The house they now had was brand-new, only lived-in for two days.
CHAPTER ONE
BUSY DAY
With a sigh, eight-year-old Lexi Murray closed the final suitcase and took a glance around her little bedroom. It was still unfinished, with only her desk, night table, bed, and dresser to furnish it for now. It would be painted and decorated eventually.
The Murrays had just moved here from East Chippaw — including Daddy, Mommy, thirteen-year-old Maureen, and little Gregory, just nine months old.
Their house was brand-new, only lived-in for the past couple of days. Today, Daddy was outside painting the front shingles of the house. Maureen was starting to plant a little garden by the fence, and baby Gregory lay sleeping in his Sesame Street crib in the nursery.
Mommy stood near the open closet in Lexi’s room. “That should take care of your dresses,” Mrs. Murray looked over the neatly-arranged row in the closet.
Closing the door, she turned to face Lexi. “Sweetie, be a dear and go get a few hangers out of the downstairs closet, please.”
Tired from the day’s rushing about, Lexi obliged and left the room. This place smells like paint, she thought as she rubbed her itchy nose. She’d been smelling that particular odor since the previous afternoon, when Daddy had started the painting.
By now, she was rather sick of the oily smell. “It’ll soon go away,” her father had assured her. Their other house hadn’t smelled like this.
Sniffing, Lexi grabbed four hangers from the entry hall closet and started to slide the door shut. Opening it again, she decided to take two more, and then brought them upstairs to her mother, who was now in Gregory’s room, trying to soothe his cries.
“Put those on the door handle in your room for Mommy,” Mrs. Murray directed. “I’ll be in there in a moment.”
Lexi did so, and then trotted back over to her bed. It was comforting to have Trixie Bear, her favorite toy. She was purple and squishy and always made Lexi feel better. She knew that Trixie Bear missed home, back in New Radcliffe, as much as she did.
But now they were all here in East Chippaw. Lexi would start third grade in a couple of weeks, on September fifth. Maureen would begin eighth grade.
She was determined to make new friends, though she also planned to keep in touch with her best friend, Cynthia from her old hometown, a three-hour drive away. They each had an app on their phones to visit and chat with. Lexi was grateful for that.
East Chippaw was her home now. Lexi would have to get used to it.
CHAPTER TWO
MORE RUSHING ABOUT
The next day was bright and sunny, and it was humid that morning. Typical August weather. The Murrays had gotten up earlier than usual so they could continue fixing up their new home.
While Gregory slept, Mrs. Murray and Maureen were arranging dinner ware and appliances in the kitchen. Lexi fixed a tall glass of iced tea and brought it outside to her father.
Mr. Murray was standing on the lawn, admiring his hard work on the front of the house. He wiped his face with a cloth.
“You’re an awfully neat painter,” Lexi told him as she gave him the glass. She noticed how clean his clothes were, whereas when she’d painted by number in her room, she’d made a mess of herself.
Her father took the drink and sipped gratefully, enjoying the taste. “Thank you,” he said, ruffling her hair. “I’m not necessarily neat … just careful.” He smiled and took another sip. “This stuff comes with experience.”
Lexi took the empty glass and her dad wiped his forehead with the cloth again. A long day stretched ahead, and it was already hot.
“Daddy?” she asked, following him into the garage.
Mr. Murray opened another gallon of paint and began to stir it, then poured it into a tray. “Yes, love?”
“Daddy, I’m bored,” she answered, watching him work.
“Why don’t you go in and help Mommy and Maureen?”
“I already did. Maureen said I was in the way. I just came from there.”
Dipping a brush into the thick paint, her father said, “How about going upstairs and telling the story of Goldilocks to Trixie?”
“She’s tired of that story,” Lexi sighed.
Daddy stopped what he was doing and gazed kindly upon his daughter. He thought for a moment, then offered, “How about you take a little walk around the block? I’m pretty sure I saw some kids playing on the back street yesterday. You might make a friend before school starts.”
Lexi smiled at her father’s efforts, but now she really didn’t feel like doing any of the things he suggested. She said that maybe she’d do that tomorrow, so as not to hurt his feelings.
He nodded with a smile, and she carried the glass into the house to place it into the dishwasher. Then she climbed the stairs to her room.
She sat on her bed, and lifted the squeezy toy. “Are you as bored as I am, Trixie Bear?” she asked with a hug.
The bear just blankly stared back at her in what Lexi was sure was an understanding gaze. She was sorry that Trixie was wearing in some places, with the stitching coming apart from being loved on for so long. She would ask her mother about sewing those spots to keep the fluff inside.
