Read Online Fabulous Five 031 - The Fabulous Five Together Again by Betsy Haynes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Betsy Haynes
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Katie. "We have
to pack tomorrow. There may not be time."
Christie felt a twinge of irritation. If they were late
getting to Montague's, the situation with Phoebe, Nicki, and Eleanore would
only get worse.
"Come on, Christie," said Melanie.
"It'll just take a couple of minutes," added Christie's
father. "I'll drop you off at Montague's to save time."
Everyone seemed to be against her, so Christie shrugged and
led the way downstairs.
Opening the door to the basement room, she felt for the
light switch and flicked it on.
"SURPRISE! SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" rang
out a chorus of voices.
Christie was almost knocked backward by the shouting.
She was immediately surrounded by Mrs. Fitzhugh, Jenny, Mr.
Fitzhugh, Mrs. Mansfield, and Mr. Dudley. Her parents and The Fabulous Five
stood beaming behind her.
On the worktable where Christie had put together her project
a few months ago was a large cake with candles and three cartons of ice cream.
Plates, silverware, and napkins were arranged neatly in front, and a pile of
gaily wrapped presents sat behind. Brightly colored strands of crepe paper
crisscrossed the room.
"Happy Birthday, Christie," said Jenny, reaching
out with both arms.
Christie took the child and hugged her close.
"You got tears in your eyes," said Jenny. "Why
are you crying?"
"That's what you're supposed to do on your fourteenth
birthday and your best friends throw a surprise party," answered Christie.
"Hey," exclaimed Mr. Winchell. "This is a
time for merriment."
"Happy birthday, dear," said Mrs. Winchell. "I
thought it would be nice if we had a small party for just family and neighbors
before you went off to be with your friends."
"Happy birthday, dear," echoed Mrs. Mansfield,
squeezing Christie's hand.
"Thank you, Mrs. Mansfield," said Christie.
Everybody sang "Happy Birthday," then Katie began cutting the cake
and dishing out the ice cream.
"Now I understand a lot of things," remarked
Christie as she took a bite of cake.
"Like what?" asked Katie.
"Where you and Jana went this morning, and why Mrs.
Fitzhugh had me mind Jenny today. You wanted me out of our flat so you could
wrap presents and decorate down here," Christie said.
"Wow, Christie really is a brain," kidded
Melanie.
"Open the presents. Open the presents," urged
Jenny.
"Jenny and I'll deliver them," said Melanie,
taking the present on top of the stack and handing it to Christie.
When the presents were all unwrapped and placed on the table
so everyone could see, Mr. Winchell raised his hands for quiet.
"I've got one more announcement," he said, "and
this one is very important."
The room fell silent.
"While I was at work today, I received a call from Mrs.
Davies, the lady I work for in the United States. She offered me a job at our
corporate headquarters, coordinating mergers of offices similar to the one I've
been overseeing here in London."
Christie felt as if time had just stopped. The only thing
she could see was her father's face as he talked. What was he saying?
"Of course I immediately called Val," continued Mr.
Winchell, putting his arm around his wife. "We talked it over and decided
we should accept the offer."
He looked around the room. "We feel sad about leaving
such wonderful friends," but—he smiled at Jana, Beth, Katie, and Melanie—"we're
happy about rejoining our other friends and family in the States."
Christie stared at her father in disbelief. They were going
home. Going home to the town she had lived in nearly all her life. To Wakeman
Junior High and all the friends she had grown up with. To The Fabulous Five.
CHAPTER 14
"YEA!" A cheer went up from The Fabulous Five when
they heard Mr. Winchell's announcement. They surrounded Christie and hugged
her.
"Well, we certainly will miss you," said Mrs.
Mansfield.
"Oh, yes," agreed Mrs. Fitzhugh. "You've been
such good neighbors. We'll all be sad to see you go, especially Jenny."
Jenny looked confused over what the adults were talking
about.
"When will you be
to pack tomorrow. There may not be time."
Christie felt a twinge of irritation. If they were late
getting to Montague's, the situation with Phoebe, Nicki, and Eleanore would
only get worse.
"Come on, Christie," said Melanie.
"It'll just take a couple of minutes," added Christie's
father. "I'll drop you off at Montague's to save time."
Everyone seemed to be against her, so Christie shrugged and
led the way downstairs.
Opening the door to the basement room, she felt for the
light switch and flicked it on.
"SURPRISE! SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" rang
out a chorus of voices.
Christie was almost knocked backward by the shouting.
She was immediately surrounded by Mrs. Fitzhugh, Jenny, Mr.
Fitzhugh, Mrs. Mansfield, and Mr. Dudley. Her parents and The Fabulous Five
stood beaming behind her.
On the worktable where Christie had put together her project
a few months ago was a large cake with candles and three cartons of ice cream.
Plates, silverware, and napkins were arranged neatly in front, and a pile of
gaily wrapped presents sat behind. Brightly colored strands of crepe paper
crisscrossed the room.
"Happy Birthday, Christie," said Jenny, reaching
out with both arms.
Christie took the child and hugged her close.
"You got tears in your eyes," said Jenny. "Why
are you crying?"
"That's what you're supposed to do on your fourteenth
birthday and your best friends throw a surprise party," answered Christie.
"Hey," exclaimed Mr. Winchell. "This is a
time for merriment."
"Happy birthday, dear," said Mrs. Winchell. "I
thought it would be nice if we had a small party for just family and neighbors
before you went off to be with your friends."
"Happy birthday, dear," echoed Mrs. Mansfield,
squeezing Christie's hand.
"Thank you, Mrs. Mansfield," said Christie.
Everybody sang "Happy Birthday," then Katie began cutting the cake
and dishing out the ice cream.
"Now I understand a lot of things," remarked
Christie as she took a bite of cake.
"Like what?" asked Katie.
"Where you and Jana went this morning, and why Mrs.
Fitzhugh had me mind Jenny today. You wanted me out of our flat so you could
wrap presents and decorate down here," Christie said.
"Wow, Christie really is a brain," kidded
Melanie.
"Open the presents. Open the presents," urged
Jenny.
"Jenny and I'll deliver them," said Melanie,
taking the present on top of the stack and handing it to Christie.
When the presents were all unwrapped and placed on the table
so everyone could see, Mr. Winchell raised his hands for quiet.
"I've got one more announcement," he said, "and
this one is very important."
The room fell silent.
"While I was at work today, I received a call from Mrs.
Davies, the lady I work for in the United States. She offered me a job at our
corporate headquarters, coordinating mergers of offices similar to the one I've
been overseeing here in London."
Christie felt as if time had just stopped. The only thing
she could see was her father's face as he talked. What was he saying?
"Of course I immediately called Val," continued Mr.
Winchell, putting his arm around his wife. "We talked it over and decided
we should accept the offer."
He looked around the room. "We feel sad about leaving
such wonderful friends," but—he smiled at Jana, Beth, Katie, and Melanie—"we're
happy about rejoining our other friends and family in the States."
Christie stared at her father in disbelief. They were going
home. Going home to the town she had lived in nearly all her life. To Wakeman
Junior High and all the friends she had grown up with. To The Fabulous Five.
CHAPTER 14
"YEA!" A cheer went up from The Fabulous Five when
they heard Mr. Winchell's announcement. They surrounded Christie and hugged
her.
"Well, we certainly will miss you," said Mrs.
Mansfield.
"Oh, yes," agreed Mrs. Fitzhugh. "You've been
such good neighbors. We'll all be sad to see you go, especially Jenny."
Jenny looked confused over what the adults were talking
about.
"When will you be
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