Portia's Exclusive and Confidential Rules on True Friendship Read Online Free PDF Page B

laugh at the top of her lungs. I know exactly who is on the other end of the phone line. After what seems to be an hour of excited high-pitched teenage-sounding squeals, Indigo rings the wind chimes. That’s the Avatar signal that breakfast is ready. I gather my textbooks in my arms, careful not to forget the one entitled Mathematics: Applications and Connections. Frederick swipes at my polka-dotted shoelaces, trying to prevent me from heading out the door. I put down my books and gently hold his head between my hands, reminding him that I’ve got to go to school, which I know saddens him. He looks up at me with his irresistible puppy/kitty cat eyes, sending me the message loud and clear that he’ll miss me while I toil away at integers, fractals, and other mathematical challenges.
    7:43 A.M.,
A VATAR K ITCHEN
    I ndigo flutters around the kitchen, putting the final touches on a pomegranate-inspired breakfast. She appears to have butterfly wings attached to her back as shewhirls through this morning’s breakfast preparation. After a few minutes, she places a heap of pomegranate scramble onto my wobbly clay plate. I manage a smile, staring at the sweet mixture that awaits me. She watches me take the first bite, but I know her mind is somewhere else. She declares, “Rock has been out in the canyons all night fighting the fires. He’s exhausted! I’m going to prepare a pick-me-up treat for him, and then we’ll be ready to go.”
    I am curious, so I ask, “What’s the latest news about the fires? I can still smell smoke coming from the canyons.”
    â€œRock will be at the station all day today. You know you’re always welcome to stop by on your way home from school and ask him yourself.”
    Without thinking once, twice, or even three times about it, I respond, “I’m way too busy. I’ve got a new case.”
    Indigo stops what she’s doing and turns to me. “Have you been holding out on me?”
    â€œI took it on yesterday. It’s highly confidential. All I can say is that it involves the new girl, Misty Longfellow, and a mysterious friend of hers.”
    â€œHow exciting. An opportunity to grow!”
    I then tell Indigo a little bit more about Misty’s waywardanimals and the insect orphans she rescues on a daily basis. Indigo listens to my tale as she slices one of our garden’s ripe red tomatoes, just a fraction of the many fresh ingredients she has gathered for Rock’s mega-sandwich-to-go. Frederick, meanwhile, circles my feet, playing a game with me, trying to see if I’ll pick him up or not. I’m careful to pay extra attention to him since his little episode last night, so I pick him up and place him on my lap. He wraps himself in a ball, purring away, savoring this honey-sweetened moment.
    Indigo looks up at the wall clock, then at me. “Hurry, Portia! You’re going to be late for school!” She quickly wraps up Rock’s surprise package, mumbling to herself, “Grilled eggplant, black bean hummus, goat cheese puffs with lavender, and fig crisps. I just know I’m forgetting something.”
    7:56 A.M.,
P ALMVILLE S TREET
    I t’s not until we’re in our burnt orange hybrid rolling down the street that Indigo remembers what she forgot: my lunch! She hands me ten dollars.
    IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a highly momentous occasion. I am given lunch money for the first time in my entire school career, which means I’ll have free rein over my lunchtime nourishment! My mind drifts to thoughts of chili cheese fries, strawberry ice cream, and an extra gooey mud pie.
    While looking out the window watching my neighbors begin their day, I quietly celebrate this accidental stroke of luck. Even though there’s a giant yellow cloud blocking the sun from making a proper entrance today, a visual effect brought to us from the out-of-control wildfires, my outlook is sunny. I think to myself that maybe things