by Annie Bryant
Riley Lee and his band were on a riser at the front of the gym. Riley was in Katani’s homeroom, but he was so quiet that she rarely noticed that he was there. So it seemed odd to see him in front of the whole seventh grade, playing a guitar and singing into a microphone. He looked like a completely different person.
Katani got a cup of punch and joined Avery at the edge of the dance floor. For the first time in weeks, Katani and Avery were on the sidelines and not the center of attention. Neither Avery nor Katani was into dancing right at the moment. Besides, Maeve and Isabel were the real dancers of the group, and they were out on the floor dancing with a big group of girls. Nick had asked Charlotte to dance and considering the klutz factor, Katani thought Char was very brave to accept.
One song blended into another and then another. Maeve, Isabel, and Charlotte continued to dance. Avery and Katani nervously watched the clock. Time ticked by so slowly…too slowly. They chatted about soccer for a little while, and then about Abigail Adams and how cool it was that she was able to tell her husband, President John Adams, that women needed the vote.
Betsy Fitzgerald eventually wandered by. She didn’t look nervous at all, but that was because Betsy was running unopposed, so she KNEW she would be class treasurer by the end of the evening.
Betsy leaned in close so Avery and Katani could hear her over the band. “I want to wish you luck. The seventh grade is lucky to have two such qualified candidates to choose from. You would both make good presidents. I’m looking forward to working with either of you,” she said.
Avery, for once, was speechless. Betsy had had the best election manners of anyone, Avery suddenly realized. Katani smiled politely. “Thanks for your support,” Katani told her.
The song ended then and everyone around them clapped and cheered. A few people on the dance floor whistled.
When Betsy walked away, a very handsome eighth-grade boy headed toward Katani.
“Wanna dance?” he mouthed, and pointed toward the dance floor.
Katani looked behind her. He couldn’t be speaking to her! But there wasn’t anyone behind her. She looked back at the eighth-grade hottie. What was his name again? He looked amused. Katani, her confidence a little rattled, wondered if he was serious or if he was making fun of her.
He nodded toward the dance floor again. His smile was warm, not taunting. Her heart jumped in her throat and she swallowed hard to force it back down. She wasn’t sure what to do. Before she could do anything, the song ended.
“Maybe another time?” he asked.
Katani smiled and the mysterious boy disappeared back into the crowd.
Katani and Avery shared a surprised look as Maeve wove through the crowd, climbed the steps on the riser, and joined Riley on stage.
“This is a song I wrote myself. It’s called, ‘You Got Me,’” Riley said, and handed Maeve the microphone.
It was a great song—bouncy with an infectious beat—that had even Avery and Katani swaying to the music. The lyrics were fun and catchy and by the end everyone was singing the refrain, “You Got Me!”
Katani couldn’t take her eyes off Maeve, whose stage presence was wonderful. She not only had a great voice, but she had the moves, the smile, and the facial expression to make the song come alive.
Maybe it was time for an American Idol Maeve, thought Katani. When the band finished, Maeve took a bow as the room erupted in cheers. Then she bounced off the stage and straight into the group of BSG that had gathered to greet her.
“That was great,” Katani said.
“Awesome,” Avery shouted.
“How could you just get up there and sing…impromptu without rehearsing or anything?” Isabel asked.
Maeve blushed. “Well…We’ve…I’ve been rehearsing now and then with Riley’s band.”
“Let me guess. During lunch?” Charlotte asked.
Maeve nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell us? I would have borrowed my mom’s digital video recorder!” Avery said.
“Well, you guys have had other things on your mind…”
Maeve glanced back at the stage. Riley lifted his chin in recognition. Just then, Katani caught the look between Maeve and Riley.
“Is there something going on between you two?” Katani whispered in Maeve’s ear.
“Well…I’m not sure if Riley’s my destiny or not, but I’m willing to explore the possibility,” Maeve whispered back, blushing at the same time. “We really like the same things.”
