Read Online The Sleepover Club Bridesmaids by Angie Bates - Free Book Online Page A

everything’s been stressing her out lately, I don’t know why.”
    “Weddings are most peculiar things,” said Lyndz, putting on a doddery old lady’s voice.
    “TELL me about it,” I grinned.
    Miss Dwyer put her head round the door. “Reached that world-shattering democratic decision yet, girls?”
    “Yes, thanks!” we yelled.
    “Well, praise the Lord and give me my classroom back!” she sighed. She stood aside and a horde of over-excited infants came thundering into the class, all yelling “YAY!” at the tops of their voices.
    “Infants are so much smaller than youthink, aren’t they?” said Lyndz, as we went back into the playground.
    “And they have so much fun,” sighed Rosie.
    Then we had one of our amazing telepathic moments. We all grinned at each other, and we did something really babyish.
    All five of us linked arms and ran across the playground, yelling “YAY!” too!
    Further down the playground, the M&Ms were talking to Alana Palmer. As we drew level, all three girls narrowed their eyes at us. It’s one of their favourite expressions, and it makes them look exactly like those spiteful Siamese cats in The Lady and the Tramp .
    “See ya!” Lyndz yelled merrily, as we zoomed past.
    “But we wouldn’t wanna BE ya!” I added.
    And we all cracked up laughing.
    I was so happy to be back with my friends, I can’t tell you. In a funny way, it seemed as if our quarrel had brought us closer together than ever.
    We walked home after school, chattingand teasing each other, just like always. Plus, we kept telling Frankie what a star she was for the way she’d taken not being a bridesmaid. By the time we reached my house, she was practically walking on air!
    But that’s NOTHING to how Mum looked when we told her the good news! She was totally ecstatic . She insisted on hugging everyone, but I don’t think they minded too much.
    “I promise you’ll still get your special bridesmaid present, Frankie,” Mum said.
    “Oh, goody,” said Frankie greedily, and we all burst out laughing.
    After everyone had gone, I gave Mum a specially huge hug to make up for our fight. “Everything’s going to be all right from now on,” I told her.
    A flicker of worry crossed her face. “I hope you’re right,” she whispered.
    “I KNOW I’m right,” I said. “Actually, I think I’m getting psychic powers.”
    Mum gave a tired grin. “Good,” she said. “I could really use them.”
    My mother meant it to come out as a joke,but I could hear the same scared little wobble in her voice that I’d noticed before.
    I watched her anxiously as she rinsed and chopped vegetables for a salad, hoping for clues to her odd behaviour.
    Whatever could it be that was making her act so sad and faraway? And why oh why wouldn’t she tell me? Mum and I always used to share everything. What could be so terrible, I wondered, that she had to keep it such a dark and deadly secret?
    After tea, Mum made Amber try on Frankie’s bridesmaid’s dress.
    She revolved slowly, like a cake on a cake-stand, as Mum fiddled around, twitching at seams and yanking down the hem.
    Amber’s the kind of girl who couldn’t look bad if she was covered in slime. Even so, I couldn’t help feeling just a tiny bit smug. That dress didn’t look anything LIKE as good on Amber as it had done on Frankie!
    I don’t know why, but all at once, Amber didn’t seem nearly such a pain. She didn’t mention her fabulous boyfriend once, all night. She also helped me wash up. ThoughI’m not sure if these things actually triggered my new tolerant attitude, or whether hating Amber was just getting too much like hard work.
    Plus, it had dawned on me that after the wedding, Jilly’s daughter would be out of my life forever, but my great friends and my family would all still be here. Anyway, that night, for the first time, Amber and I actually AGREED on something.
    We both desperately wanted to watch this funny film on TV, but no-one else was keen, so we watched