by Betsy Haynes
"What do you mean, gone? How could she be gone? Who would have taken her?"
"She's just gone, as in a missing-person, or I should say, a missing-bear."
"Jana Morgan, what are you trying to pull?"
"Pull? Why nothing, Taffy," said Jana in her sweetest voice. "Friends don't pull things on each other, do they?" Taffy gave her a suspicious look as she added, "Where did you say your appointment was on Saturday? The Cinema-six?"
Taffy's face fell.
"Seen any good movies lately, Taffy?" Katie asked.
Taffy turned from one member of The Fabulous Five to the next with a look of horror on her face. Then the horror turned to anger, and she whipped around and glared at Jana.
"Jana Morgan, if you don't give Monique back right away, I'll tell Randy. It's his project, too, you know. If I fail because the bear's lost, he fails, also."
"Gee, Taffy. What are you going to tell Randy? That you tricked me into taking care of your bear so you could steal him from me? How about your telling Laura that it was my idea for you to ask Randy to be partners with you? Funny Hawthorne will vouch for that. I don't think Randy would like to hear any of that, do you?"
Taffy's face turned bright red and her lips tightened. She was trapped—and she knew it.
"Monique's got to be around somewhere," Jana said. "We'll help you look for her, won't we, gang?" They all nodded enthusiastically. "If we find her, we'll let you know."
Taffy spun on her heel and stormed away.
"Boy, is she mad," said Beth.
Jana smiled gleefully at the way things were going so far. "It serves her right. You know, I think she must have gotten the idea about asking me to bear-sit when she saw that Shane and I were using Rex as a make-believe baby. She knew I wouldn't be able to take him and Monique anywhere together. They're just too big to cart around."
"I agree," said Christie. "The first time she asked was probably a setup to see if she could talk you into it."
"Now," said Jana, "we've got to put the rest of the plan into effect. It wouldn't make me feel too bad if Taffy got in trouble because she had lost the bear, but I don't want Randy to get into trouble."
She raised her hand, and The Fabulous Five did a group high-five. "Let's go team!" they shouted in unison.
Taffy came into the cafeteria at lunchtime and glared angrily at The Fabulous Five before sitting down with Stacy Holgrem and Gloria Drexler.
"She's really upset," said Melanie. "Her Family Living class is tomorrow, and she's got to find the bear before that or Mrs. Blankenship will know something is wrong. Oh, look. Randy's going over to talk to her."
"Oh, boy, I'd sure like to know what he's saying," said Katie. "He's probably asking her where Monique is."
"Talk to him, Jana," urged Christie. "See what you can find out."
As Randy left Taffy's table, Jana waved to him, and he came over.
"Hi, I heard you had a great game on Saturday. I wish I could have been there."
He smiled. "I looked for you. What happened? Did you get held up buying stuff for your mom's wedding?"
"No," she said quickly. "I had a big babysitting job. I hear you went to a movie later."
Randy looked embarrassed. "Taffy and I did. She said she wanted to see The Return of the Vampire real badly, and she was afraid to go with just girls. She talked me into going. It was kind of dumb. It wasn't a date, though," he added.
"Did you have to buy a ticket for Monique?" Jana asked, smiling up at him.
"No. Taffy said she had a cousin who was visiting, and she left the bear with her. That way she wouldn't break the rule about having parents sit."
"A cousin, huh? Where's the bear now?" Jana asked innocently.
"That's what I was just asking Taffy." He frowned. "I guess her cousin still has it. Mrs. Blankenship isn't going to like it when she looks at our report and finds out that someone besides Taffy or me was taking care of it all weekend and today, too. I told Taffy to get it back right away, and I'd take it. She acted kind of funny."
"I'm sure she'll get it back," said Jana.
"I am, too, but if she doesn't do it quickly it could lower our grades. I've gotta go. If you're going to be at Bumpers later I'll walk you home."
"Great," said Jana.
"Okay, everybody," she said after Randy left. "It's time for part B of our plan. Melanie, do you have the note?"
They caught up with Taffy as she left the cafeteria. "Oh, Taffy. We may be able to help you find Monique," Jana said with a big smile.
"You'd better help me find Monique," Taffy said nastily.
"I found this note from the bearnapper on my desk in history class. I thought you might want it."
Taffy grabbed the paper from her hand and read it hurriedly out loud:
"If the owner of the white bear wearing a tutu wants it returned, she should go to the girls' room by the main entrance and look behind the water tank in the first stall."
Taffy looked at Jana. "This is some kind of trick, isn't it?"
Jana shrugged. "How should we know? We're just delivering the note."
