My New Best Friend Read Free Page B

fun-size candy bars. I crush them with my bare hands before
I eat them. I stomp to the bathroom and practically brush the bristles right off my may orthodontics toothbrush.
    Then I stomp back to my room. George gives me a concerned sort of look.
    "Because Jenna Drews is a jerk," I say. "And that's the
truth.
"
    George remains calm.
    I turn away and catch a glimpse of the mermaid night-light. She smiles pleasantly at me.
    I study her for a minute. Then I walk over and pick her up. "Just one evil spell," I say.
    I set her on the windowsill again and turn her face toward Jenna Drews's house. "Chicken pox ... hairy spots ... ugly warts that itch a lot..."
    I pick up her cord and plug it in.
    Then I dive for my bed and hide under my covers before her evil, glowing grin makes me pee my pants.

Chapter 3
    The next morning I get dressed, make my bed, set George on my pillow, and walk over to the mermaid. Even in the morning she looks spooky. I wonder if she zapped Jenna with any evil spells while I was sleeping.
    "Let's find out," I say, unplugging her. Before I put her inside my backpack, I wrap a red bandana around her. Then I head downstairs.
    When I get to the bus stop, Quinn and his little sister, Tess, are already there. Tess waves to Rachel, who is walking down the sidewalk with Jenna. Rachel waves back because she and Tess are best kindergarten friends.
    I study Jenna as she gets closer, looking for signs of chicken pox or warts. But all I see are her two bobbing braids. They are still bright green.
    "How come you got green hair?" Tess asks Jenna when she gets to the bus stop.
    Jenna's jaw tightens and her cheeks heat up. "Because the dye wouldn't wash out."
    "She washed it
fifteen
times," Rachel says, giggling.
    Quinn snorts.
    Jenna scowls.
    I think I feel something shift inside my backpack.
    "Um ... anything else?" I ask, looking Jenna over. "Itchy spots? Suspicious bumps?"
    Jenna turns her scowl on me. "Of course not," she says. "I used all-natural
henna
hair dye, not battery acid."
    "
Henna Jenna,
" I mumble. Quinn hears me and snorts again.
    "Only she didn't read the directions first," Rachel says.
    This time Jenna gives her sister a shove.
    The bus arrives and we climb on. Kids turn and point at Jenna.
    "Look! The creature from the
Green Lagoon!
"
    Fake screams.
    Fake faints.
    Jenna pushes through and drops into the very back seat. She scrunches down so all you can see is the top of her green head.
    I scoot into another seat, unzip my backpack, and peek at the mermaid.
    She smiles back at me.

    When I get to school I grab Stacey's arm and pull her to the broken water fountain.
    "Guess what?" I say as soon as we get there.
    "What?" she says back.
    "Last night, when I got home, I wished an evil spell on Jenna, and now her hair is
green.
Probably forever!" I unzip my backpack and show her the mermaid.
    Stacey studies the mermaid for a moment. "I knew lighting her would make a difference," she says.
    I nod. "So it's for real, right? Me wishing an evil spell and Jenna ending up with permanently green hair? I mean, it
can't
be. But just look at Jenna!"
    "The only way to know for sure is to do another spell," Stacey says.
    My heart jiggles inside my chest. "on who? Jenna? Because I was thinking red spots would go good with her green hair. Sort of an early Christmas present."
    Stacey narrows her eyes, thinking. "I know," she says all mysterious. "Quick! Follow me."
    I follow Stacey down the hall and into the girls' bathroom. She heads to the last stall, pulls me in, and locks the latch. "Take her out," she whispers.
    I pull the mermaid from my backpack. "Don't we need to plug her in?" I ask.
    "Did you plug her in last night?" Stacey asks.
    I nod.
    "Then she's good to go," Stacey says. "As long as we plug her in every night, she'll help us during the day."
    I nod again. "How do you know so much about this stuff?" I ask, handing over the mermaid. "I mean, sometimes it seems like you've been nine a lot longer than me."
    Stacey