CHAPTER 6: Bebe

When we got home, we found Sam raking leaves in the front yard. "Hi, you guys," he called.

"Hi, Sam," Kristy said as we got out of the car. "Hey, is Mom home?"

Sam shook his head. "She and Nannie went out shopping a little while ago."

"How about Daddy?" I asked.

"He's in his office, Andrew's inside watching SpongeBob, and Emily's taking her nap," Sam answered as he finished raking and leaned against the rake. "Whew! I know I could use the exercise, but I still wish that Watson would get a leaf-blower!"

We all laughed as we headed up the steps. Then the front door opened, and out came David Michael, Linny Papadakis—Hannie's brother, and a girl who looked about an inch and a half taller than both boys. She had strawberry-blond hair that came down to her waist and pulled back with a white headband, gray eyes, and silver braces with white bands. She was also wearing a red Stamford University sweatshirt and khakis, and brown and white Chuck Taylor high-tops.

"Hi," she smiled. She was really pretty. "I'm Bebe."

"Hi, Bebe," Kristy said. "I'm Kristy Thomas, David Michael's sister, and this is our stepsister, Karen Brewer, and her friend, Hannie Papadakis."

"Hannie's my sister," Linny added.

After Hannie and I shook hands with Bebe, I said, "You know, we met your brother at the library today."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah," Hannie said. "And let me tell you, he..."

Uh-oh, I thought. I could tell that Hannie was about to tell Bebe that she thought Jason was cute, but she stopped herself when she saw Kristy giving her the Don't say another word look. And believe me, I've gotten that look from her plenty of times.

"...seems pretty nice," Hannie said. Kristy nodded.

"So, how do you guys like Stoneybrook so far?" Kristy asked.

"Oh, it's a nice place to live," Bebe said. "If there's one thing it's got a lot of, it's peace and quiet."

"Yeah, I suppose it does," David Michael agreed. "Well, except for this place when all of us Thomases and Brewers are home."

We all got a good laugh, then Linny checked his watch and said, "Hey, Hannie, we'd better get home for lunch."

"Yeah," Hannie remembered. "Today is chiliburger day at the Papadakis house."

"'Bye," I called as they left. "Say hi to Sari for us."

Sari is their little sister, and she's Emily's age. Hopefully, one day, the two of them will be friends, just like David Michael and I are with Hannie and Linny.

"Yeah, I should get home, too," Bebe said. "I promised Diann I'd help her with lunch."

"Diann?" I asked.

"Jason's mom," she explained.

"Oh."

"Well, nice meeting you, Bebe," Kristy said, giving her a little punch on the arm. That's her way of hugging someone.

"Hey, Bebe, do you think you could show me how to throw that curve ball of yours sometime?" David Michael asked. "I want to get my arm in shape for next year's Krushers games." Kristy has a softball team called Kristy's Krushers, and my brothers and I, along with several other neighborhood kids, are all members.

"Sure, DM," Bebe said. (DM? That's got to be short for David Michael. I hope he doesn't mind her calling him that.)

"Thanks," David Michael said as she left. "See you Monday."

Bebe waved to us as she headed to the apartments, and the three of us went inside for lunch.

Boy, our new neighbors are nicer than I thought.