The Banana Split Affair Read Online Free PDF

subjects.”
    “I’m glad you’re so confident. And we certainly wish you the best of luck on your test.” Mrs. Pratt stood up from the table. “Now, how about some dessert? There’s still half of that apple pie left over from last night. I’ve got it warming in the oven. And as a special treat, your father picked up some vanilla ice cream to put on top.”
    “Not me,” Chris said automatically. “You know about my obsession with getting fat. Especially with my new jea ...”
    “Honestly, Susan,” Susan interrupted her in a voice that was much too loud, “you’re beginning to sound just like me. All this talk about getting fat.” This time it was Susan’s turn to kick her twin under the table.
    Mr. Pratt leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Is it my imagination, or is something strange going on here? Susan? Chris? Are you both acting peculiar, or is all this just some part of teenage girls growing up that I never read about in psychology books?”
    “Whatever do you mean, Daddy?” Chris asked innocently, her brown eyes open wide.
    “I’m not sure.” He narrowed his eyes and peered at each one of the twins. “It’s nothing concrete, just sort of a ... a hunch I have. I’ve been getting mixed signals from you both ever since we sat down to dinner.”
    “Yes,” Mrs. Pratt agreed. “I’ve noticed, too. Are you two up to something? Chris, you’re the usual prankster. Are you planning something ... Oh, my goodness!”
    Mrs. Pratt threw back her head and laughed.
    “For heaven’s sake! You two! ... If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I never would have believed it!”
    “Not you, too!” her husband groaned. “What on earth is going on here? Or is it so obvious that everyone can see it but me?” He glanced from Susan to Chris to his wife. All three of them were laughing.
    “My dear Mr. Pratt, kindly take a close look at your daughters. One at a time.”
    “I thought we’d already been through that. Both of them change their clothes as often as Barbie Dolls, and Christine wears white powder in her hair as if she were doing an imitation of George Washington.”
    “Look closely,” Mrs. Pratt insisted.
    “I still don’t understand . . . Oh, my gosh!”
    Mrs. Pratt stood behind him and threw her arms around his neck. “Remember how we used to tell them apart? Chris had that tiny beauty mark on her left cheek.”
    “I see what you mean!” Mr. Pratt chuckled. “What is Susan doing with Christine’s beauty mark on her face? Now I understand. Goodness, you two are impossible!”
    “I don’t know about you, but I feel kind of foolish. Imagine not being able to tell my own two daughters apart!”
    “Well, we are identical twins,” Chris reminded her. “Besides, we made a special effort to disguise ourselves as each other. But we forgot all about the beauty mark.” She turned to Susan. “Sooz, we’ll have to remember to take care of that with a little makeup.”
    “Take care of that for what?” Mr. Pratt asked. “Are you two mischief makers thinking of trying this charade again? Maybe playing a practical joke on a boyfriend or on one of your teachers at school?”
    Chris and Susan exchanged glances. Suddenly they had doubts about their plan. Or at least about telling their parents about it.
    But Susan took a deep breath and said, “Chris and I have developed a kind of ... experiment.”
    “Experiment?” her mother repeated.
    “It’s called the Banana Split Affair,” Chris interjected. “Like in spy movies. Doesn’t it sound mysterious?”
    “Very mysterious. And slightly dangerous. You two aren’t planning anything illegal, are you?” Mr. Pratt joked, pretending to be horrified. “I’d hate to have the FBI after us. All those unmarked cars and trench coats— why, the very thought gives me the heebie-jeebies!”
    “We’re not doing anything illegal,” Susan assured him. “Merely educational.”
    “Well, I’m certainly in favor of anything that’s