Lexi placed Trixie Bear back on the pillow. She would never be too old to have a stuffed animal, no matter what Maureen says, she decided.
Lexi felt her nose twitch. The paint smell was getting to her again. She thought a moment, then jumped up and opened the top drawer of her desk. Grabbing the Scotch tape, she ripped off a strip, and stuck it to the underside of her nose, covering her nostrils. Now, no paint air could get in, and she’d breathe through her mouth.
There, she thought, proud of herself for thinking up such a good solution. Now I’ve solved the problem. I don’t have to smell that paint anymore.
Just then, Mrs. Murray called up the stairs about lunchtime. Lexi went down the steps with a satisfied grin on her face.
CHAPTER THREE
SOMEONE NEW TO FIND
When Lexi awoke the next morning, she found herself staring at her Shrek poster. She rolled over and spied the piece of tape that had fallen off her nose overnight. She decided that she wouldn’t need it anymore since she didn’t smell any paint now.
Lexi lifted her shade and peered out the window that overlooked Drellan Place, where they now lived. Slipping into her robe, she wondered what Cynthia was doing.
It was dark and cloudy outside when Mrs. Murray glanced out the kitchen window while making breakfast. She flipped a pancake, then turned to see Lexi coming in to join the family at the table. “Good Morning!” she greeted.
Daddy sipped his black coffee while Maureen struggled to get a spoonful of strained plums into Gregory’s mouth.
Lexi helped herself to a pancake and poured some maple syrup on it. “Today I’m going to make a friend,” she announced.
“That’s a nice idea, but it looks like it might storm out soon,” said Mrs. Murray, glancing back out the window.
“I don’t care. I’m waterproof,” replied Lexi with her mouth full.
“It really isn’t wise to go out in an electrical storm,” piped up her father.
“How do you know it’s going to thunder?” countered Lexi as she cut another piece.
“I think Mom’s right,” said Maureen. “I can feel it in the air. And look at those clouds.”
“I can wear my jacket with the hood,” Lexi persisted. “It might not thunder.”
“Suit yourself,” Maureen said, spooning another mouthful into Gregory, which he promptly spat out.
Her parents looked at Lexi disapprovingly, but then her mother nodded and said, “If you hear thunder, come back at once. I mean it.”
“And take your phone,” added her father.
“I will!” exclaimed Lexi as she got up and put her plate into the dishwasher, then she raced upstairs to her bedroom. She put on a tee shirt with a butterfly on it, and a pair of gym shorts. It was a special day because she was going to make a new friend.
She pulled her jacket down from the hanger in the foyer closet and draped it over her arm. “I’ll be back soon,” she called up toward the kitchen.
“Okay, take care love, and remember to come home if you hear thunder,” commanded her father’s voice in reply.
Lexi was now familiar with the driveway in front of her new home, but it was strange to step out into the street by herself for the first time. She turned right and started walking.
I’m no baby. I’m starting third grade, she thought to herself. This is my street and I’m going to find a friend.
She turned the corner on her block, and continued on, gazing at the pretty houses lining the street. No one was outside, so she walked on.
As she turned the next corner, thought she heard a distant rumble of thunder.
CHAPTER FOUR
DRENCHED THROUGH
At first, Lexi wasn’t sure if the rumble was thunder. After all, it could have been a truck rolling somewhere in the distance … or maybe an earthquake was coming?
She shuddered, putting on her jacket, but continued walking.
A flash of lightning was definitely noticeable, though, and now she knew that it was thunder that she’d heard.
I have to get home before the storm, she thought, remembering what her parents had said. Here I am, and I haven’t made a single friend yet.
She felt her phone buzz in her pocket, and knew it would be one of her parents texting her to come home. She sighed and turned around, and it started to rain.
The storm moved in quickly, and the rain began falling in sheets. Lexi picked up her pace, running. Home was just around the corner when she suddenly stopped short.
What was that orange form moving in the gutter across the street?
Rain cascaded all around her, and visibility was poor. Bolts of lightning appeared and cracks of thunder sliced through her ears, but Lexi bravely continued across the street toward the orange figure. It looked like an animal.
When she came close enough, the animal was more visible. She blinked and approached it, and saw that it was a helpless little kitten, soaked through to its skin!
Lexi knew she had to get home, but didn’t want to leave the kitten here in this terrible storm. It had probably gotten out of its house, and then lost its way.
