Karen's Promise

by Ann M. Martin

  Oops. Guess what happened?

  Bobby tagged me. I was so busy watching, I forgot to run. And Sara was too quick for him. I was it — again.

  I looked around the playground. All of the kids in my class were there. Pamela Harding was sitting on a bench with her friends, Leslie Morris and Jannie Gilbert. Pamela is my best enemy. Pamela and her friends hardly ever play with us at recess. They think games like tag are for babies. They would rather sit and talk and not mess up their clothes.

  The twins, Tammi and Terry Barkan, were on the slides. Natalie Springer was pushing Audrey Green on the swings. Everyone else was playing tag.

  Addie Sidney zoomed past me in her wheelchair. Hank Lamar and Ricky Torres were headed toward the oak tree. I decided to chase after them. I tagged Hank instead of Ricky. (Ricky is my pretend husband, and it is not good for wives to tag their husbands.)

  “Oh, Karen!” said Hank when I caught him on the shoulder. But he did not look too mad. He started to chase Nancy, but stopped suddenly. In fact, almost everyone in my class stopped playing all at once.

  Some grown-ups were walking across the playground. They were carrying boxes that were covered in foil. I knew that there was going to be a bake sale today. So I could guess what was in the boxes.

  We all rushed over to talk to the grownups.

  “Do you have any brownies in there?” I asked. “How about chocolate chip cookies?”

  “Cool!” shouted Hank. “Can we buy some now?”

  One of the grown-ups had some very bad news. “I am sorry,” she said. “But our bake sale does not start until after school. We are just bringing the boxes inside right now.”

  “I guess we will have to wait until later,” said Pamela. “But I will be the first person at the bake sale after school.”

  Then Ms. Colman (our gigundoly wonderful teacher) announced that recess was over. Boo and bullfrogs!

  “I bet those brownies do not taste nearly as good as Nannie’s candy,” I muttered to Hannie as we walked back to our classroom.

  Paris, New York, or Chicago

  My class could not settle down after recess.

  I took my seat in the front row. Ricky sits on one side of me. (It is good that husbands and wives can sit together.) Natalie sits on my other side. We are all in the front row because we wear glasses.

  “All right, class,” said Ms. Colman. “Before you take out your geography workbooks, I have an announcement to make.”

  Oh, goody. I love Ms. Colman’s Surprising Announcements.

  “As you know, class, we are going to spend this month studying cities,” continued Ms. Colman.

  I nodded. I knew we were coming to the unit on cities in our social studies books.

  “We will begin with a special group project. Each group will study one city and will prepare a report on that city to present to the class.” Ms. Colman stopped talking and looked around the room.

  “Can we pick the city we want to study?” I asked. I was so excited that I forgot to raise my hand first. Ms. Colman does not like it when we call out in class. But she smiled at me anyway. (See what a wonderful teacher she is?)

  “Yes, Karen. Each group may decide which city to study. But I would like you to pick a large city. Your book gives you some suggestions.”

  “I want to study Chicago,” I blurted out. “Chicago is a large city.”

  This time Ms. Colman reminded me not to call out in class. But she did not look mad.

  “You have to decide that with your group, Karen,” Ricky reminded me.

  “That is correct,” said Ms. Colman. “Now, class, I have chosen the groups and I will write them on the board. Wait until I finish writing, then quietly join your group.”

  I turned the pages of my book while Ms. Colman wrote on the board. I saw pictures and names of lots of cities I had heard of: Beijing, Bogotá, Stockholm….

  Ricky tapped me on the arm. “Karen, we’re in the same group,” he told me.

  I looked at the board. I was in a group with Ricky, Nancy, and Natalie. Hooray. I liked everyone in my group.

  That is, I liked them until we started arguing about what city we were going to study. Nancy wanted Paris. She loves ballet and she said lots of famous dancers studied in Paris. Ricky only wanted New York. Natalie Springer did not really care, but she thought Paris or New York sounded better than Chicago.

  “Why Chicago?” Ricky asked me for what seemed like the hundredth time since we had joined our groups.

