Summary: Third Street has grown up, Vince is dating Gretchen, Gus is single and liking Ashley A, Mikey likes Spinelli, but TJ likes Spinelli and Spinelli likes TJ, so Mikey accepts that. The gang is now freshmen; this chapter is Spinelli's P.O.V.
Chapter One: Extra Money
The cab drove up to the stupid little pink house – who paints a house pink?! It was practically screaming, "VALENTINE'S DAY!! BOYFRIENDS!! LOVE!! GROSS!!" Honestly, what are they thinking?!
I needed money, bad. Mom and Dad finally decided they'd make their 'little Ashley' earn her own money.
I wish I wasn't their 'little Ashley'.
BEWARE OF DOG was plastered on the door, other than '"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."- John 3:16' being stain glassed on the window. This was Ruby's house, all right.
I knocked on the door, straightening my dress. I was just wearing a dress so the parents would like me. Maybe they'd leave me a tip. It was Gretchen's, but now she's really tiny compared to when we were fourth graders. It was a blue deal with a pink bow and white shirt underneath, the same thing she wore in first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade. Geez, Gretch. Be different, why don't ya.
Ruby answered the door. I should hate the little prep but she's kind of cute, what with her too-big brown eyes and like six teeth. Well, hey, she's only, what, five?
"Spinli!" she said. Her parents are tight with mine. Because she only has a few teeth, she can't say 'Spinelli,' but, hey, Spinli's a good try.
"Hey, Rubester," I said. Her baby sister hasn't been born yet, but her mom's six months pregnant. Her parents had a little checkup then they had to go see her Aunt Debra in Calsbury half an hour away. They'd be back around two A.M., but still.
"Do you have it? Do you have it?" she asked me.
"I told you I would," I said, bringing a sock monkey out from behind my back. Ruby's crazy about monkeys, and I told her I had an old monkey I'd be more than happy to give her. "Here's Samantha," I said, handing her the monkey. She hugged it tight against her face.
"Thank you, Spinli!" she cried, her tongue going through the space where her front teeth should have been.
"Hey, don't mention it," I said. She hugged me and I hugged her back. I mean, she's five, so she needs attention, especially now with a new baby coming.
Her mom came downstairs. "Hey, Mrs. Ferris," I said, then her husband came downstairs. "Hello, Mr. Ferris."
"Spinelli! I didn't hear you come in," Vanessa Ferris said. She hugged Ruby as best she could and kissed the top of her head. Her father picked her up and threw her in the air, and Ruby shrieked with laughter the entire time.
"Spinelli, the emergency numbers are on the counter, everything you need is on the refrigerator, and obviously Ruby's right here," Mr. Ferris said, grabbing his car keys.
"Be good," Mrs. Ferris said, Ruby looking a little sheepish. "Honestly, Ruby, the reason Francis quit was because you didn't behave yourself for him."
Francis?! So recognized that name! That was Hustler Kid's name. Obviously he babysat Ruby to get some moola if you know what I mean.
"I promise," Ruby said. "I don't want Spinli to quit!"
"Hey, who said I was quitting?" I asked.
Mrs. Ferris smiled. "Well, good luck, Ash – Spinelli!" I hate it when she messes up. She's also friends with one of the Ashleys, not sure which one, though, and apparently, I remind her of that Ashley. Stupid, right?
As soon as they were gone, so was Ruby. "Ruby?" No response.
"Ruby, come here right now! I'm not playing any games!"
Silence, then a giggle, and Ruby called, "I'M HIDING!!" I sighed, walked upstairs, and immediately found her behind the shower curtains. "Come here, munchkin," I said picking her up, and tickling her, her laughter practically screaming throughout the house. I admit, I laughed, too.
"Can we play Guess Who?" she said after a while.
"Sure thing, where's the game?" I asked, walking to her playroom. I found the box with her favorite toys, books, and games. I opened it, and Guess Who was on top.
I brought out the game and set it up. Ruby went nuts. I gave her the red game because red was her favorite color. We played for a while because I had to go easy on her. She finally beat me. I was Paul and she was Maria. Then she grabbed my board. "I want to be blue now," she said.
"Well, okay, then, Rubes," I said.
She was Tom that time and I got Bill. Then I realized it was time for her meds.
Ruby was born with a heart murmur, which hasn't totally gone away, plus, like me, she was asthma, so when she gets her heart meds she freaks out and stops breathing, giving her an attack. So I grabbed her inhaler and her meds when she complained of being hungry and we went downstairs. Food first!!! was written at the meds line of the info the rents left me.
