Chapter 1

Angela and Tempe were sitting with heads in hands on Tempe's front steps. They had been friends as long as they could remember, which being only 6 was not all that long. But friends for life had its advantages. They always had someone to talk to and play with. And starting first grade was a lot easier when you had someone's hand to cling to.

On this overcast early October day, they were watching the moving truck being unloaded at the house across the street from Tempe's. They hoped to find out if there were any other girls moving in to play with, but all they saw so far was lots of little sports sets. Angela and Tempe knew from Tempe's older brother Russ that only boys their age played with sports sets. So, as stated earlier, they sat with their heads in their hands, watching with little interest as more and more sports stuff was unloaded.

Finally, Angela suggested that they head inside to see what Mrs. Brennan had made for lunch. When they had washed their hands and sat down to eat, Mrs. Brennan asked if they had met the new boy across the street. "Mommy, boys are gross. All they like to do is stare at girls' butts."

"Who ever gave you that idea?" asked Mrs. Brennan, appalled.

'Russ' was the simple answer.

"I should have known. Russ, get down here right now!" yelled Mrs. Brennan up the stairs.

"But Mom, I-"

"No buts mister, get down here now! Do I have to count?" She asked. When he didn't show, she began to count down from 5.

"Okay, okay! I'm coming!" Russ said quickly, knowing what would happen if she got past 3. As he stepped quickly into the kitchen, he realized that he was treading on thin ice. "Yes Mom, what is it?"

"Why did you tell Temperance that all boys like to do is look at girls' butts?" She asked quietly.

"Aw, Mom, I was just kidding around with her." He said, slightly embarrassed.

"Well, she didn't think you were kidding, so for lying to her you get to do all her chores for the rest of the day."

"Mom," Mmoaned Russ as Tempe and Angela giggled.

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After they were finished eating, Angela suggested that they go play with Tempe's dolls. A little while later, a wonderful smell began to come from the kitchen. Angela and Tempe wandered downstairs, wondering what it could be.

In the kitchen, they discovered that Mrs. Brennan had made cookies for the new neighbors. She was planning on taking them over after they cooled. Tempe asked if she and Angela could come. Mrs. Brennan agreed so after about 10 minutes they all walked across the street to meet their new neighbors. Mrs. Brennan rang the doorbell and they all waited for someone to answer the door

Suddenly the door was opened by a boy about Angela and Tempe's age. He had on a baseball cap that said 'FBI' on it, and in Tempe's opinion he was the cutest boy she had ever seen. Tempe's mom said to the boy, "Hi! I'm Mrs. Brennan. Is your mom or dad home?" The boy slowly nodded and showed them inside.

A woman with dark brown hair and blue eyes was unpacking boxes in the living room. She looked up and smiled, brushed off her hands on her faded blue jeans, and shook Mrs. Brennan's hand. "Hi, I'm Anna Booth, and this," she gestured to the boy, "is little Seeley."

"Christine Brennan. And these tow gorgeous ladies are Tempe and Angela. We live across the street, and Angela's family lives next door to us."

"How wonderful, Seeley starts first grade next week, after we get settled, and he already has 2 new friends."

"Mommy, girls have cooties!" whined Seeley, tugging on his mother's jeans.

"Do not!" said Angela.

"Do too!"

"Do not!" said Tempe.

"Do too!"

"DO NOT!!" yelled both Tempe and Angela.

"Girls, be polite!" Mrs. Brennan scolded gently.

"Yes momma." said Tempe, looking at her feet.

"Seeley why don't you show the girls your playroom?" Mrs. Booth suggested.

"Okay." He led Angela and Tempe up two flights of stairs, to a small circular room on the third floor. It was covered in police memorabilia. Seeley took off his hat and hung it next to one that said DCPD. "Do you want to play cops and robber?"

"yeah!" Tempe and Angela loved that game.

"I call robber." said Tempe.

"me too!" said Angela.

"I call cop." said Seeley.

Angela and Tempe ran downstairs and out the back door before Seeley counted to 3. He ran after them and after about ten minutes of looking caught Angela. He pulled out a pair of plastic handcuffs and put her hands behind her back. He took her to the big tree that they had decided would be their jail.

When he found Tempe, he put her arms behind her back and handcuffed them as well, though he was noticeably gentler with her than he had been with Angela. He led her to the tree, where Angela was waiting, and smirked at the two of them, "I win." Angela made a face at him before he removed their handcuffs and they headed back to Seeley's house.