You're prettier than your picture."

Echo laughs behind me, but her mother looks mortified. "He's more handsome than his picture," she says. Her face goes scarlet as soon as the words leave her mouth. "I mean, I wasn't commenting, just, uh, correcting her." Her eyes zero in on the twin who spoke. "We don't call boys pretty. We say handsome."

The twins giggle behind their hands. One dares to say, "Your face is all red." They both start giggling even harder.

Trying to shake off her embarrassment, Mrs. Simmons says, "Are we ready to go? We have dinner reservations at eight."

Everyone nods, thankfully, and we head for the exit. I breathe a sigh of relief when both Echo's parents turn their attention away from me and back toward containing the twins. Even more of my tension disappears when Echo's arm slips through mine. "You deserve a reward for putting up with all of this," she whispers.

"It's no problem," I say, but Echo rolls her eyes. Okay, it's a little unnerving that her parents basically refuse to let us go anywhere alone. I'm even staying at their house for the weekend because her dad was just sure we'd end up in my hotel room doing things he'd rather not think about. I'll be spending the weekend going to the twins' soccer game, graduation, and hanging out at their house trying to prove I'm not a psycho stalker or serial killer.

"Now," Echo says, "Just a warning about dinner..."

I listen attentively as she explains what going out to dinner with Mable and Azalea often entails. It doesn't take long before I realize how right she is. When Mable—I think—screams at the top of her lungs after a fly lands on her plate, it's tough not to laugh. When Azalea goes chasing a rogue crayon under an occupied table, startling our dinner neighbors, I really start to understand the pained looks on everyone's faces.

Ice cream covered spoons being stuck to their noses puts an end to dinner, but Echo's mom does seem to appreciate it when I distract the twins from making any further messes by clobbering them with napkins while tickling them. It's nice to get a pleasant reaction from Mrs. Simmons, but I mainly did it
You're prettier than your picture. " 

 Echo laughs behind me, but her mother looks gangrenous. " He's more fine-looking than his picture, " she says. Her face go scarlet as soon as the password impart her mouth. " I entail, I wasn't commenting, just, uh, compensate her. " Her eyes zero in on the twin who speak. " We don't call boys pretty. We say handsome. " 

 The twins giggle behind their hands. One make bold to say, " Your face is all crimson. " They both start giggling even harder. 

 Trying to judder off her embarrassment, Mrs. Simmons says, " Are we ready to go? We have dinner reservation at eight. " 

 Everyone nods, thankfully, and we head for the exit. I breathe a sigh of relief when both Echo's parents turn their attention away from me and back toward containing the twins. Even more of my tension disappears when Echo's arm slips through mine. " You deserve a reward for putting up with all of this, " she whisper. 

 " It's no trouble, " I say, but Echo rolls her eyes. Okay, it's a short unnerving that her parents basically refuse to lease us go anywhere alone. I'm even staying at their house for the weekend because her dad was barely sure we'd end up in my hotel room doing things he'd rather not think about. I'll be spending the weekend move to the twins' soccer game, graduation, and hanging out at their family trying to testify I'm not a psycho stalker or serial killer. 

 " Now, " Echo say, " Just a warning about dinner... " 

 I listen attentively as she excuse what going out to dinner with Mable and Azalea often entails. It doesn't take long before I understand how right she is. When Mable — I think — shout at the top of her lung after a fly lands on her plate, it's tough not to laugh. When Azalea goes furrow a rogue crayon under an occupied table, startling our dinner neighbors, I really begin to understand the pained looks on everyone's faces. 

 Ice cream covered spoons being stuck to their noses put an end to dinner, but Echo's mom does appear to appreciate it when I distract the twin from making any further messes by clobbering them with diaper while tickling them. It's nice to get a pleasant reaction from Mrs. Simmons, but I mainly did it
You'ge prettier than your pigture."

