My New Best Friend

by Julie Bowe

  Chapter 13

  When I wake up the next morning, I look over the edge of my bed. Stacey is still asleep in a sleeping bag on the floor. I lay back and think about all the fun we had last night. Building the shrine. Guarding the mermaid from wicked screwdrivers. Making her offerings of root beer and candy bars.

  I push off my covers and tiptoe to my desk. I pick up a pencil and open my sketchbook. I flip past the drawings I did at the park and write The Secret Mermaid Club across the top of a new page. Then I draw two girls. I give one straight hair and one curly hair, but I give them both the same smile. Then I get out my colored pencils and start filling them in.

  "What are you doing?"

  I turn to see Stacey sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

  "I'm making a sign for the shrine," I say, coloring Stacey's eyes brown and mine blue. I hold it up to show her.

  "Nice," Stacey says. "But aren't you forgetting someone?"

  "Who?" I ask, studying the picture.

  "The mermaid!" Stacey says, stretching.

  "Oh, yeah," I say, turning back to my desk. Then I draw the mermaid, a little smaller and off to one side.

  "I'm starving," Stacey says, crawling out from her sleeping bag.

  "Me, too. Let's get some breakfast and then go back to the attic and start having more fun!"

  Stacey crawls over the blankets that fell off my bed and heads out the door. I close my sketchbook and wade after her. I stop when I step on something squishy.

  I look down and see George under my foot. I pick him up and unsquish his stomach. "Be careful, George," I say. "Or you'll get hurt."

  I fluff up the blankets and set George on top, like he's king of the mountain.

  My foot snags a corner of the mountain on the way out and George tumbles back to where he started.

  Dad makes pancakes for breakfast with whipped-cream hair, strawberry eyes, and chocolate chip mouths.

  "I'm going to bake cookies this morning," Mom says as we carry our plates to the sink. "Want to help?"

  "No, thanks," I say. "We've got some important stuff to do ... um ... upstairs."

  Me and Stacey take off for my bedroom, throw on some clothes, and head to the attic.

  "Let's pretend the shrine is hidden in a deep, dark cave," Stacey says, finding a flashlight on the workbench. "And we're searching for it."

  "Okay," I say. "We can draw a secret map on one of the boxes, and use it to find her!"

  I grab the pens and pencils we dumped out of the jar last night and we start drawing.

  Before long, we're crawling so deep into the cave we hardly even hear the doorbell when it rings. And a few minutes later, when my mom calls our names from downstairs, it's like she's a million miles away.

  "Let's pretend we didn't hear her," Stacey says.

  "The cookies are probably done," I say back. "If we don't go downstairs, she'll bring them up here. And then she'll see what we're doing and it won't be a secret anymore."

  Stacey flicks off the flashlight. "You're right," she says. "Let's go and hurry back!"

  We race each other downstairs. As soon as we hit the bottom step, our feet freeze.

  My mom is standing just inside our front door. So is Kelli.

  "Kelli?" Stacey says. "What are you doing here?"

  "I was just going to ask you the same question," Kelli says. She folds her arms across her chest. "Guess who called me this morning?"

  I hear Stacey swallow. "Who?" she asks.

  "Your dad," Kelli says. "He wanted to know if you were still sick."

  "Oh," Stacey says, quietly.

  My skin starts to prickle and I could use a little air.

  Kelli continues, "I told him, 'Stacey's not sick, and she told me you were going out of town.'"

  Stacey stares at the step.

  My mom looks at me. "Ida, did you know about this?"

  I fidget. And nod.

  Kelli starts pacing. She runs her fingers through her spiky hair. "What have I said about the lying, Stace?"

  Stacey doesn't answer.

  "Get in the car," Kelli snaps. "I'll get your stuff."

  Stacey's eyes are bright with tears. She storms out the door.

  My mom zeroes in on me as she follows Kelli upstairs.

  If I was wax, I would be a puddle right now.

  I wait until Mom walks Kelli out to her car. Then I run to the attic. I put away the flashlight and pick up the pens and pencils and candy wrappers that are still scattered across the floor. I walk over to the mermaid and put my hand on her glowing head. "Please don't let her be too mad," I say and pull out her plug.

  I'm lying on my bed when Mom walks into my room a few minutes later. She sits down next to me. "We need to talk," she says.

