A PERFECT START

 

  Heidi woke up before her alarm and before Mom could pop in to say, “Wake up, buttercup!”

  Heidi even woke up before her little brother, Henry.

  She hopped out of bed and glanced in the mirror.

  Wow, my hair looks salon PERFECT! she thought. I’m off to a great start!

  Then Heidi grabbed her totally already-packed backpack.

  As soon as she stepped into the hall, she stopped.

   

  “Mmm,” she murmured, taking a deep breath. “Something smells AMAZING!”

  Heidi clumped downstairs to the kitchen as fast as she could. Dad had made his famous salted dark-chocolate waffles.

  “It’s not even Saturday!” Heidi exclaimed as she picked two perfect waffles.

  She sat at the table and sighed happily.

   

   

  “I think this may be the PERFECT day!” Heidi cheered.

  Dad pulled a waffle off the iron with a fork. “Well, don’t jinx it!” he said.

  “That’s funny,” said Mom. “I’m having a perfect day too! I just found my lost bracelet. It’s been missing for over a year! Can you believe it?”

  Mom jangled her bracelet. The little bell that hung from it jingled.

  Dad pointed to Henry’s empty seat at the table and said, “Hmm, we seem to be missing someone if this day is going to be perfect. Heidi, can you please wake up your sleepyhead brother?”

  Heidi shoveled another bite into her mouth and nodded. She liked being the waker-upper rather than the one being woken up.

  Heidi ran upstairs and opened Henry’s door.

  “Hey, Henry!” she whispered. “It’s time to get up!”

   

  Henry jumped up from bed and flopped like a fish out of water.

  “Don’t WHISPER!” Henry said. “I thought you were a GHOST!”

  Heidi giggled and rolled her eyes. “Get up before you miss the bus,” she said. “Oh, and PS, I’m pretty sure there are no such things as ghosts.”

   

  Henry covered his head with a pillow. “You’re only PRETTY sure?” he asked.

  Heidi laughed. “Well, you never know with ghosts,” she said, shutting the door behind her.

  Then she opened the door back up and cried, “BOO!”