“Katani! Katani! Get ready. It’s time,” Avery said, tugging at Katani’s arm.
Katani turned to see her grandmother already at the microphone. The long wait was over. It was time for the election results to be announced.
“I’d like to thank Riley and his band, Mustard Monkey,” Mrs. Fields said.
The seventh-grade class cheered. Avery whistled loudly. “Way to go, Maeve,” she shouted out.
“He named his band Mustard Monkey?” Isabel asked, making a face.
“What’s wrong with monkeys?” Avery wanted to know.
“Nothing…but when I think of monkeys, I think bananas…and bananas with mustard are just gross!” Isabel shuddered.
“And now, to announce the results of today’s seventh-grade class elections, I’ll turn you over to the seventh-grade class advisors, Ms. Rodriguez and Mr. Danson,” Mrs. Fields said, nodding to the teachers as they approached the stage.
To Katani, it seemed the entire room went dead silent as Ms. Rodriguez and Mr. Danson climbed the stairs to the riser. “Poise,” she whispered to herself. She instantly lifted her chin, threw her shoulders back, and felt three inches taller.
“First we’d like to thank all the candidates who ran for office,” Mr. Danson said when he reached the podium. “A round of applause, please.”
“Get on with it,” Avery said under her breath, but all the BSG heard her.
Maeve grabbed Avery’s hand and squeezed it.
“We’d like to start with the position of treasurer,” Mr. Danson announced.
Betsy didn’t even wait for the announcement, but started moving toward the riser…she was halfway up the stairs when Ms. Rodriguez read out, “Betsy Fitzgerald.”
“Next for Secretary we have…”
Ms. Rodriguez stepped over to the podium, “Yuko Osawa.”
Everyone clapped as Yuko let out a little screech and ran for the stage steps. She was so excited she tripped and almost fell flat on her face.
“The new seventh-grade vice president is…” Mr. Danson paused and stepped back so Ms. Rodriguez could step up to the microphone.
Katani took that opportunity to go through the opening of her acceptance speech in her head. “I’d like to thank…”
“Jessica Bentley,” Ms. Rodriguez announced in a loud, clear voice.
A cheer went up from around where Jessica was standing. Katani couldn’t see Jessica, but the whole group seemed to surge toward the stage steps.
“Remember. Poise. I am calm and confident,” Katani silently repeated to herself.
“And now, the results for seventh-grade class president,” Mr. Danson said. Everyone quieted down right away.
Ms. Rodriguez stepped to the podium and scanned the crowd. “The new president of the seventh-grade class is…”
Katani took one step forward.
“Henry Yurt.”
Katani felt a shock wave run through her from the top of her head all the way through the soles of her feet. Her ears were ringing. A loud sound filled her ears. Slowly, she realized the sound she was hearing was her classmates around her screaming and clapping.
She was stunned. Unsure. What just happened? Isabel was patting her back. Had she misheard? Had Ms. Rodriguez really said Katani Summers, and she had only thought she had heard her say Henry Yurt? Was Isabel patting her on the back or urging her toward the stage? Katani was confused. Dizzy. She looked to the left, where she saw kids cheering with their arms raised, punching the air with one fist and shouting, “Yurt! Yurt! Yur
t! Yurt!”
Only when she saw Henry Yurt trot up the steps to the riser and watched Ms. Rodriguez and Mr. Danson shake his hand did she realize that she hadn’t misheard. Henry Yurt had won. The Yurt Alert had triumphed.
When she looked to the left and saw Avery’s face, her mouth hanging open and tears dancing in her eyes, Katani realized she must look as shocked and stunned as Avery did. She couldn’t let anyone see her like this! She turned and ran to the nearest exit and out into the night. She remembered Candice’s cheer “Summerstyle,” but she just couldn’t smile…not now. And how could she hold her head up? She had just lost big time to, of all people, Henry Yurt! She was crushed.
The cool air stung her face. Hot tears oozed from the corners of her eyes. She didn’t really know where she was going, but she had to keep moving. She ran around the back wall of the gym to get out of sight.
