“Hey!” Eleanora’s voice interrupted Gio’s thoughts.  Gio opened her eyes and found Eleanora’s brown eyes staring straight into hers. Eleanora was so close that their noses almost touched, and her eyes looked nearly crossed.  “You alright?” Eleanora asked.

Gio didn’t know what to say.  She had never met anyone like Eleanora Priscilla Grant before. “I’m so stupid.”  She slapped her palm to her forehead. “I assumed you were a-”

“-boy?” Eleanora said in unison with Gio. “I know. It’s the clothes. But can I tell you a secret?”

Gio’s eyes widened. No one had ever shared a secret with her before. This was her ninth school. By the time she felt comfortable enough to try and make friends, it was time to move again. Either her dad got a new duty station, or her mom dragged her on the road for another tour. Today was her second day. And someone was talking to her and sharing a secret.  Maybe this time she would make a friend? Ok, Gio thought,  just be cool. Pretend like you don’t care. Gio shrugged as she answered, “If you wanna.”

Eleanora grinned. She lowered her voice to a stage whisper. “I’m wearing my sparkle pants.”

“Sparkle pants?” Gio never would have guessed that. She glanced down at her own pair of sparkling black pants. Well, they used to be. Most of her glitter had faded.

“Yeah! I wear these”- she plucked at the rubber overalls –“so that when I am taking my soil samples, I don’t mess up my sparkle pants. They’re my favorite. I’m gonna be the first Rock Star vermeologist!”