BFF* Read Online Free PDF Page A

like they were talking—in French, I think. It was hard to tell because Alison spoke very softly. ButMaizie nodded, made small sounds and sometimes let out a bark.
    Rachel looked skeptical as she watched the two of them. I learned that word—skeptical—from her. It means to question or doubt.
    â€œWhat’s new with Maizie?” I asked Alison.
    Alison put Maizie down and giggled. “She told me the silliest story.”
    â€œWhat story?” Rachel asked.
    â€œI’m not sure it’s true,” Alison said as she poured three glasses of grape juice and set a box of pretzels on the table.
    â€œTell it to us anyway,” Rachel said, taking a handful of pretzels.
    â€œWell …” Alison began. She told us this story about her stepfather, Leon, who took Maizie for a walk in the woods. While they were walking Leon tripped over a branch and fell into the brook. He got soaked, which Maizie thought was a big joke.
    â€œThat’s the whole story?” Rachel asked.
    â€œYes.” Alison looked at me. “Of course, Maizie might have made it up. Sometimes when she’s bored she sits around making up stories.”
    Rachel still wasn’t convinced and Alison could tell. “I suppose we could ask Leon if it’s true,” she said.
    Alison pressed the button on the intercom.Every house in Palfrey’s Pond has an intercom. Ours doesn’t work but probably when Dad comes home he’ll fix it.
    â€œHi, Leon …” Alison said. “I’m home.”
    â€œBe right down,” a man’s voice answered.
    In a minute Leon came down the stairs and into the kitchen. He was tall and mostly bald.
    â€œHello, Pumpkin,” Leon said to Alison, ruffling her hair.
    Pumpkin? I thought.
    â€œThis is my stepfather, Leon Wishnik,” Alison said, introducing us.
    Leon smiled. He had very nice teeth. I notice everybody’s teeth. Mom says it’s because I wear braces. She says once they come off I won’t be so interested in teeth. But Dad says my interest in teeth could mean that I want to be a dentist.
    â€œGlad to meet you, Rachel,” Leon said to me.
    â€œI’m Stephanie,” I told him.
    He laughed. “Well, glad to meet
you
, Stephanie. And glad to meet you, too, Rachel.” Leon lifted the lid off the pot on the stove and stirred. It smelled great.
    â€œMaizie told me about your walk,” Alison said to Leon. “Is it true … did you really trip and fall into the brook?”
    Leon turned away from the stove and wagged his finger at Maizie. “I asked you not to tell anyone about that,” he said to her.
    Maizie ran under the kitchen table to hide.
    â€œThen it’s true?” Alison asked.
    â€œYes,” Leon said. “My shoes will never be the same.”
    â€œAre you saying that your dog
really
talks?” Rachel asked Leon. I stared at her. She’d lowered her voice by an octave and sounded exactly like her mother. I could tell Leon was impressed. Tonight, while they were eating dinner, he would probably say to Alison,
That Rachel … she’s certainly mature for her age
. He wouldn’t know that this morning she was shaking with fear over the idea of junior high.
    â€œYes,” Leon said, sighing, “Maizie talks … usually too much.” He rested the wooden spoon on a saucer. “I’ve got to get back to work now. Nice to meet you, Stephanie and Rachel.”
    â€œNice to meet you, too,” we said.
    Rachel still had a handful of pretzels and was licking the salt off them one at a time. She always licks pretzels until they’re soggy.
    Alison asked if we wanted to see her room. “But I’m warning you … it’s incredibly ugly.”

    â€œSo what’d you think?” I asked Rachel, as I walked her home from Alison’s house.
    â€œObviously she’s very insecure,” Rachel said. “That’s why