The Friendship Bracelet

by Arlene Stewart

  “OK, bye,” said Ethan, picking up his skateboard and gliding down the front walk.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll tell Zoe ASAP,” she called after him.

  Chapter 14

  It was so, so beyond strange for Olivia to actually ring the bell after a lifetime of just walking straight into her BFF’s house. But things had changed. It was Zoe’s house now, and Olivia pressed the buzzer once more. She knew the ring was loud, so somebody should hear it.

  When nobody answered after a few minutes, she headed back down the front walk. Right away, she got into her worry zone. Maybe Elin told Zoe not to bother with me? But just as quickly, she replaced that thought with a more realistic one: Zoe’s parents have company. There are cars parked in the driveway and a few in front of the house. They’re probably in the back and didn’t hear the bell.

  Whew, good save, she thought, walking a little faster. The last thing she wanted to do was barge in on a party. But before she could get too far away, she heard Zoe.

  “Olivia! Olivia!” she was yelling out, and then she sprinted up Bedford Road toward her.

  Wow! Zoe is a super-fast runner, Olivia realized when, seconds later, her new friend was standing before her.

  “Thought I heard the doorbell. Hey, what’s up?” asked Zoe.

  “Oh, I wanted to drop off something for you, from Ethan, Ethan Fleckman,” she explained, digging in her backpack for the papers.

  Zoe gazed down at them. “They’re instruction sheets for friendship bracelets, right? You know, I found a ton of bracelets in the mailbox. They were from Ethan? There were so many. This girl Elin asked for one, so I gave it to her. My mom and I met her in a place called Magic Tresses. She said her mother owns it? Oh, yeah, you saw us up at the town park this morning. But what are all these notes?” she asked, pointing to the scribbling.

  Olivia laughed. “They’re Ethan’s shortcuts. He’s pretty good at stuff like that.”

  “Super. I’ll text him. But first, come on into the backyard. We’re having a cookout,” Zoe urged her. “Preston, my new father, is grilling ribs, baby back ribs. He’s trying out Rosario’s, that Italian butcher shop on Main Street?”

  “Rosario’s? My dad always goes there. But why don’t I text you later?” Olivia suggested, still reluctant to break in on Zoe’s family gathering.

  “Come on,” said Zoe, pulling her by the arm. “It’s not like you haven’t been in the backyard before.”

  Olivia knew every rock and stone, every shrub, tree, and flower as well as she knew her own face. Only now, there was a different set of bright outdoor furniture on the big flagstone patio and different group of people—people she’d never seen before. She couldn’t help thinking, This day is getting weirder and weirder.

  Zoe had on a big smile. Olivia could tell she was super happy about her new home. “Come meet Mama. Mama, this is Olivia Jones, the girl I told you about,” Zoe called out to her mother.

  Zoe’s mother turned around and smiled too. Then she walked over to them and extended a hand. “Olivia, welcome to our new home. But this must feel so peculiar to you. Zoe told us this was your best friend’s house, the friend who moved to Paris?”

  “Yes, it was,” admitted Olivia. Then she added in a halting voice, “Excuse me, I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t know what to call you. Zoe says she has a new father?”

  Zoe laughed and put her arm around her mother’s shoulder. “We were just talking about that! Mama has a different last name from me. She’s Lopez, Dr. Lopez, and I’m Santana. Oh, and here’s Preston, my new father. He’s a MacNab.”

  A tall man with a short, reddish beard ambled over. Olivia immediately liked his eyes that crinkled at the edges and looked as sharp as a bird’s. “Yes, the Irish are outnumbered here,” he told Olivia with a laugh. “But any pets we get will be MacNabs and male. Zoe’s mother has promised me that.”

  “Pets!” cried Zoe, electrified as her face lit up. “Are we getting a pet, Mama?”

  “Let’s settle in first, Niña,” cautioned Zoe’s mother, holding her hands in the air in the “wait up” gesture, “and then we’ll review our options.”

  The light in Zoe’s face faded, but she didn’t freak out. She’s too cool to lose it in front of people, thought Olivia, impressed.

  “Hey, kiddo, don’t look so sad,” her stepfather said. “That’s academic talk for yes.”

