Free Freaked Out by Annie Bryant

Charlotte said.
    â€œWe can find something fun to do.” Avery took a bite of her chicken and avocado wrap. “Maybe we can think of a new project.”
    â€œOr decide what clothes to wear to the—” Katani stopped herself.
    â€œTo the party, Katani,” Avery said. “That’s all right. You can talk about it. I’m over it.”
    â€œI can’t go to the party either, Avery…. I have to take over a baby-sitting job for Elena…. She has a date.”
    â€œBaby-sit…I can think of lots of things I’d rather do than baby-sit, but I do like to make some money. The Sports Locker has the coolest new basketball sneakers. Don’t forget, Izzy, today is the second day of basketball tryouts.”
    â€œI know. I’ve been almost as worried about that as I was about the math test.”
    â€œBSG, I have an idea,” Katani said as they were gathering lunch clutter and getting ready to leave the cafeteria. “We’ve got to help Maeve with her math. What if she’s right? What if flunking math would keep her back in seventh grade for another year?”
    â€œNo way.” Avery shook her head. “Can they do that?”
    â€œ They can do anything they like,” Katani said. “I thinkit’d be up to her parents and my grandmother, but she’s struggling with all her work. We have to help her.”
    â€œBut, how?” Charlotte asked. “I like math, it comes easy to me but I think I could help her more with writing.”
    â€œWe have to make math fun,” Katani announced.
    â€œFun?” Avery finally said. “I don’t think there are too many people, except those super math geek geniuses, who think math is fun.”
    â€œWhat does Maeve like best, do best?” Katani asked.
    â€œSings, acts, dances, remembers old movies.” Charlotte had gotten out her notebook and made a list as they talked.
    â€œSo we turn math into singing, dancing, and maybe even old movies.” Katani made it sound simple.
    â€œOkay, and…?” Isabel shrugged. “Do you know how to do that?”
    â€œNo, but there must be a way. Let’s look on the Internet. There is an answer for everything there.” Katani jumped up and clapped her hands. “Your assignment, BSG, should you accept it, is by tonight to think of ways to make math fun and easy and in some form that will stick in Maeve’s mind.”
    â€œMaeve is smart,” Charlotte said. “Let’s try.”
    â€œRemember BSG rule number three: We’ll be loyal to our friends and won’t lie to them even if they make a mistake or do something totally embarrassing , like flunk math. One of the most important,” said Isabel.
    The Beacon Street Girls left with puzzled faces. How could they make math fun for their smart, math-phobic friend?
    CHAPTER 6
Making Math Easy Is Hard
    A re you going to eat that piece of chicken, Maeve?” Sam asked with a hopeful look.
    â€œMaybe. But you’d better not eat after me. I have the West Nile virus.”
    â€œThen I’m sure you have to stay home.” Ms. Kaplan smiled at her dramatic daughter.
    â€œHere, Sam, you can have my chicken.”
    â€œYou are not going to Charlotte’s without eating,” her mom said.
    Maeve popped a piece of chicken in her mouth.
    When Maeve finished her chicken and salad, she was still hungry. She jumped up, looked in the fridge, and found one of her favorites—strawberry cheesecake flavored yogurt. “I’m going to eat this for dessert while I change clothes.”
    â€œCan I have your piece of cherry pie?” Sam yelled after Maeve to make sure she heard him.
    â€œGeesh!” Maeve was glad she was going to get out of this house with her pesky, brainiac brother, who seemed to be inhaling all her food.
    She put on a warmup suit over a pink long-sleeved T-shirt.
    Quickly she stuffed pajamas, lotion, and, reluctantly, her notebook