  I shrugged. I did not want my whole class to know I might be moving. I know it is bad to keep secrets from your husband. But I could not help it. “I might be going there for a visit soon,” was all I said.

  “Really?” said Ricky. Nancy gave me a funny look.

  Natalie opened her eyes wider. “You should have told us that before,” she said.

  I shrugged again. “Look. Chicago has one of the tallest buildings in the world. Taller than the twin towers in New York.”

  “Hmm,” said Ricky. He looked sort of interested. I told Nancy Chicago has a famous ballet company too. (I hoped I was right.) And I told Natalie about Chicago’s world-famous aquarium, since Natalie likes animals of all kinds.

  “How come you know so much about Chicago?” Ricky wanted to know.

  “Uh, my stepfather has been telling me about it,” I answered.

  My group asked me some more questions. Finally they said Chicago would be okay.

  “Very well,” said Ms. Colman when we told her what our choice was. “No one else has chosen that city.”

  That was a relief. I really wanted to learn about Chicago, since I might move there.

  Before we left for the day, Ms. Colman made another announcement. “I am working on a fund-raiser, a project to raise money for Stoneybrook Manor,” she said. (Stoneybrook Manor is a place where senior citizens live. My class knew all about it because we once “adopted” some of the people there as extra grandparents.) “I am going to host a dinner at the manor. I will sell tickets. And I will give the ticket money to the manor. Please tell your parents about this event.”

  I waved my hand in the air. I had the best idea.

  “Yes, Karen?”

  “Will you have candy at your dinner?” I asked. I told everyone about Nannie’s business, and how she makes excellent chocolate candy.

  “Karen, you are sooo lucky,” said Bobby.

  “Yeah,” said Omar. “You get to eat home-made candy all the time.”

  Ms. Colman told me that she thought having candy baskets at her dinner might be a good idea. And she would think about hiring Nannie to make them. I was thrilled. I could not wait to tell Nannie.

  More Work for Nannie

  I rushed home as soon as school was over. I found Nannie in the kitchen giving Andrew, Emily Michelle, and David Michael an after-school snack. (Emily Michelle does not go to school, but she always has an after-school snack with us anyway.) They were eating cupcakes and drinking milk. I grabbed a cupcake with pink icing on it.

  “Guess what?” I said to Nannie after my first bite.

  “What?” asked Nannie, sounding a little tired. She was looking at the clock.

  “Ms. Colman is having a big dinner to raise money for Stoneybrook Manor.”

  Nannie looked at me. “Yes?”

  “Well, she needs someone to make candy baskets. I told her about your business. She will probably call you, if she decides to have candy at her dinner. And I think she will, because she liked my idea.” I was talking very fast, since I was excited.

  I thought Nannie would be thrilled. But she did not look thrilled. Or even happy. Her shoulders drooped. Her voice sounded tired. “Karen,” she began. “I have so much work right now, I do not even know where to start.”

  I gulped.

  Just then, Sam and Kristy walked into the kitchen. “What’s the matter, Nannie?” asked Kristy.

  “This hospital fund-raiser is taking up more time than I thought,” said Nannie. “And on top of that, I am trying to make ba
skets for Easter. And now I may be making candy baskets for Karen’s teacher.”

  “It is great that your new company is getting all this business,” said Kristy. (Kristy would say that. She loves all the business her baby-sitting club gets.)

  “I know,” said Nannie. “I suppose I should be grateful. But I am a little worried about filling all my orders on time.”

  “Well, we can help you,” said Kristy. “Right?” She looked at each of us.

  “Right,” we said.

  Kristy found a notebook and started writing things down. “Now, let me see. Charlie has a car. He can deliver your orders.” (Charlie was not around, but I did not think he would mind. He gives all of us rides in his old car. He calls it the Junk Bucket.) “And Karen, Sam, David Michael, and I can help you make your chocolate.”

  “Sure,” I said. The others nodded.

  “What about me?” asked Andrew.

  “Meee, meeee,” echoed Emily Michelle.

  “Hmm,” said Kristy. She tapped her pencil on the notepad. “You two can be Nannie’s official tasters. You will sample everything we make to make sure it tastes all right.”

