Twelve-year-old Shari Tucker isn't the happiest girl on the planet. She doesn't have many friends, has no brothers or sisters to play with, and is pretty lonely. But then something strange happens: a cute boy, Robby, actually asks if he can hang out with her!
But that's just the beginning. After Robby talks to her, Shari suddenly gains a new best friend in Holly, and more than one boy starts talking to her. Suddenly, she's something she always wanted to be: popular! But then, she is invited to a nerdy girl's birthday party, a move that really doesn't work well for her new popular-girl image. Shari reluctantly goes-and then comes up with the idea to pretend to sprain her ankle so she can go home.
Once at home, though, she receives the shock of her life: her family is moving! Her parents secretly adopted a baby girl but accidentally got one from Spain, and their doctor advises the entire family to move to Spain to help the baby adjust.
Shari thinks this whole baby thing is pretty suspicious. With the help of her new friends, Shari determines to discover the truth about her new baby sister.
WE'RE MOVING?!
SHARI TUCKER'S WACKY WORLD #1By Jazel A. SuguitaniUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 Jazel A. Suguitan
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4502-6871-4Chapter One
Ping-Pong, Diaries
You think life is great? Easy for you to say. I'm miserable! You name it ... A board game? Lost them all. Friends? Barely any. Siblings? None. Anyways, I'm Shari Tucker. I'm twelve years old. My grandparents were coming at 12:05, and I wouldn't be happy until then! (Well, I get happy sometimes, but life just gets worse!) I couldn't wait to see them. It feels like I haven't seen them in a million years! I missed Grandma Lizzy's strawberry pie and Grandpa Albert buying me stuff. When I was seven, he gave me a Judy Blume book. Then Grandma made her famous chicken potpie. Oh, I'm drooling just thinking about it!
"Shhaarrri!" my mom called. "Shari! Your grandparents are here!"
I ran inside the living room. "Mom! Where are they?" I yelled.
"Um, sweetie? No need to yell, I'm right here," my mom said.
"Where are they?" I asked impatiently. I darted out the door. By the sight of Grandpa Albert's rusty, old truck, I knew they were definitely here. "Grandma! Grandpa!" I hugged them so tightly.
"Shari!" Grandma Lizzy greeted me.
"She's not Shari, she's Sweet-tooth Shari!" Grandpa Albert corrected. He calls me that because when he invited me to his house last year, I ate all these different kinds of desserts—pie, ice cream sundaes ... oh boy! That day, I was so full!
I turned around and Mom was there. I was so excited I didn't hear her come! "What did you get me?" I asked.
"Now, Shari, don't greet them and then expect them to give you something," Mom said.
Grandpa Albert and Grandma Lizzy smiled. "Oh, it's okay," Grandma assured.
"Just wait here," Grandpa said. "Close your eyes."
I heard grunting and my grandparents' truck squeaking. Bonk!
"Open your eyes, sweetie," said Grandma Lizzy.
I opened my eyes and screamed, "You got me a Ping- Pong table! Gosh, you didn't have to!"
"Well, we did!" they said.
"Not only that, but we also got you this!" Grandpa pulled out a diary.
My smile softened. A diary? Really—a diary? Diaries are for stuck-up snooty booties, I thought. "You got me a diary? You're ... that's ... awesome."
"Aw, Pa, I told you she wouldn't be excited for some diary," Grandma Lizzy said. I gulped. They used their money just to make me happy, and I really didn't want to disappoint them. "Here, sweetie," Grandma said, handing me the diary. "Don't think of it as a diary. Think of it as a journal. You used to love to write in your journal, didn't you?"
I smiled and nodded.
"Well, anything for our grandchild!" Grandpa said.
"I love you guys!" I said, hugging them.
"We love you too, honey. Let's go inside," Grandpa Albert said. That was the good part of my day.
Chapter Two
Cute Boy
I woke up the next morning and went to the kitchen. It was just a regular school day.
"Good morning, Grandpa," I said. He was reading the newspaper. "I'm going to have some cereal."