I made her a peanut butter sandwich with a side of goldfish. Her parents said she loves peanut butter and cheesy stuff, so what the hey. I sat down across from her with a bowl of Frosted Mini Wheat's. She counted every last goldfish in the bowl. 53. She never ate any less than 44. I don't know why. It took a while to count because she's only five. I watched her count with interest. It was funny – instead of saying nine, she'd say potato. I nearly choked the first time, because I wasn't expecting the whole potato thing.
Then I had to give her meds. I picked up the pieces of paper neatly stapled together. One – get her to wash dishes. As soon as she was done, I called, "Hey, Ruby."
She looked up. "Want to help me with the dishes?" She yelped once. Bingo.
Two – tell her you're going to get her vitamins. Actually get her vitamins out of the cabinet.
"Where are you going?" she asked as she stepped on her kiddy stool.
"Just getting your vitamins," I said. She smiled.
"They're shaped like dinosaurs," she said.
"Yes, I've heard." I read the next part. Three – get one vitamin and one pill. They're chewable. I grabbed the vitamin and pill and laid it on the counter in front of me, reading four: Four – have her inhaler ready!! Luckily I read that part. I gave her the two pills and she chewed them. Right on cue, she freaked out. I shoved her inhaler in her mouth and she had two quick puffs. The first one she closed her eyes, the second she opened them and looked at my nails. When I drew the inhaler out of her mouth, she said, "I like your nails! I want mine just like them!"
I looked down. They were painted black. This would not go well if I used black nail polish. "Hey!" I said. "I've got a better idea. Why don't we paint your nails a pretty pink color?" She smiled.
"Better!" she cried. I went to her mom's bathroom – the woman had to have nail polish! Luckily, I found a shade good enough for Ruby: Far East Fuchsia. I admit, I didn't want to do it. But I grabbed the bottle, plus clear coat. As I painted her nails, Ruby talked about her best friend Jessica and Jessica's stuffed animal Jasper. Yeah, really don't care about Jasper or Jessica Lohan.
When I was done painting her nails, it was late. Reaaaaally late. Dang!
Ruby yawned. "Can you read me a story?" she asked. I went to her playroom and picked up a book called 'Henry's Apple'. Henry's Apple????
"Okay, Rubes, where do you want your story?"
"Couch, please," she said. She laid herself down and I read – gulp – Henry's Apple. Geez, that book is lame! When I looked over, she was sleeping. I went to the other side of the room to the Ferris' computer. Do they mind if I check my MySpace? Probably not. I logged on. New messages. Boom.
I hoped one was TJ. I mean, we were tight and all, but I kinda – well, I don't know – liked him. I was in luck. Not only was Teej online, he also sent me a message. I read it first. Just comparing his schedule with mine. We were starting as freshmen at Eighth Street High on Tuesday, and it was Thursday. We had four out of seven classes together. First, second, fifth, and seventh. Tender, as TJ says. Fifth was lunch. Seventh was the last and P.E., which really sucks. I had eighth period P.E. at junior high, which had eight periods instead of seven. Luckily Vince had P.E. eighth that year, plus we both had Mr. Gibbons for P.E.
I sent him my schedule and he replied almost instantly, saying he talked to everyone already, and coincidentally, we all had P.E. seventh and lunch fifth. Score!
My other message was from Gretchen. I read it, because she was my best friend. She was comparing our schedules, too. We did have fifth and seventh together, and third, too. Well, this was better than expected. I logged off and next thing I knew, I was asleep.
I woke up to someone shaking my shoulder and whispering, "Spinelli – wake up. Spinelli, dear, it's time to wake up." I opened my eyes to Mrs. Ferris in my face.
"Oh, I'm sorry," I said. "I must have dozed off."
"Quite all right, dear," Mrs. Ferris said. "So let's see – four dollars an hour, its two right now, you got here at six, which comes out to forty-eight dollars, plus a little something extra to tide you over, so here's fifty dollars."
"Awesome! Thank you!" I yawned.
"Fred can take you home. Oh, Fred, darling!" she called. Her husband came to the room. "Let's pack it up, Spinelli, I better take you home."
He drove me the twenty blocks to my house. "Thank you," I called as I opened the door and waved. He waved back and drove off. I ran to my room and fell asleep the second I changed to my pajamas and snuggled under the covers.
So what you think? I'm doing a chapter to a character, but it WILL be longer than six chapters for you busybodies screaming, "NO!! CONTINUE!!" Review please!
The schedule for chapters goes like this: Spinelli, Vince, TJ, Gretchen, Mikey, Gus. I need a little help for Gus's chapter. Thank you!!