On the Back Burner Read Online Free Page B

happened. My parents should have woken me up, but they thought I was exhausted from the party and they wanted me to get my sleep for Monday.”
    “Did you get any of the questions right?” asked Molly.
    “I don’t know. I just guessed at the answers as best as I could,” Peichi said. She stared down at her lunch. Somehow, she wasn’t very hungry.
    “Hey, guys, ask me what I’m planning to do next month,” Molly said, changing the subject.
    “What are you going to do?” Shawn asked.
    “I’m going to try out for softball,” Molly answered.
    “Softball? You are?” Natasha questioned. “I didn’t know you were interested in softball! When did you decide to try out?”
    “The other day when Athena suggested it,” Molly told her. In the beginning of the school year, Molly had struggled with math, so she had started getting weekly tutoring from Athena Vardalos, a seventh-grader. “Last night Athena called and asked me if we could switch the regular afternoons when we work together because softball practice is starting in a month and she’s on the team. She’s been on the team since sixth grade.”

    “She talked you into trying out?” Shawn asked.
    “Well, she suggested it, since she knows I like sports,” Molly answered. “It sounds fun. I’ve always liked to play, but we never had a team in elementary school.”
    “Molly can really hit the ball,” Amanda said. “I just jump back when I see that ball fly at my face!”
    “Softball won’t interfere with you coming to Chinese New Year, will it, Molly?” Peichi asked. “That’s next month, too.”
    “I don’t think so,” Molly said. “I don’t know what the tryout or practice schedule will be yet, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure I’m around.”
    “Good,” Peichi said, smiling. “There’s so much to do! I’ve already started making plans.”
    “Isn’t it a little soon to start?” Amanda asked.
    “No way! This is a huge event in my family. When all my relatives get together, there are fifty of them. Then my parents have, like, a zillion friends who come over, too. My whole house is packed with people on that day, wearing red for good luck. It’s like a huge party.”
    “Cool!” said Amanda. She couldn’t really imagine Peichi’s large house completely filled with people.
    “So, who wants to come over today?” Peichi asked.
    “Sorry,” Shawn said, shaking her head. “I have cheerleading practice. And I have to study for the big English test tomorrow. I love A Tree Crows in Brooklyn. I think it’s my new favorite book.”
    “I really liked it, too,” Amanda agreed. “But I still need to study my notes. Did you like it, Peichi?”
    Peichi shrugged. “I haven’t really finished it yet. But the first chapter was pretty good. A little slow, maybe, but good.”
    Shawn’s mouth dropped open. “You haven’t finished it? Peichi, that book is, like, four hundred pages! You’d better stay home and read tonight.”
    “I took really good notes in class,” Peichi retorted. But inside, she knew Shawn was right.

    That night, Peichi’s copy of A Tree Crows in Brooklyn lay open on the bed. She had read up to Chapter Nine. Her notes were spread out over the book. Peichi sighed and looked around her room. I’m sick of reading, she thought. I’ve been reading for two hours already! I need a little break.

    Slamming the book shut, Peichi went downstairs and turned on the computer. Right now it was really important to get going on plans for Chinese New Year. Everything had to be just right. Maybe there’s something I can do to gel the rest of the Chef Girls excited about Chinese New Year, she thought. But what? Peichi logged on to the Internet and typed in the address of a website that featured free e-cards.
    Scanning down the list of available cards, she found a card for Chinese New Year. She clicked on it and previewed the card. A small burst of red appeared in the middle of the screen. Yellow streamers began shooting from its