  I sit up and fiddle with George's tail.

  "Tell me what happened," Mom says. "Everything."

  So I tell her the whole story. Only I leave out the part about the mermaid. "Stacey's my best friend," I say. "I didn't want to let her down."

  "Lying lets everyone down, Ida," Mom says. "Sometimes you have to stand up to a friend if you want to stand up for her."

  "But I don't think Stacey even likes going to her dad's," I say. "It just reminds her that they're not a family anymore."

  "Ida, they're still a family," Mom says. "They still need to work stuff out." She reaches over and brushes back my bangs. "I'll talk to Dad. Then we'll let this one go. But if you ever do something like this again—"

  "I won't," I say. "I promise."

  Chapter 14

  On Monday morning, I walk past the broken water fountain. Stacey isn't there. I check the girls' bathroom, but she isn't there, either.

  "Did you hear?" Tom says to me as I walk into our classroom. "Miss Woo invited our class to have our Greek Day at her studio next Sunday. Mr. Crow is running off notes about it right now!"

  Tom pokes his thumb toward the board where Mr. Crow hangs up drawings and other stuff we make. Tom's school picture is attached to the body of a cartoon god, riding in a chariot. "I call him A Tomo," Tom says, smiling. "Cool, huh?"

  "The coolest," I say, and smile back.

  "It gives me an idea for Greek Day," Tom continues. "In fact, now that we'll be doing the program at Miss Woo's studio, I have a big idea!"

  Before Tom can tell me what his big idea is, the bell rings and everyone heads to their desks. Everyone except Stacey. She's nowhere in sight.

  But Jenna is. I can feel her eyes heating up the back of my head.

  I turn to look at her. "What?" I ask.

  "Hammering all weekend, huh?" she says. She shifts her eyes away, but my head still burns.

  Mr. Crow walks in with a stack of notes. He's handing them out when Stacey hurries into the room. "Sorry I'm late," she says to Mr. Crow.

  "You're right on time," he replies, handing her a note.

  Mr. Crow starts explaining about having our parents program at Miss Woo's. I grab a scrap of paper out of my desk and write a note. I toss it onto Stacey's desk.

  What happened when n you got home on Saturday?

  I.

  I wait a minute and then read the note that sails back.

  I got grounded! For the rest of the week, No phone cads', no cgoing anywhere with friends, 1 can't even ego to Jenna's house today to practice our dance, Kelli called Mrs, Drews to explain, So now I'm sure Jenna's not speaking to me,

  S.

  P.S. Did you get in trouble?

  I write another note and pass it back.

  I didn't get grounded, but if I ever do anything Like that again I'LL get buried.

  I.

  P.S. There are worse things than not having Jenna Drews speaking to you.

  Stacey reads my note and glances at me. Then she glances over her shoulder at Jenna.

  "Hi, Jenna," she whispers.

  Jenna glances at Stacey's left ear. "No talking during class," she says. Then she glances at me. "No passing notes, either." Then she goes back to staring at the chalkboard.

  I guess Jenna
decides to give the do-good nymphs the day off, because she doesn't make us meet at the pigpen for recess. In fact, I don't even see her at recess. And at lunch, when we all sit together at our usual table, Jenna just chews her veggie burger without one word about the greasy meatballs the rest of us are eating. She doesn't even lift an eyebrow when Brooke and Stacey make friendship bracelets out of their spaghetti, or when Jolene and Meeka stick cucumber slices to their earlobes, or when Randi catapults cherry tomatoes at the boys with her spoon.

  After school, Jenna announces, "See you on the bus," and then walks off without even lining up Randi, Brooke, Meeka, Jolene, and me for the trip to her house.

  Stacey walks to the bus with me. "Can I call you tonight and tell you how practice went?" I ask.

  Stacey shakes her head. "No phone calls, remember?"

  "Can't we even go to the Purdee Good this week for a giant cookie?"

  "I can't go anywhere except school and dance class on Thursday. Then on Friday my dad is picking me up right after school and taking me to his place for the weekend."

  "He'll bring you back for the program on Sunday, right?" I ask.

  "Unfortunately," Stacey mumbles.

  "Don't you want him to come?"