"Jana Morgan, I'll get you for this if it's the last thing I ever do!" As Taffy left in a huff, The Fabulous Five doubled over and put their hands over their mouths, so that Taffy wouldn't hear the peals of laughter that were ringing out behind her.
"Did everyone put their notes where they're supposed to be?" asked Jana when they had all recovered. Her friends nodded, and for the first time in weeks Jana felt great. She was their leader again, and they were all working together to get even with their old enemy. Things hadn't really changed much after all.
The Fabulous Five got to Bumpers early and found a booth near the old Wurlitzer jukebox. Soon afterward Randy, Keith, and Scott came in. Randy saw Monique sitting on top of the jukebox and walked over to it. He looked angry as he took it down and carried it to a booth where he sat it on the table.
The girls put their hands over their mouths to suppress their giggles. Randy was frowning and talking to his friends loudly. Then the door burst open and Taffy came flying in. She was perspiring and her hair was messed up. It was obvious that she had been running all over the place. She glanced around the room frantically, and then a look of horror came over her face when she saw the bear on the table and Randy looking at her. He was obviously not pleased.
Randy got up and carried the bear over to Taffy. Jana and her friends strained to hear what he was saying, but the sound of the jukebox drowned out their conversation. Jana could tell he was chewing Taffy out for leaving the bear on the machine and jeopardizing their Family Living grade. But what could Taffy say? She couldn't tell him that Jana had put the bear there to get back at Taffy for her dirty tricks.
Jana smiled broadly. The note behind the water tank in the girls' room had only been the beginning. It had started Taffy on a wild-goose chase that took her from place to place where other notes, which The Fabulous Five had made up at Jana's apartment on Sunday, sent her on to the next location. The last note had said that if Taffy hurried, she would find the bear at Bumpers.
Jana had a feeling that Randy wouldn't be in a very good mood when he walked her home from Bumpers. But she was sure, since she was feeling so good herself, that she could cheer him up.
CHAPTER 16
Organ music swelled from the pipes and filled the church with beautiful sounds. Jana looked down the long aisle to the back of the church where her mother was coming through the door with Grandpa Drake. She wore a sea-green silk chiffon dress and was holding the most beautiful bouquet of flowers Jana had ever seen. She looks like a goddess, thought Jana.
Her mother walked with her arm through Grandpa Drake's as they paced slowly, in time to the music, toward the altar where Jana was standing. Jana looked across at Pink, who was dressed in a black tuxedo, his face beaming with a glow that was almost angelic. Jana had wondered if he would show up at the church in a fancy bowling shirt, but she had been afraid to ask her mother about it.
When they rea
ched the altar, Pink stepped forward and took her mother's arm, and Grandpa Drake went to sit with Grandma Drake in the first row. Jana smiled at them and then looked to the row behind them. It was filled with Melanie, who was crying softly, Christie, Beth, and Katie. In between them sat a walrus, a bunny in a tennis outfit, a panda bear, and a Sheena doll. On the end, next to the aisle, sat Rex with Little Pink on his lap. Behind them sat Randy, looking as handsome as he could possibly be and smiling his 1,000-watt smile at her. Jana smiled back, feeling instantly shy.
The minister started to speak and Jana turned. She listened to his words and tried to imagine what Randy and she would look like standing in front of him. She would have on the most beautiful wedding gown in the world. It would sweep to the floor and would be made of milky-white lace covered with glittering sequins. A long veil would partially hide her face, and she would be carrying a huge bouquet of flowers. They would both say, "I do," and Randy would lift her veil, look into her eyes, and kiss her ever so tenderly. Tears were running down her cheeks.
"Jana, it's time for you to get out of the bathroom and give one of us a chance," her mother said through the door. "Pink and I have to get ready, too, you know."
Jana sighed as she untangled her curling-iron cord from the cord of Pink's electric razor. She had been having a hard time finding her things now that his dryer, hairbrush, razor, toothbrush, and other stuff added to the clutter on top of an already cluttered counter. Jana did appreciate the five-dollar increase in her allowance, and she did appreciate being able to stay out a half hour later on Fridays and Saturdays, but she didn't appreciate the pressure of having to hurry out of the bathroom.
Other than having to squeeze Pink's things in, everything had gone pretty well since the wedding. Pink had set his favorite trophies on top of the television and stored the rest of them in their space in the basement of the apartment building.
Jana hummed to herself as she brushed her hair. The Family Living project had ended two days before, and it was going to be nice not to have to carry that darn dinosaur around, especially since Randy had asked her to go to a movie on Friday and she could stay out later now. She thought maybe he was feeling a little guilty about going to the movie with Taffy, even though he had said it wasn't a real date.
