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there—”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Grace said quickly. “I didn’t hear anything.” But her face had turned red. She was pretending she hadn’t heard.
    Then Grace hoisted her backpack higher on her back. She looked down the street again. It seemed like she was about to walk away.
    â€œWait, Grace,” said Kat. “I want to tell you about Riley. The puppy you saw me with in the park. The one that you wanted to pet.”
    Grace stopped. “She’s sweet,” she said.
    â€œShe’s so sweet,” Kat agreed.
    â€œTotally,” Maya added.
    Grace didn’t speak for a moment. Then she said, “You’re so lucky to have a dog. I used to have one. Bella. But she died a few months ago.”
    â€œOh, that’s terrible,” Kat gasped.
    â€œMom says it’s for the best. Bella was a farm dog. We had to move here, to town. Bella wouldn’t have liked it,” Grace said. “Mom said maybe it was better we didn’t have to put her through that big change.” She swallowed hard.
    â€œMaybe,” Kat agreed. “But still. You must miss her so much.”
    Grace nodded. “I do.” Then her face went hard. Her eyes sort of bunched up.
    Grace looked angry, but Kat knew she was trying not to show her real feelings.
    She was trying not to cry.
    â€œRiley isn’t my puppy,” Kat explained. “Or Maya’s. Neither of us has our own dog. But my aunt just opened a dog-grooming salon. She’s really busy, so she asked Maya and me to help out. We get to exercise any dogs she boards. This week, it’s Riley. Her owners can’t keep her because their daughter’s allergic.”
    â€œYou are so lucky,” Grace said again softly.
    Kat looked at Maya. Should she do it?
    She didn’t have to.
    Just because Ms. Mitchell put Grace in the seat next to hers. Just because Grace was new and unhappy. Just because she had lost her dog. None of those things meant she had to do this.
    But Maya was nodding. She even gave Kat a nudge with her elbow.
    â€œActually, we wanted to ask you something,” Maya said.
    Grace stared down at the sidewalk. Again she pulled on the end of one of her braids.
    Kat started talking. “Grace, I know I haven’t been very nice to you. You probably don’t like me very much. I don’t blame you. But would you like to come with us to play with Riley? We’re on our way to see her now. It would be lots of fun.”
    Grace frowned. “Really? You want me to come with you?”
    â€œYes.” Kat nodded.
    â€œYes,” said Maya.
    Grace was quiet for a moment. Slowly her frown disappeared. Her face brightened. “Well, I can’t come today. My mom is picking me up and taking me to get my hair cut.” She bit her lip. “But maybe I can come tomorrow. I’ll ask.”
    â€œWell, I hope she says yes,” said Kat. “Because, well, you know, when someone’s new and you don’t know her… Sometimes you may think you know right away what someone is like—just by the way she looks or acts—but actually you might be wrong.”
    Grace looked confused. Kat glanced at Maya for help. “What Kat means,” said Maya quickly, “is that we want to be your friends.”
    â€œOh,” Grace said. And then she smiled. Her whole face lit up.
    â€œBut, listen, there’s one thing I need to warn you about, new girl,” said Maya. She had on her sassy grin. Her eyes twinkled. “It’s Kat. She thinks she’s a comedian. She can’t stop telling really terrible jokes that she thinks are hilarious.”
    Grace grinned. “Uh-oh,” she said, going along with Maya.
    â€œYeah, uh-oh is right,” said Maya, nodding.
    â€œHey, they aren’t all so bad!” complained Kat, also grinning.
    â€œOkay, Kat-Nip, prove me wrong. Tell one,” challenged Maya.
    â€œYeah. Go for it,” said Grace.
    Kat