De’Ja McGee, 13, and Toni Pennisi spend several hours each week with each other after they were matched two years ago through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County.

Toni Pennisi and De’Ja McGee were lounging on Pennisi’s couch Thursday evening when De’Ja proudly let slip that she had earned six A’s and two B’s.

“That’s my baby sister,” Pennisi squealed and promptly landed a kiss on De’Ja’s cheek.

For more than two years, Pennisi and De’Ja have spent several hours together each week through the mentoring program Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County.

De’Ja, an eighth-grader at West Junior High, plays tennis, dances and has dreams of attending Spelman College, a private, historically black college for women in Atlanta.

Pennisi, 54, works for Hill’s Pet Nutrition and travels each month between Lawrence and New York City.

Pennisi introduced De’Ja to National Public Radio and the New Yorker magazine. De’Ja introduced Pennisi to singer Chris Brown and texting at the speed of light.

And indeed, the two act like sisters — finishing each other’s sentences, whispering and laughing at inside jokes.

“We’ve really become good friends,” Pennisi said. “I really enjoy her company, watching her grow up.”

At the beginning of sixth grade, De’Ja frequently missed school, which she thought was boring. Today it’s a different story.

“I go to class. Turn (work) in on time,” De’Ja said.

The oldest of four girls, Pennisi became involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters when she moved to Lawrence.

“I’ve been a big sister all my life. So, it was the natural thing to do,” she said.

At the age of 9, De’Ja’s mom wanted to expose her daughter to outside influences, so she signed her up for the program.

De’Ja keeps a scrapbook that she’s titled “Toni and De’Ja’s Adventures.” Inside are programs from plays and musicals they’ve attended, a brochure of Clinton Lake hiking trails and ticket stubs to movies. The two don’t always have big adventures when they hang out. Sometimes it’s as simple as going to the dog park, making dinner or picking up the dry cleaning.

“I don’t have any family here. So I see De’Ja as a miniature family,” Pennisi said.

The feeling is mutual.

“She’s like another mother,” De’Ja said.