"Who are you?" he asked.
"Jake," I said.
Andy gave me a big goofy grin. "Not anymore, babe."
I looked down at myself. I was wearing Jessica's gray sweatshirt and sweatpants. The nails on my fingers were long and polished. My hair fell down over my ears.
"Hey, cutie, how about you and me getting together after the game, huh?" Andy winked suggestively.
"How about sticking your face in a bucket of wet concrete?" I replied and got out of the reclining chair. Not far away, Josh was talking to me, I mean, Jessica in my body.
"You feel okay?" he asked me, I mean, her.
"Get real, Josh," Jessica, in my body, replied. "I'm in a body that washes once a month and brushes its teeth even less."
"Hey, no fair," I said. "I did all that stuff this morning, plus gargling."
Jessica turned my head and blinked at me in her body. "I don't believe this."
I wasn't used to having all her hair, so I hooked it over my, I mean, her ear. "It's not such a big deal."
"Don't do that to my hair," said my sister, in my body.
"Why not?" I scratched my, I mean, her nose. "I don't like the way it looks," Jessica said. "And stop scratching."
"Hey, back off," I said. "What're you so uptight about?"
Jessica raised my hands and stared at them. Then she shook my head. "This is too weird. I'm sorry, but I don't like it. All I want to do is get this over with and get back into my body again."
Josh looked at his watch. "You better get going, Jake, er, I mean, Jessica, or you're going to be late for the dentist."
"And we should go out to the field and work on some plays before the game starts," Andy said. He headed for the door.
But my sister and I didn't move. We were still staring at each other.
"Never in a million years would I have believed this," she muttered through my lips. "Come on, dude." Josh put his hand on my, I
mean, her shoulder. "Time to play some ball."
We went out into the hall.
Where Mr. Blanco stood waiting for us.
12
The principal crossed his arms and gave us a knowing look. "Just as I suspected."
"Uh, suspected what?" Andy asked innocently.
"I knew you four were up to something," Mr. Blanco said. "You're supposed to be in the cafeteria. What were you doing in the science lab?"
"Uh . . . " My friends and I shared a wary glance. This time it really looked like we were nailed.
Then Jessica, in my body, spoke up. "We were doing a writing experiment."
"A what?" Mr. Blanco frowned.
"You know, a writing experiment," I said, catching on.
"In the science lab?" Mr. Blanco asked.
"That's where we're supposed to do experiments, right?" Andy asked.
"Well, yes, but . . . in writing?" Mr. Blanco looked really puzzled. As a former gym teacher, he was sort of out of it academically.
"Sure," Josh said. "Today's the young writers' conference, right?"
"Yes, but . . . "
I looked down at Jessica's watch. "I hate to say this, Mr. Blanco, but I'm late for a dentist's appointment."
"And we've got a touch football game," said Andy.
Without waiting for the principal to gather his wits, we hurried past him and out the school doors.
"Phew, that was close." Josh sighed with relief once we got outside. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and the day was gradually warming.
"Yeah, good thinking, Jake," Andy said.
"I beg your pardon?" said Jessica, in my body.
Andy grinned. "Oh, right. I should have known Jake couldn't come up with something like that on his own."
"Some friend." I pressed my sister's lips into a pout.
Jessica turned to me. "You better go or you're going to be late for Dr. Paine."
"And we better get over to the field." Josh pointed to the broad lawn in front of the middle school where we played our touch football games.
"Okay, I'll come to the game as soon as I'm finished," I said, remembering that Sumi would be there.
Andy looked worried. "You're, uh, not gonna want to play, are you?"
"Don't worry, Andy, I'll just come to watch," I assured him, then turned to go.
"Oh, Jessica!" someone shouted. I wheeled around and saw a blond girl wearing a tight pink sweater and a short black skirt. She was hurrying up the sidewalk toward me.
"Oh, no!" Jessica, in my body, gasped in a low voice. "Not Stacy Sloane!"
13
Before I could ask who Stacy Sloane was, she planted herself in front of me and brushed her blond bangs out of her eyes. She was wearing a lot of eye makeup, and her lips were covered with glossy brownish lipstick. Half a dozen earrings dangled from each ear, and her fingers were covered with rings.
