“Do you want to go to the zoo with us, Joey?” Mom called up the stairs.
I stretched the neck of another balloon to fit around the bathroom faucet and turned the spigot. “I’ve got work to do, Mom,” I yelled back.
“Work?”
I sighed as I twisted the water balloon into a knot. “Water fighting, remember? Dad gave me a new idea for my business.”
“Oh.” Mom stopped talking, but I didn’t hear any footsteps carrying her away. “Well, you could come to Julia Davis Park with us. We’re going to rent a paddle boat too.”
The zoo was in Julia Davis Park. But even cooler was the lagoon filled with ducks and paddle boats. The paddle boats were fun—especially if you used them like bumper boats.
I stuffed balloons in my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. Maybe I could set up business at Julia Davis for the day. I galloped down the stairs and collided with Mom. “Okay.”
Mom put her arm around me and ushered me out the door. Her gaze shifted to the clouds. She was already back in cha-cha land.
I looked up too.
The clouds were little and fluffy. The sun was burning and blinding. Perfect for my profession.
I pulled the door of Mom’s lime-green hybrid open, tossed my backpack on the floor mat, and plopped into the front seat.
“Ew …” a familiar voice groaned from behind me. “You didn’t tell me your gross brother was coming.”
I spun around.
Prissy Izzy.
“Ew …” I mimicked. “You didn’t tell me the annoying neighbor was coming.”
Christine ignored me. “I didn’t know Joey was coming,” she said to Isabelle.
The driver’s side door clicked open and Mom climbed in.
“Mom,” Christine whined. “Why does Joey have to come?”
Isabelle answered, “He does belong in the zoo.”
I held one arm overhead and scratched my arm pit like a monkey. “Ooh-ooh, eee-eee.”
Mom started the ignition. “Joey isn’t going to the zoo with us. He’s water fighting at Julia Davis today.”