Fee-bee!

  Heidi opened one eye.

  FEE-bee!

  Heidi opened her other eye and peeked out her bedroom window.

  Feeee-bee!

  A chickadee hopped along a thin branch and gave Heidi a curious look. It had white cheeks, a white underbelly, and a tiny black cap and bib.

   

  Fee-bee! the bird called again.

  Heidi giggled. “Hey! My name isn’t Phoebe,” she whispered to the bird. “It’s Heidi.”

  The chickadee tilted its head and hopped to another sunny branch. Last night’s thunderstorm had passed, and it was a beautiful day.

  Heidi pulled her covers up to her chin. She took a deep breath in. Mmmm, she said to herself. Something smells like cinnamon and spice. She got up on one elbow. Dad must be making pumpkin chocolate chip muffins! And THAT means it’s SATURDAY!

   

  A whoosh of happiness swept over Heidi. Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins were her favorite.

   

  She hopped out of bed and pulled on her brand-new owl T-shirt. She tugged on her striped tights, jean skirt, and sneakers. Then Heidi stood in front of the mirror with one hand on her hip.

   

  “Best outfit ever!” Heidi declared happily. And then she bounded downstairs to the kitchen.

   

  Dad greeted her in a blue-and-white-checked apron.

  “Welcome to Dad’s Diner!” he said, and he set a pumpkin muffin on a miniature cupcake stand in front of her.

  Heidi unfolded her napkin and placed it on her lap. Then she sank her fork into the tender muffin and slid a pumpkiny, chocolaty bite into her mouth. She shut her eyes and moaned.

  “Well?” Dad questioned. “What do you think?”

  Heidi opened her eyes. “One word,” she said. “Scrum-diddly-umptious!”

   

   

  Dad sat down next to Mom at the table. “Well, move over, Willy Wonka! Dad is in the house!”

  Heidi and Mom both laughed. Then Heidi noticed the empty chair beside her.

  “Where’s Henry?” she asked, taking a sip of milk.

  “He spent the night at Dudley’s, remember?” Mom said. “He’ll be home later this afternoon.”

  Heidi flung her napkin up in the air. “Yes! Now there’s no one to bug me at breakfast!” she cried. “Woo-hoo!”

   

  Mom and Dad shook their heads. Then Mom jotted some notes into her phone.

  “Heidi, I have to run some errands downtown,” she said. “Would you like to come with me?”

  Heidi wiped her mouth with her napkin, which had landed on the table in front of her.

  “I’d love to!” she said. “Can Lucy and Bruce come too?”

  Mom winked. “Already invited them,” she said.

  Heidi clapped her hands. “Yay!” she cried. “This is going to be the best day ever!”