  “Really?” asked Zoe, perking up again.

  “Press!” said Dr. Lopez, shaking her head. “What are you thinking?”

  “Gotta get back to those ribs,” he said, trying to get himself out of trouble.

  “Just a minute, you,” laughed Dr. Lopez, grabbing him by his apron. “You let the genie out of the bottle. Now you deal with it.”

  “Honey, those ribs are gonna burn,” replied Mr. MacNab with a laugh.

  Zoe’s mother shook her head and turned to Zoe. “What would you like, Niña? A kitten brother or a puppy brother?”

  Olivia knew how she would answer that. The day her dad had brought home ten-week-old Sullivan was the happiest day of her life.

  “I get to decide? Wow! I’ll think, I’ll think, I’ll think about it. Thanks, Mama. Thanks, Press,” Zoe said, laughing and giving each of them a hug.

  “That’s great,” said Olivia. “Seriously.”

  “Do you have a pet?” Zoe’s mother asked her.

  “Yes, a two-year-old golden retriever named Sullivan. He’s so sweet. But he’s pretty frisky. Mom says he’s high energy.”

  “High energy? So is Zoe,” said her stepfather. “Maybe Zoe can meet him sometime?”

  “Sure,” replied Olivia, thinking, What will Dad say when he finds out Sullivan might be a role model?

  “Hey, Zoe, what do you look so happy about?” Olivia heard someone ask.

  Austen was coming toward them with a big bowl in his hands. “Uncle Press, here’s your coleslaw,” he announced, putting the bowl down on a long picnic table. “Hey, Olivia. Cool, you’re here,” he said, catching sight of her. “Like your rainbow shirt. My sister, Becky, has one just like it.”

  Oh no! With horror, Olivia realized she was still in the same clothes she’d played tennis in. You know what? she said to herself. You are definitely going to have to step up your game. New clothes, ASAP!

  “Hi, Austen. Zoe just got some good news,” she said with a smile. Then she quickly closed her mouth. OMG! What if he saw my crossbite? What if everybody sees my crossbite?

  “Super!” he replied. “What?”

  “Come on back to the swings, and I’ll tell you all about it,” laughed Zoe.

  Just then, a toddler with a head of golden curls ran over, “Gus, Gus,” she cried, reaching up to Austen.

  “Olivia, this is Becky, my little sister,” he said, hoisting her on his shoulders for a piggyback ride. “Becky, say hello.”

  Ouch! Becky did have a rainbow T-shirt too, Olivia realized. The little girl was wearing it.

  Chapter 15

  Dr. Justin’s waiting room was so crowded. Olivia and her mother had been there for forty-five minutes already, and Olivia couldn’t stop wishing she had her phone, but her mom made her leave it home.

  “You have to turn it off in the doctor’s office anyway,” she’d pointed out when they were getting ready to make the short drive to the Medical Arts Building.

  “Mom, I’m super bored,” whispered Olivia, trying to adjust her long legs into a more comfortable position. Her new lime-green skinny jeans felt snug, but she was determined to dress better. “These magazines are ancient…and didn’t that kid come in after us?” A boy of about seven went past them on his way to the inner office. He had that slow shuffle kids used when they dreaded going somewhere. His father was practically dragging him in.

  “Just be patient,” her mom whispered back. Then she tried to change the subject. “The meeting of THREADS went well th
is morning,” she pointed out.

  “It wasn’t much of a meeting, Mom, just Ethan and me,” replied Olivia. “I wish I had brought some supplies so I could work on a bracelet here.”

  The day before, at Zoe’s family cookout, Olivia had told Zoe and Austen all about THREADS. Right away, the two cousins jumped onboard, but on such short notice, they couldn’t make the first meeting. Bummer, Olivia had thought, so it was just her and Ethan the next morning when Olivia’s mom opened Katonah Crafts and flicked on the lights.

  Then, to make it worse, Ethan seemed less than thrilled when she told him about Austen.

  Ethan had been checking out his list of colors and patterns. “Yeah, well, Zoe wants to make bracelets, but Austen wasn’t too interested the other day in actually making anything,” he pointed out.