How could this be? Had she been so worried about Dillon and Avery that she hadn’t taken Henry seriously? How could anyone take the suspender-snapping, bow-tie-wearing Yurtmeister seriously?! Was it the Smile Award thing? Was it the candy bars? Whatever it was, they had chosen him—the goofster—over her, Katani Summers. The thought caused her to run, as if by running she could put all those thoughts behind her. Tears were flooding her eyes and she was running blinded when…oof! She ran into something. Someone.
She looked down to see that it was Avery. The two collapsed into one another’s arms. They stood there with their arms around each other for a while before Avery pushed away. They sat down on the steps leading up to the gym entrance.
“Sorry,” Avery said, sniffing loudly. “I hate crying.”
“Me, too,” Katani said, sinking down on the cold concrete next to her.
“I hate letting anyone see me snivel,” Avery said.
“Me, too,” Katani sniffed.
“I never cried when I got smacked in the eye with a field hockey stick.”
“I didn’t cry when Kelley ruined a dress I’d been working on for three weeks,” Katani said.
“Oh, yeah? I have no idea what that would have felt like, but I know what you’re going through now!” Avery said.
Katani choked back a laugh that oddly sounded like a sob.
“I’m not used to losing,” Avery said. “I mean when I lose I can always say there’ll be another game…next week. Next season.”
“I wouldn’t know about that. I’m not much for organized sports. I mean that’s my sisters’ thing. Maybe it’s because they’re so good at sports and school, and everyone has always compared me to them all my life, that I’m really careful about what I take on. I mean I won’t try anything that I don’t think I can…” The word stuck in her throat. “Win.”
Neither of them said anything for a moment, and suddenly Katani felt very cold.
“Now what?” Katani asked.
“I’m not sure what will happen after this,” Avery said.
“Well, at least it’s over,” Katani said looking down at her mod Mary Janes.
“Over,” Avery echoed.
“No more campaign posters,” Katani said.
“Or debates.”
“Or polls.”
“Back to being friends.”
“Yeah,” Katani said gently. The wind whipped up the edges of her dress and she smoothed it back down with her hands.
“I suppose we should get back in there,” Avery said, rubbing at her tearstained eyes as she stood up. “Coach G says that win or lose after a game, it’s good sportsmanship to shake hands and congratulate the winner.”
“I guess…,” Katani said, rising to her feet and then half laughing. “Is my mascara running?”
Avery studied Katani’s cheeks. “Nope. Looks fine. Ya know, I thought running for office would be like any other sports competition. Somebody wins, somebody loses. But this feels different than losing a soccer game. It feels…I don’t know…personal.”
“I know what you mean.” Katani sighed as she peeled off her velvet burgundy jacket. She was going back into the gym as just another seventh grader going to a dance. The jacket seemed out of place now. “It feels…like being rejected.”
“Besides, I’m used to having a team. A cheering section at least,” Avery added.
“Well, you have me,” Katani said, giving her short friend a quick hug.
“Running against you was hard. But losing together…well, it’s better than losing alone…Beanpole,” grinned Avery.
“You’re right. Let’s go…Shrimpster.”
The two went back to the dance arm-in-arm.
CHAPTER 22
Seven Sisters
Maeve couldn’t believe her eyes!
“He won! Marty won!” she shouted, not caring that the people passing by on the sidewalk were looking at her like she had lost her mind.
There in the middle of Think Pink!’s front window was a huge blow-up of Marty. Suspended by wires and hanging in the center of the window, Marty’s photograph was the largest picture of the dozen or so pictures displayed in the window. Each picture was matted in pink with the title of the picture in bold, hot pink letters below the photograph. Maeve was happy with the title they had come up with…Klondike Pink. It fit.
The tiny bell above the door jingled as Maeve pushed through the shop door.
“Good morning! How can we put you in the pink this morning?” The woman behind the counter this morning was Razzberry Pink, herself.
