Twelve-year-old Shari Tucker isn’t the happiest girl on the planet. She doesn’t have many friends, has no brothers or sisters to play with, and is pretty lonely. But then something strange happens: a cute boy, Robby, actually asks if he can hang out with her!

But that’s just the beginning. After Robby talks to her, Shari suddenly gains a new best friend in Holly, and more than one boy starts talking to her. Suddenly, she’s something she always wanted to be: popular! But then, she is invited to a nerdy girl’s birthday party, a move that really doesn’t work well for her new popular-girl image. Shari reluctantly goes-and then comes up with the idea to pretend to sprain her ankle so she can go home.

Once at home, though, she receives the shock of her life: her family is moving! Her parents secretly adopted a baby girl but accidentally got one from Spain, and their doctor advises the entire family to move to Spain to help the baby adjust.

Shari thinks this whole baby thing is pretty suspicious. With the help of her new friends, Shari determines to discover the truth about her new baby sister.

WE'RE MOVING?!

SHARI TUCKER'S WACKY WORLD #1By Jazel A. Suguitan

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2010 Jazel A. Suguitan
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4502-6871-4

Chapter One

Ping-Pong, Diaries

You think life is great? Easy for you to say. I'm miserable! You name it ... A board game? Lost them all. Friends? Barely any. Siblings? None. Anyways, I'm Shari Tucker. I'm twelve years old. My grandparents were coming at 12:05, and I wouldn't be happy until then! (Well, I get happy sometimes, but life just gets worse!) I couldn't wait to see them. It feels like I haven't seen them in a million years! I missed Grandma Lizzy's strawberry pie and Grandpa Albert buying me stuff. When I was seven, he gave me a Judy Blume book. Then Grandma made her famous chicken potpie. Oh, I'm drooling just thinking about it!

"Shhaarrri!" my mom called. "Shari! Your grandparents are here!"

I ran inside the living room. "Mom! Where are they?" I yelled.

"Um, sweetie? No need to yell, I'm right here," my mom said.

"Where are they?" I asked impatiently. I darted out the door. By the sight of Grandpa Albert's rusty, old truck, I knew they were definitely here. "Grandma! Grandpa!" I hugged them so tightly.

"Shari!" Grandma Lizzy greeted me.

"She's not Shari, she's Sweet-tooth Shari!" Grandpa Albert corrected. He calls me that because when he invited me to his house last year, I ate all these different kinds of desserts—pie, ice cream sundaes ... oh boy! That day, I was so full!

I turned around and Mom was there. I was so excited I didn't hear her come! "What did you get me?" I asked.

"Now, Shari, don't greet them and then expect them to give you something," Mom said.

Grandpa Albert and Grandma Lizzy smiled. "Oh, it's okay," Grandma assured.

"Just wait here," Grandpa said. "Close your eyes."

I heard grunting and my grandparents' truck squeaking. Bonk!

"Open your eyes, sweetie," said Grandma Lizzy.

I opened my eyes and screamed, "You got me a Ping- Pong table! Gosh, you didn't have to!"

"Well, we did!" they said.

"Not only that, but we also got you this!" Grandpa pulled out a diary.

My smile softened. A diary? Really—a diary? Diaries are for stuck-up snooty booties, I thought. "You got me a diary? You're ... that's ... awesome."

"Aw, Pa, I told you she wouldn't be excited for some diary," Grandma Lizzy said. I gulped. They used their money just to make me happy, and I really didn't want to disappoint them. "Here, sweetie," Grandma said, handing me the diary. "Don't think of it as a diary. Think of it as a journal. You used to love to write in your journal, didn't you?"

I smiled and nodded.

"Well, anything for our grandchild!" Grandpa said.

"I love you guys!" I said, hugging them.

"We love you too, honey. Let's go inside," Grandpa Albert said. That was the good part of my day.

Chapter Two

Cute Boy

I woke up the next morning and went to the kitchen. It was just a regular school day.

"Good morning, Grandpa," I said. He was reading the newspaper. "I'm going to have some cereal."

"I made pancakes for you!" he said.

"Raspberry, strawberry, or blueberry?" I asked.

"What about boysenberry?" he said.