She brushed the rain out of her eyes and bent down to pick the kitten up, cradling it gently to her chest under her jacket. Lightning flashed and the thunder came fiercely. The storm was overhead now.
Lexi began to run in the direction of home. The kitten shivered in her arms. “It’s okay,” she whispered to it as she turned into the driveway. “You’re safe now.”
* * *
Lexi was relieved to close the front door behind her as she entered the foyer. She carefully placed the wet kitten on the soft carpet, and was pulling off her jacket when Daddy came down the stairs.
“Lexi, I thought I told you to be home before all this lightning!” Daddy scolded.
She knew he had good reason to be upset, but didn’t say anything at first. She thought, Can’t you see what I’ve found? She fixed her gaze toward the kitten, then hung up her jacket.
Mr. Murray spied the shivering kitten on the carpet. “What’s this?”
“I’ve found my friend, Daddy,” exclaimed Lexi, going over to pick up the kitten again. She went into the den and sat on the sofa, holding it. “I went out to find a friend, and that’s exactly what I’ve done.”
“You didn’t say anything about an animal,” he replied, kneeling down next to her. “This kitten probably belongs to someone, anyhow.”
Mrs. Murray appeared and sat down next to her daughter. “We’ll have to keep the kitten until its owner is found,” she chimed in. “There’s no ID tag, and looks to be no more than seven months old … probably escaped somehow and lost its way in the rain. Looks like a female.”
Her father stood up. “You may keep her for now,” he agreed, “but we’re going to have to try and reunite her with her family. I’ll put an ad on the community Web site. Lexi, you should make some signs to hang outside on some of the poles.”
Lexi looked down at the furry little kitten, drying off now and beginning to groom itself. She looked back at her father pleadingly.
“It’s only fair,” he said. “Some little girl just like you could be sick with worry over the loss of her pet. If nobody claims the kitten, she’s all yours, but we must try.”
“Yeah … I guess so,” she replied. Mommy took the kitten and Lexi went to get a towel. With a nod, Daddy left the room.
I should think of a name in case I can keep her, she thought. The orange fur with yellow flecks reminded her of a beautiful sunset. “Sunny!” she suddenly blurted, arriving with a clean towel. “I’ll name her Sunny … it’s perfect.”
“She’s cute, said Maureen. “I hope Sunny can stay.”
Mrs. Murray stood by as Maureen held Sunny, and Lexi carefully blotted at any remaining damp fur. “Careful by the ears,” she said. “They’re delicate. Take care on the face too.”
Daddy returned with a large plastic storage tub with a beach towel lining the bottom. “This is where kitty will sleep tonight,” he told his younger daughter. “If you end up keeping her, we’ll buy her a real cat basket.”
Lexi clapped her hands with delight. “Okay,” she agreed.
CHAPTER FIVE
THEY COME, THEY GO
Daddy spent some time online that afternoon. He contacted the SPCA regarding the laws about finding a lost kitten, and also checked with the animal shelter to see if it was reported missing. There was nothing on record.
Mommy ran out to the store for some dry and canned kitten food, some kitty litter, and a couple of toys for Sunny in the meantime.
They went online to some pet care sites to learn about how to care for a kitten. Right away, they found a shallow cardboard box and lined it with some litter, and Lexi put Sunny in after feeding her.
Lexi also got to work making signs about the kitten, using markers and construction paper. After the rain had passed, Maureen walked with her to tack them up on poles around the neighborhood.
Sunny slept in the storage tub that night in Lexi’s room, near her bed. She’d placed the toys on the towel inside. Every so often, Lexi would peer down to make sure the precious little kitten was all right.
She also cleaned up a little mess Sunny had made. She would place the kitten in the litter box again in the morning. Lexi hardly slept at all, hoping that no one could come and claim her.
The next morning, the Murrays got dressed, had breakfast, and waited in the living room for anyone who came by to see if the kitten was theirs.
Lexi sat on the sofa with Maureen, cuddling Sunny. Gregory was asleep upstairs. The house was quiet as the family reviewed the post on the online neighborhood billboard:
FOUND YESTERDAY—Orange kitten with no identification on Garvey Road.
FEMALE, 6-8 months of age. Claim at 305 Drellan Place before 6 PM.
Private message inquiries.
After carefully reading over the ad, Lexi had a sinking feeling that someone was going to come for Sunny. She hoped that nobody would pay any attention to the signs she’d made.
Mommy and Daddy were just as anxious as she was. Daddy brought Sunny a small bowl of warm milk and honey, and the kitten lapped it up, licking her whiskers clean.
