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things they’re working on or ask too many questions when they’re watching TV.”
    â€œI won’t,” said Erin.
    â€œI know,” I said. “When are you going to see them again?”
    â€œThey’re going to spend part of winter vacation with us.”
    â€œThat will be fun,” I said.
    â€œYeah.” Erin got quiet again.
    â€œAre you asleep?” I asked.
    â€œNo,” she said. “I was just thinking. What kind of things do you like to do with Tess?”
    â€œHmm.” I thought a little bit. “I like going places with her, like the library and the park. And I like teaching her stuff when she wants to learn.”
    â€œI’d like to go places with Anna and Julia and have them teach me stuff,” said Erin. “What else?”
    I started to think about what else I liked to do with Tess, but on accident I fell asleep. I guess Erin did too, though, because she didn’t ask me any more about it.
    When I woke up the next morning, Miss Purvis was still right at the end of my bed. I crawled down to where she was and petted and petted her.
    â€œYou are a great cat,” I whispered to her. “I think we’re getting to be very good friends.”
    When Erin woke up, she asked if we could have Pancake Surprise for breakfast, and that was A-OK with everyone else. This time we made it much less surprising. We didn’t add any food coloring or spices, just applesauce and raisins and some crumbled-up Nilla Wafers. The pancakes were a little crunchier than usual, but still pretty good.

    After that we went back to my room to study. I climbed up to the top bunk, and Erin handed me the big book of spelling words. She climbed up next and we got all settled, and Miss Purvis still didn’t move at all.
    â€œYou ask first this time,” said Erin.
    â€œOkay,” I said. “Fourth-grade words, here we come. Your first word is January .”
    â€œ January ,” said Erin. “ J-a-n-u-a-r-y. January .”
    â€œYou spelled it right,” I said, “but don’t forget you have to add the capital.”
    â€œOh yeah,” said Erin. “ January . Capital J-a-n-u-a-r-y. January .”
    â€œHello,” I said.
    â€œHello,” Erin said back.
    â€œNo, hello is your next word.”
    â€œOh!” Erin laughed. “ Hello. H-e-l-l-o. Hello .”
    Erin got the rest of the words right in her column and then it was time for her bonus word. “ Entertain ,” I said. “Let me entertain you by asking you how to spell things.”
    â€œOoh,” said Erin. “ Entertain. E-n-t-e-r-t-a-n-e or a-i-n ?”
    â€œ A-i-n .” I handed her the book.
    â€œYour first word is flavor ,” said Erin. “The best flavor is orange. I lied to get into the Grape Club.”
    â€œHah!” I said. “Flavor. F-l-a-v . . . Is it e-r or o-r ?”
    â€œ O-r ,” said Erin.
    â€œ O-r ,” I said. “I like cherry better than grape, by the way.”
    â€œHah!” Erin said. “Your next word is two words. United States .”
    â€œ United States ,” I said. “ U-n . . . Wait, let me start over. Capital U-n-i-t-e-d capital S-t-a-t-e-s . United States .”
    â€œThat’s right,” said Erin.
    I did pretty well on my column and only missed a couple, including my bonus word, which was Antarctica , because I forgot a c in the middle.
    Erin handed me the book.
    â€œYour first word this time is panda ,” I said.
    â€œI love panda bears,” said Erin. “ P-a-n-d-a .”
    â€œMe too,” I said.
    â€œHey,” said Erin. “Panda bears might be a good theme for the class party.”
    â€œYeah,” I said, “or maybe polar bears or sun bears or just plain bears.”
    â€œOr maybe the theme could be all zoo animals,” said Erin.
    â€œOr just all animals,” I said.
    â€œI guess there are a lot of great party ideas,” said