"Yeah," I said. "She's not a very happy girl."

"Maybe her parents are pushing her," Mary Anne suggested. "Maybe we should encourage her to loosen up, have more fun."

"Maybe we should take her to a fun kids' place, like the zoo," suggested Mal.

"It would probably interfere with some lesson," I said.

Then Jessi spoke up. "I'd like to take that Thursday job with Rosie. She's into dance, right? We have that in common. Maybe we'll get along."

"That might work/' Mary Anne said.

"Uh-oh," Dawn exclaimed suddenly. She was looking at Kristy, who was obviously thinking hard. "Kristy's working on an idea — "

"Boy, do I have a great idea!" Kristy blurted out.

Dawn giggled. "I thought so."

"What?" said Mal and Stacey and I at the same time.

Kristy glanced at me. "You should have a show!"

"Huh?" I said. "What does that have to do with Rosie?"

"It doesn't/' Kristy said. "But I was looking at your paintings, and it just popped into my head. You should have an art show, Claudia. I mean, why should your paintings sit up here where nobody can enjoy them?"

"We'll enjoy them," I replied.

"I know, but the public should see them, Claud," Kristy insisted.

"Yeah, but where? I can't just walk into a gallery and ask someone to give me an exhibit!"

"Make your own gallery," Kristy said. "Your garage! We could have an opening and invite all our kids. They would love it, and the subject of junk food is perfect. It would show them that art can be fun."

I hadn't thought of being so public with my paintings, but a show did sound like fun. And if I was going to be a famous artist someday, this would be good practice. "I guess we could," I said. "I'd need some help cleaning the garage, though. It's a pigsty."