Chapter One

It’s been eleven days, and summer is already a slow crawl. Everyone strolls around like they’re floating on an inner tube on a lazy river. No school means there is nowhere I have to be. This can be awesome. Some days, I ride my bike for hours with my best friend, Jenny, or go swimming with my big brother, Nick. Unfortunately, on most days, the only place I am is stuck at home. I’ve got my work cut out for me. It’s going to be hard not to be bored.

Today I begin by searching the house. I want to find my own mystery caper. It’ll mean a new adventure for me. Then I’d have to spend the entire summer solving it! At least that’s what happens in Nancy Drew.

I find a few fun things like Journey to the Center of the Earth in español. A book can be an adventure, but the Spanish is too hard for me to read.

“I’ll read it when I’m older,” I say to myself as I put the book aside.

In Mom’s bedroom, I find a ring tucked away in the bottom drawer of her jewelry box. Maybe it’s the ring from Lord of the Rings! Then I read the inscription inside. In cursive script it reads “para mi güera.” Güera is Dad’s nickname for Mom since she has light-brown hair. No mystery here. It’s Mom’s wedding ring that she no longer wears since the divorce.

I spy around Mom’s closet next. Zero luck, but seeing Mom’s “business attire” reminds me of how ocupada she is at work. All I know is if Mom were with me during the day, summer would be more fun and there would be more yummy albondigas. Mom’s meatballs are guaranteed to make any situation better.

The last place to explore is my big brother’s room. As I approach his room, Nick stops me.

“Off-limits.”

Then he walks toward the front entrance of the house.

“I’m heading to work, sis. Be nice to Linda. She’ll be here in a minute.”

Not exploring Nick’s room doesn’t bother me too much. I’d rather discover some secret compartments. Not boy stuff.

With my snooping at an end, I head back to my room. Time for another brainstorming session. Hopefully Jenny can help me brainstorm later when she’s not at dance camp. Then again, if she were here with me now, I wouldn’t need to think up fun things to do.

Then I look over at Pancho, my betta fish.

“I know what to do.”

Time for plan B.