Chapter Two

Mom hands Skye’s dad a cup of coffee. He says thanks.

“Let’s go to my room,” I say.

We go to my bedroom.

It is actually our bedroom. I share it with my big sister, Violet.

Violet is reading on the bed. Violet likes to read.

“Hi,” says Skye’s dad.

“Hi,” says Violet.

She has to.

Violet can ignore me. And Violet does ignore me.

But Violet cannot ignore a grown-up.

Violet looks at me.

Her eyebrows are SCRUNCHED.

I can tell Violet thinks it is weird that Skye’s dad is here.

I think it’s weird Skye’s dad is here.

“Should I go?” asks Skye’s dad.

“Stay,” says Skye.

Skye does not think it is weird.

I sit on the floor near my dollhouse.

Skye sits on the floor.

Skye’s dad sits on the floor too.

His knees come up past his chin.

I try to ignore Skye’s dad.

I try to ignore his knees.

I pick up the dolls.

“Do you want to be the mom or the dad?” I ask Skye.

“The mom,” says Skye.

“The mom please,” says Skye’s dad.

I pick up the baby.

I pick up the big sister.

But I am NOT in the mood.

It is hard to play with Violet in the room.

It is harder to play with Skye’s dad in the room.

I cannot find the voices.

I put the dolls down.

Skye is my new friend.

New friends are tricky.

I do not know what new friends like.

I look around.

I see Skye’s ballet tights.

I see my tights.

I do know Skye LOVES dancing.

I LOVE dancing.

We both LOVE dancing.

We must DANCE!