Sydney to the Max

Is she here?

Is she here? I thought I heard Dad's car.

I just got a text and your cousin Lexi's on the way.

Great, I just finished decorating her room.

I closed my eyes and tried to imagine

what would a seven‐year‐old from Georgia really like?

And then I bailed and called her mom.

I'm sure she'll love her room.

I hope so.

It's gonna be Lexi's for the rest of the year.

I'm finally gonna get to spend time with my favorite cousin.

We'll be like sisters.

But cousins.

Sister‐cousins.

Ooh, I love that.

From now on, I'm your Sister‐Grandma.

That's Lexi!

She's here.

The Georgia Peach has arrived!

Lexi, I'm so happy to see you.

Hey, girl, hey!

Whoa, you brought half the city of Savannah with you.

Other half's in the car.

Lexi, bring it in!

Has it really been a year since we last saw you?

Ugh, that was during my big hair‐bow phase.

Goodness gracious, I can't believe

I ever thought those were cute.

They were. You were the hit at

Great Aunt Betsy's 90th birthday party.

She couldn't remember anyone's name,

so she would call you by the name of a food.

"Honeybun, be a dear and fetch

"Auntie's cane before I start hootin' and hollering.

Thanks, puddin'."

And she would always call me Strawberry Shortcake!

And Uncle Max was String Bean.

You gotta be careful what you're eating when you say hi to her.

Lexi, you must be so proud of your parents.

Big‐time doctors volunteering in South America.

I am. And don't forget they raised an amazing kid.

Their words, not mine.

You must be hungry after your flight.

I'll go fix you something special.

Thank you, ma'am.

Lexi, I can't wait to show you your room.

And me and Koko can't wait to see it.

You brought Koko!

Sure did. She goes everywhere with me.

She's my best friend.

Oh hush, Koko. I'm sure they're happy to see you, too.

She's a little shy.

I don't have that problem.

Well, come on, Lexi, I'll show you your room.

Wow, Lexi, this one weighs a ton.

What do you have in here?

Oh, that's not mine. It's Koko's.

Here's your room, Lexi.

So what do you think?

I love it!

Wow!

Wow!

You did all this for me?

I wanted to make you feel at home.

I hope it's not too much peach.

Syd, I'm from Georgia,

you can never have too much peach.

Lexi, if there's anything you ever want or need,

you just come to me.

'ppreciate it, cuz.

Guess I better unpack the most important thing first.

Aw, your miniature horse, Winston.

Yeah, I couldn't fit him in my suitcase,

so I brought his blanket instead.

He must really be important to you.

Sure is. Winston's like a brother to me.

Well,

I'd like you to think of me

as a sister.

Really?

I always wanted a big sister.

And I've always wanted a little one.

Well, doesn't that work out.

I hope we get to be as close as our moms were.

Yeah, my mom told me

she and Auntie Alisha even shared a room.

They used to lie in bed and share secrets.

Hey, I have an idea.

Why don't you and Koko stay in my room tonight?

Really?

We can share secrets like our mommas.

I might be seven, but I got a few.

Here you go, Lexi.

So, what would you like for your

"Welcome to Portland" dinner?

Ooooh... how about smothered chicken with homemade gravy,

mac and cheese, and sweet water cornbread?!

How 'bout pizza?

As long as it's pepperoni.

Are you kidding? Without pepperoni, a pizza is

pepper‐lonely.

Don't encourage him, Lexi.

But it's the yeast I can do.

"Yeast I can do." Genius.

Hey, Leo.

Hey, buddy.

What's going on? Ooh, Oozles, my favorite.

Nuh‐uh uh.

These are for Alisha.

Since she's been gone for two weeks,

I made her extra special snacks to welcome her home.

They're just Sour Oozles.

Yeah, but they usually come in a bag.

These...

are in a bowl.

Dang, this is gettin' serious.

Hi, Max!

‐Alisha! Welcome back! ‐Thanks.

Care for an Oozle?

Ooh,

and in a bowl.

Hey, cuz. How's the fam back in Baltimore?

Aunt Edna still mad at me about that stain on her carpet?

I can't believe she called me out in her Christmas card.

The whole trip was incredible. I saw all my old friends.

We walked around the harbor, ate soft shell crabs.

Well, the important thing is you're back.

Well, for now.

What does that mean?

Being back in Baltimore made me

realize how much I miss my life there.

The city, my friends.

That's why I wanna move back.

What?!

All I gotta do is convince my parents.

To let you move all the way across the country?

Without them?

Have you met your parents?

You're right. I better give them some really good reasons.

Which I have to start working on, like right now.

See you guys later.

I don't believe this.

If Alisha moves back to Baltimore,

I'll never see her again.

Chill, dude. You got nothing to worry about.

No way her mom will let her go.

But she sounded so sure.

And you know how convincing she is.

Don't worry about it, man.

I can help you with this.

You're gonna make her stay?!

No, I meant the Oozles.

Lexi?

Lexi?

Lexi?

Lexi?!

Noodle, what's wrong?

What's going on?

I can't find Lexi.

I woke up and she was gone.

First night here and I've already lost her.

Come on, Syd, she's gotta be in the house somewhere.

Wait a minute. Do you smell something

absolutely delicious?

Smells like Heaven.

And it's coming from downstairs.

Then what am I doing wasting my time talking to you people?

Lexi?

Mornin', y'all!

What are you doin' up so early?

Back home, I'm used to getting up early

to take care of Winston,

so I made breakfast.

Now get it while it's hot.

Are those pecan waffles?

And buttermilk biscuits, scrambled eggs, bacon,

and sausage gravy.

You know, just the basics.

I didn't even know we had pecans.

I picked them out of the granola.

Which, if you ask me,

is the only good use for granola.

Well, it all looks delicious.

Lexi, this is such a nice thing to do

on your first morning here.

But you should've woken me up, I would've done it with you.

Oh, you'll get a chance.

I do this every morning at 5:00 A. M.

5:00 A. M.?!

Sounds like fun, Syd.

Oh, don't worry, Uncle Max. You'll get your turn.

I made a schedule.

So, what do y'all think of my smoothie?

Wow!

Dang!

Seriously, Lexi, this is the best smoothie

I've ever tasted

in my life.