"Oh, so you made boysenberry pancakes!"

"I didn't say that," Grandpa joked. "It's a mystery. You should find out the answer."

"Did you put butter on them?"

"Yep," he replied.

I tasted the warm butter and the soft, chewy pancakes covered in syrup. Then I tasted the mystery fruit. Guava? Pear? Sweet, chewy, kinda dry when you warm it up, I thought. Those are the signs of a banana.

After breakfast, I brushed my teeth. Then I changed my clothes, got my backpack, and went outside. My dad was outside smoking. He put his cigar away and said, "Grandpa's letting us use his truck."

"Yay!" I cheered. I like to ride in Grandpa's truck. I usually go in the back so I can enjoy the lumpy bumps, but Dad didn't want me in the back that morning for some reason. I went in front with him. It was kind of a long drive. There were a lot of stop signs and red lights. Bump. Then another bump.

Finally we were at my school. They say that my school, Northway Middle School, is the best school in our state. Then other schools say that they're the best. I don't believe any of them! I got out of the truck and said bye to my dad. He never says "bye" back. He just mutters, "Uh-huh." I'm already used to Dad's "uh-huh's," but when he does it to other people, I feel like I'm the only one with class. Does he know how to say "good-bye"?

I went inside and studied my school. There were a bunch of posters saying "Even Einstein Asked Questions" and "I Don't Give Out Grades. YOU EARN THEM." I noticed the ground had marks from shoes. I said hi to everybody. After I greeted one girl, she said, "I saw you outside. I think I saw a baby in the back of your truck!"

"Right," I answered sarcastically.

When I said hi to a boy with spiky, brown hair and a red shirt, I just walked away. He followed me! I turned around and asked, "Why are you following me?"

"I wanted to talk to you," replied the weird boy.

"Do I even know you?" I yelled. "I just said a simple hi, and you followed me!"

"Sorry. I didn't mean to. Okay, maybe I did. Oh, uh, I'm Robby," the boy apologized.

"Sorry," I sighed. "I shouldn't have yelled at you before we actually met. What did you want to tell me?"

"I just wanted to know if I can hang out with you sometimes," Robby said. I noticed a girl with blonde hair and brown highlights, watching us. "So can I?" Robby asked.

"Uhhhh ... sure—why not?" I answered, facing the girl.

"Bye," Robby said.

"Uh-huh," I said back. Darn it! I sound like Dad! I thought. The girl walked up to me, and I held my breath. I was scared. I shouldn't have looked at her. She was right in front of me now. I thought she was mad at me somehow. Then the most amazing thing happened.

Chapter Three

Meeting Holly

"You're so lucky! You actually got to talk to Robby Doningsburg!" the girl exclaimed in the hallway, crowded with students.

"Ew! His last name is Doningsburg? I don't like that last name. Just ... ew. It makes me shiver," I said, shivering.

"I know—it's bizarre," the girl agreed.

"Oh, I forgot! I had to tell you something! Um ... what was it?" I said sarcastically. "Oh yeah! Who are you?"

"Oh yeah," the girl mumbled. "My name's Holly Mackerdon. If you think my last name is odd, I kind of agree. Anyways, what's your name?"

"I'm Shari Tucker, and if you think my last name is uncanny, you're kinda crazy!"

The bell rang, and Holly cheerfully said, "I'm late! Well, see ya later!"

"Uh-huh," I said. I thought about what had happened that morning already: I met a new, sort of cute friend (Robby) and a new, funny, and trustworthy friend (Holly). I wondered what it was going to be like in class! Then, I was mad again—I had said "uh-huh" to both Holly and Robby. The Dad Disease was spreading!

Chapter Four

Special Surprises

When I walked into room fifty-seven, my language arts class, I was so surprised! Holly and Robby were in seats next to mine!

"Shari, take your seat. I see you're late," Mr. Bolters said.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Last night, my mom had a baby, and we all had to go to the hospital," I lied.

"Your mom has to write me a note for me to believe that," Mr. Bolters said. "Okay. Now I think everyone's here, but I still want to take attendance. Let's see. Jessica? Hey, Jessie! Nice haircut!"

