Janine was helping me study. It's kind of a rule in my family (my parents' idea) that somebody has to help me with my homework every night. Mimi used to be my favorite helper of all. She never got impatient with me, she never made me feel dumb, and even though she didn't often tell me so, I always knew that she was very, very proud of whatever I did.

Janine is a different story.

It's not that she's mean or anything - but I just don't think she has any idea of what school is like for me. See, she loves school. She'd go to school eight days a week if she could. I don't think she's ever gotten any grade lower than an A-. And you should see the classes she takes! I don't even understand the names of, most of them - especially the computer ones.

And here she is, helping me try to understand how Gertrude measures chocolate - and why. She must think I'm so dumb. I know it's really nice of her to help me, but I sure wish I didn't need her - or anyone's - help.

I looked back at my math book. All those fractions were kind of making me dizzy. Janine was being unusually patient. She knew this test was important to me.

"So how do you like Mr. Zorzi, Claudia?" she asked. Mr. Zorzi is my math teacher - at least he is for now. See, my regular teacher is out for a few weeks, recovering from an operation, so we have Mr. Zorzi as a long-term substitute.

"He's okay, I guess. I've had him before. He knows it takes me awhile to catch on to some of this stuff," I said, nodding toward my messy notebook.

Frankly, I never think too much about my teachers and whether I like them or not. I just do my best to get through most of my classes without making a total fool of myself. Janine, however, just loves some of her teachers - and all of them think that she's the greatest.

Sometimes I get so tired of teachers asking me, "Claudia Kishi? Are you Janine's sister? Well, I know I can expect some wonderful work from you, if you're anything like Janine." Of course, they're always disappointed. Except my art teachers. Art is the one thing that I can do well, and Janine has no interest in.