“This one is so cheesy it’s funny,” I told her. I took a bite of pizza and settled back.
Soon, Angela was totally into the movie. “That girl was mean to the muddy monster kid,” Angela said, pointing at the screen. “I think he’s going to get her in the bathtub.”
Two minutes later the mud guy oozed out of the bathtub drain. He scared the mean girl, but she screamed and got away.
Angela watched the rest of the movie through her fingers. She was being good, so I let her stay up late to see the end. I didn’t even yell when she fed pizza crusts to Buttons.
“I don’t want a bath,” Angela said when the movie was done.
Angela usually had to take a bath every night, but she didn’t look dirty. And I wanted her to go to bed so I could talk to Chloe about the Cameron crisis.
Cameron wasn’t exactly Chloe’s boyfriend, but they liked each other. So if he liked someone else, Chloe would be devastated.
“Okay, but you’ll have to take a bath tomorrow,” I said.
I tucked Angela in with her favorite stuffed animals. I left the nightlight on and the door open.
Before I’d even made it back into the living room to call Chloe, I heard a scream.
I rushed back to Angela’s room. She was hiding under the covers.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“The mud man is going to get me,” Angela said.
“There’s no such thing as a mud man,” I said. I sat on the edge of her bed. “It was just a movie. It’s not real.”
Angela pushed the covers down. Her cheeks were streaked with tears. She wasn’t faking. She was really scared.
“I know it’s not real,” she said. “But the scary pictures are in my head. Will you read me a story?”
I picked up the book on her nightstand and started reading Lucy Blue’s Picnic Surprise.
“Lucy Blue wanted to do something special for her friend, Samantha . . .” I began. I used different voices for all the characters.
Angela giggled once while I read. She even yawned.
Finally, I got to the last page. “Lucy had a wonderful day, but she was so tired she fell asleep before her head hit the pillow. The end.” I put the book down and smiled. “All better now?” I asked.
Angela squeezed her eyes closed for three seconds. “No,” she whispered. “The mud guy is still there.”
I glanced at the clock. If Angela didn’t fall asleep soon, it would be too late to call Chloe.
“Maybe music will help,” I suggested. I put a CD in her CD player. Then I started to leave the room.
“Don’t leave me!” Angela wailed. She closed her eyes when I sat down.
I waited three minutes, and then tried to sneak out. She grabbed my hand. I couldn’t leave.
I was still sitting with her when Grandpa came home at 10:30.
“Monica?” Grandpa called out softly. He frowned when he found me in Angela’s room. “Is Angela okay?” he asked.
“She can’t sleep,” I said.
“Too much junk food?” Grandpa asked.
“I’m scared of the mud man in the movie,” Angela said.
“The mud man? What movie?” Grandpa asked. He sounded tired.
“The monster movie I watched with Monica,” Angela said.
“You let her watch a monster movie?” Grandpa asked angrily. “I thought you had more sense than that, Monica.”
“It wasn’t that scary,” I said. “I thought it was funny.”
“You’re thirteen. Angela is only eight,” Grandpa said. He looked at his watch. “I’m going to call Mrs. Addison to come over tomorrow.”
“No stinky lady!” Angela yelled. “I’ll go to sleep right now.” She pulled the covers over her head.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa,” I said. “Please, give me another chance.”
Grandpa sighed. “Okay,” he said. “I’m too tired to argue, and I’ve got to get up early. I’m going to bed.”
I waited until I heard Grandpa’s bedroom door close. When I started to leave, I heard Angela sniffle.
“Are you still scared?” I asked.
She poked her head out and nodded. I sat down.
I stretched out next to Angela. I knew she’d fall asleep soon. But fixing things with Grandpa might not be so easy. He was worried about his sick friend, and I had let him down. I felt awful.
I made a vow to get through the rest of the weekend without making any more mistakes.
Chapter Five
Questions
About Boys
When she woke up on Saturday morning, Angela ate Apple-Os and watched Princess Patsy cartoons.
Grandpa usually did the laundry when Mom worked. I didn’t mind helping him out. I put a load of dirty clothes in the washer.
Then I remembered that I’d promised Angela I’d make cookies. I found an easy cookie recipe online. You didn’t even have to use the oven. The cookies baked in the microwave. When I checked the cupboards, I saw that we had all of the ingredients except cocoa and quick oats.
I put the breakfast dishes in the sink. “Angela!” I called.
“What?” Angela hollered from the living room.
“I need your help!” I said. I rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Then I dragged my sister away from the TV.
“Hey! I haven’t seen this one!” Angela exclaimed.
“You can watch it later,” I said. “We have to pick up before we leave for my riding lesson.”
“Why?” Angela asked. “Nobody’s going to make us clean up.”
I wanted to prove I was responsible and dependable. And I wanted the house to look nice when Becca and Claudia came over. But those reasons wouldn’t convince Angela.
