Travis was too polite to look shocked, though, and I thought I would drop through the floor when he reached across the table and shook my hand! No one my age shakes hands (do they?), but somehow it seemed just right when Travis did it.

I could feel a little ripple of excitement go through the group, even though most of us were busily staring at our toes and wishing we were on another planet. There was this incredibly long silence while everyone waited for someone else to think of something to say, and Travis and I just stood and stared at each other.

Without thinking, I blurted out the first words that came into my head. "Is that granola you're eating?" Not the brightest remark in the world, but you have to realize that this was a crisis situation. Think how you would feel if you happened to be wearing a tattered old nightgown and a three-sizes-too-big terry robe at a time like this. It was enough to make anyone tongue-tied.

"That's right," Travis said easily. "It's practically the state food in California." He was from California! "Why don't you join us?" He gestured to an empty seat beside him, and it was all I could do not to throw myself into it. Then I remembered my shiny face (and morning breath) and decided against it. ' "Oh, we'll get something to eat later," I said, trying to sound totally cool and in command of the situation. (I wasn't in control at all, and my heart was beating like a rabbit's.) "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," he said teasingly.

"I know that," I replied, nodding. If he wanted to talk nutrition, that was fine with me. Mom and I are fanatics about eating healthy food, and we even make our own breakfast cereal.

Kristy, as usual, took charge. "I really think we should be heading back upstairs," she said firmly.

"Yeah, that's right." Claudia was stepping sideways toward the door.