something? ”
I laughed hysterically. “That’s crazy! I’m NOT his ‘type’! I think it’s a well-known fact around school that my legs are locked-at-the-knees. He won’t try anything. After all, he hasn’t messed with me since First Grade…in any respect.” Mike Riverside had tried to steal my lunch once when we were little. I picked up the first thing I could find and wailed him over the head with it. Unfortunately for him, it was a bright-yellow metal Tonka truck someone had brought in for Show-and-Tell. Ouch! I had to sit in the corner during recess for two weeks — but after that, he never tried stealing my lunch again.
Katie giggled. “Does he still have a scar on his head?”
“I’m not sure,” I pondered with a grin. “ Possibly …I’ll ask him when we’re out on our date . That’ll be a great conversation starter.”
We had a little more fun laughing at Mike’s expense, but I honestly didn’t know if going to the dance with him was a sensible idea or not. Either way, I had a feeling it would be a memorable evening.
Katie scooted closer. “Okay, e nough about that. Have you heard ANYTHING about the mine?” It seemed my best friend was just as worried and rightfully so. Even though her parents owned the local jewelry store, if half the town lost their jobs, their business would be drastically effected by its closing as well.
“There’s a meeting today at 3 o’clock,” I replied. “I’m going to race over there after school. Daddy said I could stop by.”
“Please remember to take your cell,” Katie pleaded. “And I want updates every five minutes.”
“I’ll try ,” I promised.
“Good,” Katie said with a nod as she turned back around. My best friend leaned back in her chair, never giving me the slightest glance. “So t ell me, Shi. How are you going to break the news to Chloe about the inevitable nuptials this chance ‘date’ will bring forth, or even worse…how will you soften the sting to Charlotte? ”
I gave Katie a good-natured whack on the back of her head. “Oh, I think I’ll just drop them a postcard while we’re on our honeymoon .” We both giggled a bit at that ridiculous notion.
“Katie, I don’t want to talk about Mike anymore…or anything to do with the mine. Let’s just review for our Geology test, okay? ” I was being very adamant (and maybe a bit bossy) about the parameters of our homeroom time.
Katie whirled her head around in one dramatic and playfully offended huff. “Boy, you haven’t even been out with Mike yet, and you’re already acting as high & mighty as he does. You’ll fit into the Riverside family just fine ,” she insisted with a cutesy nod before turning back around. She just had to get in that last dig.
I tugged on the back of her necklace. “I’ll be sure to tell him not to purchase my engagement ring from your parents’ shop.” My tone let my BFF know that I’d had enough of her witty jabs.
Katie tilted her head as she leaned back. “I really don’t see the point in me breaking my neck for an ‘A’ on this test…or ANY TEST,” she huffed. “You know my parents are just humoring me with college. All they want is for me to get a business degree so I can come back here and run ‘their’ store.”
Sadly, her claim wasn’t off-base. Ron and Julia Stowell had affectionately teased on many occasions that Katie was their little “retirement plan”.
“Just think, Katie…That’s still four years of freedom,” I insisted, hoping to put a hint of a smile back on her perfectly-painted face. “Six if you can talk them into Grad-School.”
“Maybe ten if I carry a light load and flunk a few courses,” Katie said with an artful laugh.
Well, at least she had a plan.
“I like your new do,” I whispered as I flipped the back of her hair. Katie had chopped off her long brunette locks to her shoulders and added a few fire-engine red
I laughed hysterically. “That’s crazy! I’m NOT his ‘type’! I think it’s a well-known fact around school that my legs are locked-at-the-knees. He won’t try anything. After all, he hasn’t messed with me since First Grade…in any respect.” Mike Riverside had tried to steal my lunch once when we were little. I picked up the first thing I could find and wailed him over the head with it. Unfortunately for him, it was a bright-yellow metal Tonka truck someone had brought in for Show-and-Tell. Ouch! I had to sit in the corner during recess for two weeks — but after that, he never tried stealing my lunch again.
Katie giggled. “Does he still have a scar on his head?”
“I’m not sure,” I pondered with a grin. “ Possibly …I’ll ask him when we’re out on our date . That’ll be a great conversation starter.”
We had a little more fun laughing at Mike’s expense, but I honestly didn’t know if going to the dance with him was a sensible idea or not. Either way, I had a feeling it would be a memorable evening.
Katie scooted closer. “Okay, e nough about that. Have you heard ANYTHING about the mine?” It seemed my best friend was just as worried and rightfully so. Even though her parents owned the local jewelry store, if half the town lost their jobs, their business would be drastically effected by its closing as well.
“There’s a meeting today at 3 o’clock,” I replied. “I’m going to race over there after school. Daddy said I could stop by.”
“Please remember to take your cell,” Katie pleaded. “And I want updates every five minutes.”
“I’ll try ,” I promised.
“Good,” Katie said with a nod as she turned back around. My best friend leaned back in her chair, never giving me the slightest glance. “So t ell me, Shi. How are you going to break the news to Chloe about the inevitable nuptials this chance ‘date’ will bring forth, or even worse…how will you soften the sting to Charlotte? ”
I gave Katie a good-natured whack on the back of her head. “Oh, I think I’ll just drop them a postcard while we’re on our honeymoon .” We both giggled a bit at that ridiculous notion.
“Katie, I don’t want to talk about Mike anymore…or anything to do with the mine. Let’s just review for our Geology test, okay? ” I was being very adamant (and maybe a bit bossy) about the parameters of our homeroom time.
Katie whirled her head around in one dramatic and playfully offended huff. “Boy, you haven’t even been out with Mike yet, and you’re already acting as high & mighty as he does. You’ll fit into the Riverside family just fine ,” she insisted with a cutesy nod before turning back around. She just had to get in that last dig.
I tugged on the back of her necklace. “I’ll be sure to tell him not to purchase my engagement ring from your parents’ shop.” My tone let my BFF know that I’d had enough of her witty jabs.
Katie tilted her head as she leaned back. “I really don’t see the point in me breaking my neck for an ‘A’ on this test…or ANY TEST,” she huffed. “You know my parents are just humoring me with college. All they want is for me to get a business degree so I can come back here and run ‘their’ store.”
Sadly, her claim wasn’t off-base. Ron and Julia Stowell had affectionately teased on many occasions that Katie was their little “retirement plan”.
“Just think, Katie…That’s still four years of freedom,” I insisted, hoping to put a hint of a smile back on her perfectly-painted face. “Six if you can talk them into Grad-School.”
“Maybe ten if I carry a light load and flunk a few courses,” Katie said with an artful laugh.
Well, at least she had a plan.
“I like your new do,” I whispered as I flipped the back of her hair. Katie had chopped off her long brunette locks to her shoulders and added a few fire-engine red
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