“Mom and Logan will yell if they come home to a mess,” I said. “We might even get grounded.”
Angela shrugged. “I don’t care,” she said.
“Okay,” I said. “If we don’t do the chores, we can’t go to the barn.”
I didn’t mean it. I absolutely had to go. I needed to talk to Chloe.
“Can we go to the park?” Angela asked.
“Maybe tomorrow,” I said. “Claudia and Becca are coming over today, remember?”
Angela frowned. “Can we still make cookies?” she asked.
“If I don’t miss my riding lesson,” I said. I put our used paper plates and napkins in the pizza box.
Angela sighed. “What do you want me to do?” she asked.
Angela took out the garbage. I vacuumed up pizza crumbs and started another load of laundry. Then I changed into my riding clothes and hustled Angela out the door.
We got to the stable a few minutes early. Chloe was sitting on the front bench.
“I told Rory that you and I had to talk,” Chloe said. “He’s getting Lancelot ready for you.”
“Is Megan here?” Angela asked.
“She’s in the tack room,” Chloe said.
Megan Fitch was a rich, snotty kid who owned a fancy show horse. Chloe owned a show horse too, but she wasn’t bossy, mean, or stuck up.
Megan had one thing in her favor, though. She treated Angela like a princess, and Angela adored her. So I guess she wasn’t all bad.
After Angela left I sat down next to Chloe. “So what’s up with Cameron?” I asked.
Chloe sighed. “I’m not sure,” she said. “He still talks to me, but not like he used to. Not like he really likes me.”
“I bet he doesn’t want to let you know he really likes you in c
ase you don’t really like him back,” I said. I knew what I was talking about. That’s how I was around Rory.
“I don’t think so,” Chloe said. “Not anymore. He ate lunch with Katy Connor four times last week. And I saw them walking home together. Twice!”
“Maybe they’re partners on a project,” I said.
Chloe shook her head. “I have all the same classes as both of them,” she said. “We don’t have a big project right now.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem,” I said. “Hanging out doesn’t have to be romantic. I bet there’s another explanation.”
“Maybe, but I’m not going to ask,” Chloe said.
Chloe couldn’t ask, but I could try to find out. “Claudia and Becca are coming over to watch Music Mania this afternoon,” I said. “You should come too.”
“Mom is taking me to the mall,” Chloe said.
“She can bring you to my house when you’re done,” I said. “We won’t start the movie until you get there.”
“Okay,” Chloe said. “I haven’t seen Music Mania.”
Just then, Rory walked out of the barn with Lancelot. “I haven’t seen it, either, but I heard it’s really funny,” he said.
“Yeah, I could use a good laugh,” Chloe said.
It seemed like Rory wanted to come too. But I didn’t want to ask him. I didn’t want him to feel out of place with so many girls.
And I didn’t want to ask him and risk him saying no.
Chapter Six
Grocery
Problems
Angela and I went to the grocery store after my lesson. Besides the cookie ingredients, I decided to get some chips and salsa, plus drinks for everyone to have while we watched the movie. There wasn’t much else to eat in our house.
“Can I get fruit cocktail and sherbet?” Angela asked. “And some funny face cookies from the bakery?”
“We don’t have enough money,” I said.
Angela gasped. “Did you lose our fifty dollars?” she whispered.
“No, I bought pizza,” I said. “That was eleven dollars with the tip, and I need party snacks. We can’t spend it all.”
Angela’s eyes narrowed. “Grandpa will be mad if you feed your friends and you don’t feed me,” she said.
I didn’t want any more trouble with Grandpa, so I put fruit cocktail and sherbet in our cart. I also bought popcorn, and veggies and dip.
I spent a total of $24.73. That meant I only had $14.27 left.
I crossed my fingers and hoped we didn’t have a real emergency. I didn’t want to have to use my savings if something went wrong. I was saving that money for new riding boots.
We got home forty-five minutes before Claudia and Becca were due to arrive. That was plenty of time to cut up the veggies and make cookies. But first, I had to invite Cameron.
I reached for my phone, but it wasn’t in my pocket. “I lost my phone!” I shrieked.
“No, you didn’t,” Angela said. “It’s right there.” She pointed at the counter.
My cell phone was lying on the counter. I had left for the barn in such a hurry I forgot it.
My relief didn’t last long. I hadn’t missed any important texts from my friends. But I had three new voicemails.
And all three of them were from Grandpa.
He left the first message during my riding lesson. He left the second an hour later, when he called and couldn’t get me. And the third message was from five minutes ago.
I called him back, hoping he wasn’t too mad.
“Where have you been?” Grandpa asked.
“At my riding lesson,” I began. “Then we—”
Grandpa didn’t let me finish. He yelled into the phone, “I called the barn. You left over an hour ago!”
“We stopped at the store,” I said.
“Why didn’t you call to let me know?” Grandpa asked. “I’ve been worried sick.”
“I forgot to take my phone,” I said. “I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t believe it. I had let my grandfather down again!
