Karen, Leslie, Natalie, Pamela, Omar, and Hank came to the front of the room. They sang “O Christmas Tree,” “Silent Night,” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” Karen and Pamela managed to make it through their songs without getting into a fight.
“That was very nice,” said Ms. Colman. “Your group had some lovely presentations also.” She did not say, Except for the one about Christmas spirit. But Sara thought that’s what everyone was thinking.
Next was the Kwanzaa group. First they sang “The Kwanzaa Song.” Then Sara and Tammy played some traditional African drums that Mr. Ford had lent them. Then the group showed the class a dance they had been rehearsing.
By the time her group was finished, Sara felt full of holiday happiness. The presentations had gone very well, and her group had taught the class about Kwanzaa. Not only that, but she and Audrey had made up. And they had each found a holiday recipe that worked! Things could not get better. Even Frederick was looking and feeling better again.
“And now what you have all been waiting for,” said Ms. Colman. “It is time for our holiday food presentations and our class party.”
“Yea!” everyone cried.
Natalie’s Christmas cookies were a big hit. She had decorated them to look like Christmas trees, bells, holly leaves, wrapped packages, and even snowmen and reindeer.
On the party table Audrey placed a platter of potato latkes, with applesauce and sour cream.
Next to it was Sara’s sweet-potato casserole. Mrs. Ford had put it in her electric casserole dish, so it would stay warm.
There were also cupcakes, punch, and peppermint sticks.
“You know what?” Sara said to Audrey once they had filled their paper plates.
“What?” said Audrey. She used a pep-permint stick to stir her punch.
“We have learned all about holiday traditions,” said Sara. “But I know what the best holiday tradition is: friendship.”
“You are one hundred percent right,” said Audrey. And she and Sara laughed.
It was going to be a wonderful holiday.
The author gratefully acknowledges
Gabrielle Charbonnet
for her help
with this book.
About the Author
ANN M. MARTIN is the acclaimed and bestselling author of a number of novels and series, including Belle Teal, A Corner of the Universe (a Newbery Honor book), A Dog’s Life, Here Today, P.S. Longer Letter Later (written with Paula Danziger), the Family Tree series, the Doll People series (written with Laura Godwin), the Main Street series, and the generation-defining series The Baby-sitters Club. She lives in New York.
Copyright © 1997 by Ann M. Martin
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
First edition, 1997
e-ISBN 978-1-338-09268-4
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