  “How do you know that?” Olivia had asked, feeling bad that she hadn’t thought about Ethan’s reaction, and she had to admit, THREADS was his idea. She had to find a way to make it OK. How could she possibly tell Austen he couldn’t be in the club now?

  Olivia had sat at the crafts table and pondered the situation. Then, she’d realized something. “Hey, Ethan, yesterday, Austen told me his mother works at Central Hospital,” she explained. “Don’t we need their permission to visit the patients? Maybe that’s one way Austen can help?”

  “Guess so,” Ethan said with zero enthusiasm.

  “Good thinking,” agreed Olivia’s mom from across the shop. “Of course, this is your project,” she quickly added and then reached for her tote. “I’m going out to Katonah Beans for coffee. Can you tell Miss Ruth Ann when she gets in? She just texted that she’s parking her car now. And who would like cocoa? We can have it on the stoop outside.”

  “My mom never allows any food in the shop,” Olivia explained to Ethan.

  Ethan shot her one of his “duh” looks and said, “You do know that I have been here before. But OK, let’s meet with Zoe and Austen tomorrow. Can they be here at ten o’clock, when the shop opens?”

  “I’ll ask Zoe,” Olivia had replied, a little relieved.

  Dr. Justin’s office was finally thinning out. Olivia was desperate. I can’t possibly reread this year-old copy of The Smithsonian magazine, she thought. Or spend another minute looking at the Smile Board with before and after photos of patients. She’d already told her mom she didn’t want her photo up there. No way. But she was surprised by how many kids she recognized.

  She caved and reached for the magazine when the door to the outer hallway opened and in flew Mu Mu Lin.

  “Olivia!” she cried. “Wow! You come here too? First Golden Panda, now Dr. Justin?”

  “Right, right,” Olivia said with a smile, happy to see a friend.

  “Hi, Mrs. Jones,” said Mu Mu, turning to Olivia’s mother. “My mom is outside,” she said, pointing in the direction of the parking lot, “in the car, talking to her office, as usual. She can’t be without her phone. Oh, gosh, have you been here long? It’s always this way, right?”

  Mu Mu’s energy revived Olivia. “Yes, and I think I’ve learned all I can about endangered inchworms,” she joked, putting the magazine back on the table.

  “LOL!” said Mu Mu with a big laugh. “So, why are you here? I’ve got a crossbite and Mom wants me to get braces. She says I’ll thank her. Yuck!”

  Olivia’s mom couldn’t help overhearing that and immediately tried to bury her face in last month’s Highlights magazine.

  Mu Mu plunked down next to Olivia and untied her backpack. “Do you want a Fruit Roll-Up or some gummy worms?” she whispered, reaching into the bag.

  “Oh, no thanks. I think I’m next,” said Olivia, trying to hide her shock that Mu Mu would bring food to an orthodontist appointment, much less gummy worms.

  “Better stock up now,” Mu Mu advised, “’cause once those braces go on, good-bye, caramels, popcorn, bagels, pistachios, everything good.” She rolled her eyes, sighed, and took out a baggie filled with what looked like homemade chocolate-chip cookies.

  Olivia had to smile. Alex was right. Mu Mu is fun, she thought. She’s certainly not afraid to say what she’s thinking. Maybe she would like to be in THREADS? No, no! No more new members without talking to Ethan.

  “Olivia!” cried out the receptionist. “Please go into exam room two. Dr. Justin will be with you shortly.”

  “Good luck!” shouted Mu Mu as Olivia headed toward the inner office. “And don’t forget: brace yourself! Ha-ha!”

  “We’re not totally sure I’ll need braces. Hope not,” Olivia replied, holding up her crossed fingers high in the air.

  Chapter 16

  “Oh no, Ollie. I’m so sorry! How long do you have to wear them?”

  “Just forever to eternity,” replied Olivia.

  Alex laughed. “Don’t be so dramatic. Seriously, for how long?”

  “Dr. Justin said about a year, about long enough to ruin my life. He said my crossbite is not that bad.”

  “Well, that’s good. Can you pick the color braces?”

  “They gave me a chart, but who cares? I mean, I have to think about it,” Olivia replied, trying to sound as if she could handle the situation.

  “Blue would match your eyes,” Alex pointed out. “And pink is pretty too.”