She and her friends had all gotten good grades on the project, and Shane said he was glad to take Rex back because Igor hadn't been sleeping well without him. Randy and Taffy had gotten good grades, too, but Taffy still wasn't speaking to Jana. It was just like the good old days at Mark Twain Elementary when they didn't speak most of the time.
Jana turned off the water and dried her hands. "Okay, I'm finished," she said as she opened the door. "Mom, can't we get another bathroom? With three of us there's never enough time."
"There would be if one of us wouldn't spend so much time on her hair, young lady."
"Well, you taught me to be neat," she said with a smirk.
Her mother wrinkled her nose at Jana in response and went into the bathroom.
Jana's mind was on the beautiful wedding and the reception afterward as she dressed, and she was hanging up her robe in the closet when she noticed the boot box on the shelf. She would have to tell her father about the wedding when she sent him his Christmas card. Then she hummed to herself as she made her bed and turned to leave for school. She was almost out of her room when she stopped and went back to the bed. Picking up Little Pink, she gave him a hug and sat him in the position of honor next to Honeybear.
CHAPTER 17
When the bell rang dismissing school for the day, Melanie rushed through the halls to find her friends. Cheerleading practice had been canceled, and she was dying to go to Bumpers with the rest of The Fabulous Five, sink into a booth, and do absolutely nothing but sip on a soft drink and talk to her friends.
"I had three tests today," she muttered under her breath, "and I deserve a break." Rounding a corner, she almost smacked into Jana and Funny coming toward her deep in conversation.
"Hi, guys," Melanie said brightly. "Anybody for Bumpers?"
"Hi, Mel," Jana and Funny said in unison. They both returned Melanie's smile, and then Jana's face clouded. "I really wish we could, but you wouldn't believe the number of seventh-graders who still haven't had their yearbook pictures made. Funny and I have a whole list of names to call this afternoon. Mr. Neal is screaming for those pictures."
"Have a tall, cold one for us," Funny said, licking her lips appreciatively.
"Sure. I understand," Melanie said. "See you guys later."
When she reached her locker, she put away the books from her afternoon classes and pulled out the ones she needed for homework. Christie's locker was next to hers, and just as she slammed her own shut, Christie came bouncing up and began working her combination lock.
"Hi, Melanie," she said breathlessly as she pulled the locker door open. "Oh, rats!" she muttered, frowning. "I forgot to bring my racket and I promised Jon a fast game of tennis before homework. Oh, well," she added with a shrug. "Guess I'll just have to run home and get it. See you later."
Melanie sighed and watched Christie race through the hall, ducking around kids in her hurry to get to the exit. That makes it two down and two to go, she thought as she looked around for Katie or Beth. Surely they would want to go to Bumpers with her.
All around her, girls were meeting their friends or walking down the hall together. Alexis and Kim were giggling beside Kim's locker. Gloria Drexler and Marcie Bee were talking to Stacy Holgrem.
"Hey, Melanie. Am I glad I found you."
Melanie whirled around, startled, but pleased to see Beth rushing toward her. "Hi," chirped Melanie. "I was looking for you, too."
"I hate to ask this," Beth began, "but would you do me a huge favor?"
Melanie blinked. "Sure," she said softly. She had a sinking feeling that the favor had nothing to do with Bumpers.
"You walk right past the public library on your way home, right? Well, Drama Club meets today, and I really want to go. Could you turn in this book for me? It's due today." She thrust a large book into Melanie's hand. On the cover was the title The Plight of the American Indian. "I could drop it off myself later," Beth continued, "but then I'd be late for dinner. And with four brothers and sisters, being late for dinner means only one thing. Starvation!"
Melanie nodded and slid the library book on top of her own books. "Have you seen Katie?" she asked, forcing a smile. "I was hoping she'd want to go to Bumpers with me for a little while."
"I saw her a moment ago," said Beth. "She can't go to Bumpers, though. She's got something else going on. Something to do with Teen Court, I think." Beth shook her head as if she were struggling to remember. "I'm not sure what, but anyway, she's busy."
Melanie leaned against her locker as Beth bounded off to go to her Drama Club meeting. The halls were emptying quickly now, and Melanie felt a lump growing in her throat as she realized that in another few moments she would be standing there totally alone.
"Busy," she muttered. "Katie's busy. Jana's busy. Christie's busy. And now even Beth is busy Everyone's too busy for me."
She sighed deeply and started slowly for home. It's not just today, she thought. It's been happening a lot lately. It's as if none of my friends has time for me anymore.
Melanie was swept by a sudden wave of panic. It had been happening a lot lately. Were they mad at her? Had she done something awful that she wasn't even aware of? Something that made them want to avoid her? Or was it more than that? Was The Fabulous Five breaking up?
Find out in The Fabulous Five #7: The Kissing Disaster, coming next month.
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