“Miss?” came the voice.
“Yes?”
“That performance is sold out,” she said coldly.
My heart sank. “Thank you,” I said as a wave of disappointment descended over my heart.
SECOND-BEST FRIEND
Chapter 15
I hung up the phone.
No tickets? Not a single one?
If Andie and I had been on speaking terms, I would have called her right then and cried on her shoulder. But no, she was busy doing her joint project with Christiana. Besides, it wasn’t time for me to break my vow of silence.
Dejected and alone, I trudged downstairs and returned Stan’s money. His eyes and attention were focused on his latest John Wayne video. He stuffed the money back into his wallet without saying a word.
It made me think of my missions project. I was eager to send the money, but I’d have to wait till Goofey was settled in a new home.
I shuddered at the thought. Heading for the kitchen, I heard the phone ring.
Carrie got it. She stuffed another cookie in her mouth. “Iths fer you.”
“Who is it?”
She shrugged.
I took the phone from her sticky fingers. “Hello?”
“Holly?”
It was Paula.
“I can’t talk now,” I said and hung up.
“How rude,” Carrie said, sliding off her stool.
“Just stay out of this.”
The phone rang again. I let it ring and ring. At last, it stopped.
“What’s wrong with you, Holly?” Carrie asked, staring at me.
“Brat,” I said.
“I’m telling Mom,” she hollered.
“Fine.” I headed for a sink full of dirty dishes.
Carrie stomped off. “I’ll be in my room, and I’m not coming out as long as you live in this house!”
“Perfect.”
Stacking the dishes in the dishwasher, I thought about Paula. Why was she calling? Was the message from Andie that important?
Stan called from the family room. “Dad just phoned. They’re on their way home. He said to take some meat out to thaw for supper.”
I hurried to the freezer, thinking of the bone-thin child on the church bulletin board. Was it right for me to spend money to keep Goofey in the kennel when there were kids starving to death in the world?
I debated about staying in bed all day when Mom knocked on my door the next morning. “It’s a beautiful day in the Rockies,” she sang.
Groaning, I rolled over. Everyone in the world was going to hear Mandee Trent tonight. Everyone except me. I dragged myself out of bed and stared at my face in the mirror.
Hopeless.
Mom peeked her head into the room again. “Holly-Heart,” she said, “let’s plan to go shopping, maybe next week after school?”
I knew what she meant. Mom and I always went shopping after I’d accumulated birthday money from relatives in Pennsylvania and California.
I shrugged my shoulders. It was time to divulge my secret. I’d kept it from her too long.
“My birthday money’s gone,” I admitted, spilling out the whole story of Goofey’s whereabouts.
Mom’s mouth dropped open. “You used your money on a cat?”
I nodded ruefully, bracing myself for the lecture.
But she just sighed and said, “Well, it’s your money. I guess you should spend it the way you want to.” She frowned a bit, though.
Nothing more was said about Goofey, so I told her my plans for next month’s allowance. “I want to sponsor at least one starving child,” I announced, “and one of the missionaries on the bulletin board at church.”
“But you shouldn’t be giving away all your money,” Mom said gently. “You need some of it to do things with your friends and family. And don’t forget you need to start saving for college, too.”
“I know,” I said. “But I want to do something for other people.”
Mom pulled me close. “You’re all heart,” she whispered.
Mom left, and I got dressed for the day. I felt better…at least about telling Mom where I’d spent my birthday money. But I kept thinking about the Mandee Trent concert I was going to miss. Nothing could make me feel better about that.
The phone rang during breakfast. Uncle Jack licked waffle syrup off his fingers and reached for the portable phone. “Meredith-Patterson residence. Jack speaking.”
A short pause, then…”Holly, it’s for you. Paula Miller’s on the line.” He passed the phone to me.
Carrie snickered at me across the table. She knew there was no way I’d hang up now. Not on Uncle Jack’s business partner’s daughter.
I took a deep breath. “Hello?”
“Please don’t be mad, Holly,” she began. “I had to call you early. Just listen—”
I interrupted, pretending to answer her. “Okay, I’ll see you at school.”
“But, Holly—”
“I have to go now,” I said. Politely. For Uncle Jack’s sake. And Mom’s.
