Free Bounce by Natasha Friend

Snaggle Tooth.”
    â€œWell, now he calls me hot. People change, Evyn.”
    Yeah, I think. They sure do.
    For dinner, Thalia orders pizza and chicken wings. I could kiss her for not cooking.
    The one thing I don’t like is how she makes us sit together in the dining room. I would much rather eat in the yard, with Clam.
    â€œIf everyone could look at me for a sec,” Thalia says, “I have an important announcement.”
    I’m not interested in her announcements, important or otherwise, so I keep eating.
    â€œSomeone at this table is too modest to tell you himself, therefore I will have to tell you for him.”
    Everyone is quiet, and I have no choice but to listen. Even though I don’t give a hairy hoot what incredible thing Ajax did on the soccer field today.
    â€œLet us all raise a glass,” Thalia says, “to Mackey…”
    Huh?
    â€œOr should I say Joseph ?” Huge smile. “And his amazing technicolor dreamcoat!”
    The sweater twins scream. They run around the table to hug my brother.
    â€œNo way !”
    â€œMackey, you got it? Oh my God!”
    Phoebe jumps up and down, clapping.
    â€œWay to go, man,” Ajax says, thumping Mackey on the back. “That’s really awesome.”
    I’m racking my brain, but I have no idea what they’re talking about. Mackey’s face is bright red, probably because the sweater twins are mashed up against him on both sides.
    I must look confused because Thalia says, “He got the part. The lead. He’s Joseph!”
    â€œOh,” I say.
    Now I remember. The dorky play audition.
    I stare at Mackey. “You tried out? For a play ?”
    He shrugs. “Thalia can be very convincing.”
    â€œIt’s not actually a play,” Thalia says. “It’s a musical.”
    â€œ Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, ” says one twin. “It’s famous.”
    And the other one says, “You didn’t tell us your brother had such an amazing voice, Evyn.”
    Amazing voice? Mackey?
    The truth is, I’ve never thought about it. I hear him singing sometimes, in his room, or when he’s taking a shower, but it’s always been like Birdie’s whistling habit—annoying.
    I don’t think he’s ever seen a musical in his life.
    â€œYes,” I say, nodding. “Broadway has always been Mackey’sdream. Ever since he was a small child, he’s had only one true love. The stage.”
    I stare at my brother, but before he can say anything, the phone rings. It’s the honeymooners, checking in. As soon as they hear the big news, they’re fit to bust.
    Mackey has a look on his face I’ve never seen before. It’s like he’s trying not to smile but can’t help himself.
    â€œI know,” he says to Birdie. “I can’t believe it, either.”
    Here is my brother. On the phone. Speaking actual English and showing joy like a normal person.
    All I can think is, Who are you?
    Stella?
    It’s me, Evyn.
    What is it with everyone around here? First Birdie, then Jules, and now Mackey. Nobody wants to be who they used to be anymore. They’re all changing, and I hate it.
    Why can’t we go back to the way things were, when Birdie was Birdie, and Jules had the snaggletooth, and Mackey was just my dweeb brother, not Mr. Joe Broadway?
    Stella half smiles, half sighs.
    I can tell she doesn’t have any answers for me tonight.
    Her eyes say, I’m sorry, honey.
    It’s okay, I tell her.
    Even though it’s not.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    We’ve been parent-free for five days now, and the house looks like a war zone. There are clothes and pizza boxes and crusty dishes everywhere, and even Thalia has given up trying to clean.
    At breakfast, one of the sweater twins opens a Cheerios box, and all that’s left is dust.
    â€œThanks a lot, you guys,” she says.
    The other one shrugs. “You snooze, you