There were a few messages, which Daddy handled, but none of them seemed to line up. One, however, looked like a match.
The door chimes startled them, and everyone jumped. Mr. Murray got to his feet and headed for the stairs, muttering, “I hope it’s XPS with my new golf bag.”
Upon opening the door, Lexi heard a boy’s voice. “I’m Kenny,” he said. “I messaged you?”
“You have the right place,” Mr. Murray replied without much enthusiasm. “Kitten’s upstairs. Follow me.”
Daddy, trailed by a boy a couple of years older than Lexi, came up the steps. Oh, no! she alarmingly thought. I hope Sunny isn’t his!
The boy walked boldly over to the sofa, where she was cradling the kitten. “Hey, Mingo,” he called.
Sunny barely turned her head at the boy’s voice. Lexi gave an exasperated sigh. Ignoring her, Kenny continued, “Really looks like Mingo. Great orange fur.”
Lexi gazed at him desperately, then he said, “This isn’t my kitten, though. This one has yellow eyes.” Lexi heaved a breath of relief that all of East Chippaw might have heard.
Daddy led the boy out through the front door. “Thanks for coming, son. Hope you find Mingo.”
As he came back up the stairs, there was more brightness in his voice. “We have until six tonight,” he said. “It’s two o’clock now.”
There were a few more messages from the Web site, and two more people came … then they went. By six, no one had claimed the little orange kitten.
“All right, Lexi,” Daddy announced, “you may keep Sunny.”
Maureen said, “Awesome!” “That’s wonderful,” Mommy smiled. Lexi was overjoyed, and grinned through happy tears as she hugged the kitten, her lovely new friend. “Sunny, you’re mine … all mine.”
Sunny gave a little purr and settled contentedly into Lexi’s arms.
The first thing she did was take a picture and send it to Cynthia. Then, she ran around yanking down all the signs … Sunny was officially hers.
CHAPTER SIX
ALL FRIENDS
That night, Lexi brought Sunny upstairs to meet little Gregory. She smiled broadly as she climbed the steps to her baby brother’s room.
Watching her, Mr. and Mrs. Murray knew that she had found the friend she’d been looking for in this strange new town, and they were pleased.
Gregory was lying awake in the crib, playing with his fingers. Lexi quietly stepped in and turned on the baby’s Sesame Street lamp.
Then she walked over and peered in at her brother. Gregory turned his head and focused his big, round eyes on his eight-year-old sister and the unique orange thing squirming in her arms.
“Look, Gregory,” she invited, holding the kitten above the crib. “This is Sunny, my kitten. You can play with her some day when you’re older. We’re all friends.”
The baby responded to this by reaching for the plush Big Bird dangling from the mobile above his crib.
On her tip-toes, Lexi bent over and kissed the baby on his button nose. Gregory gave her a toothless smile.
Beaming, she left the room. “Daddy?” she called, going back down the stairs.
“Yes, love?” He was sitting at the computer, scrolling.
“We’re all friends, aren’t we? Me, Sunny, Gregory, you, Mommy, and Maureen?”
“I would think so,” came his reply as he was typing.
“Oops … I forgot someone!” she said.
“Who’s that?” Mr. Murray played along.
“I forgot Trixie Bear! She’s a friend too. Oh, how could I forget Trixie?”
“I’m sure she doesn’t mind,” he said.
“Well …” Lexi continued, “She is a part of this family. We’re all friends.”
“That’s right.”
Lexi smiled again and started to leave the living room. “Daddy?”
“What now?” he turned to look at her.
“We have to get a real cat basket, remember? And more Kitty Vittles.”
“I know that,” he replied. “But we’ll do that tomorrow. Mommy has also made an appointment with the veterinarian, to make sure your kitty is healthy, and that she’s been spayed. Sunny will have to sleep in the storage tub again tonight. Okay?”
“All right,” Lexi said. She went up to her room and sat on the bed, where Trixie Bear lay.
“We’re all friends,” she said happily, hugging the bear, and contentedly watched Sunny play on the thick comforter. Things were going to be all right in East Chippaw.
CHAPTER SEVEN
TRUE BUDDIES
Mr. Murray brought Lexi to Pet World the next day. There was much fuss about the cat sleeper and how many more toys they should get for Sunny. They chose a pretty basket with a soft blue cushion.
