Sofie waved the toy horse that she had given Yoshi. “Mimi, have you met the new boy? Boris just moved into apartment 1 this morning.”
My heart sank. This was not the twin I’d been hoping for!
“Hi, Boris. Are those my chopsticks you’re using? Purple is my favorite color.”
His face turned bright red. “You can have your chopsticks,” he said. “But the candy sushi is all gone.” I picked up one of the containers in front of him just to make sure. Empty. Except for a big wad of green bubble gum stuck to the flap.
Yoshi set out a dish for Marvin and put a tiny piece of cheese on it.
Boris reached for the cheese, and I had to push his hand away.
“No, Boris! It’s for Marvin. Cheese is his favorite food!”
Everyone talked at once. Sofie lit the candles on the bucketcake. At least I’d get to have a piece of my own cake.
As we sang “Happy Birthday,” I studied Boris out of the corner of my eye. Four friends were enough, I decided. I didn’t need a fifth.
“Mimi, this cake looks so good,” said Sofie, after Yoshi blew out the candles. She handed me a big piece with lots of frosting.
“What are those lumps all over the cake?” asked Tonya.
“Chocolate-covered raisins. The best candy on the planet.”
Sofie showed me the toy horse. “You can braid her tail if you’d like. Tonya, may we borrow your comb?”
Tonya handed it to me. I had just finished detangling the tail when a game of treasure hunt started, so I handed the comb to Sofie.
“Kitty, kitty, kitty!” Sofie called. Marvin acted like he didn’t hear her, so she scooped him up. She ran the pink comb through his fur. “Look how handsome he is!”
Tonya screamed.
“You’re using my comb on a cat!”
All in all, the party was tons of fun. On my way out Yoshi picked up a goody bag with my name on it. He looked inside the bag and frowned. “I’m sure there were some caramels in there with your chocolate-covered raisins. And now they’re gone.”
Boris breezed out the door with his head down.
