Ivy and Bean_ Books 4,5,6 - Annie Barrows [11]
“NO!” said Nancy.
“Nancy!” said Bean’s mom. “I think Ivy’s being very nice. You don’t have to babysit if you don’t want to, but you may not be rude.”
Nancy clenched her fists into balls and looked at the ceiling. “I am being driven out of my mind!”
“Maybe you need to take some time in your room then,” said Bean’s mom sternly.
“Fine!” Nancy stomped off down the hall.
Bean’s mom looked after her for a moment and then turned to Ivy and Bean. “Did something happen while we were gone?”
“Happen?” said Bean. “Nothing happened.”
“Not a thing,” said Ivy.
The two girls finished playing. They lay on the floor, relaxing among the books and dolls.
“You know,” said Ivy, “I wish Nancy would babysit me.”
“Yuck,” said Bean. “Why?”
“I could use two more dollars,” said Ivy. “I want to buy some dirt so I can make my own volcano, like Sophie W.’s.”
“Oooh, that’s better than a doll baby!” said Bean. “Let’s use our money for dirt!”
“We should be able to buy a lot of dirt for four dollars,” said Ivy. “I want it to go all the way up to my porch so I can jump into the crater.”
“Cool!” said Bean. “Tomorrow’s Sunday. We have a whole day to make a volcano!”
Ivy looked at the ceiling. “I wish we could make a tornado, too.”
“Yeah, that would be fun.” Bean thought for a moment. “You know,” she said, “my dad has a leaf blower.”
“Oh boy,” Ivy wiggled happily. “We can blow your playhouse over.”
Bean’s mom came into the living room. “I just called your mom, Ivy. She says you can stay for dinner if you want.”
“Yes!” yelled Ivy and Bean at the same time.
Bean’s mom smiled. “Smart move. We’re having cream puffs for dessert.”
“We are?” asked Bean. She loved how the cream came shooting out onto both sides of her face when she took a bite. “How come?”
“Oh, to celebrate Nancy’s first time as a babysitter,” said her mother.
“And to celebrate how good Ivy and I were,” added Bean. “Right?”
“Right. That too,” said Bean’s mom. She left the room.
Bean leaned close to Ivy and whispered, “Can you believe how great this day turned out?”
“And there are still lots of hours left,” said Ivy.
THE END
Contents
Ivy + Bean Book 5: Bound to be Bad
A PAIN IN THE KAZOO
TOUGH COOKIES
BIRD BRAINS
A CRUMMY PLAN
A GOOD BAD IDEA
THE WORST WORD IN THE WORLD
BEAN, QUEEN OF BAD
FROM BAD TO WORSE
BEAN OVERBOARD!
THE REVENGE OF DINO
GOOD AND SOGGY
A PAIN IN THE KAZOO
Check. Bean’s mom was reading the paper.
Check. Bean’s dad was reading the paper.
Check. Nancy was reading the funnies.
Bean picked up her plate and licked the streaks of leftover syrup.
“Bean’s licking her plate,” said Nancy.
“Stop it, Bean,” said Bean’s mom without even looking up from the paper.
Bean sat on her hands and stared at her plate with her lips shut tight. Then, suddenly, her tongue shot out of her mouth and her head swooped down to her plate. “I can’t help it,” she said, licking. “There’s a magnetic force pulling my tongue out of my mouth.”
Bean’s family looked at her like she was a bug. An ugly bug.
“That’s disgusting,” said Nancy.
“Bean, please . . .” said her mother.
“Cut it out,” said her father.
“I can’t!” slurped Bean. “The force is too strong!”
Her father took her plate away. Bean slumped against the back of her chair. “Thanks, dude. I owe you one.”
“Don’t call me dude,” said her dad. “Go do the dishes.”
“What?! It’s Nancy’s turn!” yelped Bean.
“It was Nancy’s turn until you licked your plate. Now it’s your turn,” said her dad.
“That’s totally unfair!” huffed Bean. “I couldn’t help it! Haven’t you ever heard of forces beyond your control?”
“Yes, I have,” said her father. “Forces beyond your control are going to make you do the dishes.”
“What am I, Cinderbean?” Bean said. “What about my rights?”
Slowly her dad lowered his newspaper and looked at her. “Think about whether you’re making a good choice or a bad choice, Bean.”
There was a pause.
“I guess I’ll go do the dishes.” Bean clomped into the kitchen.
“Bean, you didn’t see my pink yarn, did you?”
Oops. Bean tried to roll behind the couch, but Nancy saw her.
“Bean! Do you have