By Michele Hubler
Illustrated by Krista Allenstein
I let the bubble pop and picked the sticky pink web off my face. “I hope I can do it tomorrow.” Tomorrow was the bubblegum blowing contest. Grand prize was a bike. That bike had my name on it. Joe had his eye on the second prize, a boom box.
Mom walked into the living room. “Boys,” said Mom. “I’m meeting your father for dinner and a movie. Mrs. Frister is coming. Be nice to her AND her dog.” She paused. “If I hear any complaints, no contest.”
We groaned. Mom had played the ultimate trump card.
Mrs. Frister was the reason I tried shaving at twelve years old. I wanted to show Mom that I was old enough to take care of my ten-year-old brother and myself. Instead my face looked like I’d used a weed whacker on it instead of a razor. And Mrs. Frister was on her way.
Mrs. Frister didn’t let us squirt milk out our noses. She made us talk about our ‘day’. But worst of all, Mrs. Frister hated bubblegum. “Noisy, teeth-rotting, shoe-sticking nuisance,” she called it.
Before we could plead our case, the doorbell rang. Mom opened the door and Mrs. Frister stepped in with Big. She carried her tiny mutt Big everywhere. Big was white with black spots. Big’s goal in life was to rub off his spots. On the sofa, the coffee table, the carpet, anywhere.
“Hello, Anthony and Joseph,” Mrs. Frister said. “We’re in for a lovely evening. I have my vacation pictures from the Giant Root Vegetable Festival.” Mrs. Frister patted a tote bag the size of a minivan. Big squirmed out of her arms and raced to the sofa.
We turned horrified eyes on Mom. My tongue curled protectively around my gum.
“We’ll be back by midnight,” said Mom. “The boys can stay up since it’s Friday. Dinner’s in the fridge.” She turned to us with her hands on her hips. “I know the contest is tomorrow but I don’t want you driving Mrs. Frister crazy popping bubbles all night.”
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