They arrived home with canned and dry Kitty Vittles, a food and water bowl, a cat-scratching post, and a Katnip Kritter, shaped like a mouse. Lexi was sure Sunny now had all she needed to be comfortable in her new home.
They climbed the stairs carrying everything, with Daddy managing the bulk of the purchases, including the economy-sized bag of Kitty Vittles. Sunny, who had been curled up on the ottoman in the den, was with them in a flash. Lexi picked her up to show her all the new toys.
Mrs. Murray came downstairs to check everything. “I think you forgot the litter box,” she noted. It was obvious that he had.
Her husband, tired already from the errand, swept his hand down his face in frustration, and turned on his heel to head back out to the car.
Lexi tore open the kitty food and carefully poured some into the dish, but the bag was heavy so she spilled some on the floor. She filled the other side of the bowl with fresh water, and placed it in the corner of the kitchen. Sunny sniffed it, then began nibbling at the food, and then Lexi cleaned up the spilled food.
She waited patiently until the kitten licked the bowl clean and lapped up some water, then she picked her up and placed Sunny in the litter box. When that business was finished, she went into the living room where her mother sat, playing with Gregory.
“Did Sunny enjoy her lunch?” asked Mrs. Murray, mugging a silly face for the baby, who gurgled happily.
“She ate it all,” replied Lexi. “Just like when I have pizza … nothing is left,” she added with a giggle.
“How about the catnip mouse toy? Does she like it?”
“That? Oh … I forgot it.” Lexi ripped open the package and placed it on the carpet near Sunny. As she and her mother watched, the kitten hesitantly pounced on the mouse toy, batting it to and fro.
Their attention was suddenly diverted to the front door slamming downstairs. Her father came up, holding a bag containing a litter box, another bag of litter, and a scoop.
“Lexi,” he began, “I’ve spent a lot of money on Sunny today. This will be enough.” She agreed. What more could she want?
“I’m going to replace the litter box in the laundry room with this so she’ll start using this one,” he added. Sunny had taken to the first one with no problems, which relieved the family.
Her parents had made it clear that since Sunny was Lexi’s kitten, the job of making sure the kitten was litter box trained fell to her. So far, Sunny had shown herself to be a smart little kitty with the litter routine.
“True buddies,” came Daddy’s voice from the laundry room. “That is what Lexi and Sunny are. Even I’m beginning to love that little kitty.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
A NEW SCHOOL YEAR
“I can’t find my yellow top!” Lexi complained on the first day of third grade as she probed the drawers in her dresser.
“Maybe it’s in the laundry, honey,” Mrs. Murray called up from the kitchen. “You were supposed to have your outfit picked out last night, remember? Just wear the blue one.”
Lexi could smell the fresh coffee that was perking downstairs. “Okay,” she said.
Today was the first day that she would ride the bus to Harper J. Crawford Elementary School. Lexi checked her clothes in the mirror and pulled a brush through her light brown hair. She slipped into her new canvas sneakers.
It seemed like only yesterday when her family had moved here, and when she’d found and adopted Sunny. Yet, it had been over two weeks.
As she walked past Gregory’s room, she thought how lucky he was that he didn’t have to worry about school. He could lie in his crib with his favorite toys all day long if he wanted.
Lexi walked into the kitchen with her brand-new backpack; inside it were notebooks, pencils and pens in a zipper-pouch, a rain poncho, and her phone. Mrs. Murray added her new Pixar lunch carrier, packed with a bologna and cheese sandwich, an apple, a small bag of Cheez Curlz, and a grape juice box.
Lexi felt nervous deep in the pit of her stomach, so she had to force herself to eat her Cocoa Crispos and drink her orange juice.
She hadn’t made a human friend here yet, and it would have been nice to ride the bus together. She couldn’t very well take Sunny, who was now nibbling at her food dish. Sunny didn’t have to worry about school, either.
Maureen strode in with her backpack. Today, she was starting eighth grade, already well into middle school. She looked so mature in her jeans and checked street shoes. Lexi had always looked up to and admired her older sister; Maureen seemed so much further in life, knowing so much more.
Lexi had opened up her sister’s math book once last year and found nothing but complicated equations. Maureen explained what they were, and she’d never heard of square roots or proper fractions. “You’ll get there,” Maureen had told her.
She wondered how Cynthia felt next to her little brother, who was five. Lexi felt a bit better when she realized that some day, Gregory would probably look up to her.
Lexi felt small and ignorant as the older girl sat down to breakfast. She took a bite of toast and then tapped on her phone. “I’d better get going. My bus is due in a little bit.” She gulped down some juice and took the slice with her, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.
