Ava and Pip by Carol Weston Page B

day off, but she was at her desk wearing a cream-colored sweater speckled with maple leaves. I asked if she’d withdrawn my story, and she said she was “just about to do so.”
    â€œYou can keep it in if you want,” I said.
    â€œReally?” She met my eyes. “What made you change your mind?”
    I turned toward Bea. “Remember Bea Bates?” Bea took off her helmet, and her long blond hair came tumbling out.
    â€œOf course! Hello, Bea. I love Bates Books, and I liked your ‘Bookshop Cat’ story—especially the bit about the fluffy orange cat who plays favorites among the customers. The competition among seventh-grade entries is quite stiff and…”
    â€œMrs. White,” I said, “Bea thinks I should keep my story in the running.”
    â€œReally? May I ask why?”
    â€œBea is a very encouraging person,” I said and looked over at her. Bea stayed quiet and gave me a smile.
    â€œWell then,” Mrs. (Bright) White said, looking at us in turn. “We’ll simply leave everything alone and wait to see what the editors decide.”
    I thanked her, and we left. But here’s the funny thing: I still don’t know if I want my Queen Bee story to go into a book…or to just go away.
    AVA, AMBIVALENT BUT WITH NEW SHOES

11/25
    BEFORE DINNER
    DEAR DIARY,
    This morning, Bea came over and asked Pip if she’d been saying hi to a lot of people.
    â€œNot a ton,” Pip answered and looked at me. I could tell Pip was thinking of spelling out N-O-T-A-T-O-N, and hoped she wouldn’t. I didn’t want Bea to know how strange our family is!
    I nodded to Pip, as if to say, “Don’t,” but then I was afraid Pip might tell me not to nod—and spell that out too: D-O-N-T-N-O-D.
    Bea said, “I just mean: did you talk to someone new every day?”
    â€œYes,” Pip said and mentioned the lunch lady, a substitute teacher, and a bus driver. She did not mention that some of her someones were boys, and that two did not smile back (in the lunchroom) and one did (in the library).
    She also did not mention Ben by name. Is that because he’s a boy or because he’s Bea’s brother? Or does Pip still not know? I’d thought of telling Pip, but since I wasn’t sure if that would help or backfire, I didn’t.
    â€œGreat job!” Bea said to Pip, and we snacked on pretzels.
    After a while, Bea checked her cell phone and said, “Gotta go. My parents are waiting for me because we’re going to my grandparents for Thanksgiving. I hope I don’t get ill in Ill inois—get it?”
    â€œGot it!” I said, surprised by her wordplay. “You won’t!”
    Bea handed Pip a fourth assignment.
    Week Four:
    Compliment one person every day—on anything at all.
    After Bea left, I asked Pip if she still thought Bea was bossy. Pip thought about it and said, “Yes, but somehow I don’t mind.”
    â€œSame,” I agreed. Because Bea isn’t really bossy. More like bold and encouraging and generous.
    And she likes us—and we like that!
    I went into my room and scooped up two handfuls of Mini M&M’s then went into Pip’s room with both hands behind me. “Pick a hand,” I said.
    Pip pointed. I opened my right hand and dumped the Minis into her palm.
    â€œYum!” she said. “Lucky guess!”
    â€œActually,” I said, “lucky is having me as a sister!” I opened my other hand and showed her that it was also full of Minis. And I spilled those chocolates into her palm too.
    AVA THE ADORABLE

11/25
    AFTER DINNER
    DEAR DIARY,
    I found another Pip note in my room. It said, “I know I’m lucky.” At first I was confused, then I realized she wrote it after I told her she was lucky to have me as a sister.
    Well, even though it’s just four little words and not a bouquet of roses, four words from Pip are a lot.
    I was going to throw the