“IT’S OKAY, TOMIKO,” Dandelion Pinkley said to her best friend who lived across the street, “your dad will be home from his conference on Sunday. That’s only two days away!”
Tomiko was staying with the Pinkleys while Mr. Tanji was gone, and now, at dinner, the family was trying to cheer her up.
Dandelion’s brother Doodlebug changed the subject. “Mom, what were you and Dad doing with Mr. Tanji out in their backyard yesterday? We saw you measuring the palm trees.”
“And pointing like a bunch of nuts,” Tomiko offered sullenly.
“Old fogey stuff,” Mr. Pinkley joked.
“Exactly!” Mrs. Pinkley said. “Making garden plans for spring.”
Dandelion kept quiet. The parents’ activities were all part of her big secret plan. And she was pleased they were doing such a good cover-up. It was late February. Who would be thinking about gardens except old fogeys?
After dinner, Dandelion and her mom exchanged whispers and a thumbs up. All was going well.
The next morning, Tomiko was in no better mood. She didn’t even want to play Enchanted Forest Escapade, her favorite board game. Dandelion wandered her room, her mind buzzing over last-minute details for her fun scheme. Just then Doodlebug walked in, holding a calendar.
“Hey, look. This is weird,” he said. “It’s Saturday, February 29! And it says we’re in a Leap Year! What’s that?”
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