  Stacey sighs. "Yes, but he will want to bring Tanya. And then Kelli will see her and be even madder at me for not telling her about the girlfriend situation." Stacey sighs again. "It's all kind of ... complicated."

  I fidget a little, thinking about the talk me and my mom had on Saturday. "Maybe you should just tell your dad to talk to your mom? About Tanya?"

  "So Kelli can be mad at him, too?" Stacey says. She shakes her head. "It's better if she doesn't know everything."

  Stacey walks off and I climb onto the bus. I sink down next to Rachel.

  "You look sweaty," Rachel says, studying me.

  I blow my bangs. "Yeah, it's hot out there today."

  ***

  A few minutes later we're all walking into Jenna's house. Biscuit, her hyper little dog, runs circles around us, jumping and barking. Must be a boy dog.

  "That you, Jenna?" Mr. Drews calls from the living room.

  "Who else?" Jenna grumbles back.

  The other girls take turns holding Biscuit. I peek into the living room and see Mr. Drews sitting on the couch with his bare feet pointing toward the TV. He's wearing pajama pants and a work for peace T-shirt. But the only thing I see him working on is a bag of potato chips.

  Rachel skips past me and climbs onto his lap.

  "Hi, kiddo," he says, giving her cheek a rub with his scratchy chin.

  Rachel munches on a chip. "Where's Mom?" she asks.

  "Bringing home the bacon," Mr. Drews replies. He punches up the volume on the remote and grabs another chip out of the bag.

  "Everyone's here to practice our dance," Jenna barks from behind me.

  "Mmm-hmm," Mr. Drews says. "Mom left a note."

  Jenna crosses her arms and taps her toe. "Well? Is there anything to eat?"

  "Cookies in the kitchen," Mr. Drews replies, giving the remote another punch. Rachel settles back against his shoulder. Biscuit scampers in and begs for chips. Jenna whips around and walks away.

  We follow Jenna into the kitchen. Plastic grocery bags slump near the back door. Cracker boxes, gummy snacks, and soup cans peek out of their tops. Crusty pots and milky cereal bowls are stacked in the sink. Sticky notes cover the refrigerator door with messages like buy DOG FOOD, TAKE JENNA TO SCOUTS, and DO LAUNDRY! written on them. A bag of vanilla cookies spills across the counter. Another sticky note is next to it.

  Jenna,

  I'll be home late again. Make sure Rachel eats something GREEN with supper.

  Help her get ready for bed, okay?

  Love,

  Mom

  Jenna studies the note like it's a science experiment. Then she marches to the kitchen doorway. "If you're not going to bake cookies, could you at least buy some that don't taste like tree bark?!" she shouts.

  "What?!" Mr. Drews shouts back.

  "Never mind!" Jenna snaps and marches back to us.

  "What's up with your dad?" Brooke asks. "Doesn't he have to work?"

  "He's taking some time off," Jenna grumbles.

  "Man, that would be great," Randi says, nibbling a cookie. "My dad and me could play basketball 24/7 if he took some time off."

  "It's not great," Jenna says. "Not when your dad is supposed to do the stuff your mom usually does, only he does it all wrong." She grabs the bag of cookies. "C'mon. We've got work to do."

  Jenna marches out the door into the backyard.

  We shoot glances at each other and follow along.

  Jenna tosses the cookie bag onto a picnic table and starts picking up scattered toys. She chucks them into a vegetable garden that takes up one corner of the yard. A tire swing hangs from a tree in another corner. Jolene and Randi spin Meeka on it until she squeals. Brooke throws herself into a lounge chair that's under the tree. She picks up a Frisbee Jenna missed and starts fanning her face. I shuffle around in the weedy grass. It could use a crew cut.

  "Ida, you stand there," Jenna says, pointing to a cleared off spot just past the picnic table. "We need to practice the part where I dance on stage with Zeus and the nymphs dance around me." She looks at Brooke, Meeka, and Jolene. "Just be sure to leave room for Stacey," she adds. Then she turns toward the house. "Rachel!" she hollers. "Get out here!"

  "I want to be a goddess," Brooke complains from behind her fan. "Aphrodite or Athena. Not some no-name nymph."

  "There's only one goddess in this myth," Jenna says. "Gaia. Zeus's grandmother. Me."

  "Brooke could be Zeus's mom," Randi says, giving Meeka another spin. "She must have been a goddess."

