1 Mmmmm Mmmm Mmmmm Kris Powell struggled to get her twin sister's attention Lindy Powell glanced up from the book she was reading to see what the problem was Instead of her sister's pretty face Lindy saw a round pink bubble nearly the size of Kris's head Nice one Lindy said without much enthusiasm With a sudden move she poked the bubble and popped it Hey Kris cried as the pink bubble gum exploded onto her cheeks and chin Lindy laughed Gotcha Kris angrily grabbed Lindy's paperback and slammed it shut Whoops lost your place she exclaimed She knew her sister hated to lose her place in a book Lindy grabbed the book back with a scowl Kris struggled to pull the pink gum off her face
That was the biggest bubble I ever blew she said angrily The gum wasn't coming off her chin I've blown much bigger than that Lindy said with a superior sneer I don't believe you two their mother muttered making her way into their bedroom and dropping a neatly folded pile of laundry at the foot of Kris's bed You even compete over bubble gum We're not competing Lindy muttered She tossed back her blond ponytail and returned her eyes to her book Both girls had straight blond hair But Lindy kept hers long usually tying it behind her head or on one side in a ponytail And Kris had hers cut very short It was a way for people to tell the twins apart for they were nearly identical in every other way Both had broad foreheads and round blue eyes Both had dimples in their cheeks when they smiled Both blushed easily large pink circles forming on their pale cheeks Both thought their noses were a little too wide Both wished they were a little taller Lindy's best friend Alice was nearly three inches taller even though she hadn't turned twelve yet
Did I get it all off Kris asked rubbing her chin which was red and sticky Not all Lindy told her glancing up There's some in your hair Oh great Kris muttered She grabbed at her hair but couldn't find gum any bubble Gotcha again Lindy said laughing You're too easy Kris uttered an angry growl Why are you always so mean to me Me Mean Lindy looked up in wide eyed innocence I'm an angel Ask anyone Exasperated Kris turned back to her mother who was stuffing socks into a dresser drawer Mom when am I going to get my own room On the Twelfth of Never Mrs. Powell replied grinning Kris groaned That's what you always say Her mother shrugged You know we don't have a spare inch Kris She turned to the bedroom window Bright sunlight streamed through the filmy curtains It's a beautiful day What are you two doing inside Mom we're not little girls Lindy said rolling her eyes We're twelve We're too old to go out and play
Did I get it all Kris asked again still scraping pink patches of bubble gum off her chin Leave it It improves your complexion Lindy told her I wish you girls would be nicer to each other Mrs. Powell said with a sigh They suddenly heard shrill barking coming from downstairs What's Barky excited about now Mrs. Powell fretted The little black terrier was always barking about something Why not take Barky for a walk Don't feel like it Lindy muttered nose in her book What about those beautiful new bikes you got for your birthday Mrs. Powell said hands on hips Those bikes you just couldn't live without You know the ones that have been sitting in the garage since you got them Okay okay You don't have to be sarcastic Mom Lindy said closing her book She stood up stretched and tossed the book onto her bed You want to Kris asked Lindy Want to what Go for a bike ride We could ride to the playground see if anyone's hanging out at school