  “Sure!” shouted Andrew. Emily beamed.

  “All right, we are in business,” said Kristy.

  “I guess we are,” said Nannie. But she still looked worried.

  School Lunch

  “Gross. Mystery meat again,” muttered Bobby Gianelli.

  I turned to look at him. (I was at the head of the lunch line.) “Shh,” I warned. “The cook will hear you.”

  “I do not care,” said Bobby. “Maybe if he hears me, he will stop serving such gross food.”

  “I do not think it is so bad,” I said. I held out my plate for the lunch, which happened to be meat loaf. It came with mashed potatoes and corn. Bobby looked at my plate and rolled his eyes.

  “You know, Karen, I really wish you would bring in some of your grandmother’s candy.”

  “Yeah,” said Hank, who was behind Bobby. “We could use some good food around here.”

  I frowned. Luckily, the cafeteria ladies ignored them.

  “I will try to,” I said. “But my grandmother is very busy with her business right now.” In fact, Nannie had been too busy to pack my lunch that morning.

  “Oh, Karen,” said Hank. “Please?”

  “I will see,” I said as I walked to a table near the window. I saved seats for Hannie and Nancy.

  Just then Ricky walked by with his tray. “Karen,” he said. “I heard you are moving to Chicago.”

  “You are moving away?” asked Chris, who was behind Ricky.

  “No!” I said crossly. “I mean, if I do move, it will only be for six months. But I am not sure I am going at all.”

  Darn. I did not want the whole school to know.

  “I am sorry I told some kids,” said Nancy when we were eating. “I did not think it was a secret.”

  “Well, it is not really a secret,” I replied.

  “And you may not really be moving,” said Hannie.

  I nodded. “I have not decided what I will do,” I said. I took a bite of meat loaf. It did not taste too bad.

  “Try to stay, Karen. Please,” said Nancy.

  “Yes,” said Hannie.

  “I would like to,” I said. “Even if I have to eat this cafeteria food every day.” I waved my forkful of mashed potatoes in the air.

  We all laughed.

  Too Many Cooks

  “I am home,” I called loudly when I came into the kitchen after school.

  “Indoor voice, Karen. We hear you,” called Nannie. But she was laughing. Most of my family was already helping Nannie in the kitchen. Kristy was stirring a vat of chocolate on the stove. Sam was shelling peanuts. David Michael was measuring sugar into a bowl, except he was spilling a lot of it.

  “David Michael, pay attention,” I said. “You are wasting sugar.”

  “Karen, stop being so bossy.” David Michael looked up and glared at me. More sugar spilled on the counter.

  “I am not being bossy.”

  “Yes you are. You think you are the boss of the world.”

  “I do not.”

  “Do too.”

  “All right, you two,” said Nannie. She wiped her hands on her apron and told me to help Kristy by the stove. Then she told David Michael to be more careful. (Hmmph.) “I have to check on Emily Michelle,” Nannie said as she left the room.

  I watched Kristy stir the chocolate. It smelled sooo good. I wanted to taste some. But Kristy told me I could not. It was too hot. And it would not be sanitary (that was Kristy’s word) for me to dip my fingers in it. Instead I decided to tell Kristy a riddle from a book I just read. It was called A Little Book of Animal Riddles by Jim Murphy.

  “Why did the elephant run away from the circus?” I asked.

  “I give up,” said Kristy. She did not even look at me.

  “Because he was tired of working for peanuts.”

  “Oh, Karen,” said Kristy.

  “I know another,” I said. This time David Michael, Sam, and Kristy all stopped what they were doing to listen to me. (I love an audience.)

  “Why do little pigs eat so much?” I asked. I snorted a little, for effect.

  The others were quiet.

  “They want to make hogs of themselves,” Sam finally answered.

  Everyone laughed, except me. “How did you know that?” I asked.

  “It is an old joke,” answered Sam.

  “It is funny,” said David Michael, laughing. He was waving his measuring spoon in the air, and he knocked over a bag of flour, which spilled on the floor, making clouds of fine white dust.

