CHAPTER 2

Follow Up

Monica, Becca, and I had lunch right after history class. We walked to the cafeteria together.

“Claudia is a natural leader,” Becca said.

“I am?” I asked, surprised.

Becca nodded. “You think up crazy things to do,” she explained. “And Monica always goes along with your ideas.”

Monica frowned. “No, I don’t,” she said.

“Yes, you do,” Becca said. “Even when you might get into trouble.”

That happens a lot. The TROUBLE part, I mean.

Some of My Crazy Ideas and the Terrible Consequences

Crazy Idea #1: Gave my Siamese cat a bath with the hose.

Terrible Consequence #1: Ping-Ping freaked out. She turned into a yowling, spitting bundle of soggy fur with claws. Monica and I got scratched, and Ping-Ping wouldn’t let me pet her for a week.

Crazy Idea #2: Told Nick he’d get hives if he ate our dried apricots. He ate our dried apricots. Then Monica and I told him to put butter on his arms so he wouldn’t get hives.

Terrible Consequence #2: Nick is a brat, but he’s only seven, so he believed us. He buttered his arms, hugged his mom, and ruined her favorite silk shirt. We were grounded for a week.

Crazy Idea #3: Ordered 10 “free” magazines on the Internet.

Terrible Consequence #3: I didn’t read the rules carefully. Only the first month was free. I got a bill for $263.00, and Monica’s bill was even bigger! Dad told the magazine people Monica and I were kids.

We didn’t have to pay for the magazines, but my dad and Monica’s mom made us read the free magazines. Even the boring parts. Even the ads. Every single Word!

I couldn’t remember all the crazy ideas I ever had. The complete list was huge, but Monica always went along with them.

Becca didn’t. If she thought we’d get into trouble, she headed home.

“I want to be a great leader,” I said. “From now on I’ll only think up good stuff that won’t get us in trouble.”

Becca smiled. “Works for me,” she said.

“Not me,” Monica said. “I’m not going to follow anyone anywhere anymore.”