40Molly in the MiddleElectronic book published by ipicturebooks.com24 W. 25th St. New York, NY 10011 www.ipicturebooks.comAll rights reserved. Copyright 1999 by The Millbrook Press, Inc.Real Kids Readers and the Real Kids Readers logo are trademarks of The Millbrook Press, Inc.No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For Margaret, Larry, and Jacob Pine, whose friendship, support, and hospitality have made my life as a writer possible. Thank you!_K. M.Special thanks to The Gap, Giesswein, Lisa Shaub, Marika Hahn for Natalie photographs by Dorothy Handelman.p. cm._ (Real kids readers. Level 3)Summary: Tired of being the middle child, Molly tries to distinguish herself from her sisters.ISBN 0-7613-2059-8 (lib. bdg.). _ ISBN 0-7613-2084-9 (pbk.)1. Birth order_Fiction. 2. Sisters_Fiction. I. Handelman, Dorothy, ill. II. Title. III. Series. PZ7.M7881635Mo 1999 E_dc21Molly in the MiddleBy Kimberly MorrisPhotographs by Dorothy HandelmanMy name is Molly Muller. Thats me in the middle, the one whos not smiling. The girl on the left is my sister Tina. Tina is the oldest. The girl on the right is my other sister, Lucy. Lucy is the youngest.So heres my question. If Tina is the oldest and Lucy is the youngest, what does that make me_the middle-est?4I cant be the middle-est. I looked it up, and theres no such word! Now do you see my problem?6Im not the oldest, and Im not the youngest. Im just Molly in the middle. Theres nothing special about me at all.7Some new people moved in next door. When they came over to meet us, Dad said, “This is Tina. Shes our oldest.”Tina said hello and shook hands with them. Nobody had to poke her in the ribs to remind her.The new people said, “My! Shes sooooo grown-up!”8Then Dad said, “This is Lucy. Shes our youngest.”Lucy did her little baby act. She stuck her thumb in her mouth and made goo-goo eyes.I thought it was sickening, but the new people said, “Awwwww! Isnt she cute?”10Then Dad said, “This is Molly. Shes in the middle.”As I said, theres nothing special about being in the middle. So I thought, “If I cant be the oldest and I cant be the youngest_maybe I can be the cutest.”I stuck both my thumbs in my mouth. But nobody said, “Awwwww!” Dad just gave me a dirty look and said, “Stop that, Molly. Your hands are full of germs.”(I guess baby thumbs dont have germs.)12When the new neighbors left, I wished I could leave too. Being stuck in the middle STINKS!Id rather be stuck on a leaky raft in shark-filled waters than stuck in the middle. Id rather be stuck in a deep hole full of big snakes than stuck in the middle. Id rather be stuck on top of the Empire State Building in a snowstorm with nothing to eat but lima beans than stuck in the middle.1415If I were stuck on a raft, or in a hole, or on top of the Empire State Building, someone might pay attention. But when youre stuck in the middle of a family, no one really sees you.“Okay,” I thought. “If I cant be the oldest, and I cant be the youngest, and I cant be the cutest_Ill be the loudest. Then people will have to pay attention.”During dinner I yelled, “PASS THE ROLLS, PLEASE!”Mom was so surprised, she dropped the whole basket on the floor.Then the phone rang, and I picked it up and yelled, “HELLO! THIS IS MOLLY MULLER SPEAKING! CAN YOU HEAR ME?”The caller had the wrong number. But now at least one person in the world knows that Molly Muller is a really loud kid.18When I went to bed that night. I yelled, “GOOD NIGHT, LUCY!”Too bad Lucy was already asleep. She woke up, and Mom and Dad got mad and told me to stop yelling.So then I thought, “If I cant be the oldest, and I cant be the youngest, and I cant be the cutest, and I cant be the loudest_maybe I can be the funniest.”The next morning, I dressed up like a clown and went downstairs to breakfast.21Lucy and Tina laughed really hard when they saw me.“Knock! Knock!” I said.“Whos there?” Tina asked.“Molly,” I said.“Molly who?” Lucy asked.Before I could answer, Dad told me to take off his good shoes. Mom told me to wash my face and stay out of her makeup.“Wait,” said Tina. “You didnt finish the joke. Molly who?”“Thats what Im trying to find out,” I said. Then I stomped out of the kitchen.2223Now I was mad. And when I get mad, I get mean. So I thought, “Thats it! If I cant be the oldest, and I cant be the youngest, and I cant be the cutest, and I cant be the loudest, and I cant be the funniest_Ill just have to be the meanest.”I got all the dirty, smelly socks out of the hamper.2425Then I let Lucy and Tina have it.“HERE COMES MOLLY, THE MEANEST MULLER OF THEM ALL!” I yelled.Tina tried to run away, but I got her_ right in the face.“Gross!” she screamed.Lucy sat down on the floor and started to cry. (Shes s