“Break a leg!” Mrs. Murray called after Maureen, who replied, “ha ha!”
Lexi’s bus wouldn’t be there for another half-hour, so she played with Sunny until it was time to leave. Mommy knew just how nervous she was about starting at this strange, new school … would she say “break a leg” to her, too?
Lexi hoped not. She didn’t think it was funny. Why had Maureen laughed? Here we go again, thought Lexi. Maureen always knows what’s funny in a joke. Lexi didn’t know that the expression “break a leg” meant “good luck.”
The bus picked her up just down the block, and there were two kindergartners whose parents had walked them to the bus stop. This is their first day of school ever, thought Lexi.
Once she got to Room 145, she found lots of bright posters, wall displays, a big world map, a tropical fish tank, and other interesting things in the classroom. Her teacher, Ms. Weston, introduced her and one other new student to the class.
Her name was Nadine Moreno, and she’d moved to East Chippaw from Puerto Rico with her family over the summer. Ms. Weston sat them at adjoining desks.
“Nadine is from Puerto Rico,” announced Ms. Weston. “Puerto Rico is Spanish for rich port. It’s a beautiful island in the Caribbean Sea, and is known in Spanish as la isla del encanto, which means the island of enchantment. Let’s welcome Nadine to our class.”
“Welcome, Nadine,” chorused their classmates. She shyly smiled and gave a little wave.
Nadine had a beautiful smile, golden skin, and long, black hair. Lexi felt a twinge of sympathy for the other new girl. She probably felt twice as strange, having moved not to another town … but from an island in the ocean!
Lexi took every chance she could to help Nadine along with any hurdles with her English. They got along very well, and Nadine seemed relieved to have Lexi’s help.
They sat at the same table at lunch, and chose books together when the class went to the school library. An upcoming class trip to the Chippaw Historical Center was announced, and they immediately planned to be buddies on the bus.
The day seemed to fly. After a while, Lexi thought, School might just be fun this year. She felt a wave of relief.
CHAPTER NINE
SPANISH CONFLICT
“I found a new friend at school. She’s so nice!” announced Lexi when she got home that day.
She opened her backpack and got the permission slip for the museum, and placed it on the counter. Next, she picked up Sunny and hugged her. Boy, did she miss her kitty all day! After a snuggle, Sunny scurried away to lie on the bright spot under the dining room window.
“That’s wonderful!” replied Mrs. Murray, peeling some potatoes at the sink and glancing briefly at the permission slip. “What’s her name, and where does she live?”
“Her name is Nadine Moreno and she came here from Puerto Rico. She lives on Farley Terrace. Is that far from here, Mommy?”
“I think it’s across town, out near the public library,” her mother answered, dumping the chopped potatoes into a big stew pot on the stove. “Does Nadine speak English?”
“Some, but she’s doing great,” smiled Lexi. “We understand each other pretty okay.”
“Well that’s marvelous, sweetie,” Mrs. Murray sliced a few carrots and handed a piece to her daughter, then turned the flame up on the stove. “Oh … do me a favor … my pink blouse is hanging out on the line. Would you please get it and bring it up here for me?”
Lexi wanted to keep talking about Nadine. “Do I have to do it now?”
Maureen, who had been home a while, was coming up the stairs and overheard what she’d said. She grabbed a pear from the big bowl, and on her way out of the kitchen, looked straight at Lexi and said, “muchacha perezosa” with a chuckle.
Lexi turned to her mother, completely baffled. Mrs. Murray shrugged, showing that she didn’t know whatever those words meant either, then asked Lexi again to go out and get the blouse.
I’ll bet it’s something in Spanish, Lexi thought as she went down the steps toward the sliding doors to the patio to do as her mother had asked.
Once that was done, she went right to the family’s computer and typed “Spanish words” into the browser. I’ll find out what ‘muchacha perezosa’ means, she thought. A site came up with a definition box, and it took a few tries to get the spelling correct:
el muchacho boy; la muchacha girl; los muchachos boys or boy(s) and girl(s)
perezoso,-a lazy
Lexi tried to piece this together … muchacha … perezosa … girl lazy … why yes, of course! Lazy girl! Maureen had called her a lazy girl in Spanish when she didn’t want to bring in Mommy’s shirt.
Lexi closed the browser. Maybe I should start learning another language so I can call her names, she angrily thought. Now that Maureen is taking Spanish in school, she thinks she’s so smart.