  “Oh, no,” said David Michael. Sam grabbed a broom and started sweeping. “Get a mop and some water,” he told David Michael.

  “Kristy, the chocolate smells like it’s burning!” I shouted.

  “Oh my gosh,” said Kristy. She began stirring the chocolate again — very quickly. But it was too late.

  “You have to keep stirring it all the time,” Nannie told Kristy firmly when she returned.

  Kristy nodded. I could tell she felt bad.

  Nannie shook her head and looked around the kitchen. Kristy was taking the burned chocolate off the stove. Sam was making flour swirl in the air with his broom. David Michael was mopping after him, but the water was turning the flour into a paste. Dirty bowls, mixing spoons, and peanut shells were piled on the counters.

  “At this rate, we will never have the baskets finished in time,” said Nannie.

  No one said anything, not even me. Our first day working together had been a disaster. I had promised to help Nannie, not make her job harder. I hoped things would get better.

  The Great Fire

  “Nancy, pass me more loose-leaf paper, please,” I said.

  “Look, here is a great picture book about Chicago,” said Natalie.

  “Another one?” asked Ricky, looking up from his stack of books.

  My class was very busy. We had spent a lot of time in the school library. And we had checked out plenty of books. Now we were sitting in our classroom, in our groups. And we were trying to organize our information.

  Ricky was reading about the famous buildings in Chicago. Nancy was reading about Chicago’s history. And Natalie was telling me about Chicago’s museums. “Chicago has one of the biggest aquariums in the world,” she was saying. “And in one museum you can explore a real coal mine.”

  “Cool,” I said.

  I was looking through a book about Chicago’s Great Fire. “Did you know that in eighteen seventy-one, almost all of Chicago burned down from a fire that started in a barn?” I asked my group.

  “Oh, yeah, I know about the Great Fire,” said Ricky. “Almost all the buildings were made of wood then. That is why the city burned so fast.”

  “But people got together and rebuilt the whole city,” I said. “And they made sure to use stone in many of the new buildings, not wood.”

  Ricky nodded.

  “
You know, I have a lot of books about Chicago’s Great Fire,” I said, pointing to my stack.

  “I do not think we will have trouble finding things to talk about,” said Natalie.

  “How are you coming along?” asked Ms. Colman. She sat down in an empty chair next to Ricky. (She was visiting all the groups to see how they were doing.)

  “Oh, fine,” said Ricky. “We may have too many things to talk about.”

  Ms. Colman laughed. “It is better to have too much material than too little,” she said. “I am sure you will find a good way to organize your presentation.”

  “I hope so,” said Nancy. She looked up from her book about Chicago’s history.

  “Oh, by the way, Karen,” said Ms. Colman. “I called your grandmother about making candy baskets for the fund-raiser. She said she would do it.”

  “Oh, goody,” I said. “I am helping her, you know.”

  Ms. Colman smiled and stood up to leave our group. “I am sure you are a big help to her,” she said.

  “You know how to make candy?” Ricky asked me.

  “Well, sort of,” I said. “I am just learning.”

  “Could you bring in some samples?” asked Natalie.

  “Uh, maybe,” I replied.

  “Oh, Karen, please,” begged Nancy. “Your house always smells so good when Nannie is making her chocolate. I’ve always wanted to taste some.”

  I sighed.

  “Please, Karen,” said Natalie. “Just little samples for our group.”

  “Yeah,” said Ricky.

  “Oh, all right,” I finally said. “But do not tell the other kids about this.”

  “Don’t tell us what?” asked Hannie, who was sitting nearby.

  “Nothing,” I said.

  “Karen, tell me,” insisted Hannie. “The Three Musketeers never keep secrets from each other.”

  Hannie was right. I promised her a sample of candy too. Then I had to promise candy to the other kids in Hannie’s group: Bobby, Addie, and Audrey. (I had already sort of promised candy to Bobby and Hank anyway.) Pamela overheard me talking to Audrey, and she wanted candy too. So did the twins. So did Ian, Sara, and Omar. Before I left for the day, I had promised candy to everyone in my class.