  “Cool. Text me later. Love you!” said Olivia. She clicked off and then headed to her bedroom, where she’d left the color chart. Overwhelmed by this newest bummer, she couldn’t help thinking, I just want to stay in bed for the rest of the day. Possibly for the rest of my life…

  Her phone buzzed with a text from Zoe. Going to look @ puppies. Come over now!

  As if she were hit with a happiness bolt, instantly she felt one thousand times better. Quickly, she slipped into her new knit top with the graphic of a dream catcher and then put her long hair up in a fresh ponytail.

  “Mom, I’m going to Zoe’s,” she cried, heading to the front door. “They’re going to look at puppies!”

  “Have fun and be careful!” her mom replied.

  All the way down Bedford Road, Olivia couldn’t stop thinking, Maybe it’s a golden retriever puppy? That would be so cool!

  Chapter 17

  Zoe’d never had a pet before. Until her mother married Press, it had always been just her and Mama. She knew that a puppy meant Katonah really was going to be their home. Before, her mother had always made excuses like they needed a big yard or more room or she was too busy. But now with Press there, working a lot from home… He really wanted a dog too, she could tell. It just had to be the right dog.

  She was so excited she couldn’t stop chattering away as they drove deeper into the countryside, past Katonah and the Muscoot Reservoir, into the neighboring hamlet of Golden’s Bridge. “You’ll help me, right, Olivia? I mean give me tips, right? Oh, and we’ll have to get him a collar and a leash…a bed and some toys. Puppies like toys, right?”

  “Oh, right,” said Olivia, remembering how sweet and tiny Sullivan was as a puppy—and how much work.

  Zoe’s mother turned around from the front passenger seat. “And we’ll need some books on training. You should go to the library now and study up, so you are ready when the time comes,” she pointed out. She was sitting next to Mr. MacNab, who was trying to follow the directions on a new GPS.

  “It should be soon, Press,” Zoe’s mother said, scanning the road. “The breeder said it’s right off Windmill Road, just past the restaurant. Look for the sign and turn left, probably in about fifty feet.”

  “In fifty feet, make the left turn at the sign,” instructed the GPS lady’s voice.

  “OK, OK,” laughed Zoe’s father, slowing down. “It’s really beautiful country up here,” he observed. “Lots of farms and big spreads and this close to New York City.”

  “Make the left turn at the sign,” repeated the GPS lady.

  “Stop nagging!” Press told her, and Zoe’s mo
ther laughed.

  Then she turned around to face Zoe again. “Now, Niña, do not let your hopes run away with your brain. I told you what Mrs. Mumford said, that all the puppies in this litter were already spoken for. We simply want to see if this is the right breed for us.”

  “Yes, Mama, yes,” said Zoe, unable to keep the anticipation out of her voice. At least this is the first step, she thought.

  Olivia looked at her new friend and was so happy for her—and really happy for herself. To be included in a puppy search? It doesn’t get much better!

  “How old was Sullivan when you got him, Olivia?” asked Zoe’s stepfather.

  “Ten weeks. A friend of my dad’s in Connecticut had him first, but his little boy turned out to be allergic, so we got him instead,” she explained.

  “Press, slow down,” said Dr. Lopez. “There’s the sign up ahead.”

  Olivia looked out of the car window. “Golden’s Bridge Goldens” said a white sign with a painting of a golden retriever puppy.

  “You’re getting a golden retriever!” she blurted out.

  “Hope so. Didn’t I tell you?” said Zoe.

  “I was afraid to ask,” replied Olivia. “What made you decide?” It couldn’t have been Zoe’s visit late yesterday afternoon when Sullivan wouldn’t stop jumping on her.

  “Tell you later. Come on, everybody!” cried Zoe, flinging open the car door.

  Right in the middle of Mrs. Mumford’s large, sunny family room, there was a low wire fence shaped into a circle. Inside it, the floor was covered with fresh layers of newspapers and pee pads.

  Zoe’s heart melted when she walked closer. The mother dog was on her side, and snoozing on top of her were six or seven of the cutest puppies ever, round, little fluff balls with light, almost-white fur. “Oh, they look like baby polar bears!” she cried.