

  “You mean you were listening in,” said Lily.

  “Otherwise known as snooping,” Violet said.

  “I wasn’t snooping,” said Daisy. “Mom knew all along I was having a snack in the kitchen. So it wasn’t my fault that I heard . . .”

  “Spill it, sister,” said Violet.

  “Grandma Rose and Grandpa Dash are getting married!” Daisy said, falling down on the nearest bed, which belonged to Violet.

  “What? How? When?” the girls asked.

  “They never said a word,” said Lily. “That’s not fair.”

  “It’s supposed to be a surprise,” said Daisy, sitting up on Violet’s bed.

  “No offense, but I’d rather not have your sweaty grass-stained self on my quilt,” Violet said, waving her hands in front of her nose.

  “It’s too late now,” said Daisy. “I’m already on it.”

  “Save your drama for another day, Violet,” Lily said.

  “Oh, fine,” Violet said. They sat cross-legged on her bed while Daisy told them word for word exactly what she’d heard.

  “We didn’t even know they were dating,” Lily said.

  “Well, you know how it goes with older people,” Violet said.

  “No, how does it go?” asked Lily.

  “Things move much faster at their age,” Violet said, as if she knew a thing or two.

  “Maybe we can help them plan the wedding,” said Daisy. “We could bake a big cake.”

  “And we can be bridesmaids and wear fancy pink dresses,” said Lily.

  “I’m not wearing pink,” said Violet.

  Daisy bit her lip. “What if I heard wrong and they’re already married?”

  “No way,” said Lily. “They would want us to be at their wedding.”

  “She’s right,” said Violet. “And that means Grandma Rose’s last name will be Divine.”

  “Yay, we’ll all be Divines,” Daisy said. “But remember, we’ll have to act surprised when they tell us tonight.”

  “Let’s practice looking surprised,” Lily said, opening her mouth and eyes as wide as possible.

  Violet put her hand to her forehead. “Oh my gracious, I never would have guessed that the two of you were so much in love,” she said, rolling off the bed, pretending to faint.

  “Don’t overdo it, Violet,” Daisy said, pulling her up.

  Violet sat back on her bed. “I wonder if Grandma Rose will be wearing a diamond ring. We’ll have to sneak a peek at her fingers,” she said, rubbing her hands together in gleeful delight.

  Lily rested her chin in her hand. “It’s just hard to imagine them getting married.”

  “They seemed to like each other when they were here for dinner,” Daisy pointed out.

  “They sure did,” said Violet.

  “But,” said Lily, “we’ve never even seen them holding hands.”

  “Maybe they’re shy,” Daisy said.

  “Our grandmother is not shy,” Violet said.

  “They did come together to one of my baseball games,” said Daisy.

  “You’re right,” Violet said. “It was after our crazy dessert party. They sat next to each other. I remember because I was sitting on the other side of Grandma Rose.”

  “And I was sitting beside Grandpa Dash,” Lily said.

  “Did you hear any lovey-dovey talk between them?” Daisy asked.

  The girls shook their heads.

  Lily snapped her fingers. “Wait a second,” she said. “I heard Grandpa Dash say to Grandma Rose that he had something to ask her.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us before?” Violet said.

  “I think someone got a hit,” said Lily. “We were all cheering and I forgot about everything else.”

  “Rats,” said Daisy. “So you never heard what he wanted to ask her?”

  “Sorry,” Lily said.

  “Looks like we’ll find out tonight,” said Daisy, stretching out on Violet’s purple quilt.

  “Oh no you don’t,” said Violet, yanking her off the bed. “Hit the showers.”

  Chapter 5

  Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

  Sure enough, that night Grandma Rose and Grandpa Dash came to visit. But they did not arrive together.

  The girls were spying on their grandparents from the top of the stairs.

  Violet whispered to her sisters, “Remember to act natural.”

  “Did you check out Grandma Rose’s hands?” Lily asked Daisy.

  “I sure did,” said Daisy, tapping her glasses, which really did come in handy. “I can see them clear across the room. She’s not wearing any rings. But she does have a cute silver bracelet.”

  “Never mind that now,” Violet said. “Let’s go sit down.”

  “Sorry, folks,” Herb Divine said, coming into the family room. “I had to take a quick call.”

  He winked at his wife and nodded to the grandparents.

  The triplets squeezed onto a chair that was not meant to hold thr
ee people. They were wiggling with excitement.

  “Why are you all so crowded together?” their mother asked.

  “There’s plenty of room beside me,” Grandpa Dash said from the couch. He patted the wide space between him and Grandma Rose.

  “This is more fun,” Lily said. She wiggled a bit too much, and Violet landed on the floor.

  “Oops, sorry,” Lily said, trying to stifle a laugh.

  “No problem,” said Violet, a little too loudly. “I’ll stay here for now,” she said.

  Grandpa Dash cleared his throat. “My dear Divine granddaughters,” he began. “I won’t beat about the bush.”

  “What bush?” said Daisy, looking around.

  Grandma Rose smiled. “He means we have some news for you,” she said. “It was a surprise, but now we can tell you that we . . .”

  “Are getting married,” Violet blurted out.

  “What?” the grown-ups said, staring down at her.

  Violet quickly got up and squeezed back onto the chair with her sisters. It was squishy but safer.

  “Why, no,” said Grandpa Dash. “We . . .”

  “Are getting engaged,” Lily said.

  “Oh my heavens,” said Grandma Rose. “We . . .”

  “Are dating,” Daisy said.

  “No, no, and no,” Grandpa Dash said, laughing and slapping his knee. “Whatever brought this on?”

  The girls looked at Daisy. “Well, for one thing, both of you were having so much fun last time at dinner,” she said.

  Violet joined in. “And then you took Grandma Rose to Daisy’s baseball game.”

  “My car was in the shop,” their grandmother said. “I wanted to see the game, so Dash kindly offered to drive me.”

  “But Grandpa Dash,” said Lily. “During the game you said there was something you wanted to ask Grandma Rose.”

  “There was?” asked Grandma Rose, turning to Grandpa Dash.

  “I did?” he asked, looking puzzled.

  Now all eyes were on Grandpa Dash.

  The tips of his sticky-out ears had turned bright red. He tapped his finger to his forehead, trying to remember. Then he smiled. “Oh, indeed I did, indeed I did,” he said, turning to Grandma Rose. “I was going to ask you if . . .”