03 The Jessica Experiment

The Jessica Experiment If she, Judy Moody, was going to be in a good mood for one whole entire week, she was going to need info. As in hints. Tips. Ideas. On the bus ride home, Judy asked her friends, "Hey, guys. What puts you in a good mood?" "When I do a really good magic trick, like the Fake Finger trick," said Rocky. He pulled his index finger, pretending to yank it off. "If everybody claps and is amazed, it puts me in a good mood." "Uh-huh," Judy scribbled a Note to Self. "I get in a good mood when I'm done with my

homework," said Frank. "Uh-huh, uh-huh." Judy looked at her notes. Next it was Amy's turn. "Writing stories puts me in a good mood. I dream stuff up and make it into a book and illustrate it." Judy scribbled some more. She looked at her notes.

1.Magic trick 2.Homework 3.Write a story "I can do this," said Judy. "Do what?" asked Amy. "Do what?" asked Rocky and Frank. "Um... nothing. Never mind." Judy ran home and took out her list. Magic Trick. She tried a magic card trick on Stink. But all she did was spill the deck of cards everywhere. Homework. Judy did not see how homework would put her in a good mood. She crossed it off the list. Write story. Judy tried to write a story.

This story could go on and on and on. What a lemonhead! Writing a story was so not putting her in a good mood. Who else could she get ideas from? Mom? Dad? Stink? It had to be somebody smart and somebody who never got sent to Antarctica.

Wait just a ding-dong minute! What could be more perfect than to talk to Little Miss Perfect? Somebody who brushed her hair every day and followed all the rules and got good grades and had never even been near Antarctica. Somebody who had a happy Magic 8 Ball. Jessica A-plus Finch! Of course! Judy could learn the facts about doing everything right all the time. Being perfect was sure to put her in a good mood. All she had to do was study her subject. Like a science experiment! She grabbed her notebook and hopped on her bike and pedaled down the street and around the corner to Jessica Finch's house. Ding-dong! Judy rang the bell. Jessica A-not- Aardwolf opened the door.

"Judy Moody? What are you doing here?" She could not tell Jessica "Tell-All" Finch her secret. Then the whole world would know. "I, um, thought we could hang out," said Judy. "But you never want to hang out." "Never say never," said Judy, pushing past Jessica. "Can I come in?" "You are in," said Jessica. "Well, um, how about if I come up to your room?" "Sure," said Jessica. "I was just going to start measuring things for Measure Up!, our new math unit." "But that doesn't start till Thursday," said Judy. "I like to get a head start," said Jessica.