Growing up, Greg is vaguely aware of a blond kid across the street, but their paths do not cross until he is five and gets a Big Wheels tricycle. He rides it for hours up and down the sidewalk, now and then waving at her. A week later, she has her own Big Wheels and rides it on her side of the street, matching his moves until he gets the hint, and they race to the bottom of the street. He declares it a tie; she says, “Almost a tie” (42).

They race many more times, and each race is a tie—or almost. He learns her name: Maura Shaw.

At school, Greg and Maura are always squabbling and trying to outdo each other. By sixth grade, glaring at Maura’s copycat comic booklet, Greg is fed up: “I hate her guts!” (44)

During the summer when he was seven, Greg ran a lemonade stand. The next summer, Maura sets up her own stand, undercuts Greg’s price, and draws away some of his customers. Greg puts his lemonade on a wagon and delivers lemonade directly to his patrons; an hour later, Maura does the same thing.

Greg accuses her of being a copycat and having no brain of her own.