“I need to use the computer,” declared Maureen, suddenly towering over her, shattering the quietness. Taken aback, Lexi turned to look at her, and felt a rush of anger.
Lexi shoved the chair back and stood up to face her sister. “I’ll lazy-muchichi-girl-peroziso-something YOU!” she yelled, and then raced to her room in tears.
Sunny followed her, and she held the kitten and cried on her bed. So that was why Maureen was learning Spanish … to be mean.
Lexi wasn’t realizing it, but Sunny was slowly taking the place of old Trixie Bear. Nobody would say she’s too old for a kitten.
CHAPTER TEN
GETTING TOGETHER
“Mommy!” Lexi burst in the door one day after school in late September. “Guess what!”
Mrs. Murray glanced up from the Redbook magazine she was reading. “What is it, sweetie?”
Lexi put down her backpack and sat down on the sofa, breathless. She’d run all the way home from the bus stop. “Nadine’s mother invited me over to their house for Saturday.”
“Really? Nadine must really like having you as a friend.”
“I guess so. She gave me her cupcake today at lunch. It had sprinkles on it. I traded her my apple.”
That drew a look from Mrs. Murray, but she continued, “She seems like a very nice girl.”
“She is,” agreed Lexi.
“Daddy will drive you. She lives on Farley, right?”
“Yes. And she has a puppy, too. And six goldfish, and a parakeet.”
“Sounds like the Morenos have quite the zoo,” said Mrs. Murray, turning a page.
“I’ll say. But I’d rather have a kitten. Goldfish die all the time, you can’t pet a parakeet, and puppies get into trouble.”
“Well, you have Sunny, and I’m glad that you’re happy, sweetie.”
“Yes … my Sunny,” Lexi said, then looked around the room. “Have you seen her? Where is she?”
“I don’t know,” said Mrs. Murray, closing the magazine.
“Sunny!” Lexi called, walking around the house, searching. “Sunny!”
She searched upstairs, downstairs, in the bathrooms, and in the laundry room where the litter box was. No Sunny.
Finally, when she came up the basement stairs, she spied the kitten under the coffee table in the den. Sunny sat, washing her face, next to her mistake.
“Oh, Mommy,” Lexi called. “Sunny messed in here.”
Her mother appeared. “That’s unusual,” she said, handing Lexi the pet mess spray and some paper towels. “Is she sick?”
Lexi picked her up and examined her. “I don’t know.”
“You’ve been keeping her litter box clean, right?”
“Every day,” said Lexi, bending down to clean the soiled carpet.
“If it happens again, we’ll bring Sunny over to the vet. We might have to consider a change in her diet or see if something else is going on.”
“Okay,” replied Lexi, discarding the paper towels and then washing her hands. She snuggled her kitten, hoping nothing was wrong.
She then realized that Sunny wouldn’t be a kitten for much longer. She would be a full-grown cat. And she hoped they’d have many happy years together.
* * *
Saturday came in no time, and Nadine’s house turned out to be very similar to Lexi’s—a new two-story home.
When Mr. Murray brought the car close to the curb, Lexi recognized the Morenos’ car, as Nadine didn’t take the bus. Her mother usually picked her up after school.
“Have a great time!” said her father as she got out of the car. “And don’t forget to thank Mrs. Moreno for her hospitality.”
“I won’t … bye!” Lexi ran up the driveway and was invited inside by her friend.
They went into the kitchen, where something scrumptious was baking. There, making meringue cookies, was Nadine’s older sister. So she also has a big sister, Lexi thought.
“This … Juliana,” Nadine said, gesturing toward the bigger girl. “She in ninth grade.”
“Hola,” Juliana greeted with a smile. She held out a spatula with a puffy white cookie on it. “This for you.”
“Thank you … uh, gracias!” Lexi took the cookie and bit into it. She found out she really liked meringue … it was light and had a sort of toasted marshmallow flavor. It was positively yummy.
The Moreno girls shared a glance and smiled at the Spanish word. Lexi had looked it up before she left today.
She saw that the house was nicely decorated, and spotted some objects that she assumed were from Puerto Rico—colorful masks, ceramics, carvings, plates, and picture frames. They looked as if they’d been handmade.
The house was beautiful, and Lexi felt comfortable there, especially with the chilly wind of autumn outside. It was cozy with the aroma of meringue baking.
“I show you my room,” Nadine invited Lexi up the stairs. At the top, a fuzzy brown Beagle puppy rushed to see who the strange girl was.
