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