"Uh, here?"

"Daniel?"

"Here. Oh, and it's Dan."

"Heh, I heard! How's Tasha?"

"Good."

"You're one funny dude, Dan! You jokester! Robert?"

"Here. And I go by Robby."

"Okay, I'll call you that next time. Um? La ... Le ... Lee-uh-jay?"

"It's Liaja. I'll sound it out for you. Lee-ah-ja. L-I-A-J-A spells Liaja," Liaja yakked.

"Okay. Enough chitchatting. Um? I'd say this name is ..."

Mr. Bolters is so dumb. "I think this name is ..." Oh, and who would say—

I never got to finish my thoughts because a note got passed over to my desk. I quickly unfolded it and then read it:

Shari! Hey! It's Holly! Meet me after class! Got an important announcement to make! Always, Holly

"Yes, Shari's here," Robby said, interrupting my thoughts. "Why didn't you say, 'Oh, my lil' ol' me is here, Mr. Bolters,' when he called your name?"

"Kids!" Mr. Bolters yelled. "Listen. I want you to go to page thirty-two in your—"

The door swung open. "Excuse me! Sorry for barging in, but somebody's noisy! Now, please nicely raise hand if you were loud," Ms. McMolly said. Then of course, Mr. Bolters raised his hand. "Mr. Bolters, I am shocked. You were being loud?" Ms. McMolly scolded. "I was just reading to some other ninth graders and I heard, 'Kids! Listen! I want you to go to page thirty-two,' and I got so mad, I had to come over here and waste my time!"

Brrrrriiiinngg! The bell rang, and we all ran outside. I was the first one out, so I waited for Holly.

"Hi! I'm sorry I'm late," Holly apologized.

"Dude, no one can be 'late' if we just got out. Plus, I don't care about any apologies, what's the announcement?" I said.

"Well first, I texted my mom saying that I met you. She's planning to call your mom, but apparently she needs your mom's phone number," Holly joked.

I gave her my mom's phone number.

"Second, Roger asked me if we could hang out!" Holly screamed. We both squealed.

"Wait a second, I thought Roger was some sweaty football player," I said, confused.

"He's not sweaty, but I wish," Holly said, about to melt. "So what do ya think?"

"Do still kinda like Robby?" I asked with a worried face.

"Yeah. Why?" Holly asked curiously.

"What if Robby and Roger don't like each other?" I said. "If I date Robby, and you date Roger, and they don't like each other, and if they're always with us, and we're always with each other, they'd fight and we can't be friends."

Chapter Five

Too Much Drama

Holly and I were stunned. "Wait—since Roger, Robby, you, and I are in drama class, I can ask Mrs. Walker if we can do a romance play. So, you pick Robby, and I'll get my future husband, Roger!" Holly explained wistfully.

"How does that relate to anything?" I asked.

"Hello? Don't you know?" Holly questioned. "Acting brings people together. I mean, you see that specific person every day in rehearsals and while filming the actual stuff. Those two people are Robby and Roger!"

"I'm still not convinced, since in some movies there's a bad guy and a good guy," I said.

"What? Ugh, just trust me, it'll work," Holly insisted.

It won't work. I know so, I thought.

Brrrrriiiinngg!

"Hurry! Make sure they don't sit next to anyone but us!" Holly exclaimed.

Holly and I ran down the hallway. Do you know why? We were running because this is a serious thing. Well, not for adults, but for girls like us.

We burst in the drama room. "Girls, you know you can't run in the hallways," Mrs. Walker scowled.

"Too bad," I whispered.

"So sad," Holly whispered. Holly went up to Mrs. Walker. "Uh, Mrs. Walker, I was wondering if the class can do a romance play," Holly said. "So can we?"

"Are you sure you want to? I think romance is beautiful, but for kids, they think it's, well ... gross," Mrs. Walker said.

"Well, I think it's fascinating!" Holly said with a smile. "Listen to yourself. You said, 'Kids think it's gross.' Am I a kid?"

"No," Mrs. Walker answered.

"Okay then," Holly said. "Now go and announce to your class that we're doing a romance play!"

