I shoved my paints and brushes into the closet. Then I scooped up the old newspapers

I'd laid out to protect the floor and ran downstairs to put them in' the recycling pile. My canvases weren't so easy to put away, though. I just leaned them against the walls of my room.

When Kristy showed up, her eyes zeroed in on the two canvases. She laughed.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"I don't know," Kristy said. "Those just . . . make me laugh."

"Thanks a lot," I said.

"No, no! I'm not laughing at them. They make me feel good. It's a compliment, Claud. I think they're great."

I was excited to hear Kristy say that. Especially after her first reaction to my project, back in the beginning.

Soon the others showed up, and Kristy called the meeting to order. I passed around the usual junk food.

"Any new business?" Kristy asked.

"I have some," I said. "On Friday, Mrs. Wilder told me she's going to need us for at least another week. Her mom's still not better."

Kristy nodded. "Mary Anne?" she said.

Mary Anne checked her book. "Claudia, you're free Tuesday and Friday. You've got Charlotte Johanssen on Thursday, but Kristy's free that day, and so's Stacey and Jessi — "

"Uh, count me out," Stacey said. Then she smiled and added, "Please. I'm still recovering from the last time."

"I don't want to be part of any audition," Kristy said. "I'd die."

There was an embarrassed silence. Fortunately Mary Anne saved the day. "Look, we're talking about Rosie like she's a monster. She's human, too, you know/'

"I know," I said, "but she's so ... pushy. She's got all this talent, but she uses it like a machine."

"She is like a machine," said Stacey. "I mean, you work hard on your art, Claudia, but you love it. It shows. Rosie always looks so . . . grim. Or else she has this forced smile. I don't think she really likes what she's doing."