An Unexpected Partner

Last night after I talked to Mom, I went straight to my room and called Mary Ann. I told her I had an amazing idea that I was sure she would LOVE!

She wanted to know what it was, but I told her my idea was so amazing that I wanted to explain it to her in person. So we made plans to get together tomorrow.

I tossed and turned all night waiting for today to get here. Now, Mom is driving me to Mary Ann’s house. As soon as I get there, I’m going to tell Mary Ann my idea for the food drive, and I’m sure she’s going to want to do it with me.

Mom drops me off at the Winstons’, and I ring their doorbell. It’s hard to be patient while I wait for Mary Ann to answer. I thought about asking Mary Ann and Chloe Jennifer to help me with my plan. But Chloe Jennifer has a piano recital the weekend before Thanksgiving and is spending all her spare time practicing.

Mary Ann is the perfect person for the job.

“Hey!” says Mary Ann when she opens the door. “Winnie and Joey and I are watching a great movie. You can watch it with us,” she says as she leads the way to their family room.

I don’t want to watch a movie. I want to tell Mary Ann about my idea. “Can we talk first?” I ask. I remind her that I have an idea I wanted to tell her about.

“We’ll talk when the movie is over,” says Mary Ann.

That’s not really what I want to do, but it’s not like I have a choice. I sit down on the couch between Joey and Mary Ann. “Hi,” I say to Joey.

“Shh!” says Winnie.

I try to focus on the movie.

The kids on the TV are pretty excited. They’ve just found some important, secret documents in their grandmother’s attic. I’ll be excited when they do whatever it is they’re planning to do with them and the movie is over.

“Is this the end?” I ask.

“Shh!” Winnie says again.

The kids on TV deliver the documents to the police, who let their grandmother out of jail. They reunite and everyone is happy. Especially me. The movie is finally over!

“Now, are you ready to hear my idea?” I ask Mary Ann as soon as Winnie turns the TV off.

“Sure,” says Mary Ann.

All of a sudden, I feel nervous like I did when Devon and I had to present our book report to our class. I want to do a good job explaining this.

I take a deep breath and tell Mary Ann about my plan for organizing a food drive at school. “First, we’d have to talk to Mrs. Finney at school on Monday and get permission to do it. But I’m sure she’s going to say yes. I think it’s a really good idea. It will help other people, and it will be a lot of fun to do it.”

I pause and look at Mary Ann. “But it will be even more fun if we do it together.”

I stop talking. It’s Mary Ann’s turn to say what an amazing idea I have and that she’d love to do it with me, but that’s not what she says.

Mary Ann twirls a curl around her finger. “I don’t think I want to do it,” she says.

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “Why?” I ask.

Mary Ann shrugs.

But that’s not an answer to my question.

I ask again. “Why don’t you want to do it?”

Mary Ann lets out a breath. “It just doesn’t sound like fun to me.”

“It’s not the same kind of fun you have at a sleepover or when you go to a swimming pool,” I explain. “But it’ll be fun to do a project that helps other people.”

Apparently, Mary Ann doesn’t feel the same way I do. “I’m just not into it. Sorry,” she says. I know that means she’s done talking about it.

“Sure,” I say like it’s not a big deal, but it is to me. I think it’s such a good idea, and I’m shocked she can’t see that.

“Do you want to hang out in my room?” Mary Ann asks.

We go to Mary Ann’s room and play games on her computer. But I have a hard time focusing. I can’t believe she didn’t want to do the food drive with me.

I can’t decide if it’s because she doesn’t want to do something nice for other people or because she doesn’t want to do something with me.

And I’m not sure which of those things bothers me more.

When Mary Ann puts on headphones to listen to a song, I think about how much our friendship has changed. In the past, Mary Ann would have been just as excited as I am to do this. Lately, I feel like Mary Ann is a lot more interested in what she wants to do than in what matters to other people. I think it’s why we’re not as close as we used to be.

When Mom comes to pick me up, I tell Mary Ann bye and walk down the stairs. I’m just about to leave when Joey stops me. “The food drive sounds cool,” he says.

“Thanks,” I tell him. “I think so too.”

Joey hesitates like he’s about to say something but isn’t sure how to say it. I think I know what he was going to say. “Were you going to tell me not to be upset about Mary Ann not wanting to do the food drive with me?” I ask.

Joey laughs. “Nope,” he says. “I was going to ask you if I could do it with you.” He grins at me. “Partners?”

“Are you kidding?” My grin is even bigger than Joey’s. I can’t believe I didn’t think to ask him if he wanted to do this with me. I’m so glad he wants to. “Partners!” I say back.

Joey and I high-five. Deciding to work together is only our first step. Now we’ve got a food drive to plan.