"Oh, Jessica," she gushed to me. "I just love what you've done with your hair!"
"Uh, thanks." I swallowed nervously.
"Is it a perm?" Stacy asked.
I glanced out of the corner of my eye at my sister, who nodded my head.
"Oh, yes," I said. "How did you know?"
Stacy scowled. "Well, it's obvious. Yesterday it was straight and brown, and today it's curly and reddish. How else would I know? And I love the highlights. Who did them?"
The only highlights I knew of were the sports highlights on Channel 4 every night.
"Stu Silver," I replied. He was the sports show's host.
"I've never heard of him," Stacy said. "Where is he?"
"Channel Four," I said.
"Is that in town?" Stacy asked.
"It's everywhere," I replied.
"Hmmm." Stacy tapped a shiny brown fingernail against her chin. "Must be a new chain of hair salons. I'm definitely going to try him next time I change hair colors. So what's this I hear about Dan Winters asking you to the carnival?"
"Ahem!" My sister, in my body, suddenly cleared my throat. "Uh, gee, Jessica, you're going to be really late for Dr. Paine."
"You're right!" I gasped, and turned back to Stacy. "I've got to go to the dentist. See you later."
I hurried away down the sidewalk. Next stop, Dr. Paine.
14
Jessica wasn't kidding when she said she had three deep cavities. But once the Novocain kicked in, it wasn't so bad. The only problem was that my, I mean, Jessica's mouth was totally numb and swollen. As soon as Dr. Paine was finished filling the cavities, I tore out of the office and headed back to school. It was just after 10 A.M. and Sumi should have arrived by now.
It had turned into a beautiful fall day. As I hurried toward the field, I could see both teams lined up and facing each other. A familiar voice grunted "Hut one . . . hut two . . . "
I skidded to a stop and watched in disbelief. I was the quarterback!
"Hut three . . . hike!" Josh snapped the ball to me, I mean, to Jessica in my body. Everyone on my team took off for the end zone. I watched in awe as I faded back and hurled a bomb!
The football sailed high into the air in a perfect spiral. Down the field, Andy raced ahead of everyone else.
"I got it! I got it!" he cried.
He caught it in the end zone and scored a TD!
A cheer went up! I'd thrown a touchdown pass! My teammates crowded around me, patting me on the back and congratulating me. I was a hero!
But if I was a hero, how come I was standing on the sidelines in my sister's body?
Because I was only a hero when Jessica was in my body.
What a depressing thought. I felt my, I mean, Jessica's shoulders sag.
But then I brightened. No one knew!
Then I felt bummed again. No one except Jessica, Josh, Andy, and me.
Meanwhile, the teams were lining up for the kickoff, and I remembered why I'd hurried back to the field. Standing a dozen yards away was a tall girl with long shining black hair. She was wearing jeans and a white shirt. A slight breeze blew her hair into her face. The guys on the field were giving her puzzled
looks and whispering to each other. You could tell from their expressions that they didn't know who she was or why she was watching their game.
But I knew.
I walked over and stopped near her. I could feel my sister's heart pounding rapidly in her chest and goose bumps on her arms.
"Huhho." I tried to say hello but my sister's mouth was still numb.
Sumi turned and pulled her hair away from her face. I felt my sister's jaw drop. Not only did she have long, shimmering black hair, but pale, soft skin and dark, gorgeous eyes. She was beautiful!
"Did you say something?" she asked.
"Uh-huh." I nodded and held out my sister's hand. "Horn Hake."
Sumi gave me a funny look. "Maybe you should try speaking English."
"Ha ham sheecking Engluch," I said. "Buh ha hush cahme hrum huh hentish."
Sumi frowned. "You just came from what?" "Hentish." I opened my sister's mouth, stuck a finger in like a drill, and made a drilling sound. "Huuuuunnnnnnuuuuunnnnnuuuunnnn!"
"A dentist?" Sumi guessed.
I nodded eagerly and pointed at my sister's mouth. "Muh mouf ith hall thowhen."
"Swollen?" Sumi guessed.
I nodded some more. "Hooh sheeck goo Engluch."