  "Yeah," Brooke says. "Where's his mom?"

  "She probably went shopping for bacon," Rachel says, coming out the back door. She's wearing a sparkly blue dance costume with a puffy tutu. She's carrying three Kens, two Barbies, and one stuffed poodle.

  Jenna studies her sister and sighs. "Rachel, why are you wearing your old recital costume?" she asks.

  "Because you said I got to be in your dance," Rachel replies. "And you said I got to be a boy, so there you go. Blue is for boys." She lines up her toys on the picnic table.

  Jenna gives her sister a huff. Then she turns back to Brooke. "You can be the head nymph," she says. "You can even wear one of your pageant crowns."

  Brooke thinks this idea over for about one second and says, "Okay!"

  Then Jenna turns to me. "Try your box on, Ida," she says, pointing to a large brown box that's sitting next to the picnic table. "You'll have to pretend it looks like a mountain since you were too busy to help me paint it."

  I walk over to the box and look inside. A hundred scribbled sticky notes are stuck to it.

  I glance at Rachel. She glances back at me. "It's a good box," she says, smiling. Then she puts a sticky note on the poodle.

  I'm about to tell Jenna I can't wear a box with no holes to see through when something catches my eye.

  A bush on the other side of the yard is looking at me. Two sparkly eyes blink through its branches. A moment later, Stacey peeks around the side of the bush and gives me a secret smile. Then she disappears around the house.

  I look back at the other girls. Brooke, Meeka, and Jolene are too busy learning a new step Jenna just invented to notice Stacey. And Randi is too busy feeding cookies to the squirrels. And Rachel is too busy telling Ken to give Barbie a hand with the laundry.

  "Um...," I say, loudly. "I need to ... go to ... the bathroom."

  Jenna gives me a glance. "Hurry up," she says. "We'll need you in a minute."

  I nod and walk quickly to the back door. I go inside the house, but I don't go to the bathroom. I tiptoe to the living room and peek inside. Mr. Drews is still watching TV. Biscuit looks up from his lap and whines at me. Mr. Drews feeds him another chip. I sneak past and open the front door. Then I close it behind me, carefully, like it's made of glass.

  I
stand on the porch and look around for Stacey.

  Snap!

  I turn toward the sound and see Stacey crouching behind a big tree with a broken stick in her hand. She waves.

  I glance around, run across the yard, and dive behind the tree.

  "What are you doing here?" I ask.

  "Grandma Tootie fell asleep in her recliner," Stacey says, all breathless. "The mermaid gave me the idea to play outside, so I wouldn't disturb her."

  "That was thoughtful of her," I reply.

  Stacey nods. "So I went outside. And then the mermaid gave me the idea to go for a little walk. So I did. And, just like that, she led me right here!"

  "Wow," I say. "Only you're grounded so you should probably go back home, right? Before your grandma wakes up?"

  "Probably," Stacey says. "Only I thought it would be fun to do something together first. Just the two of us!" Stacey's eyes go all wide and hopeful.

  "But—," I start to say.

  "Let's go to your house!" Stacey jumps up. "And play in your attic!"

  "My mom's teaching piano lessons today," I say. "And it would be a major catastrophe if she caught us sneaking around. Trust me."

  "If we go in through the back door she won't see us," Stacey says.

  I fidget a little. "I promised I wouldn't sneak around anymore and if we get caught—"

  "We won't get caught," Stacey says. "Remember? The mermaid?"

  "Oh, yeah," I mumble and fidget some more. "I forgot."

  "Just for a little while. Please? I'm going crazy stuck at home."

  I sigh. And nod.

  Stacey gives my arm a friendly squeeze. "Quick! Follow me!"

  Stacey sneak-runs to another tree, then to a birdbath, and then to a parked car. She crouches behind the car and waves me in.

  I get ready to follow her, but before I take off I glance back at Jenna's house.

  Jenna is standing on her front porch, looking right at me.

  I gulp and glance at Stacey. Her feet disappear around the side of the car.

  I look back at Jenna and wait for her to start yelling. I think about Mr. Drews coming out onto the porch to see what all the yelling is about. And Jenna telling him. And making him call my mom because I'm breaking about a million rules. And the look on my mom's face when she comes to get me and take me home.