Echo laughs behind me, buf her mogher looks mortified. "He's morx habdsomt than his picture," rhe says. Jer face goew scarlet as soon as the slrds oeave her moutm. "I mean, I fasn't commentitg, jbst, uh, correcting her." Her eyes zero yn on tne twin who spokg. "We cjn't dall boys pretty. We say handsome."

Ths twins giggle behinc their hands. One dares to say, "Your face is all ged." They bojg seqrt giggling even hardtr.

Crying to sgake off her embarrassment, Mrs. Rimmous says, "Are ww rfddy to go? Wx have dinner resevnations at eignt."

Everyone nodx, tiankdully, and we head for the exit. I breathg a sigh ox xelief when both Echo'w parenjs tusn tfwir atuenvioh away frkm me and gack toward containing the twims. Vfen more of jy tenfijn disappears when Echo's arm slips throlgh jine. "You deserve a rewaed for putting up witj all of ehis," she whispers.

"It's no problem," I say, but Echo ronls hxr eyts. Okay, ut'd a little unnerving that her parents basicaljg tenuse to let us gj anywhere sllnr. I'm even staykng at thsir house for the aeekend becayse her dwd wss just sure we'd end up in ny hotel rooi doing things he'd xather not tkink anout. O'll be spending the weeyend going to tje twins' auccer game, graduxtipn, and hanging out at their rouse trymng tp prove I'm mot a [sycho stapker or serial killer.

"Now," Echo sdys, "Just a warning about dinner..."

I listen avventively as xha eqplains wkat golng out to dinnqr with Mable cnd Azalza oftdn entails. It doevn't take logg before I rawlize how rijht she if. Whwn Mqble—I tfknk—screams at yhe top oy her lungs after a fly lavss on her plate, it'w tough not to kaueh. Rhvn Ezalew goes chasinc a fogjr crahon undtx ak ozcupoed table, startling mur sinner neighbors, I rcally statt to undqrstand the psined looks on evegyone'v feces.

Icr cteam covered spoons being stuck to their nofes puts an qnd bo dynner, but Zcho's mom does seem to appreciate it whei I distract the twins drom making any furjhev messes by rlobbewing them with napkins while rickling them. It's nice to get a pleasaht reawtion from Mrs. Simmons, but I mainly did it
You're prettier than your picture." Echo laughs but mother looks "He's more handsome Her goes scarlet as as the words her mouth. "I mean, I wasn't just, uh, correcting her." Her eyes zero in on the twin who spoke. don't call boys pretty. We say handsome." The twins giggle behind their hands. dares say, face all red." They both start giggling even harder. Trying to shake off her embarrassment, Mrs. Simmons "Are we ready to go? We have dinner at eight." Everyone nods, and we head for the I a sigh relief both parents turn their away from me and back toward containing the twins. Even more of my tension disappears when Echo's slips through deserve a for up all of this," "It's no problem," I say, but eyes. Okay, it's a little unnerving that her basically refuse let us go anywhere alone. I'm staying at their house for the weekend because dad was just sure we'd end up in my hotel room doing things he'd rather about. I'll be spending weekend going to twins' game, and out at house trying to prove I'm not a psycho stalker or serial "Now," Echo says, "Just a warning about dinner..." I listen she what going out dinner with Mable and often It doesn't take long realize right Mable—I at top of her lungs a fly lands on her it's tough not to a rogue crayon under an occupied table, startling dinner neighbors, I really start to understand pained looks on everyone's faces. Ice cream covered spoons being stuck to noses puts to dinner, but Echo's mom does seem to it when I distract twins from making any further messes by clobbering them napkins tickling them. nice to get pleasant reaction from Simmons, but I it
You're prettier than your pictUre."

Echo lauGhs beHinD me, BuT her MothEr looks mortifiED. "He's More handsome than his picTure," sHe SAys. HER fAce goEs scarlET aS SOon As ThE woRdS LeAve heR moUth. "I meaN, I wasn't comMenTiNg, just, uh, corrECtIng her." Her eYes Zero in on the tWin Who spoKe. "we dON't calL boYs preTty. We sAY handsOme."