Sumi smiled, revealing beautiful straight white teeth. "Thank you. I study hard in school. Some of it is still a little strange to me. My name is Sumiko, but everyone calls me Sumi."
"Horn Hake."
"Hake?"
I shook my sister's head. "Juuhhh . . . . Jjjjjjj . . . ake."
Sumi looked surprised. "Did you say, Jake?"
"Yesh!" I nodded happily.
Then she frowned. "I thought Jake was a boy." Ooops!
15
In my excitement, I'd forgotten whose body I was in. "Ha menth ha ham Hake's hister."
"Jake's sister?"
I nodded. "Hehika."
"Hehika?" Sumi repeated.
"Hehika."
"Hehika?"
I shook my sister's head in frustration. As long as my, I mean, Jessica's mouth was swollen and numb, Sumi couldn't understand me.
Loud shouts came from the game. Sumi and I turned to see me, I mean, Jessica in my body, intercept a pass thrown by the other team's quarterback. Once again, my teammates crowded around and patted me on the shoulder.
"Hat's Hake!" I clapped my sister's hands.
"The one who just caught the ball?" Sumi asked.
"Yesh!"
"He's very good," Sumi said. "I noticed him right away."
That made me feel good. "He's huh hery hreat atheet," I said. "Huh hest in huh hool."
"The best in the school?" Sumi repeated. I nodded.
"You must be very proud of him," Sumi said.
"Yesh! And he's huh hery hood hother."
"A very good brother?" Sumi was starting to understand me better. "You're lucky. Sometimes younger brothers can be a big pain."
"Not Hake," I said. "He's huh hest."
"I am looking forward to meeting him," Sumi said.
All right! I had to smile to myself. The plan was working! Sumi thought I was a great athlete. She was looking forward to meeting me. After the game Jessica and I would switch back into our own bodies and everything would be perfect.
"Yo, Jessica!" Just then someone called out my sister's name.
A guy with dark hair was strolling toward us. His blue shirt was neatly pressed and his pants had creases.
He didn't have the greatest complexion. Oh, no! It was Dandy Dan Winters!
16
I was gripped with terror. What if Dan put his arm around my waist and tried to kiss me? Barf City!
I clenched my sister's teeth and crossed her arms tightly, praying he wouldn't touch me.
"Hi, Jessica." As Dan joined us, his eyes focused on Sumi.
"Hi, Han." I braced myself, still waiting for his arm to go around my sister's waist.
But it didn't.
Instead, he stared at Sumi like he was in some kind of daze. Finally he turned to me and said, "So, how's it going?"
"Hohay," I answered.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. "Hotching Hake hay," I replied.
Dan scowled. "What?"
I pointed at my, I mean, Jessica's, mouth. "Hi hust hame hum huh hentist."
"Huh?" He still didn't understand.
"Huuuuunnnnnnuuuuunnnnnuuuunnnn!" I pointed my sister's finger at her mouth and made the drilling sound.
Dan stared at me like I'd lost my mind, then shot another glance at Sumi. "So, uh, who's your friend?"
Something in the tone of his voice, plus the way he kept looking at Sumi, gave me a funny feeling. Was he interested in her? Was that why he hadn't put his arm around my sister's waist or tried to kiss me?
All at once I didn't want to introduce him to Sumi.
"Hahguh wahguh buguh." I pointed at my, I mean, Jessica's mouth again and mumbled some nonsense he couldn't understand.
"What did you say?" Dan frowned.
"Wiguh wahguh wooguh."
"Gee, Jessica, what's wrong with you?"
Sumi turned to us and brushed her long beautiful hair away from her face. "She just came from the dentist."
"Oh!" Dan smiled and offered her his hand. "Hi, I'm Dan Winters."
Sumi shook his hand. "I am Sumiko, but everyone calls me Sumi."
"Sumi? That's a really pretty name," Dan said. "Where are you from?"
"Tokyo."
"Wow, what brings you here?" he asked.
"I have come with my father, who is doing business with Mr. Sherman. I am visiting Jake and his family for the day."
"Jake Sherman?" Dan made a face. "That little dwee — "
I poked him in the ribs with my, I mean, Jessica's, elbow.
