Mackenzie Blue Read Online Free PDF Page B

eagerly. “I am a bit peckish. If you don’t mind.”
    â€œYou’re always so polite.” Mrs. Carmichael turned to Zee. “Why don’t you two wait in the TV room, and I’ll bring it in to you.”
    Zee shoved her book bag off the couch, dropped herselfon to the cushion, and picked up a Wii game control. “Wanna play?” she asked.
    â€œOf course,” Jasper said, picking up another remote and sitting next to Zee.
    â€œBig Brain Academy or Boogie?”
    Jasper gave her a sideways look. “Big Brain Academy.”
    â€œYou just can’t get enough school, can you?”
    â€œI can get enough dancing,” Jasper said. “Now prepare for me to crush you with my enormous brain.”
    After a while, Mrs. Carmichael entered the room with a tray overloaded with pita chips, cheese, beans, and salsa. At thesight of the feast, Jasper forgot all about the video game and nearly dived on to the tray. “Thank you, Mrs. Carmichael!”

    â€œBon appetit,” Mrs. Carmichael said as she turned to leave the room. Given Zee’s mother’s hostess obsession, that was one French phrase she already knew.
    Zee watched Jasper as he scooped chips into his mouth, barely taking time to breathe. So much for “proper” English manners. “I’ll leave you guys alone and go get that book,” she said, grabbing a gooey lump for herself.
    â€œMmmphssst,” Jasper replied as he took a swig of lemonade.
    When Zee returned, Jasper was licking his fingers. “Did you get enough to eat?” she asked sarcastically, handing him the book.
    â€œI have a healthy appetite,” he defended himself.
    â€œSometimes I think you’re just using me for my snacks,” Zee said.
    â€œOh! That’s a brilliant idea.” Jasper looked at his watch. “I’d better go. I need to get started on my project.” He picked up the tray and carried it into the kitchen. “Thanks again, Mrs. Carmichael. That was delicious.”
    â€œYou’re welcome, Jasper,” she said. As he walked away, Zee heard her mother mumble, “What a nice boy.” Zee rolled her eyes.
    Â 
    That night, Zee laid out her clean uniform alongside a pair of multicolored striped tights. To top it off, she chose a necklace with a peace sign pendant that she’d made out of sparkly red beads. Then she put on her polka dot pajamas, pulled up her comforter, and sank into her pillow.
    â€œOhmylanta!” Zee sprang out of bed like a bird out of a cuckoo clock. I almost went to sleep on the first day of school without writing in my diary. She already had an idea for a list—“Ten Reasons It’s Going to Be an Awesome Year After All.”
    Zee reached into her book bag. There were pencils and pens, her new binder, and a couple of spiral notebooks. But no diary. Zee looked again. She took everything out, one byone. Still no diary. She looked in every compartment of her binder. Nothing. She put all the items back in her bag. Then she did it all again.

    The diary was gone!

    â€œDouble ohmylanta!” Zee shouted. But just as she was about to panic, her memory flashed. It probably fell under the couch when Jasper and I were playing video games, she told herself. She ran downstairs, got on her hands and knees, and searched the floor. A pen. A quarter. Three pennies. No diary. She pulled off the cushions. She looked in vases and on bookcases, underneath the rug, and behind throw pillows. She raced up to her room and searched in every imaginable space. She even checked inside the refrigerator.
    Adam looked up from the kitchen table, where he was working on his MacBook. “What are you looking for?” he asked.
    â€œMy diary,” Zee told him.
    â€œI ate it,” he said, then continued typing.
    â€œHa ha,” Zee said, eyeing her brother suspiciously. “Youwouldn’t know anything about why it’s missing, would