Read Jake and Lily for Free Online Page A

two. Okay?” We said okay. “So here’s what I’d like you to do. I’d like you to write down your story. The story of you two. Your goombla. Like you told me yesterday. I wish I had done it when I was your age. I can hardly remember those days now. I know it’s hard to put into words, like you said, but I want you to at least try to write your story down before you become an old poop like me who can’t remember anything.” Then he pulled two notebooks from the bag he was holding. He gave each of us a pen. “Okay?”
    “Okay,” we said together.
    So we took Poppy to the airport and hugged some more and waved good-bye. We wouldn’t leave the terminal until we saw his plane take off and disappear into the clouds.
    That night after dinner we started writing in our notebooks. And today, just this second, we finished our book. And that’s what you just read.
    Okay, say it now….

 
    oops

Intro II
    O kay, so we made a mistake. Hey, we never wrote a book before.
    You’re always in such a hurry to get to the end.
    I am not.
    You read the last page of books first.
    I skim . Anyway, for this second intro, I (Lily) wrote that first line up there.
    She confessed.
    For both of us.
    I’m still older than you.
    Ignore him. So we figured the book was done last November.
    Poppy was gone.
    Nothing much happened for a long time.
    Except school.
    Whoopee.
    And then suddenly on a dark and stormy night
    Oh, good grief. It was yesterday at dinner.
    I was just trying to be literary, since we’re back to writing a book.
    From now on it’s going to be more like a journal. Or a diary. Day-to-day.
    Whatever. So yesterday at dinner Dad says
    Mom says.
    Right. Mom says, “So what’re you guys gonna do this summer?”
    She said it because the school year was over next day.
    Right. And we just looked at each other for five seconds
    ten seconds
    and we both said the word at once:
    “Write.”
    This was no big deal to Mom and Dad.
    Just another twins thing.
    They asked us what we’re going to write.
    We just said, “Oh, whatever.”
    After dinner we went to CVS. I got a new notebook.
    I got a new notebook.
    So, what’s your first line going to be?
    Don’t know. My head’s a blank.
    So what’s new?
    Ha-ha.
    How about “Once upon a time…”
    Right.
    Or “It was a dark and stormy night….”
    If you don’t shut up, I’m never going to start.
    Ladies and gentlemen, my sister…

Lily
    S chool’s out! EEYYESSSSSSS!!!!!!!
    Poppy said we don’t have to write in our journals every day about every little thing. Just stuff that seems important or interesting. Well—helloooo?—what’s more important than summer vacation? I counted on the calendar. We don’t go back to school for— ta-da —81 days. Eight. Tee. One. In other words—forever! Our fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Webber, said, “Now, young people, don’t waste your summer. Read. Volunteer. Improve yourselves. Be productive.” Yeah, I’ll be productive all right. I’ll tell you what I’m gonna produce. I’m gonna produce fun. Fun! Fun! Fun!

Jake
    D on’t tell my sister, but forever is already down to 75 days. I’m just starting my notebook because I’ve been busy getting my new room ready. On the second day of forever Dad made an announcement at dinner: “Good news, guys. You’re each going to have your own room.”
    I pumped my fists. “Yes!”
    Lily snickered. “That’ll be the day.”
    Dad rolled on. “You’ll stay where you are, Lily girl. You’ll get a regular bed now. The bunks will go.” He nodded to me. “You’ll get the room next to hers.”
    Lily wasn’t snickering now. She was squawking. “He can’t move there! That’s Poppy’s room!”
    “We’ll fix up the attic for Poppy,” said Dad.
    Lily snapped away from him. “Mom—he can’t ! Tell him!”
    Mom gave a big, sad sigh. She patted Lily’s hand. “It’s time, honey.”
    Lily snatched her hand away. “Don’t touch me.” She swung back to Dad. She put on her sob face. “But