Chapter 1 1


Freddy Dissel had two problems. One was his older brother Mike. The other was his younger sister Ellen. Freddy thought a lot about being the one in the middle. But there was nothing he could do about it. He felt like the peanut butter part of a sandwich, squeezed between Mike and Ellen.

Every year Mike got new clothes. He grew too big for his old ones. But Mike’s old clothes weren’t too small for Freddy. They fit him just fine.





Freddy used to have a room of his own. That was before Ellen was born. Now Ellen had a room of her own. Freddy moved in with Mike. Mom and Dad said, “It’s the boys’ room.” But they couldn’t fool Freddy. He knew better!

Once, Freddy tried to join Mike and his friends. But Mike said, “Get out of the way, kid!” So Freddy tried to play with Ellen. Ellen didn’t understand how to play his way. She messed up all of Freddy’s things. Freddy got mad and pinched her. Ellen screamed.



“Freddy Dissel!” Mom yelled. “You shouldn’t be mean to Ellen. She’s smaller than you. She’s just a baby!”

Ellen didn’t look like a baby to Freddy. She didn’t sound like a baby either. She even goes to nursery school, Freddy thought. Some baby!

Freddy figured things would never get better for him. He would always be a great big middle nothing!