Green Algae and Bubble Gum Wars by Annie Bryant Page B

quiet as they left the department store with their bag. Maeve was thrilled that her mother insisted on a new nightgown, too—what an unexpected treat!
    â€œNow that wasn’t too painful, right, sweetie?” asked Ms. Kaplan as they pulled out of the mall parking lot.
    â€œNot even a little bit,” Maeve agreed. “Thank you for everything, Mom. You’re the best.” Maeve gave her mother’s hand a squeeze, but Ms. Kaplan didn’t say anything back. Instead she turned on the radio and started making a little squeaking noise as the music blared over the speakers. It wasn’t until Maeve noticed that her mom was dabbing her eyes with the wrist of her sweater that Maeve realized her mother was crying!
    â€œMom…” Maeve began. “Are you okay?”
    Ms. Kaplan sniffled. “I’m fine, sweetie. But I feel like just yesterday you were throwing spaghetti noodles at me and learning how to walk.”
    Maeve smiled. “If it helps, I can still throw spaghetti noodles at you…”
    Ms. Kaplan snorted out a laugh as the music shifted to the Beatles. It was one of Maeve’s favorites: “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da.” Maeve wondered why she had never noticed the chorus before, which went “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da, life goes on…”
    Life does go on, Maeve thought. I really am growing up . She and her mother sang the song at the top of their lungs all the way home. Maeve had to admit—it had turned out to be a perfectly wonderful day.
    CHAPTER 8
The Green Machine
    W hen Maeve walked into school the next day, she couldn’t help feeling a little nervous about her secret. She wondered if people could tell that underneath her crisp white blouse and pink plaid skirt she was wearing a bra for the first time ever! What in the world would the BSG say if they only knew? But she quickly learned that the BSG had things on their minds besides the great MK-T’s underwear status.
    â€œDid you hear the news? Mrs. Fields just called an assembly in the gym!” Avery announced, grabbing Maeve by the elbow.
    â€œAn assembly! Is everything all right?” Maeve asked, suddenly feeling a bit of panic.
    â€œWell, we aren’t supposed to know anything.” Charlotte grinned.
    â€œYou can blame me for spilling the beans,” Katani admitted. “Everything is fine. Just fine. But the assembly’s about the science fair.”
    Maeve jumped up and down and clapped excitedly. “No way! Does that mean what I think it means?” she cried, following the swarm of students into the auditorium. Inside, the big room had been decorated to look sort of like a tropical rain forest—complete with five huge papier-mâché birds. “Balloons and cupcakes! This place looks incredible!” Maeve gushed, recognizing one of her friends’ handiwork immediately. “Did you have something to do with this, Missy?” Maeve asked, jokingly wagging her finger at Isabel.
    Isabel giggled. “Guilty as charged. It would have been better too…but the whole thing was kind of last minute. A bunch of kids helped.”
    â€œIncluding me,” proudly added Katani. Kgirl and Isabel’s creative forces combined were truly unstoppable.
    Once the students were settled in their seats, Mrs. Fields wasted no time. “The faculty at Abigail Adams Junior High is pleased to announce that this year, for the first time ever, we are hosting a science fair that is one hundred percent environmentally oriented!”
    The BSG looked around at the enthusiastic faces around them and felt a wash of excitement pass over them as the whole auditorium erupted in applause.
    â€œThanks to the efforts of everyone who signed a petition, put together by a motivated group of students known as…” Mrs. Fields cleared her throat and said in a loud, clear voice, “ The Green Machine! ”
    The girls made a link with their hands and gave one another a tight