BooksBarbecue
Back The Copycat Save as PDF
Chapters (68)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Chapter One
  7. Three
  8. Four
  9. Five
  10. Six
  11. Chapter Two
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Chapter Three
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Chapter Four
  19. Twelve
  20. Thirteen
  21. Fourteen
  22. Chapter Five
  23. Fifteen
  24. Sixteen
  25. Chapter Six
  26. Seventeen
  27. Eighteen
  28. Nineteen
  29. Chapter Seven
  30. Twenty
  31. Twenty-One
  32. Twenty-Two
  33. Chapter Eight
  34. Twenty-Three
  35. Twenty-Four
  36. Twenty-Five
  37. Chapter Nine
  38. Twenty-Six
  39. Twenty-Seven
  40. Chapter Ten
  41. Twenty-Eight
  42. Twenty-Nine
  43. Thirty
  44. Thirty-One
  45. Chapter Eleven
  46. Thirty-Two
  47. Thirty-Three
  48. Thirty-Four
  49. Thirty-Five
  50. Chapter Twelve
  51. Thirty-Six
  52. Thirty-Seven
  53. Thirty-Eight
  54. Chapter Thirteen
  55. Thirty-Nine
  56. Forty
  57. Forty-One
  58. Forty-Two
  59. Chapter Fourteen
  60. Forty-Three
  61. Forty-Four
  62. Forty-Five
  63. Forty-Six
  64. Forty-Seven
  65. Chapter Fifteen
  66. The Following Summer
  67. About the Author
  68. About the Publisher

It was unnerving to stare so hard, but Gigi’s encouraging smile made her relax into the task. Ali studied Gigi as if she were memorizing facts for a test: every crinkle and wrinkle; the connect-the-dot age spots; the blue veins that pushed their way above the skin’s surface; the fuzzy white hair that reminded Ali of the fiberfill she’d used in third grade to make pretend snow for a diorama; the specks of black in her pale gray irises.

At first nothing happened. Then the same warm tingle she’d felt when she’d stared at Cassie filled her. She didn’t need to look to know her body was transforming; the soft crunch of muscles and bones expanding and contracting, and her back curving itself into a hump told her it was happening. The strangest moment was when her clothes morphed from jeans and a sweater into Gigi’s purple velour track suit. The only difference between Ali and Gigi was the baby finger on her left hand. It was decidedly Ali’s, a smooth outlier in a body covered in wrinkles.

“What do you think?” Gigi’s voice asked from Ali’s body.

Gigi clapped. “Remarkable!” She leaned forward and took one of Ali’s wizened hands. “It’s not easy being almost one hundred, is it?”

Ali wanted to agree, but didn’t want to be rude. She held up her unaltered pinky finger. “Why didn’t this change?”

“Copycats are never fully someone else,” Digger explained. “There’s always something a little off. I’d say you were a natural. Now let’s see how fast you can turn back. It’s the reverse of what you did when you turned into Gigi. This time, you think of yourself.”

It sounded easier, but it wasn’t. Ali tried her best to picture her real self, but it was like the Gigi parts of her didn’t want to change back. A wave of panic rolled through her.

“Breathe,” said Digger, sensing her fear. He grabbed a photograph of Ali off Gigi’s table and passed it to her. “Look at this girl. Remember what it’s like to be her, and you’ll turn back.”

Ali followed his instructions. Bit by bit, the wrinkles smoothed themselves, her spine straightened, and the protruding veins receded. A few minutes later she was herself again, though her forehead and back were slick with sweat.

ALI’S RULES FOR BEING A COPYCAT

  1. Concentrate.
  2. Don’t be afraid.
  3. Don’t let anyone know you’re a Copycat.
  4. Try to have fun. (This will take time.)

“It’s not easy to turn back when you’re first learning,” said Digger. “That’s why it’s so important to practice.”

Ali voiced the fear that had held her hostage since debate team. “How do I not turn into other people at school?”