“Hola, Frisbee!” Nadine lifted the puppy and snuggled his fur. “You hold?” Lexi took him and stroked behind his ears. “Hello Frisbee,” she said, delighted.
A woman walked out of one of the bedrooms to their left. “Hola, Mrs. Moreno,” Lexi greeted politely.
“Mama, mi amiga de la escuela,” said Nadine, introducing her. “Esta es Lexi.”
“Bienvenidas,” smiled Mrs. Moreno, with a nod.
“Mama say ‘welcome’,” Nadine translated. Lexi gave them a big smile and then placed Frisbee down on the floor, as he was getting squirmy.
After a brief visit to Nadine’s pretty pink room, the grand tour of the house continued. Lexi met Matilda the parakeet, followed by Arnie, Goldie, Stripe, Micky, Allie, and Bob—the six goldfish. She wondered how Nadine could tell them apart. Who knew; maybe she couldn’t.
“Those are nice names,” Lexi said. “Did you name them?”
“We get goldfish when we come here. I name them.” They headed back to the kitchen for more meringue.
Later, they all had a wonderful dinner, and Lexi met Mr. Moreno. He was just as sweet as his wife. Nadine’s mother and Juliana had made arroz con gandules, with flan for dessert. Lexi loved the pork and rice dish, and the flan reminded her of pudding. Everything was delicious, and she used all of her manners.
Nadine’s father told some stories in Spanish at the table, and had a big, booming laugh. Lexi didn’t understand most of what he said, but it was still fun, and the laughing was contagious. Lexi helped clear the table after dinner, thinking how proud of her Mommy would be.
When Mr. Murray came by to pick her up, Lexi made sure to say “gracias” to Mrs. Moreno, who beamed and gave her a hug.
By that day, Lexi and Nadine were best friends. Well, Nadine was her East Chippaw best friend … Cynthia, back in New Radcliffe, would always be her first best friend.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
¡TODAS SOMOS AMIGAS!
Lexi was happy with the mild weather as she and Nadine walked home from the bus stop. Nadine had taken her bus, as they were going to Trick-or-Treat from Lexi’s house that day.
“Hello, Nadine,” Mrs. Murray greeted when the girls walked into the kitchen. She was finishing up prepping a pot roast. “Would either of you like a snack?”
“No thank you, Mrs. Murray,” replied Nadine, whose English had improved quite a bit. Her Halloween costume was waiting upstairs, as her mother had dropped it off earlier.
“Mommy, we’re going upstairs to put on our costumes,” said Lexi, leading Nadine toward the stairs.
“You mean … ‘may we?'” corrected her mother.
“All right … may we?”
“Go right ahead. Your bunny costume now has a tail,” said Mrs. Murray, closing the oven door. “And don’t forget to feed Sunny. Let me know if you need any help with your costume, Nadine.”
Lexi’s bunny outfit, including a hood with two long ears and the big fluffy tail just affixed by her mother, looked perfect. Nadine was going as a fortune teller, wearing a black kerchief, purple shawl, flashy fake necklaces, and long pink wispy skirt. She held a few handmade tarot cards glued together in one hand, and a pumpkin bucket for the candy in the other.
Soon, they were downstairs, ready to go. Sunny was sitting expectantly by her food and water bowl, her tail twitching. Lexi made sure to fill both sides. Soon, Sunny would be eating Catty Vittles. “Here you go,” Lexi said, patting the kitten’s furry orange head.
They headed downstairs to the door. “We’re leaving,” called Lexi.
“Be back before dark,” called her mother from the laundry room. “And oh, sweetie?”
“What, Mommy?”
“Did you feed Sunny?”
“Sure I did. Bye.”
“Have fun!”
Drellan Place was familiar now, as she and her family had taken some walks since the summer. They would cover just a few blocks that she knew, and head right home for a delicious dinner, and Nadine was invited.
It really is nice in East Chippaw, thought Lexi. She’d made two new friends, Sunny and Nadine. Her room was now fully decorated, with pretty lavender walls and white curtains.
Baby Gregory was now talking, and two of his favorite words were “tix” and “brr” — Lexi had given her beloved purple bear to her baby brother. She hoped that he would enjoy Trixie as much as she had, and that the cuddly toy would last a few more years.
Maureen never called Lexi another Spanish term again. Instead, she helped Lexi with a few new things to say to Nadine. One of them was “todas somos amigas.”
On their way to their first trick or treat house, that’s exactly what Lexi said.
“Sí,” Nadine laughed in agreement, “we’re all friends!”
