Relax to the Max Read online

  Chapter 1

  SPACE CADET

  Jeanie Bell knew that look.

  The twinkle in her best friend Willow Davis’s eye could only mean one thing. Willow had something on her mind. Something that wasn’t the science project they were supposed to be working on.

  “Why did the cow dream of becoming an astronaut?” Willow asked as she put glow-in-the-dark star stickers on her cheeks.

  “I don’t know,” Jeanie said with a sigh.

  “Because it wanted to see the mooooooooon!” Willow joked.

  Jeanie tried to smile. Willow had come over Sunday afternoon to help Jeanie make a 3-D map of the solar system. But she’d spent the last hour smooshing the clay they needed to make the planets into necklace charms and colorful bracelets.

  “Um, maybe we should save some of that clay,” said Jeanie.

  Their second-grade teacher. Ms. Patel, expected them to present their science projects at the end of the week, and Jeanie was a little nervous about talking in front of the class. So she wanted to be sure their model was extra perfect since she would be the one presenting.

  Willow wasn’t as focused on grades or homework as Jeanie. But she was super creative and super silly. It was hard to believe that they were best friends.

  Actually, a lot of things were hard to believe about Willow. Like the fact that she was actually… a genie. Yes, a magical genie. She was still in training, though. And she needed all the wish-granting practice she could get if she wanted to earn enough skill badges to become a Master Genie.

  And Jeanie was the perfect person to help. She truly believed in the phrase “practice makes perfect.” And wish-granting practice was pretty fun, too! One time, Jeanie wished for a pizza, and Willow made it instantly appear!

  Thinking about pizza made Jeanie’s stomach growl. Luckily, it was time for dinner. The girls headed downstairs to the dining room.

  “How’s the space mission going?” Jeanie’s mom asked.

  “It’s out of this world!” said Willow as she scratched Jeanie’s dog, Bear.

  “Well, we still have a lot of work to do.” Jeanie sighed.

  Jeanie’s little brother, Jake, stared at Willow. “What are those rings around your wrist?”

  “Let’s call them the rings of Saturn!” said Willow, jangling her homemade bracelets.

  “That’s dopey,” said Jake. He was six and always said everything he was thinking. “The only ring that matters is a race car track. Vroom vroom!” Jake jumped out of his chair and started racing around the table at top speed.

  “Don’t be rude,” Jeanie scolded Jake.

  “It’s okay,” said Willow.

  She slipped the bracelets off and mushed them into a big ball of clay. “Now your racetrack is the only ring in town.”

  “Who’s hungry?” called Jeanie’s dad as he came in from the kitchen and placed a huge bowl of spaghetti on the table.

  “Me! Me! Me!” cried Jake.

  Just then Bear sniffed the clay ball and took a tiny bite.

  Willow giggled. “I guess Bear is hungry too,” she said.

  But Jeanie didn’t feel like laughing. That clay blob was supposed to be Neptune!

  Chapter 2

  NO TIME FOR FUN

  On Monday morning Willow bounced into classroom 2B with a spring in her step.

  The sun was shining. The birds were singing. And Willow was wearing her lucky outfit: a yellow sunburst dress, and sneakers with rainbow laces. She had a feeling today was going to be special.

  But then, every day felt special to Willow.

  “Everyone, take your seats,” Ms. Patel told the class. “Today we’re going to talk about geography. Who can tell me what our state capital is?”

  Jeanie’s hand shot into the air.

  Willow grinned. Jeanie knew just about everything!

  But after answering the next three questions, Ms. Patel asked Jeanie to take a break.

  “How about you try this one, Max,” said Ms. Patel. “If Lucy is traveling from Alaska to Florida, which direction is she going?”

  Max tapped his chin. “I don’t know… Al-ask-a friend Flori-da answer!”

  Everyone cracked up—even Ms. Patel.

  Well, everyone except Jeanie. Willow saw a dark scowl appear on her friend’s face. She knew exactly what Jeanie was thinking. Max Mercado was always joking around. Didn’t he know that learning was serious business?

  “Actually,” said Max, “Lucy is traveling southeast.”

  “That’s correct,” said Ms. Patel. “Well done, Max!”

  Willow glanced at Jeanie. The scowl on her face was getting deeper by the second.

  At recess, Willow found Jeanie sitting under her favorite tree—a big oak with low-hanging branches that created a secret spot. But instead of leaves, Jeanie was surrounded by papers!

  “What are you doing?” asked Willow.

  “Getting a head start on my homework,” Jeanie said without looking up. “We’re going to need every minute after school to finish our science project.”

  Just then a big red kickball came bouncing toward Jeanie.

  Max ran over and caught the ball right before it crashed into Jeanie’s homework.

  “Could you be a little more careful?” Jeanie huffed.

  “Sorry,” said Max. “Hey, do you guys want to play kickball with us?”

  Willow liked that idea! “That sounds like fu—”

  “No way!” Jeanie interrupted. “There’s too much to do.”

  Max shrugged. “Okay. Maybe next time,” he said with a smile. Then he ran back to the kickball field.

  “You know… sometimes a break is nice,” Willow told Jeanie. But she could tell Jeanie was already busy reading. She hadn’t heard a word Willow had said.

