Rule of Three by Megan McDonald Read Free Book Online

off the top part.) Here. We were making a list of songs. Go ahead. Take it.
    Joey : But that’s not even —
    Stevie : (Covering Joey’s mouth.) Never mind, Duck. Just let her have it. She says we’re not helping. So now we’re helping.
    Me : (Standing in doorway, looking bewildered.) Thanks, I guess.
    Joey : (Takes away Stevie’s hand.) But that’s not fair!
    Alex : What’s not fair?
    Stevie : (Striking Shakespeare pose.) All’s fair in love and sisters.
    Me : You guys are weird, you know that?
    Stevie : Go ahead. Take it. Go. (Makes shooing-dog motion with hands.) OK. Bye-bye, then.
    Joey : (Calling after Alex.) Bye-bye, Birdie!
    Me : (Leaves room, taking list. Sisters behind me mumbling and grumbling — Joey saying “not fair” and Stevie telling Joey to get over it.)

 
    A half hour later, I was humming songs inside my head when I heard Alex’s door open. I sprang up and grabbed Joey’s sleeve as she waltzed down the hall, pulling her into our room and shutting the door.
    “Hey, Joey. C’mere. You have to tell me. What song is Alex going to sing for the audition?”
    Joey scowled at me like I had Fink Face tattooed across my forehead. “I can’t tell you! It’s a secret.”
    “Please? Pretty please with the World’s-Best-Sister cupcakes on top? You know you’re going to tell me eventually. So why not save some time and tell me now?”
    “Who says I’m going to tell you?”
    “You will. Because I will sit on you and tickle you to death until you give it up.”
    “Go ahead — I’ll never tell!”
    I wrestled Joey to the floor, sat on her, and pinned her arms back. “You asked for it.” I let go of her arms and tickled her as hard as I could.
    “OK! OK! Stop! You win!” Joey squealed. “Uncle! I call Uncle!”
    “So you’ll tell me?”
    “On one condition. You have to tell me your song. That way, I still get to know a secret that nobody else knows.”
    “OK, you first.” I leaned down so Joey could whisper in my ear. “Alex is singing ‘I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair.’”
    “No way! That song is on the list! The list of songs that make directors throw up! I am SO going to get this part!” I said gleefully, rubbing my hands together and grinning like Cinderella’s evil stepsister.
    “Now you tell me,” Joey said.
    “OK, I’ll give you a hint. But you have to swear on your life that you won’t breathe a word, or I’ll cut off your entire eight-and-three-quarter-inch ponytail when you’re sleeping.”
    “Deal.”
    I looked around to make sure there wasn’t a spy (a.k.a. Sherlock/Alex) listening, then leaned over again and whispered “The Glory of Love” in Joey’s ear.
    “I know a secret! I know a secret!” Joey sang.
    “Shh!” I said, covering her mouth and looking around furtively. “Do you really want to get tickled to death again?”

     

     

 
    “La-la-la-la-la-la-la! Lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo. Lee-lee - lee-lee-lee-lee-lee.” I paced back and forth, wearing out the roses in the carpet as I warmed up my voice to practice singing for the audition. The Big Moment was only a week away.  
    “Me-may-mah-mo-moo —” When I paused to take a breath, I couldn’t help hearing music blaring, coming from Alex’s room. And singing.
    I listened in the doorway. Alex was playing musicals on the karaoke machine and singing along with them. Not softly, I might add.
    “Will you read some more Little Women with me?” Joey asked, bounding up the stairs. Now that she had recovered from the shock of Beth’s death, she was bugging me to read again.
    “Not now, Joey. I’m practicing.” Back in my room, I sang my scales a little louder. “Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah.”
    Just as I was getting into it, I couldn’t help but hear Alex trying to drown me out by singing the “Maria” song from The Sound of Music. I tried to fight back by howling “The Star-Spangled Banner,” but it was no use.
    Breathe in. Don’t clench your jaw. Loosen your neck. I tried to relax. I