That’s when I was hit by the most awful sound in the world. “Dinnnnnnnnnnerrrrrrrrrrrrr!” It was my sister, May. She’s real pretty, and she dresses great—very colorful—but she’s got a voice that could peel paint off the side of a car. And she’s always yelling. “Dinnnnnerrrrrrrr!” she screeched again. “We heard you, May!” I shouted back as I stood up. “Race you down,” Bud said. I tried to stand up, but he gave me a push, so I toppled back on my butt. Then he started climbing down real fast, like one of those monkeys you see in the zoo. Shoot. I wasn’t going to let him beat me, even if he started out cheating. I jumped to my feet. At least, that’s what I’d planned to do. Guess I jumped too hard. And not really up. More like out. Next thing I know, I realize I’ve leaped off the mountain of ovens and I’m shooting toward the ground. I looked back over my shoulder as I whooshed past Bud. I stared at him. He stared at me, like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
