A COMMENT TOTALLY OUT OF THE BLUE

Ellery: I will never, ever, ever, ever, EVER eat. one. pickle.

WHAT DANE SAYS

Open accessory!

THE OLD SALT SPEAKS

Ellery cast her weather eye on the sky and said ominously, "I don't like the look of those clouds."

TOO MUCH IS JUST RIGHT

Ellery: That Vanilla Pistachio soap smells so good! Sometimes I overdo it. Well...I always overdo it.

THAT'LL SHOW HER

Ellery: I want to show Lizzie how much I love her and not just for her iPad and phone.

Mom: How are you going to do that?

Ellery: I'll wear my special shoes!

A WISH GRANTED ALMOST INSTANTLY

Dane and Maggie were poised at the edge of the Alderwood Mall fountain, ready to receive their wishing pennies.

"What are you going to wish for?" Aunt Monica asked Maggie.

"I'm going to wish for a stuffed animal teddy bear," Maggie said.

"Dane, what are you going to wish for?"

"I'm going to wish for a penny to throw in there," Dane declared.

MY LITTLE GRAMMARIAN

Ellery and Mom were getting ready to go to the zoo.

"Here's your shoes," Mom said as she handed them to Ellery.

"It would sound better to say, 'Here are your shoes.'" Ellery corrected gently.