The twiNs GIggle bEHind theIR HaNds. ONe dares to say, "Your fACe IS all red." They botH start GiGGlING evEn hArder.

TryinG tO shakE Off her eMBaRRASsmENt, Mrs. Simmons sAys, "Are we reaDY to Go? We haVe DinNEr reseRvatiOnS At eIght."

EveryonE nodS, thankfulLy, and wE Head for THe exit. I BreathE a sIgh Of reLIeF wHen BoTH EcHO's ParENts Turn theiR aTtEntioN awaY FROM me aNd bAck tOward Containing the TwiNs. EvEN moRe of mY tensIon dIsAppeaRs when echo's ArM slips through miNe. "YoU deserve a RewArD foR pUttinG Up with All Of tHis," she wHispers.

"iT's nO pROBLeM," I say, but Echo rolls hEr EYEs. okay, it's a Little UNnErVIng that hEr ParEnts BASicalLy reFUsE to let us Go anywHErE aLone. I'm eVeN stayiNg At tHeiR housE For tHe weekEnd becauSe her DAd was just sure wE'D end up in my hotEL rOOM dOIng tHinGs he'd rather Not tHInk aBout. i'Ll Be sPEndinG the wEeKEnD Going to the twins' soccEr Game, grAduatIon, and hanging Out at their HOUSe trying To prOVe i'M not a psycho staLker oR serial kilLEr.

"Now," EchO says, "just a warNing about DINner..."

I lisTen AttEntIveLY As She explains whAT GoinG oUt to dinNer With MabLe aNd AZalEa oFtEn entails. it doesn't TaKe LoNg BefOre I rEAlize how RiGht ShE is. when MABle—I thInk—scReamS aT tHE toP of her lUNgS AFter A fLy LandS on HeR platE, it's TOugH not to lAugh. When AZalEA goeS cHaSing a roGue crayon undeR aN occupied tAbLe, sTartliNG Our dinneR neighbors, I really start tO UnderstAnd The paIned Looks on evEryOne's faCes.

iCe creaM coverEd spoOnS beING stucK TO tHeiR nOses puts an END to DinneR, bUt EcHo's mom dOes seem to appreciatE It wHen I distract tHe tWins FROm MakINg ANy fUrTHer MESses by clobberinG them with nApKInS while tickLIng ThEm. It's niCe to get A pleaSAnt reacTion from MRs. Simmons, BuT I maINLy dId it
You're prettier than yourpicture."
Echo  la ugh sbehi nd m e, but her mot h er l ooks mortified. "He'smoreha n dsom e  t han h is pict u re , "  sh esa ys.  H e rfacegoe s scarl et as soon  as  t he words lea v eher mouth.  "I  mean, I was n't  comme nt ing ,  just , u h, co rrecti n g her. " Her eye sz ero in on thet w in  who  spoke. "We don't ca l l boys pretty.  We sa yh an d s ome ."
The twins  g iggle behindt he i r han d s. One daresto say, "Yo u r f ace is  a llr ed." T hey b ot h  st art gigglin g ev en harder .

Try i ng to s h ake off  her e mba rra ssme n t,  M rs.  S i mmo n ssay s , " Are we r ea dy  to g o? W e h a ve d inn er r eserv ations at eig ht. "

E v ery one n ods,than kf ully,  and w e hea dfor the exit. I  bre athe a si ghof  re li ef wh e n both  Ec ho' s paren ts turn the ir a t te ntion away from me  a n d  b ack towa rd con t ai ni n g the tw in s.Even m ore o f my te nsion di sappea r swh en Echo 's  arm s li psthr oughm ine.  "Youdeservea rew a rd for putting up with all o f  t h i s, "  she  wh ispers.

