A Few Bicycles More by Christina Uss

Author:Christina Uss [Uss, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Holiday House
Published: 2022-08-19T00:00:00+00:00

When cycling practice was over, the girls went back into the apartment to find their parents math-editing and crossword-puzzling side by side in front of the computer screen. Their mother looked up and did a double take. “I just saw myself on the screen when you walked in. I’m sorry I didn’t come out into the hallway to check on you—it turned out to be so interesting to see things from your perspective.”

Apple took off the helmet and shut down the camera.

“It didn’t make you want to run out and catch us?” Beryl-Banana asked.

“It was a little confusing at a couple of points, but then we’d see Bicycle looking confident, so that helped,” Dad said. “My favorite part was when each of you turned the camera toward your sisters. Want to hear something funny? It was hard to tell you apart on video—thank goodness we never had that problem in real life.”

“You really never mixed them—us—up?” Bicycle asked. With identical kids, this seemed bound to happen.

Apple explained, “They say our voices are unmistakable. One time for Halloween we dressed up in identical outfits. That threw them at first, but as soon as we said ‘Trick or treat,’ it was like we’d painted our names on our foreheads.”

Bicycle asked, “What about when we were really little?”

Mom said, “Even when you could babble only nonsense sounds, you were unique. Apple would sigh, Banana would grunt, Cookie would peep, Daff would gurgle, and you would moo.”

“I would moo?” Bicycle said.

“There’s no better word for it,” Mom said. “We’ll dig out some home videos and let you listen.”

“It’s a shame our voices stopped us from pulling any Parent Trap–type capers on anyone,” said Daff.

Dad said, “It’s been a huge relief. When the doctors tell you you’re having identical quintuplets, one of the first things you worry about is mixing them up. Watching you in the silent movie from the helmet cam was definitely strange. So, what’s the verdict?” he asked Bicycle. “Are your sighing, grunting, peeping, gurgling sisters going to be good cyclists?”

“They are picking it up fast,” Bicycle said. “When we can find them bikes that fit properly, they’ll be great.”

“I’ll check the property room again when I get the chance,” promised Dad.

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