Green Algae and Bubble Gum Wars Read Online Free Page A

hoped it still fit. She pulled her arms into the sleeves. Phew —they were still long enough. But when she started to button up the front, things felt all weird. She looked at herself in the mirror and shookher head. The blouse felt way too small, but her pants from sixth grade still fit.
    Suddenly, Maeve heard a knock at the door. “It’s me, honey. Can I come in?” called Mr. Taylor.
    â€œNo! I’m changing!” Maeve cried, and without even thinking about it, folded her arms across her chest.
    â€œWell, come out when you’re ready,” her dad told her. “I want to find out what your final plans are for this Science Festival outing.”
    â€œOkay, Dad, gimme a minute.” Maeve furiously tore off her once-favorite blouse and, wearing just a white tank-top with her jeans, stared at her reflection in the full length mirror. She studied herself from every angle, feeling puzzled. She hadn’t outgrown her pants from sixth grade yet. Was it possible to go up a size on one part of your body but not another?
    Suddenly, the truth hit her like a lighting bolt. She felt her face flush as she realized what the difference was. She, Maeve Kaplan-Taylor, was in desperate need of…a bra !
    Maeve crossed her arms and threw herself onto the beanbag in the corner to think this over. At that moment, more than ever before, Maeve wished divorces, separations, and different homes were illegal or something. She definitely needed her Mom right now—talking to her dad about bras was absolutely, positively out of the question. So totally weird it made her shudder just to think about it. But she wouldn’t be seeing her mom before the Festival tomorrow, so what could she do?
    Maeve resolved to wear a striped pink sweater with her jeans instead, and sadly folded her old favorite blouse andplaced it back in her bureau. This was a milestone moment for Maeve, who never folded anything—much to über-organized Katani’s utter dismay.
    She shook her head to clear it and decided that it would probably be a smart idea to actually have plans to talk to her dad about, so she signed online hoping that the BSG would be online too.
    CHAPTER 3
A Terrible T-Party
    I sabel couldn’t believe that she was awake before noon on a Saturday, and what was even more unbelievable, that she was awake before noon to learn about science. But she was excited to get Elena Maria together with Scott Madden, and who could pass up a 3D holograph exhibit? Actually, she had been lying in bed for at least an hour now, thinking about 3D bird images and waiting for Elena Maria to get out of the bathroom.
    When she realized it was getting late, Isabel finally rolled out from under her squishy comforter. It took her all of two seconds to throw on a pair of comfy green sweats and her current favorite T-shirt—one with a beautiful parrot on it saying, “Polly want a little piece and quiet at the Boston Public Library.” Katani found it at a thrift shop and got it for Isabel, who loved birds and art with equal passion.
    She went and knocked on the bathroom door. “Are you ready to go yet, Miss Elena?”
    â€œAlmost!” Elena Maria hollered back.
    â€œAlmost?” Isabel was beginning to get worried. She really didn’t want to be late to meet the BSG at the T stop. Isabel packed everything she needed for the fair, which was her sketchbook and pencil. Her art supplies were really all she needed to go anywhere. Then she straightened up her side of the room and made her bed. When she was done, she marched back to the bathroom and pounded on the door. “Elenaaaaaa! C’mon! This isn’t the Grammys.”
    The door creaked opened, and Elena Maria popped her head out. “I’m having such a bad hair day. Would you look at this?” Elena held up a strand of her long, wavy, dark brown hair, with a look of dismay on her face.
    Isabel couldn’t believe her sister. “Are you