Claudia's sister makes everything impossible - even baby-sitting!

I was shaken out of my daydreaming by the sound of dishes clattering in the sink. Breakfast was over. Mom and dad were clearing the table. Janine was swallowing the last of her orange juice. Quickly, I finished my scrambled eggs.

"So," said Janine, out of the blue, "may I ask how your agency plans to function once your founder is residing in a different district?"

"You may," I replied, stalling. I had no idea what she was talking about.

"Oh, I understand," said Janine. "You want to play games. Well, I'll comply. All right, how does your agency plan to function once your founder is residing in a different district?"

"Huh?"

"I said - "

"Janine, talk in English, will you?"

"I am!" Janine looked hurt again. "I can't help it if this is the manner in which I speak."

"And I can't help it if I don't understand you."

"Oh, never mind," said Janine. She sighed. It might have been a sad sigh, if might have been an exasperated one. I couldn't tell. "I was simply trying to uphold my end of a meaningful conversation with my sibling."

"You were trying to what?"

"Talk to you!" exploded Janine.

"Well, why didn't you just say so?"

"I did." Janine stood up. "Very well. Have fun drawing and baby-sitting and shopping." How did Janine always manage to make me feel that I couldn't do anything worthwhile?

"And you have fun talking to machines!" I yelled after her as she left the kitchen.

Janine mumbled something that sounded like, "At least they communicate with me."

Now what was that supposed to mean?

It was another happy morning at the Kishis'.

As I left the house a little while later, Mimi put her arms around me and said, "Have fun today, my Claudia."

"I will," I replied, giving her a kiss.

Janine watched us from the front yard. Then she looked away. when her ride came along, she got into the car without even waving to us.

Claudia and Mean Janine
Published by Scholastic Inc. 1996
ISBN: 0590437194