“Good morning, Ms. Pink,” Maeve said.
“Please, call me Razzberry,” she said.
“Razzberry,” Maeve said, sure her cheeks were now the most perfect shade of pink. “I’m already in the pink. That’s my photo in the center of the window.”
“Oh, yes…Klondike Pink! What a delightful entry! I have something for you…,” she said, opening the drawer, pulling out a pink envelope, and handing it to Maeve.
“Is this first prize?”
“Well, they’re all first prizes,” Razzberry Pink said.
“But I thought…” Maeve paused. “I mean it was in the middle and it was bigger than all the others…so I just figured it was the winner.”
“They are all winners!”
“You mean it wasn’t a contest?”
“Ma cherie…our society puts way too much emphasis on winning. As Dr. Robert Anthony once said, ‘You were placed on this earth to create, not compete.’ That is why all who entered My Pet Looks Perfect in Pink will be rewarded! Of course, all the entry fees will be donated to the Brookline Pet Shelter. Those little darlings need our help, you know!”
Maeve nodded. They were all winners? Maeve couldn’t help feeling that the picture of Marty was better than all the others and should be recognized as the best. But she smiled politely and thanked Ms. Pink. “I can’t wait for my friends to see the window,” she said.
Maeve didn’t open the envelope until she was outside the shop. It was a $20 gift certificate. Immediately, Maeve started calculating. The twenty dollars plus this week’s allowance would put her over the top. She now had enough money for the boa. Her first instinct was to run home for the rest of the money, but she stopped. This, after all, had been a group effort. The gift certificate belonged to the BSG, not to her. They could decide together what to get with it. They could buy pink treats for an upcoming sleepover, or maybe new décor for the Tower. Maeve’s mind started spinning with all the possibilities.
They could decide tonight. Maeve was happy that together with Isabel and Charlotte, she had planned the sleepover—even before they knew the election results. Not that she enjoyed seeing Katani, Avery, or even Dillon lose, but Maeve was almost happy that none of them had won. She wasn’t sure what the long-term effects of having any of those three win might have had on the BSG.
But Avery and Katani had looked so sad at the dance last night. Hopefully, the news of Marty’s picture in Think Pink!’s window and the gift certificate would put them in the pink, too.
Avery’s Blog
*Election Update*
&n
bsp; Sadly, I lost the election for class president. But as my dad told me when I called to tell him—” the important thing is that we learn from our losses.”
Did you know that Abraham Lincoln was one of the biggest losers? Before he became president he had lost two elections and had two failed businesses. But, despite his losses…and his successes…Lincoln knew what was important.
Quote:
The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.
—Abraham Lincoln
Survey:
What is your favorite season?
a) Spring
b) Summer
c) Fall
d) Winter
Results from the last survey:
What is your favorite Fall Activity?
a) Hayride (12%)
b) Jumping into a pile of leaves (11%)
c) Wiener roast (33%)
d) Football games (38%)
Had two people write in that picking out their fall/winter wardrobe is their favorite activity. Beyond me, folks.
Unveiling
Charlotte asked her dad to have a fire in the fireplace ready and waiting when the girls arrived. Avery had called to say that she was bringing dinner—Fenway franks to roast over the fire.
This was Charlotte’s first hot dog roast—definitely a new experience. Avery brought it all—hot dogs, buns, roasting forks, and all the fixings, including sauerkraut and relish.
“A hot-dog roast was only the second top vote getter in my recent blog, but it got me thinking about hot dogs and I couldn’t stop! I’ve been hungry for hot dogs ever since. It’s been a while since I’ve had a really good dog. Fenway franks are the best! Really—the best!” Avery explained as she unpacked the feast in Charlotte’s kitchen. Maeve thought Nathan’s were the best, but since Avery was a Red Sox fanatic, she decided to keep quiet.
After their roast, they had s’mores, which had become a BSG tradition after their first slumber party back in September. It was only after she’d polished off her second s’more that Maeve announced she had news.
