Chapter 1.

"Listen to this! Bedford Zoo to host animal world VIPs." I held up the front page of the newspaper, which displayed a large color photo. "James and Mojo."

"Mojo?" a voice from the kitchen door repeated. "What kind of a name is that?"

I giggled. "It’s a name for a gorilla." I turned the newspaper so Dawn could see. "Here's her picture. Isn't she darling?"

"Mary Anne, you think every fuzzy-faced, four-legged creature is darling," Dawn said.

I thought about it — but not for long. "I guess I do." As if to prove it, I picked up my extremely cute gray-striped kitten off the floor and plopped him in my lap. "Isn't that right, Tigger?"

Jigger's motor started instantly. I scratched him in one of his favorite spots, between the ears, and smiled as his eyelids dropped to half-mast.

Since you've already met Tigger and Dawn, I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Mary Anne Spier. I'm thirteen years old, and I live inStoneybrook,Connecticut, with my dad, my stepmother Sharon, and my stepsister Dawn (and Tigger).

You'll notice I said stepmother and stepsister. That's because this is my dad's second marriage. He didn't get divorced, like a lot of parents I know. My mother died when I was a baby, so I have no memories of her. We have photos of her, so I know what she looked like, but it’s not quite the same as remembering.

For the longest time, it was just me and my father. Because he had to raise me all by himself, Dad used to be really strict. I'm not kidding. For one thing, I couldn't talk on the phone, except to ask questions about homework. But the worst thing was the way he made me dress. Can you imagine a seventh-grader wearing pigtails and jumpers with kneesocks? It was terrible. I felt like a baby.

To make matters worse, I was — and still am — extremely shy. It was difficult for me to make friends. It was also hard for me to stand up to my father. When I finally did, it really changed my life.