It was Sunday morning, and Grandpa was making everyone pancakes.
Joy was still in her pajamas and still talking about chickens.
"This one has a blue tail," said Joy.
"And this one has feathers on its feet!"
Mom smiled. "They look like house slippers."
Grandpa gave Joy a plate of pancakes and looked over her shoulder at the catalog.
"See that one with the black and white stripes?" he said.
"We had a hen like that when I was a boy.
Sometimes she slept in my lap—just like a cat."
Dad smiled. "So Joy," he said, "do you think we should get some chickens?"
Joy's eyes opened wide, and a big smile spread across her face.
"Oh, Dad! Could we?
Could we buy some little chicks?"
"They won't be little for long," warned Mom.
"They'll become big chickens.
Would you take care of them?
Would you feed them and give them water?"
"Yes, I promise," said Joy.
"And I'd gather the eggs too."
"I could make some delicious omelets with those fresh eggs," said Grandpa.
"Where's Katie?" asked Joy, jumping up from the table.
She ran to the stairway and called, "Come downstairs, Katie!"
Upstairs Katie didn't hear her sister.
She was busy staring at herself in the bathroom mirror.
Jellybean, the cat, was sitting in the doorway, licking her gray fur.
"Here we go," Katie whispered as she picked up the scissors.
Jellybean stopped licking and watched Katie with round, yellow eyes.
Downstairs Dad was talking.
"It's good for the planet when we raise our own food," he said.
"I hope I can remember how to take care of baby chickens," said Grandpa.
"You have to teach me, Grandpa,"
replied Joy as she sat back down at the table.
She'd given up trying to get Katie's attention.
"I'll bring home a book on the subject tomorrow," said Mom.
She worked part-time at the Willow Creek library.
Suddenly everyone looked up at the ceiling.
They heard Katie's footsteps in the hallway above.
Then they heard her pounding down the stairs.
"Here she comes," said Joy.
"Good morning, world!" Katie exclaimed as she popped into the kitchen.
She twirled on her bare feet.
"Notice anything different about me?"
Magoo, who had been napping in the corner, opened his eyes.
"Yes, I noticed that you ran down the steps with scissors!" scolded Mom.
"That's really dangerous."
Katie looked down at the scissors in her hand.
"Oops," she said. "Sorry."
"You've done something to your hair," stated Dad.
"You've got bangs!" Joy burst out.
"Ta-da!" exclaimed Katie.
Joy frowned. "But Katie," she said, "now we look different."
"That's right," Katie said happily.
"From now on, I'm the one with bangs."
She sat down at the table.
"Grandpa, may I have some pancakes, please?"
"You did a good job, Katie," Mom commented.
Joy looked around the table, upset.
"But . . . do we still look like twins?"
"Sure you do," said Dad.
"Nope," corrected Katie. "We look completely different."
Then Mom spoke up. "Joy, tell Katie about the chickens."
"Chickens?" repeated Katie.
"Yes," said Joy. "We're getting chicks from the Cackle Farm!"
Katie stared at her sister.
"What will we have to do?"
"Lots!" Joy was smiling again.
"You see, they have to live indoors for a while.
We have to keep them warm and watch them every minute."
When Katie thought of the cute little chicks, she almost smiled.
But then she remembered that she was the Donovan twin who didn't like chickens.
Joy noticed Katie's blank expression.
"Aren't you excited?" she asked.
Katie shrugged and poured syrup on her pancakes.
"Last chance for pancakes, folks," Grandpa announced.
"Joy and I have to get this kitchen cleaned up.
We've got chicken plans!"