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acted so perfect. You even knew the number one agricultural product of Florida. Also, we thought you were stuck-up.”
    â€œI’m not!” I said.
    Shoshi tilted her head to one side and looked at me. “Oh?”
    â€œNot that stuck-up,” I insisted. “And anyway, ‘oranges’ was the obvious answer.”
    Shoshi laughed. “To you. So, the most important thing I’m hearing is that somewhere in this house there are chocolate chip pecan cookies, and you are holding out on me.”
    â€œYou mean you forgive me for thinking you’re a monster?”
    Shoshi said, “I’ve been called way worse than that. You met my sister, right? Now, where are those cookies? Did you say you’ve got some left? Is there milk?”

CHAPTER 19

    Friday, December 4, Emma
    Usually I empty my spam folder without even looking. But that afternoon Kayden was late meeting me in the school library, and I didn’t feel like starting my homework, so I opened it to weed junk out and there—besides requests from all the organizations my parents belong to—was the e-mail from Grace.
    Dear Emma,
    How are you?
    I am busy.
    Besides everything usual, my ballet school is performing The Nutcracker , and I play a mouse, a snowflake, and a flower. The costumes itch, especially when you get sweaty. You might not think it is possible for a snowflake and a flower to get sweaty. But it is possible. I know this personally.
    At first I did not like school this year very much. Maybe you didn’t know I had to skip a grade, so now I am in sixth. Things are better now. I have a friend in my class, and she has other friends who are good for eating lunch with. My good friend is named Shoshi Rubinstein. She is Jewish like you. Because of her, I know it is Hanukkah starting on Sunday, so happy Hanukkah!
    Her parents have invited me and Lily (she also takes ballet, but she is only in fifth grade) over for so+me special pancakes that you eat for dinner. As long as there is maple syrup, that is okay with me! Also we are going to play a game with a top that starts with a D. It might be called doodle. Do you know about this game?
    Maybe you will be surprised when I tell you that Lucy remembered about the secret cookies, and she sent me excellent ones. Maybe it will sound even more surprising when I tell you that flour power works. I was feeling lonely, and the cookies helped me get to be friends with Shoshi Rubinstein.
    !!!
    So now it is your turn. Write and tell me everything! Do you have any problems? Then I will know what your cookies are supposed to do for you. Also tell meif you are allergic or if you hate any cookie ingredients, like sugar.
    Sincerely,
    Grace Xi
    P.S. That last part was a joke. No one hates sugar. Do they?
    Grace’s e-mail brought back a flood of happy summer camp memories, all of which seemed very far away from school on a gray December day. The e-mail also made me laugh—especially the part about maple syrup and the game of “doodle.” I hit reply, but just then Kayden arrived with Teacher Dustin, the librarian, and I didn’t have time to write anything.
    â€œHey, buddy. What’s the matter?” I said when I saw Kayden’s frown.
    Kayden’s mouth stayed stubbornly closed, and I looked up at Teacher Dustin, who shrugged. “He escaped again.The head of school found him heading for the exit and brought him back.”
    â€œKayden”—I stuck out my lower lip—“don’t you like me?”
    Kayden never stopped scowling. “You’re okay, but I like other things better.”
    I said, “Like what?”
    â€œI like video games,” Kayden said. “I like cookies and TV. How come teachers get to watch TV and we don’t?”
    â€œTeachers don’t watch TV at school,” I said.
    â€œUh- huh ,” Kayden insisted. “They do in that room they got where kids aren’t allowed.”
    I didn’t know