Read Online Katani's Jamaican Holiday by Annie Bryant - Free Book Online
Authors: Annie Bryant
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again!” she exclaimed. I hadn’t seen her get so excited about anything since I’d been here.
“You’ve never done this?” I asked with surprise.
“No. I always thought this was just tourist stuff. It’s a good thing you came.”
I thanked Selvin’s friend for allowing me to use her computer, and Olivia and I went outside for the golf cart to take us back to the kitchen, where Selvin was waiting.
When we got back to the front of the hotel, Selvin was waiting in the parking lot for us. I couldn’t help it. I rushed over and gave him a thank-you hug. This had been one of the best days of my life. The sun was out, the water was blue, and I had gone dancing with dolphins.
CHAPTER 8
A Daring Idea
C ousin Cecil informed us that church started at nine o’clock sharp on Sunday morning, but we all had to be there very early because Olivia’s youth group would be leading the service.
Back in Brookline, we don’t dress fancy for church, so I figured my miniskirt with the little black and green circles on it and the matching top with spaghetti straps would be hot but cool, if you know what I mean. At home I get a lot of compliments when I wear that outfit. Even my dad likes it, and Isabel recently pronounced it “very groovy.” I was twirling around, examining the swirling circles in the mirror, when Olivia came from the bathroom and saw me.
“Er, Katani…,” she began. From the expression on her face I knew something was up. “Do you have anything a little longer?” she asked.
“Huh?” What was she talking about?
“The church sisters…they don’t approve of too-short dresses in church. If you were a tourist, it might be okay, but since you are family…”
“Church sisters? What?!” I exclaimed.
“Sister Lyn…she’ll be giving you the scrutiny eye, and then everybody turns to look at you—it can be quite embarrassing, Katani.” Olivia sounded very apologetic, but I could feel my temper rising. “Sister Lyn is kinda old; some of the sisters say she may be even ninety-five. She’s been in the church forever, so they just let her do what she wants,” Olivia explained with a shrug of her shoulders.
I stared at my cousin with my hands on my hips and set her straight. “Olivia, I know this is your church and everything, but I have to wear what I think is best. I’m all about my style groove and I can’t go by what other people think. You know what I mean?” I wanted Olivia to understand that I didn’t mean to be disrespectful or anything. It’s just that a girl has to have her standards.
But Olivia wasn’t listening to me. She was looking behind me at the door. I stared back at Olivia, but I just knew Grandma Ruby was standing right behind me.
“Olivia, honey,” Grandma said in a very polite voice, “can you please give Katani and me a few minutes alone?” Olivia gave me one of those sympathy looks—the kind that says, Sorry, can’t help you out .
Okay. So, after a lengthy discussion with Grandma Ruby about respecting the customs of Jamaica, I had to rethink my whole outfit. Lucky for me I had also brought my blue dress with cap sleeves and a flared skirt that ended just a bit below my knees. Of course, I then had to change my shoes—it was all so totally annoying. I really wanted to wear the miniskirt, but that was that.
Olivia came back in wearing a pretty plaid skirt with pleats starting below her hips. I had the perfect top for her, in the exact coral shade of one of the colors in the plaid. When Ishowed her, she happily switched the shirts. I love it when I can help someone make a snazzy outfit.
Olivia was so excited about her new outfit that she hugged me. “Oh!” she shouted suddenly, pulling back from me and looking like a lightbulb had just gone on over her head. “There is a necklace in my mom’s jewelry box that would be just right to go with this.”
She left the room for a bit and came back looking flushed. “Good thing my dad wasn’t in his room so I could
“You’ve never done this?” I asked with surprise.
“No. I always thought this was just tourist stuff. It’s a good thing you came.”
I thanked Selvin’s friend for allowing me to use her computer, and Olivia and I went outside for the golf cart to take us back to the kitchen, where Selvin was waiting.
When we got back to the front of the hotel, Selvin was waiting in the parking lot for us. I couldn’t help it. I rushed over and gave him a thank-you hug. This had been one of the best days of my life. The sun was out, the water was blue, and I had gone dancing with dolphins.
CHAPTER 8
A Daring Idea
C ousin Cecil informed us that church started at nine o’clock sharp on Sunday morning, but we all had to be there very early because Olivia’s youth group would be leading the service.
Back in Brookline, we don’t dress fancy for church, so I figured my miniskirt with the little black and green circles on it and the matching top with spaghetti straps would be hot but cool, if you know what I mean. At home I get a lot of compliments when I wear that outfit. Even my dad likes it, and Isabel recently pronounced it “very groovy.” I was twirling around, examining the swirling circles in the mirror, when Olivia came from the bathroom and saw me.
“Er, Katani…,” she began. From the expression on her face I knew something was up. “Do you have anything a little longer?” she asked.
“Huh?” What was she talking about?
“The church sisters…they don’t approve of too-short dresses in church. If you were a tourist, it might be okay, but since you are family…”
“Church sisters? What?!” I exclaimed.
“Sister Lyn…she’ll be giving you the scrutiny eye, and then everybody turns to look at you—it can be quite embarrassing, Katani.” Olivia sounded very apologetic, but I could feel my temper rising. “Sister Lyn is kinda old; some of the sisters say she may be even ninety-five. She’s been in the church forever, so they just let her do what she wants,” Olivia explained with a shrug of her shoulders.
I stared at my cousin with my hands on my hips and set her straight. “Olivia, I know this is your church and everything, but I have to wear what I think is best. I’m all about my style groove and I can’t go by what other people think. You know what I mean?” I wanted Olivia to understand that I didn’t mean to be disrespectful or anything. It’s just that a girl has to have her standards.
But Olivia wasn’t listening to me. She was looking behind me at the door. I stared back at Olivia, but I just knew Grandma Ruby was standing right behind me.
“Olivia, honey,” Grandma said in a very polite voice, “can you please give Katani and me a few minutes alone?” Olivia gave me one of those sympathy looks—the kind that says, Sorry, can’t help you out .
Okay. So, after a lengthy discussion with Grandma Ruby about respecting the customs of Jamaica, I had to rethink my whole outfit. Lucky for me I had also brought my blue dress with cap sleeves and a flared skirt that ended just a bit below my knees. Of course, I then had to change my shoes—it was all so totally annoying. I really wanted to wear the miniskirt, but that was that.
Olivia came back in wearing a pretty plaid skirt with pleats starting below her hips. I had the perfect top for her, in the exact coral shade of one of the colors in the plaid. When Ishowed her, she happily switched the shirts. I love it when I can help someone make a snazzy outfit.
Olivia was so excited about her new outfit that she hugged me. “Oh!” she shouted suddenly, pulling back from me and looking like a lightbulb had just gone on over her head. “There is a necklace in my mom’s jewelry box that would be just right to go with this.”
She left the room for a bit and came back looking flushed. “Good thing my dad wasn’t in his room so I could
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