Immortal Max Read Online Free PDF Page B

costume.”
    I groan and tell Mom about Anise’s
Igbo Mmwo
costume and Yee’s talk about Chinese warrior priestesses.
    â€œMaybe I spoke too soon.” Mom’s eyes blink slowly. “Some things we’re not. Chinese or African, for example. But we are part Scottish. And
Indian
, too.”
    â€œWe’re Indian like Sid?”
    I let out a bigger groan and explain that Sid is from the
country
of India.
    â€œNo, not that kind of Indian.” Mom blows out her breath, looking tired. “I don’t have any proof of it, but your grandpa told me once we were part Chippewa. A great-great-grandmother, I think.”
    I envision a pink feather headdress, green sequins on fake buckskin, and tell Mom that Bailey wants to design Rosie’s costumes. “But since we can’t
prove
we’re Indian, maybe Rosie should dress up as someone from Scotland.”
    â€œOh, Scottish would definitely be best,” Mom says. She’s seen Bailey’s original Barbie doll clothes, too.
    â€œWhat would that look like?” Rosie looks between Mom and me.
    I turn to a statue, knowing when to keep my mouth shut.
    â€œWell, I know the Scots wore kilts. . . .”
    â€œKilts? They wore dead things?”
    â€œA kilt is a skirt. The Scots wear beautiful plaid skirts andmatching shawls over their shoulders. Your grandma could make you one easy.” Mom hesitates, eyes blinking. “But I’m not sure she’s up to it. Her memory’s slipping so fast, worse every day.”
    I like the idea of my grandma making Rosie’s costume, but she moves like a snail now and doesn’t remember things the way she used to. It’s like an invisible curtain is closing in front of her, the opening getting narrower and narrower with every tick of the clock.
    â€œYeah, and I’ll rig up a fake bagpipe for the talent part.” I squeeze a make-believe bagpipe under my arm and spew screeching noises out of my mouth.
    Rosie scowls at me, not amused. “I’m going as a Chippy-wa and do an Indian dance. And Bailey will make me an Indian princess dress with sequins all over it.”
    Another groan slips out of my mouth. Mom gets the message.
    â€œSlow down, Rosie. I’m not positive we
are
Chippewa. I mean, we don’t have proof.”
    â€œGrandpa wouldn’t lie.”
    Mom’s shoulders droop, a sign she’s giving up. “Who’s to know we can’t prove it?” She sighs, looking at me.
    I give up, too. Why should I be the only Smith to look like a fool?
    But when Rosie starts stomping in a circle and grunting like a caveman, I start to waffle. Justin’s sister has been taking dance since she was three years old, and her parents can buy her fancy costumes because they’re rich. Rosie
will
look like a fool if Bailey makes her costume, especially if she dances like Bigfoot. But how can I stop her?
    The same way you were stopped
, says a voice in my head.
    â€œWait, Mom—it costs money to enter the contest.”
    â€œMoney? How much?”
    â€œDon’t know. There’s a phone number on the slip.”
    Mom looks at the yellow slip. “I’ll call right way. Opportunities like this don’t come along every day, and Rosie’s been dreaming about something like this for a long time.” She pauses,looking at me. “Oh, and the sign out front needs touching up, Sammy. First thing tomorrow morning?”
    â€œMom, summer just started—”
    â€œWhich is the busiest time of the year in my business. Plenty of time to rest come winter.”
    â€œI’m in school all winter.”
    â€œI’m not going to argue with you, Sammy.”
    â€œOkay, okay. I’ll paint the sign tomorrow morning.”
    â€œGood. And raccoons paid us a visit last night. They broke flowerpots and dug up the compost pile. Looked like four sets of tracks. I figure a mother and three kits.”
    That explains the