  She never has any time for fun, Willow thought. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if Jeanie could take a page out of Max’s book. Ha! A page out of Max’s book! Willow laughed quietly at her own joke.

  Chapter 3

  THROWN FOR A LOOP

  After school, the girls went to Jeanie’s house to work on their project.

  Jeanie wanted to get straight down to business. But as usual, Willow liked to ease into business.

  “Max seems nice,” said Willow. “What’s he like?”

  “Funny, popular, and smart,” grumbled Jeanie. “His grades are just as good as mine. But he doesn’t take anything seriously.”

  “He definitely knows how to have fun,” agreed Willow.

  Jeanie frowned. “He doesn’t even try that hard. And yet, everything always works out perfectly for him.” She sighed. Thinking about Max was just distracting her from her work. “Now let’s get back to the project. This universe isn’t going to build itself.”

  Jeanie scanned her room.

  “Hey, where’s the poster board?” Jeanie asked. “We need to make the galaxy background.”

  Willow snapped her finger and said, “I think I saw some in the den with Jake.”

  Jeanie rolled her eyes. Her little brother was always taking her stuff. She had a bad feeling about this.

  She rushed downstairs and followed the vroom, vroom, vroom sounds into the den. Or what used to be the den. Jake had turned the room into a racetrack! A huge loop ran in front of the couch, under the coffee table, and past the window—and it was all made out of Jeanie’s poster board and clay.

  “You ruined the whole solar system!” Jeanie shouted at her brother.

  “I did not, Meanie Jeanie!” Jake insisted. “I made it better!”

  “How will we ever finish our project?” cried Jeanie.

  Just then, Willow rushed into the den.

  “Don’t worry!” Willow told Jeanie. “We can fix this. Everything’s going to be fine.”

  Jeani
e knew her friend was trying to help… but it wasn’t working. She felt her lower lip begin to tremble.

  “Try to take a breath,” Willow suggested. “Maybe you could think about what Max would do in this situation. I bet he would tell himself to just relax.”

  Those words unlocked something inside Jeanie. The project was going to be a disaster, her partner wanted to make jewelry all day, her little brother had ruined her poster board… and she was supposed to just relax?

  “Just relax? Just relax!” she cried, looking directly into Willow’s eyes. “I wish I could relax as easily as Max… but that’s not me!”

  Suddenly a flash of golden light lit up the room.

  Jeanie took a step back… right into her mom.

  Mrs. Bell looked around the den. Jake sat on the couch staring at his race cars guiltily, Willow looked shocked, and Jeanie was about to cry.

  “Okay, I think everyone needs a break,” Mrs. Bell said kindly. “Jake, please set the table for dinner. Girls, I want you to take the rest of the night off.”

  Jeanie’s mom helped Willow into her coat, and the two girls walked to the front door.

  “See you tomorrow?” Willow asked.

  Jeanie nodded and gave her a half-hearted wave.

  She’d spent the whole day pouring her energy into schoolwork.

  But suddenly she didn’t feel like doing anything anymore.

  Chapter 4

  A NEW JEANIE IN TOWN

  The next morning Willow worried all the way to school.

  She hated that she had made Jeanie so upset yesterday.

  Plus there had been that golden flash. When a wish was granted, Willow’s magic lamp necklace would light up. So a wish must have been granted yesterday. The problem was… since Willow was still in training, her wishes didn’t always go the way they should.

  Willow heard loud laughter coming from classroom 2B. It sounded more like a comedy club than an elementary school!

  She opened the door and saw the whole class crowded around Jeanie. She was telling a story, and everyone was listening eagerly—even the class hamster, Jelly Bean!

  “So my little brother Jake made a racetrack out of my poster of the galaxy,” Jeanie said. “I’ll bet he even used my clay to make a parking meteor!”

  Everyone laughed hysterically. Some classmates were practically in tears from laughing!

  Willow was shocked. Here was Jeanie, laughing about their unfinished science project!

  This didn’t seem like her at all.

  And another thing: Jeanie didn’t look like herself either. Her hair stuck up in all directions. She had on two different shoes—one ballet flat and one sneaker. And she wore a paint-splattered sweatshirt… over pajamas!

  Ms. Patel cleared her throat. “Okay, class! Today we’re going to talk about the solar system. Who’s ready to blast into space?”

  “Not me!” shouted Jeanie. “I left my asteroid belt at home!”

  The whole class laughed, including Ms. Patel.

  But as soon as they started the lesson, Willow saw the energy drain out of Jeanie. First she yawned. Then she slumped. And she didn’t raise her hand once.

  All morning, Willow watched Jeanie act very un-Jeanie-like. During math, she kicked off her shoes and sat cross-legged in her chair. She doodled all through social studies. And when she passed a note during reading time, Willow knew something was wrong.

  “What’s going on with you?” Willow asked as the class lined up for lunch.

  Jeanie shrugged and said, “I took your advice. Remember? You told me to relax like Max. So watch out, universe. There’s a new Jeanie in town. Now, who has two thumbs and is totally hungry for cafeteria fish sticks?”

