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“I’m not sure why artists were always painting naked people.”
    Miss Julia looked up from her phone. “Artists have always been fascinated with the human form. It wasn’t meant to be about the nakedness. They were trying to capture what the human form truly looked like, on canvas.”
    â€œWell, I prefer seeing what they truly look like with clothes on,” Mia said. “Just sayin.’ ”
    At this, Miss Julia burst out laughing. “You girls are the best.”
    The bus came to a stop, and over the speaker, the driver announced, “The National Gallery.”
    â€œThis is our stop,” Miss Julia said, herding Maddie and her sisters toward the stairs.
    â€œBye!” “Have a fun trip!” “Nice singing!” the other passengers called.
    Once they were off the bus, Miss Julia snapped a photo of the waving passengers for her new travelogue.
    â€œWe’re back at Trafalgar Square!” Mia said.
    â€œRace you to the lions!” Lulu said, and took off running.



NINE
    M addie tried to be patient while Lulu insisted on Miss Julia taking more pictures of the girls riding lions, this time for the travelogue. Then Mia and Lulu tossed coins into the fountain and made wishes.
    â€œWhy don’t you make a wish?” Mia asked.
    Maddie shifted from foot to foot. “Can’t we please go into the gallery now? Please??”
    â€œI think it’s time, ladies,” Miss Julia said. “Let’s see what kinds of adventures the National Gallery has to offer.”
    â€œLast one there’s a rotten egg!” Lulu shouted.
    Miss Julia caught her mid-step. “Lulu, we need to talk about your running off. I know you’re excited, but we’re in a strange city and we’re halfway around the world from home. In fact, even if we were at home, it would be important for us to all stay together.”
    â€œBut if we’re all racing, we’ll be together,” Lulu said. “Come on, please, please, please, can’t we just race to the steps?”
    â€œShe can’t outrun me,” Mia said.
    â€œCan too!”
    â€œCan not!”
    â€œWanna bet?”
    â€œGirls!” Miss Julia said. “All right. I’ll count you off and you can race to the steps, but then you have to stop and we’ll all go together. And no plowing into tourists, okay?”
    â€œOkay!” Mia said. “Maddie, are you going to race too?”
    Maddie looked down at her bag with sketchbook and pencils—not exactly convenient for racing. “Not this time.”
    â€œOkay, girls,” Miss Julia said. “Ready, set, go!”
    Mia and Lulu stayed neck and neck all the way across the square, but then at the last minute, Mia fell a few steps behind. Maddie was pretty sure she’d done it on purpose—sometimes Mia did the just-right thing.
    â€œI won!” Lulu gasped, smiling ear to ear.
    â€œThank you,” Maddie whispered to Mia.
    â€œToday’s going to be the best day ever,” Mia whispered back, and then shouted so the world could hear, “Today’s going to be the best day ever!”
    A few tourists turned and smiled at this. One even snapped their picture.
    â€œThey’re going to put that in their travel album with the caption: Crazy girls!” Maddie said.
    The girls giggled their way up the huge stone steps. Inside, the National Gallery was just as impressive as it looked from the outside. They didn’t have to pay, but they did have to walk through a metal detector before stepping into the echoing lobby. Steps led from the wide-open lobby to the second floor.
    Miss Julia circled the information kiosk. “There’s a special concert later today . . . Oh, but it’s about the time we’ll need to leave for your mom’s concert.”
    â€œWhat kind of concert?” Lulu asked.
    â€œIt’s a small orchestra—it seems they play every Friday and Saturday