I frowned. I loved Ariel. And unicorns.
“Juju!” Jackson called.
“I’m at the cookie stand,” I yelled back. To Camden, I said, “That’s my brother. He’s seven too. We like to ride bikes, and we play video games together every day. We climb trees…go swimming…”
I wanted Camden to know I was just as good a bike rider and video game player as my brother. And I didn’t just sit inside with my Barbies, but I really liked them too. Well, maybe I wasn’t as good as Jackson at all the bikes and games and tree stuff…I also couldn’t do flips in the water like he could, but I bet I could soon.
“Cool,” Camden said, and I got this warm feeling in my chest.
He showed me where his house was, and I showed him mine.
“That’s why the cookie stand is here, right?” he said.
“Oh. Right,” I said, my face feeling hot.
“And my brothers and I saw you moving in last week.” He grinned and I relaxed.
“You have brotherstoo?”
“I have three brothers and one sister.”
I wasn’t sure I’d want more than one brother. Jackson was enough for me. I wouldn’t mind a sister, though.
Jackson came around the side of the house, bouncing his basketball. He stopped when he saw Camden and me.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” Camden said.
“This is Camden,” I said. “He lives over there.” I pointed at his house.
“I like basketball,” Camden said.
Jackson lit up. “Yeah? Wanna play?” He motioned toward the hoop near the garage.
“Yeah!” Camden said.
And they took off.
I stared after them and kicked a rock. I liked basketball too, but they didn’t even ask if I wanted to play. I kicked the rock all the way to my cookie stand and sat down on the chair, looking down the street to see if anyone was around who might want a cookie.
I sat there forever. And no one came. I was about to give up when a girl came running out of Camden’s house. Her hair was like mine—bright and yellow. It was in a ponytail and it swished when she ran. When she saw me, she gave me a wide grin and ran over.
“Hi!” she said. “You’re our new neighbor!”
“Yes!” I couldn’t help but be excited because she looked so happy to see me.
She gasped when she looked down and saw the plate. “You have cookies!”
I handed her one without caring if she paid for it or not. She bit into it and her eyes got wide.
“Mmm! These are good.” She chewed a little more. “I’m Marigold, but everyone calls me Goldie.” She looked over my shoulder at Camden and Jackson playing. “That’s my brother, and I have three other brothers too.” She wrinkled her nose. “I wish there was another girl in there somewhere, but they’re pretty nice too. Tully is my twin, Dylan is my little brother, and Noah is the oldest.”
“Wow. A twin. My grandpa is a twin! Is it sad having the same birthday?”
She shook her head. “No, because Mom and Dad make it special for both of us. There are lots of twins at school, you’ll see.” Her head tilted. “You didn’t tell me your name.”
I grinned. “My name is Juliana, but everyone calls me Juju.”
