Katie was telling Olivia about ticks.
"They are related to spiders," she said to her classmate.
"And they are awful!
Once they get on you, they crawl all over your skin until they find a nice spot and—this is the worst part—they bite you and suck your blood!"
"WHAT?" cried Olivia. "That's horrible!"
"Yeah!" said Katie with a silly smile.
"We didn't have ticks in the city," said Olivia.
"Well, now you're in the country.
You'd better watch out!" said Katie.
"So I should put ticks in my report about healthy skin?" asked Olivia.
"Definitely," said Katie. "Ticks and how to avoid them."
"I'm so glad I talked to you," said Olivia.
"What else should I include?"
Katie thought a moment.
"How much do you know about poison ivy?" she asked.
"Not much," said Olivia.
Katie shook her head.
"Well, it grows wild all over the place," she said.
"If it touches your skin and you're allergic to the plant's oil, you're in big trouble.
First, you get it in one spot.
Then, it usually spreads.
You get red bumps that itch like crazy for days!"
"What does poison ivy look like?" asked Olivia.
"What do ticks look like?"
"Let's find some pictures," said Katie.
"Then you can make cool posters to show during your report."
Katie jumped up.
"I'll show you the health and science shelves."
"Thank you, Katie!" said Olivia.
Soon the girls were sitting on the floor, surrounded by books.
"Ooh!" said Katie. "Here's a big fat tick!
He's making a snack out of that dog!
That reminds me.
I'm getting hungry."
"Gross!" Olivia laughed.
"Hey, I have a peanut butter sandwich.
We could share it."
"Thanks," Katie answered, smiling at Olivia.
"She's really nice," thought Katie.
Suddenly Mr. Dexter appeared, standing over them.
"Katie, your sister just called to check on you.
She said they were expecting you at home over an hour ago."
Katie's eyes got as big as saucers.
"Oh no! What time is it?"
Katie looked up at the clock.
"Yikes!" she cried. "I have to go—right now!"
Katie grabbed her backpack and ran out of the library.
She hopped onto her bike and sped home as fast as she could.
She dropped her bike in the yard and dashed inside.
"Here I am!" she called.
Joy and Grandpa were sitting at the kitchen table.
"Where are Luke and Carlos?" cried Katie breathlessly.
"They left," said Joy.
"What! But I have the square-dance music and—" Katie frowned.
"Joy, what is that thing in your hand, and why are you pointing it at me?"
"This is the friendship meter," answered Joy. "I invented it.
Right now it is frowning because you let your friends down."
"But I didn't do it intentionally," said Katie.
"I know," said Joy.
"But a good friend would call and explain what happened."
Katie groaned.
"Joy is right," Grandpa said.
"You should call Luke and Carlos now."
Katie went to the kitchen phone and dialed Luke's number.
"It's ringing," she said.
"Hello, Luke? It's Katie.
I—I can explain—I know—I was working at the library with Olivia and—What?
I never said I didn't like her! Anyway—Luke? Hello?"
Katie stomped her foot.
"He hung up on me!
That makes me so mad!"
She dialed Luke's number again.
"Hello? Now I'm hanging up on you!"
Katie yelled and slammed the phone down. "HA!"
Joy sighed. "I've learned that friends are very important for your health.
You could use some tips about how to make up with them," she said.
"No, thanks!" said Katie.
"And stop pointing that friendship meter at me!"