"Class, we're doing a romance play!" Mrs. Walker announced. Everyone groaned. "Who wants to try out for the play?" Holly and I raised our hands. "Shari, please pick a boy," Mrs. Walker said.

"Robby."

"Okay, Roger and Shari, go in the front of the class."

"No, I said I wanted Robby—"

"Do I have to?" Roger asked irritably.

Mrs. Walker nodded her head. "Now where is that script? I had it a minute ago. Anyone, please tell me where the script is! Nobody? Well, I remember the part of the kissing scene, but I won't make you two do that..." Mrs. Walker said.

Then the whole room was gossiping. "Shari and Roger sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

"What do you think is better—Shari and Roger, or Roger and Shari? I just adore Shari and Roger!"

"First comes love, then comes marriage, then here comes Roger with a baby carriage!"

This was horror. It was a nightmare. It was like ripping a paper heart with Robby and me on it! Only now there was Roger, smack dab on the heart.

"Shari, this is for you," Robby said, looking like he was about to cry. He handed me a piece of paper. I unfolded it and read:

Dear Shari, Maybe you can get another friend. Like Roger. He seems nice. You might date him. Don't worry. I now have Holly. From, Robby

I turned the paper over since it told me to. I saw a broken heart that said Shari on it. It even had a tag that said My Heart.

Thud!

Huh? What's that? I thought.

"Robby left," Holly said through the crowd, answering my thoughts. "Oh, and don't kiss Roger!"

I was about to leave, but Simpleton Roger had to kiss me. Yes, he kissed me. Right on my cheek. I guess he thought Holly said for him to kiss me. Then he fell down!

"Cool! He fainted!"

"Maybe you kissed him too hard!"

"That was a great wedding! Wasn't it?"

I ran out of the drama room. "Robby!" I yelled. "Where are you?" My voice echoed through the empty corridor. I'm heartbroken. I'm—

Brrriiiiiing!

"Shari, you okay? Roger likes you. Really, Roger fainted. Don't worry, the drama teacher sprayed him with her water bottle," Holly said.

"Do you know who likes you now?" I asked.

"Who?" Holly asked, excited. I pointed at Robby, around the corner. "Oh."

Chapter Six

Too Many Boys

"Where are we going now?" I asked Holly.

"P.E. room," Holly answered.

"Do you like P.E.?" I questioned.

"No. I actually hate it. Why? Do you?" Holly said.

"Same thing you said. I hate it," I replied. Holly and I talked so much, we passed by the P.E. room and kept on walking. "Wait, I think we passed the P.E. room," I said.

"No we didn't. I thought that was just the restroom," Holly said.

"No, I'm sure that was the physical education room."

"Wanna bet?"

"Yeah, I wanna bet."

"Okay then. Let's flip a coin."

"No! That's so unfair."

"All right, let's look."

We walked to the restroom/P.E. room. "Wait—if I win the bet, I want money. The price: one thousand dollars," I teased, smirking.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! A thousand dollars! All my allowances are smaller than that! You'd be on the thousand- dollar bill!" Holly exclaimed, taking it seriously.

"The best part is that it's gonna be all from you!" I joked again.

"But I don't have enough cash," Holly said, depressed.

"That's why I take checks!" I assured, still pulling Holly's leg.

"Okay then, I'll give you a check. But if I win the bet, I want ten thousand dollars!" Holly shouted.

We were both silent for a second, and then I broke the silence. "What! How can I afford ten thousand dollars? It's impossible!" I ran to the back of the wall and sighed in relief. A sign was there that said:

P.E. Room Room 60, Mr. Sanders

"Holly, you might wanna come over here!" I called, grinning.

"Okay!" Holly said, walking toward me. She looked at the sign and then groaned, "I'm gonna lose a thousand dollars! I'll pay you tomorrow at school."

"How can you pay me when tomorrow's Saturday?"

"Oh, yeah," Holly remembered, blushing.

"Um, you know I was kidding the whole time, right?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah..." Holly answered.

Brrrrriiiinngg!

We walked into the room, and something weird happened. There were tons of boys!

(Continues...)

Excerpted from WE'RE MOVING?!by Jazel A. Suguitan Copyright © 2010 by Jazel A. Suguitan. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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