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backpack feels like a “magilla gorilla” on my back.
    I’m so tired of all the fib-eronis I’ve been telling my crew. I know it’s gonna catch up to me one day—and I guess today is the day, okay?
    â€œMrs. Bosco thought the adoption went through, but it didn’t,” I say, hemming and hawing. I’m
not
going to tell them that she can’t read or write. No way, José.
    â€œReally?” Chanel asks me, like I’m joking, her big brown eyes opening wide like she doesn’t believe me.
    â€œReally, Chanel. I wouldn’t joke about something like that,” I say, trying to figure out how I can explain Mrs. Bosco’s mistake to them. It wasn’t
all
her fault. “They couldn’t find my mother to get her to sign over her parental rights, or something like that. I don’t know!”
    Now Aqua hugs me. Galleria is off the phone, and she catches a whiff of my so-called adoption drama. “So you’re
not
legally adopted?” she asks, surprised.
    â€œNo, I’m not adopted, okay?” I huff, but Galleria is like a dog with a bone—she just won’t leave it alone.
    â€œBut Mrs. Bosco is not gonna give you up or anything, is she?”
    I don’t even want to
think
about that. She said she wouldn’t, but what do I know? “I don’t know, Galleria.”
    They get really quiet, which makes me mad uncomfortable, so I change the subject. “So what did your mom say?”
    â€œUm, she wanted to know why we were just finding out about the contest,” Galleria says slowly. “I told her that’s how this whole show-biz thing flows, you know? It moves on a dime and our time.”
    â€œIt does say a ‘home-made video,’ though,” Angie says, trying to be helpful.
    â€œYeah, that’s what I told her—so we’ve just gotta hook up the lights-camera-action situation on the Q.T.,” Galleria says, like she’s not stressing it. “Mom thinks my dad may have a video camera. He’s over at one of the contractors’ right now.” Galleria’s parents own a clothing factory and boutique called Toto in New York … Fun in Diva Sizes. I guess the contractors are their suppliers or something.
    â€œSee, I know Granddaddy Walker has a video camera,” Aqua says, thinking out loud. Granddaddy Walker owns a funeral parlor in Houston.
    â€œHe’s not videotaping those dead people in the coffins, is he,
mamacita
?” Chanel asks, getting the spookies.
    â€œYes, Chanel—he especially
loves
the part after he puts the embalming fluid in the body, and the dead corpse jumps up on the table when the rigor mortis sets in!”
    I start chuckling, because I feel so much better that we aren’t talking about my home situation.
    â€œThat’s what really happens!” Aqua claims, bugging her eyes.
    â€œIt’s true—we saw it one time when we were little,” Angie adds, giggling. No wonder the twins love horror movies so much!
    We all are in a good mood now. “Well, let’s get rolling on ‘Operation Videotape!’” Bubbles commands. “We’re on a roll now,
girlitas
!”

Chapter 4
    M rs. Tattle is waiting in my living room when I get home. She looks kinda tired, and her clothes are all wrinkled. She even has a run in her stocking, and a spot on her pink blouse (it looks like tomato sauce), but I guess I’d better not say anything. She is pretty nice as caseworkers go, and I don’t want to embarrass her. Besides, caseworkers write up recommendations about whether you get to stay in your foster home or not—so they have a lot of power over kids like me, and the last thing you want to do is make a bad impression.
    â€œSit down, Dorinda—take a load off,” Mrs. Bosco says, stroking the hair on her wig in the front. I’m so glad she is wearing her special wig. See, Princess Pamela (the girlfriend of