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said, while at the same time, I said, “Yes.”
    We looked at each other and giggled.
    â€œThis one’s mine,” Mrs. Wilson said, claiming Amanda with a hug. Then, with her other arm, she hugged me. “This one’s a loaner. But I love them both.”
    My heart sang. I was Amanda’s twin, almost!
    I felt so happy and proud that when we went to the next store, I did something embarrassing. We were smelling perfumes when a salesclerk approached us with a smile. My eyes happened to latch onto hers before anyone else’s did, so she aimed her words at me.
    â€œHello there,” she said. “And how are you today?”
    â€œOh, I’m beautiful,” I replied sunnily.
    â€œWinnie!” Amanda said. She looked at me with a shocked face, and I realized what I’d done. Instead of answering the saleslady’s question, I’d basically said, Hello there, pleasant saleslady. I sure am beautiful, aren’t I?
    I made a shocked face back at Amanda, with an added layer of horror since I was the one who said it.
    â€œI mean . . . I mean . . .”
    Amanda started giggling, and it turned into a full-out giggle fit, and soon her giggling set me off. My giggling got so bad that I could hardly breathe, only I had to breathe, because I was a human and not a sea creature.
    I inhaled a great sucking breath, and Amanda slumped helplessly against the perfume counter.
    â€œYou sound like a dying walrus!” she managed.
    â€œI do not!” My stomach muscles hurt from laughing so much. “Anyway, how do you know what a dying walrus sounds like?”
    I tried to wind down, but as I did, I exhaled really loudly—which, of course, made me sound like a dying walrus again. Which made me think of poor dead Henry, which made me clutch Amanda and say, “Poor dead Henry!”, which made the whole cycle start all over again.
    For the rest of the day, all either one of us had to do was mention the name Henry, or say pitifully, “Poor little fella,” and off we’d go, back into Crazy Giggle Land.
    It was the most fun I’d ever had at the mall, especially since Mrs. Wilson didn’t get fed up with us or anything. Instead, she took us to Amanda’s favorite store and let us both pick out “a little something.”
    â€œTo buy?” I said.
    â€œNo, to steal,” Amanda said.
    I felt a blush coming on, so to cover for it, I made puppy-dog eyes and said, “Poor, poor Henry. Then he’d have to go to the jailhouse.”
    It made no sense, but say la vee, as people on TV shows sometimes said. Which also made no sense. Say la vee? Why would anyone say “la vee”? What was a “la vee,” even?
    At the end of the day, Mom came to get me. I said good-bye to Amanda, and I told Mrs. Wilson thanks for having me, just like Mom had taught me.
    â€œAnytime,” Mrs. Wilson said. To Mom, she added, “Your daughter is a delight. I just love the friendship our girls have, don’t you?”
    I floated all the way out of the Wilsons’ front door, loving life. I loved Amanda, and I loved my new bracelet with a peace sign on it, and I loved Mrs. Wilson for buying it for me. More than that, I loved Mrs. Wilson for just being so nice .
    Waiting in the car was a grumpy Sandra. “What took you so long?” she complained.
    I ignored her. Ty was across from me in the backseat, asleep in his car seat, and I grabbed his warm little hand and held it. His fingers were sticky, but holding his hand helped keep my glowy feeling going.
    â€œI love Amanda’s mom,” I said as Mom turned on the car.
    â€œAwesome. Thanks for sharing,” Sandra said.
    â€œShe’s so nice,” I went on. “She’s the nicest mom I know, and she never uses a sharp voice.” I sighed. “I wish she was my mom.”
    Sandra craned her neck and looked at me. She looked at me hard , as if to say, Really? Really, Winnie?
    At first I