Just Grace and the Terrible Tutu Read Free Page B

SURPRISED ABOUT
The old filled-with-junk room was now completely empty.
Mimi's room next door was picked up and clean.
I was not as excited about those first two surprising things as I would normally be.
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    This was because my stomach was growling with hunger.
    I usually like to have a snack after school, so it did not help that Mimi's whole entire house smelled like yummy fresh-baked banana bread.

    Mimi seemed a little disappointed when I asked if we could think of new sister room ideas in the kitchen near the banana bread instead of on the floor in the empty junk room. She had set up a bunch of papers and markers on the floor for us, so I knew she was disappointed that I was changing her plan. If my stomach is hungry it just doesn't matter what my brain is saying. My stomach pretty much always has to win.

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    Mimi's brain was stronger than her stomach, because she only ate one piece of bread and normally she could eat about five. Today I had three. Sometimes Mimi's mom has to guard the bread so we don't eat too much and ruin our dinner. But today she didn't even say one thing about it. She just smiled, hugged Mimi, and said, "Mimi is so happy that you are going to help her decorate her new sister's room." "You bet I am!" said Mimi. "And it's going to be pink!" That last thing Mimi said was my number four of surprises.
    MIMI IS NOT BEING MIMI
    It's important to be patient with your friends, no matter what. This is an important rule of friendship.
    Sometimes a friend can surprise you and it's exciting.
    Sometimes a friend can surprise you and it's not so exciting.

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    And then other times they can surprise you and you think, "Where has my friend gone? This person who looks like my friend is not acting anything like the friend that is my best friend." That is what I was thinking about Mimi, because Mimi and I have never been girls who love pink!
    "All little girls love pink," said Mimi. This was not true, because a long time ago when Mimi and I were little girls we didn't love pink. When we were little my favorite color was orange and hers was yellow. But it sounded like Mimi had forgotten about that.
    "Pink sounds lovely!" said Mimi's mom, and then they both looked over at me and smiled. I could tell they were waiting for me to say something nice. "Pink is girly," I said. It was the only thing I could think of that was true and that did not sound negative. "Exactly!" said Mimi. "And we have to be girly."

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    WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU GET HOME FROM A CONFUSING VISIT WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND WHO MIGHT NOT REALLY BE YOUR BEST FRIEND BECAUSE MAYBE SHE WAS TAKEN AWAY BY ALIENS AND REPLACED WITH A ROBOT WHO LOOKS JUST LIKE HER
    Write a new Not So Super comic, because drawing comics always makes me feel better about stuff.

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    WHAT WAS A SURPRISE AT BREAKFAST
    Today was not a school day. Right away that makes everything about the day a lot better. I don't have to rush around getting ready, and I can hang out in my room and relax. That's why I was surprised when Mom said, "Grace. Breakfast. Now." Usually I only hear those words from Monday to Friday. I went downstairs in my pajamas and was just getting ready to complain when I saw Augustine Dupre standing in my kitchen. One hand was holding a bag from the doughnut store, and the other one was holding on to a little girl wearing a bright pink tutu.
    "Oh, I'm sorry—were you still sleeping?" asked Augustine Dupre. She put her hand up near her mouth like she was worried. "We can come back later." I was surprised to see her there, but I did not want her to leave. "No, I'm awake. See." And I jumped up and down a few times to prove it. "I'll get dressed. I'll be right back. Wait for me." And then before anyone could say anything else I ran upstairs to change. How embarrassing! Mom could have told me we had visitors! And I wasn't even wearing good pajamas. Ugh! Sometimes she drives me crazy.

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    WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU RUN OFF WHILE SOMEONE IS WAITING TO MEET