  Jeanie pointed her thumbs at herself and shouted, “This girl!”

  Willow’s jaw dropped. No one liked the cafeteria fish sticks. Not since they’d taken down the whole fourth grade.

  Sure, Willow had wanted Jeanie to loosen up… but this spell had gone too far.

  Willow had to figure out a way to get Jeanie out of her wish!

  Chapter 5

  TACO TUESDAY

  By the end of the day, Jeanie was still feeling totally relaxed.

  She took a catnap on the bus home. Then, verrrry slowly, she opened her front door.

  “Mom! I’m hooooooooome!” Jeanie yelled.

  “I’m in the den!” Mrs. Bell replied.

  It took Jeanie a full five minutes to walk down the hall.

  “How was school today, sweetie?” her mom asked.

  Jeanie started to tell her mom what she’d learned. Then she stopped. For some reason she didn’t feel like talking about school. “Hey, when are we going on a family vacation?”

  Her mom looked puzzled. “We don’t have any family trips coming up.”

  “Why?” said Jeanie. “I need a vacation!”

  Jeanie could picture herself lying on a sandy beach. Or floating in a pool. Or taking a nap in a hammock between two shady trees.

  “For now, let’s focus on dinner,” said Jeanie’s mom as she walked to the kitchen. “I’m going to start making my homemade salsa. It’s Taco Tuesday!”

  Jeanie yawned and looked out the window. Bear was rolling around in a sunny patch of grass.

  That looks awesome! Jeanie thought. So awesome that she decided to go out back and roll around in the sun too.

  Jeanie wiggled her toes in the grass, showed Bear the clouds that looked like bunnies, and hummed along to the sounds of trumpet practice coming from Mr. Penny’s house next door.

  Jake watched his sister, then finally poked his head outside to ask, “Hey, what are you doing?”

  “What does it look like I’m doing?” she answered. “I’m taking it easy.”

  “Mom!” Jake yelled. “I think Jeanie’s broken.”

  “Am not,” said Jeanie. She stuck her tongue out.

  “Meanie Jeanie strikes again,” said Jake.

  “I heard that,” their mom’s voice called through the window. “Jeanie, come set the table for dinner, please.”

  “In a min-uuuuuuute!” Jeanie could hardly believe those words were coming out of her mouth. But the sunshine was so warm, and the grass felt so nice.

  This time her mom’s voice was kind but firm. “Now, please!”

  Jeanie entered the dining room as slow as a turtle. There was a stack of plates and silverware on the table. She picked up a fork. Eating at the table was so formal! There had to be a way to make dinner a little more laid back.

  That’s it! Jeanie thought. We’ll lie back!

  She carried the plates and silverware into the den. Then she threw all the couch cushions on the floor. Lying back on the carpet during dinner was going to be super relaxing.

  Jeanie’s Den Diner was open for business…

  … until Jake crashed one of his cars into the diner.

  “Hey! This isn’t setting the table,” he said. “You’re gonna be in so much trouble!”

  “Who cares?” Jeanie laughed, cool as a cucumber. “This’ll be more fun!”

  Luckily, Jeanie’s parents thought so too. Tonight the Bells were doing Taco Tuesday picnic style!

  Chapter 6

  SLOW MOTION

  The next morning Willow looked for Jeanie by the cubbies.

  She yawned like she’d never yawned before. Willow had barely slept. She’d spent the whole night looking through her mom’s library for a way to get Jeanie back to normal.

  Willow’s mom was the director of the World Genie Association (WGA) and had all the magic books a genie could wish for. Willow had found lots of information about relaxation wishes, but nothing about how to undo them.

  She’d even tried gazing into the Davis family’s crystal ball. If she could see the future, she’d know what to do. But Willow hadn’t earned her future-telling badge yet, so all she saw in the crystal ball was her own reflection.

  Maybe she should just give up and let the magic run its course?

  But when Willow spotted Jeanie looking
just as sloppy as she had the day before, she knew giving up was not an option.

  “How are you?” she asked Jeanie.

  “Fine… I think,” said Jeanie. “My head’s just sort of… cloudy. And my legs feel like wet noodles. Do you ever wonder what would happen if we forgot how to walk? We’d have to just crawl around and—”

  “Do you think our geography quiz will have questions about the state capitals?” Willow asked quickly.

  Normally when Willow brought up a test, Jeanie would give unending advice about the chapters they needed to read, her favorite study strategies, and a reminder to bring a sharpened pencil.

  But this Jeanie was not acting normally.

  “Oh, I don’t knooooow,” she said as she dragged out the word “know.”

  Willow’s eyes went wide. Jeanie was stuck in slow motion!

  “I sound sooooo weird,” Jeanie exclaimed. “It’s like I’m a slooooth.” Jeanie smiled lazily, then turned to stare out the window.

  Ms. Patel clapped her hands twice to get everyone’s attention. “Class, let’s open our science textbooks to chapter three.”

  Jeanie slowly raised her hand. “Ms. Patel, could we work outside today?” she asked. “It’s soooooo nice out.”

  Now Willow was super worried. Working outside would be Normal Jeanie’s nightmare, with all the distractions. But this wasn’t Normal Jeanie.