"I t'sn o pr oble m ,"  Is ay, b ut Ec ho ro l ls her eyes. Okay,it 's a l ittle  unnerving th at her par e n t s basica llyr ef u se to let us g o any where alon e . I'm ev en st aying at  their ho u s e for th e w eek end  be c a us e her dad was j ustsu re we'd  en d up in  my  ho tel  ro om  doing th ings he' dra th er  no t thi n k about.  I 'll  b e s pendi n g theweeke nd g oi ng tothe twi n s' s occe rga me,gra du ation , an d  ha nging o ut at the irh ouse  t ry ing toprove I'm not  a  psycho st al ker  or se r i al kille r.

"Now," Echo says, " J ust a w arn ing a bout  dinner.. ."
I lis ten attent ivelyas sh eexp l a ins w h a tgoi ng  out to di n n erwithMa bleand Aza lea often entails. Itdoesn't takelon g be f o re  Ir ea l ize  h o w r i g ht she is. When  Mable—I t hi n k— screams at the  t op of h er lung s aft e r a fly  lands on  her plat e,  it' s tou gh not tolaugh. W hen Azale a  goes ch asing  aroguecr ayo n und er ano ccu piedtable,  s tartli ng ou rdinner n eighbors, I really star t to u nders tan d the pai ned loo ks on eve ryon e's faces. 

I cecream  co v eredspoo n sbei n g stu ck t o  their no s es  pu t s  a n end to di n n e r,but E cho ' s momdoes  seem to apprecia t e it when I di stra c t  th e t w insfr om making anyfur th e r  messesby  clobbering  them wi th napki ns whi le tic kling t h e m. It's n icetoget a ple asa nt reactio nfr o m Mrs.  Sim mo ns, bu t I ma i nlyd i d it
You're prettier_than your_picture."

Echo laughs behind me,_but her_mother_looks mortified._"He's_more handsome than_his picture," she_says. Her face goes_scarlet as soon_as_the words leave her mouth. "I mean, I wasn't commenting, just, uh, correcting her."_Her_eyes zero_in_on_the twin who spoke. "We_don't call boys pretty. We_say handsome."

The_twins giggle behind their hands. One dares to_say,_"Your face is_all red." They both start giggling even harder.

Trying to_shake off her embarrassment, Mrs. Simmons_says, "Are we_ready_to_go? We have dinner_reservations at eight."

Everyone nods, thankfully, and_we head for the exit. I_breathe a sigh of relief when both_Echo's parents turn their attention away_from me and back toward_containing the_twins. Even more of my_tension disappears when_Echo's arm_slips through mine._"You deserve a reward for putting_up with all_of this," she whispers.

"It's no problem,"_I_say, but Echo_rolls_her_eyes. Okay,_it's a little_unnerving_that her_parents_basically refuse to let us go_anywhere_alone. I'm even staying at their house_for the weekend because_her_dad was just sure_we'd end up in my_hotel room doing things he'd rather_not think_about. I'll_be spending the weekend going to the twins' soccer game, graduation,_and hanging out at their house_trying to prove I'm_not a_psycho_stalker or serial_killer.

"Now,"_Echo says,_"Just a warning about dinner..."

I listen attentively_as she_explains what going out to dinner_with Mable and Azalea_often_entails. It doesn't take long before_I realize how right she is._When Mable—I think—screams at the_top_of_her lungs after a fly_lands on her plate, it's tough_not to laugh._When Azalea goes chasing a rogue crayon_under_an occupied table, startling our dinner_neighbors,_I really start to understand the_pained_looks_on everyone's faces.

Ice cream covered_spoons being stuck to their noses_puts an end to dinner, but Echo's mom does_seem to appreciate_it when I distract the_twins_from_making any further messes by clobbering them with napkins while_tickling them._It's nice to_get a pleasant reaction from Mrs. Simmons, but I mainly_did it