"I made pancakes for you!" he said.
"Raspberry, strawberry, or blueberry?" I asked.
"What about boysenberry?" he said.
"Oh, so you made boysenberry pancakes!"
"I didn't say that," Grandpa joked. "It's a mystery. You should find out the answer."
"Did you put butter on them?"
"Yep," he replied.
I tasted the warm butter and the soft, chewy pancakes covered in syrup. Then I tasted the mystery fruit. Guava? Pear? Sweet, chewy, kinda dry when you warm it up, I thought. Those are the signs of a banana.
After breakfast, I brushed my teeth. Then I changed my clothes, got my backpack, and went outside. My dad was outside smoking. He put his cigar away and said, "Grandpa's letting us use his truck."
"Yay!" I cheered. I like to ride in Grandpa's truck. I usually go in the back so I can enjoy the lumpy bumps, but Dad didn't want me in the back that morning for some reason. I went in front with him. It was kind of a long drive. There were a lot of stop signs and red lights. Bump. Then another bump.
Finally we were at my school. They say that my school, Northway Middle School, is the best school in our state. Then other schools say that they're the best. I don't believe any of them! I got out of the truck and said bye to my dad. He never says "bye" back. He just mutters, "Uh-huh." I'm already used to Dad's "uh-huh's," but when he does it to other people, I feel like I'm the only one with class. Does he know how to say "good-bye"?
I went inside and studied my school. There were a bunch of posters saying "Even Einstein Asked Questions" and "I Don't Give Out Grades. YOU EARN THEM." I noticed the ground had marks from shoes. I said hi to everybody. After I greeted one girl, she said, "I saw you outside. I think I saw a baby in the back of your truck!"
"Right," I answered sarcastically.
When I said hi to a boy with spiky, brown hair and a red shirt, I just walked away. He followed me! I turned around and asked, "Why are you following me?"
"I wanted to talk to you," replied the weird boy.
"Do I even know you?" I yelled. "I just said a simple hi, and you followed me!"
"Sorry. I didn't mean to. Okay, maybe I did. Oh, uh, I'm Robby," the boy apologized.
"Sorry," I sighed. "I shouldn't have yelled at you before we actually met. What did you want to tell me?"
"I just wanted to know if I can hang out with you sometimes," Robby said. I noticed a girl with blonde hair and brown highlights, watching us. "So can I?" Robby asked.
"Uhhhh ... sure—why not?" I answered, facing the girl.
"Bye," Robby said.
"Uh-huh," I said back. Darn it! I sound like Dad! I thought. The girl walked up to me, and I held my breath. I was scared. I shouldn't have looked at her. She was right in front of me now. I thought she was mad at me somehow. Then the most amazing thing happened.
Chapter Three
Meeting Holly
"You're so lucky! You actually got to talk to Robby Doningsburg!" the girl exclaimed in the hallway, crowded with students.
"Ew! His last name is Doningsburg? I don't like that last name. Just ... ew. It makes me shiver," I said, shivering.
"I know—it's bizarre," the girl agreed.
"Oh, I forgot! I had to tell you something! Um ... what was it?" I said sarcastically. "Oh yeah! Who are you?"
"Oh yeah," the girl mumbled. "My name's Holly Mackerdon. If you think my last name is odd, I kind of agree. Anyways, what's your name?"
"I'm Shari Tucker, and if you think my last name is uncanny, you're kinda crazy!"
The bell rang, and Holly cheerfully said, "I'm late! Well, see ya later!"
"Uh-huh," I said. I thought about what had happened that morning already: I met a new, sort of cute friend (Robby) and a new, funny, and trustworthy friend (Holly). I wondered what it was going to be like in class! Then, I was mad again—I had said "uh-huh" to both Holly and Robby. The Dad Disease was spreading!
Chapter Four
Special Surprises
When I walked into room fifty-seven, my language arts class, I was so surprised! Holly and Robby were in seats next to mine!
"Shari, take your seat. I see you're late," Mr. Bolters said.
"I'm sorry I'm late. Last night, my mom had a...
