* * * * *
Later that morning, after fifth period, Claudia and Caera met Ana at her locker to ask if she could stay over Friday night. Caera was munching on a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie, so she nudged her sister's elbow for her to begin.
"What'd your mom say about coming over Friday, Ana?"
"You know, I remembered this time to wait until she was in a good mood to ask, but it's okay--as long as I get plenty of sleep."
"Why do mothers always care about that? Why should they care how much sleep we get?" Caera wondered. "It's not as if they're the one's who'll be tired the next day."
"Beats me." Ana shrugged. "But I've got to get up early so I can go to some dumb dental appointment she scheduled specially for Saturday morning." Ana said. "I've been trying to get her to cancel it, but she couldn't get any other morning off work to take me. I'm supposed to get my teeth sealed or something."
"That's too bad." Caera shook her head.
"Claudia, how're you doing on your Science Fair Project?" Ana asked, changing the subject. "I just can't think of anything to experiment on. What're you doing?"
Claudia thought a moment.
"I don't know, but I guess I'd better think of something soon. Our class only has a week left before it's due."
"Any ideas?"
"I've always wanted to make crystals out of sugar, but Mrs. Johnson says our experiments have to prove or disprove a hypothesis."
"Well, I'll tell you what I'm doing." Caera said with a laugh.
"What?" Ana arched a brow.
"I'm comparing the nutritional values of Pillsbury and Betty Crocker cake mixes. You never know what you might find."
"An awful lot of sugar!" Claudia teased.
Ana laughed. "Ooh, I'd better go."
"Where?" Caera asked.
"P.E." Ana said. "I wanna get there early so I can psych myself up before the physical fitness test. Wish me luck."
Claudia expressed the necessary sympathies while Caera stood by looking mournful. Ana turned around sharply, and the twins groaned as they watched their friend bump into a frowning Mr. Hoffmeyer.