Chapter Seven
What
No-Boys Rule?
The Princess Patsy theme song blared from the living room. I rushed back into the kitchen to cut up carrots. I was mixing cookie dough when Claudia and Becca rang the doorbell.
“We can’t watch the movie now,” Angela said. “Monica hasn’t finished the cookies yet.”
“That’s fine with us,” Becca said. “We don’t want to start until Tommy and Adam get here.”
“And maybe Brad,” Claudia added. “If Adam took the hint and asked him.”
“I didn’t know you asked the guys to come,” I said nervously, glancing at Angela. Would she remember the no-boys rule I’d made up?
“They can’t come,” Angela said. “They’re boys!”
Oh, no. I had to think fast. “I’m in charge, so we don’t have a no-boys rule today,” I said.
I was pretty sure Mom wouldn’t exactly approve, but Claudia had a crush on Brad, and Becca really liked Tommy. I didn’t want to ruin their afternoon.
Besides, I had just invited Cameron.
“Then I want Nick to come,” Angela said.
“No!” Claudia, Becca, and I answered at the same time.
“I want to be able to relax and watch the movie,” Claudia said. “There’s no way that would happen with Nick around. Sorry, Angela.”
“That’s not fair!” Angela yelled. She stuck out her lip and folded her arms.
Claudia and Becca looked at me. They knew that Angela shrieked and stomped and made things horrible when she was mad.
“Maybe we can meet Claudia and Nick at the park one day next week,” I suggested. I dropped spoonfuls of dough on a plate.
“We can do that,” Claudia said.
“With ice cream,” Angela said.
“Deal,” Claudia said. She and Angela shook on it. Then the doorbell rang.
Claudia, Becca, and Angela left to answer the door.
I put the first batch of cookies in the microwave and set the timer. I heard boys’ voices coming from the living room.
Adam, Tommy, Brad, and Cameron had arrived at the same time. Adam and Brad knew Cameron from baseball. Pine Tree and Rock Creek played against each other a lot.
Chloe was late. And Cameron didn’t ask about her.
That wasn’t good.
Rory!
I should have invited him that morning at the barn. Now I had a second chance.
I went outside and waited.
When Mrs. Weber stopped at the curb, I ran to the car. Rory was sitting in the passenger seat. He rolled down his window.
“Do you want to watch the movie with us, Rory?” I asked.
“Yeah!” Rory said. He grinned. “Thanks.”
Chloe looked at me. “Who’s here?” she asked.
“Claudia, Becca, Adam, Brad, Tommy . . . and Cameron,” I said. I winked. She got a huge smile on her face. Then the three of us headed up the sidewalk.
Everything was working out great. Until we walked into the house. Right away, we got clobbered by flying cookies.
“Sorry!” Adam said when he saw me. He caught the cookie Tommy threw at him.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
I picked up two cookies from the floor. They were hard as rocks. Bits had broken off when they hit the floor.
“Angela thought the cookies were too mushy or something,” Becca explained. “So she cooked them for five more minutes.�
�
“And made throwing disks!” Claudia added. She squealed and hid behind Brad.
Angela was under the hall table, giggling, as cookies flew in all directions. Buttons was hiding next to her. The poor dog didn’t seem to think it was funny.
“Look out, Chloe!” Cameron called.
Chloe moved the wrong way, and the cookie hit her arm. “Ouch!” she yelled.
Cameron rushed to her side. “Are you okay?” he asked. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you.”
Chloe rubbed her arm and smiled. “I’m fine,” she said.
I wasn’t fine. I was annoyed.
The hall and living room were covered with crumbs. I knew I wouldn’t be able to clean up until everyone left. But I had to stop the cookie fight before something got broken.
“Let’s watch the movie!” I said. “Popcorn and fruit punch coming right up!”
“Fantastic,” Adam said, flopping on the floor in front of the TV. “I’m thirsty.”
Angela followed me into the kitchen. “Are you going to make cookies I can eat?” she asked.
I knew the cookies I’d already made would have been good if she hadn’t overcooked them, but I held my tongue. “As soon as I get popcorn and drinks,” I said.
“Okay,” she said. Then she ran back to the living room.
I microwaved two bags of popcorn and counted out paper cups. I put the cups on a tray and poured punch into them. I carried the popcorn out first.
Angela was sitting with Adam, Claudia, and Brad on the floor. Becca and Tommy were squeezed into Logan’s recliner. Rory, Chloe, and Cameron were sitting on the sofa.
Chloe patted the open spot between her and Rory. “I saved you a seat,” she said.
“Thanks! I’ll be right back,” I said.
After I served the punch, I put another batch of cookies in the microwave. They came out mushy. I cooked them another minute. They looked okay, but they tasted like watery hot chocolate with oatmeal lumps.
Buttons came over and sniffed around, but even she wouldn’t eat them.
Monica and the Weekend of Drama Page 2
