The Banana Split Affair Read Online Free PDF Page B

educational,” her father said. “But I would like some more details, if you don’t mind.”
    “It’s simple,” Chris explained. “Sooz and I are identical twins, but we’re both completely different people. And since we have the same face and the same birthday and everything else that twins share, it’s only natural that we would wonder what it’d be like to be the other.” With a dramatic wave of her hand, she announced, “So we came up with the obvious solution! Enter, the Banana Split Affair!”
    “We’ve decided to change places for a while,” Susan went on. “I am now Christine Pratt, and my twin here is Susan Pratt. So you see, it is educational.”
    Mrs. Pratt looked doubtful. “Are you sure this is a good idea, girls? I know I’m always telling you both that you’re old enough to make your own decisions and that learning to run your own lives isimportant, but ...”
    “And just how long is ‘a while’?” the girls’ father wanted to know.
    “It’s only for two weeks,” Susan said hesitantly. She was beginning to see that her parents weren’t quite as enthusiastic about the Banana Split Affair as she and Chris were. “Not very long at all.”
    “We hoped you’d think it was as inspired an idea as we did,” Chris added. “After all, you’re always telling us how important it is to learn about human nature and understand other people and live by the Golden Rule and all that.”
    “This hardly sounds like a way of learning about the Golden Rule.” Mr. Pratt sighed. “I don’t know about this. What do you think?” he asked his wife.
    Mrs. Pratt thought for a minute. “Well, I can’t say I approve one hundred percent. It is kind of a clever idea, though, and we’ve got to give the girls credit for thinking it up and carrying it off so well that it fooled even us.
    “On the one hand, I suppose they could get into trouble by switching identities. Especially at school. They’d be taking tests for each other ...”
    “But one test wouldn’t make much difference in our final averages,” Chris protested.
    “Besides,” Susan added, “we could always tell our teachers what we did after the two weeks were up.”
    “True. Then there’s the other side,” their mother went on. “Chris and Susan managed to fool us, so there’s no reason why they couldn’t go ahead and trade identities without our knowing. Once they get to school, we have no inkling of what’s going on.”
    “We’d never do it if you forbade us,” Susan said quickly.
    Chris gave her a dirty look.
    “I know that,” Mrs. Pratt said with a smile. “I know I can count on you girls. But if you want my honest opinion”—she shrugged—-”I don’t see anything wrong with it. Not as long as the girls don’t get carried away. And I do trust them. They’re smart enough and mature enough to be able to handle something like this. I also agree with Susan that it would be educational for them. Not to mention an awful lot of fun.”
    The girls grinned at each other, eyes shining.
    “What about you, Daddy?” Chris asked. “Do you agree with Mom?”
    He looked around the table at the three pairs of eyes that were watching him intently, waiting for his answer He shook his head slowly and said, “Who am I to go against the wishes of the three females in my life? You all know what a pushover I am for a beautiful woman.” He winked at his wife. “I never was very good at saying no.”
    “Oh, Daddy!” the twins squealed, rushing over to him and smothering him with hugs and kisses. “Thank you! Thank you!”
    Susan turned to her mother and gave her a hug. “We’ll be careful, Mom. We won’t do anything that’ll get us into trouble.”
    “I know,” Mrs. Pratt said, returning the squeeze. “As I said before, I trust you both. You’re sensible, levelheaded girls...”
    Just then Chris knocked over a half-filled glass of water as she threw her arms around her father’s neck. She jumped back with a gasp.
    After a