“Karen! It is almost time to go,” called Mommy.
Finally. We drove downtown and parked. The town square was packed with people. But that was okay. I did not need to be at the front of the crowd. I knew the mayor would find me wherever I was.
She stepped up to the microphone. The ceremony was about to begin!
“Welcome to our First Night ceremony,” said Mayor Keane. “As you know, this begins our weeklong winter carnival. All ticket and prize money will go to help our volunteer fire department and to beautify our town. And now, to start the carnival, I am going to ask one of you to flip the switch that will light up our town square.”
The mayor looked out at the crowd. The sun was just dipping down behind a building. The sky was turning gray. So was the crowd. Except for me. In my yellow sweater and blinking cap, and with my spinning light, I stood out. The mayor could not miss me. She was looking my way. She was pointing. She had found me!
“Please come up and light our town square,” she said.
For a minute I thought I must be dreaming. Then Mommy said, “Go on, Karen. The mayor has chosen you.”
Yippee! I had been picked to light the town square. The crowd grew very quiet as I walked to the mayor. She shook my hand then told me what I needed to do.
First I turned and waved to the crowd. (The mayor did not tell me to do that. I thought of it by myself.) Then I turned around and flipped the switch.
I heard oohs and ahs. Then everyone in town began clapping. I had made Stoneybrook glow. Later, when Seth called, I would have exciting news to tell him.
A Winter Carnival Play
On Monday at school Ms. Colman made a Surprising Announcement (my favorite kind).
“Since this is winter-carnival week, we will do one thing each day to raise money for the town. Any suggestions?” she asked.
My hand shot up first. Ms. Colman called on me.
I shared my ideas with my classmates. I had lots of them.
“To raise money for our town, I think we should have a walk-a-thon, sell homemade firefighter hats, have a class penny jar, put on a play —”
“Hold on, Karen. Give your classmates a chance,” said Ms. Colman.
Almost everyone had a good idea. Ms. Colman made a list. I was happy that my ideas for the play and the class penny jar were at the top of the list.
We worked on our play all week long. We put it on at school on Friday afternoon. People had to buy tickets to see our play, and we raised almost a hundred dollars.)
The play was called Help! Fire! I was the narrator. I got to be on stage during the entire play. Here is our script:
Help! Fire!
Narrator: Act One of our play begins three weeks before the winter carnival. It takes place at a pizza parlor.
Pizza Maker: Good afternoon. What kind of pizza would you like today?
Customer Number One: I would like a large pizza with extra cheese and pepperoni, please.
Pizza Maker: One large pizza coming right up.
Narrator: The pizza maker tossed the dough. She covered it with sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. She put it in the oven to bake.
Customer Number Two: Sniff, sniff. Something is burning.
Pizza Maker: Sniff, sniff. You are right!
Customers and Pizza Maker: Help! Fire!
Narrator: Everyone ran outside. The pizza maker called 911 from a phone booth. The emergency operator called the Stoneybrook Volunteer Fire Department. Everyone waited and watched. The firefighters took a long time to come. Finally they arrived on foot. By then the pizza parlor had burned to ashes.
Pizza Maker: What happened? We called you hours ago.
Firefighter Number One: Our old fire truck broke down. There was nothing we could do. I am sorry.
Narrator: End of Act One. Act Two takes place at a bakery a week after the winter carnival.
Baker Number One: What kind of pies shall we make today?
Baker Number Two: Let’s make apple pies. Our customers love them!
Narrator: They made the crust, cut the apples, added sugar, and popped the pies into the oven.
Baker Number One: Sniff, sniff. I smell smoke!
Baker Number Two: Sniff, sniff. Our bakery is on fire!
Narrator: The bakers ran outside and called 911. The emergency operator called the Stoneybrook Volunteer Fire Department. In no time the firefighters arrived at the scene. Whoosh! They put out the fire.
Baker Number One: You saved our bakery!
Baker Number Two: How did you get here so fast?
Firefighter Number One: We have a brand-new fire truck that never breaks down. It was bought with money raised at the winter carnival. Thank you, Stoneybrook!
Narrator: You are welcome, firefighters. Thank you for being brave and saving lives. And thank you, audience. We hope you enjoyed our play.
* * *
My class came out on stage to take a bow. The audience stood up and cheered.
On the way out of the auditorium, they filled our penny jar to the brim. We were gigundoly proud.
Here Comes the Parade
We had fun with the winter carnival all week. We went sledding and ice-skating. We walked up and down our street selling brownies we had baked ourselves. (Well, Mommy helped a little. And we did not have any fires.)
Then on Saturday morning Ms. Feld had a winter story hour at the library. She read us winter chapters from different books.
In the afternoon, Hannie, Nancy, and I entered a snow-art festival. We made three snow angels holding hands. They looked like paper dolls made of snow. We named our work of art “The Three Musketeers” and we each went home with a red ribbon.
The week had flown by. Seth had called every night. He still had not made a decision about the job. He said we could keep talking about it. Then early Sunday morning, he came home. Andrew and I threw our arms around him.
“You made it!” I said.
“I sure did,” said Seth. “And I am so happy to see you.”
At noon Mommy, Seth, Andrew, and I drove downtown. It felt good to have my little-house family together.
In the town square, I looked for Natalie. I had not seen her much after school. That is because the Snow Prince and Snow Princess had winter-carnival meetings to attend.
“Greetings, citizens of Stoneybrook!” said Mayor Keane.
She was standing at the podium in the town square. “This parade is the last event in our weeklong winter carnival. The carnival has been a great success, and we thank you all for taking part. Enjoy!”
We heard a drumroll. Then a marching band started down the street. The band was followed by four huge floats heading toward the square.
On the very first float I saw Natalie, dressed as the Snow Princess, waving her wand. Bill Korman, the Snow Prince, was by her side.
I was gigundoly proud and happy for my friend. I had pushed her into the contest, but it was her own composition that had won. Natalie Springer, whose socks were always drooping and who was shy in front of crowds, was princess for a week. This was a very good thing for her to be.
I jumped up and down and waved my arms so Natalie could see me. (I wished I had worn my yellow sweater and lights.) “Hi, Natalie!” I called as she passed by.
She turned to me and smiled.
When the float reached the square, the Snow Prince and Snow Princess climbed down. I was not sure what was going to happen next. Natalie and Bill seemed to have a special job to do.
The deputy mayor handed them a giant envelope. Natalie and Bill each held one corner. Then they stepped up to the podium where the mayor was waiting.
“On behalf of the town of Stoneybrook, we present this check to you,” said Bill.
“There is money for a new fire truck and enough left over to help make our town more beautiful,” said Natalie.
I could hardly believe it. Natalie did not trip up on her words. She spoke loudly and clearly. She looked like a real and true princess.
The Natalie and Bill turned and smil
ed at the crowd. Camera lights were flashing as news reporters snapped their pictures.
I caught Natalie’s eye and gave her the thumbs-up sign. Natalie waved her wand at me. She was beaming. And so was I.
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 © 1998 by Ann M. Martin
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC, BABY-SITTERS LITTLE SISTER, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
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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, 1998
e-ISBN 978-1-338-06042-3
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