"Ooof!" Dan doubled over. Then he straightened up and scowled at me. I made a face. He got the message.
"So, uh, how do you know Jake?" he asked.
"We are pen pals," Sumi replied. "We have been exchanging E-mail."
"Then you've never actually met him?" Dan asked.
"This is the first time," Sumi replied.
"I see." Dan smiled to himself. I could tell that he was cooking up a scheme in that slime bucket brain of his.
Out on the field another shout went up. We watched as Jessica, in my body, made an amazing, diving catch in the end zone for another touchdown.
"Yay, Hake!" I shouted and pumped my sister's fist.
"Very good!" Sumi clapped her hands excitedly.
"Amazing!" Dan gasped. "Jake usually rots at football."
"Rots?" Sumi turned to him. "I am not familiar with that term when it is applied to people."
"It's just a saying," Dan explained. "It means —" "He's heally hrate!" I cut in.
"Really great?" Sumi nodded. "Yes, then Jake certainly rots."
"But that's not what it — " Dan began.
Before he could finish, I grabbed him by the arm and yanked him away.
Dan gave me a surprised look as I dragged him out of earshot. "What's with you, Jessica?"
"Heep hor options who horhelf!" I hissed from between Jessica's clenched teeth.
"Huh?" He looked like he didn't know what in the world I was saying.
Luckily the numbness from the Novocain was starting to fade. I really concentrated and was able to whisper "Keep your opinions to yourselsh."
Dan frowned. "Why?"
"I don't like hit when you shay bad hings about my sisther," I said.
"Sister?" Dan looked totally confused.
er, I meant, my buther," I said.
"But you're always putting him down," Dan said.
"Not anymore," I whispered through my sister's lips.
"Okay, okay." Dan seemed impatient to end our conversation and get back to Sumi again. "Hey, Jessica," he said in a loud voice. "I have an idea. Why don't we ask Sumi if she wants to come to the carnival with us this afternoon?"
Sumi go with my sister and Dan? That was the last thing in the world I wanted. But before I
could say so, Sumi turned to us, her eyes widening with delight.
"Did you say 'carnival'?" she gasped.
17
"That's right," Dan said. "Carnival."
Sumi clasped her hands together excitedly. "I would love to go to a carnival!"
"Great!" Dan turned to me. "What do you say, Jessica? It's okay if Sumi comes with us, isn't it? I mean, she really wants to go."
Darn it! Dan had me on the spot. If I said no I'd be disappointing Sumi. If I said yes, he'd get to spend all afternoon with her.
Fortunately, my sister's mouth was almost back to normal by now. "Well, the only problem is that Sumi really came here to visit Jake. So I think we should wait and ask him."
From the sly glimmer in Dan's eye I could tell he was still scheming. "That's the part I don't get. Isn't Jake a little young for Sumi?"
"Oh, no," Sumi said. "Jake is seventeen. He told me so himself."
"Seventeen! ?" Dan cried. "That runt? No way! He can't be more than fourteen."
Sumi frowned and looked at me. "Is this true, Jessica?"
Things were going from bad to worse. The truth was, I'd done more than just lie to Sumi about my athletic abilities. I'd also lied about my age.
"Well . . . " What could I say?
"Look at him." Dan pointed at me out in the field. "Does that little twerp look like he's seventeen?"
Sumi stared for a moment, then turned to me in my sister's body again. "Jessica, how old is your brother?"
There was no point in lying. She could see I wasn't as old as I'd said I was.
"Well, actually, he is fourteen," I admitted. But then I added, "He's very mature for his age."
"Yeah, right." Dan smirked. "How old are you, Sumi?"
"I'm sixteen," she said, frowning. "I don't understand why Jake would say he was seventeen if he is only fourteen."
"Well, that's pretty simple," Dan said with a chuckle. "He lives here and you live in Tokyo. He probably never dreamed that you'd actually — "
I had no intention of letting him finish that sentence. For once I was glad my sister had long arms and pointy elbows.
"Ooof!" The next thing Dan knew, he was doubled over again, holding his stomach and gasping in pain.
"What happened?" Sumi asked, alarmed.