“I’ll wait for you at your locker,” she said before hanging up.
“Good-bye,” I said, beeping the phone off.
“That was an early morning phone call,” Carrie taunted, grinning at me.
“Must be mighty important,” I muttered under my breath.
I took my time getting off the bus and walking up the steps to the school. It was nearly time for the first-period bell when I arrived at my locker.
A yellow Post-it was stuck to my locker. I HAVE TO TALK TO YOU! Paula, it read. Mission accomplished, I thought as I peeled it off and crumpled it into my pocket.
Somehow I managed to avoid Paula all day. And I wouldn’t have to see her after school because she and the other church kids had gotten permission to leave class early for the Denver concert—during sixth period.
Before Jared left math class, he whispered, “I’ll call you tomorrow, Holly-Heart.” I could see Billy Hill and a bunch of kids waiting for him in the hallway. My heart sank. I could’ve been out there with Jared. If only…
“There will be no assignment for the weekend,” the math teacher announced as the classroom door closed, shutting out the view to the hall.
No assignment, big deal. A small trade-off for being left behind.
Deserted and alone, I plodded off to my locker. Feeling low enough to crawl through the cracks at the base of my locker, I leaned against the door. Something poked into my forehead. I looked up. It was a note.
I pulled hard, finally retrieving it from its hiding place. Unfolding it, I discovered Andie’s message in the form of a note.
Dear Holly,
Since you won’t talk to me on the phone, I’m telling you straight. I had nothing to do with stealing your clothes on your birthday. It was Christiana’s idea. I didn’t even know about it till after school.
I don’t blame you for being mad. I would be, too. Wish you were coming tonight!
Your friend,
Andie
I folded the note, feeling gloomy. Instead of riding the bus, I walked home in the freezing cold. The brisk air might clear out the cobwebs in my brain and the disappointment in my heart.
Jared was on his way to Denver without me. Tears sprang up in my eyes. Quickly, I wiped them away with my gloved hand. The wind chill was cold enough to freeze miniature icicles on my face. Another bus stop was two blocks ahead, but I chose to pass it up. Determined, I pushed my way through the ice and snow.
The first thing I did when I arrived home was to gather up my dirty clothes. It had been days since I’d done my laundry, and the hamper was swollen and overflowing. Besides, I owed someone a clean pair of jeans and a sweater. The cat killer.
Sorting through the white and colored clothes, I remembered the crazy dream I’d had. I could still see the images of designer labels and my clothes flying out of Andie’s hands, plastering themselves against me, cold and unfriendly.
I sat down in the middle of the floor, hills of laundry piled on eith
er side of me like mountains closing in, smothering me. Christiana and her scheme to steal Andie, Paula driving me nuts, and poor homeless Goofey…
Goofey. What was I going to do about him? The clinic couldn’t keep him any longer; I’d inquired about it. Even if they could, I was broke. I couldn’t bear to think of losing my sweet cat. Tears rolled down my cheeks. What if nobody wanted him? What if he had to be put to sleep?
I brushed away my tears. Lost in self-pity, I gathered up the whites and carried them down to the laundry just off the family room. Stan and the rest of the kids were playing a computer game. I sneaked past them unnoticed.
Back upstairs, I rummaged through all my jean pockets, cleaning out junk. My fingers found old tissues, loose change, and a tube of lip gloss. In the last pair, I discovered a piece of blue stationery with golden flecks, folded in two.
I studied it. The paper wasn’t familiar, so I held up the jeans. They were Paula’s. This must belong to her, I thought, setting it aside, debating what to do with it.
My curiosity won out. Slowly, I unfolded the paper.
Dearest Grandma:
In response to your last letter, I have made no progress recruiting friends. Kayla seems satisfied with her one and only best friend—me.
Being nice to Holly Meredith just isn’t working. She has only one thing on her mind. That’s Andie and her foreign exchange student, Christiana.
Ever since we moved here, Holly has been upset with me. It was my fault, because I had a crush on the same boy she likes, Jared Wilkins. But even when all that changed, it didn’t seem to matter to Holly. She won’t give me a chance and it hurts.
Lately I’ve done everything imaginable to be nice to her, Grandma, hoping she’ll change her mind. But she’s not interested in me as a friend, and I’m so lonely sometimes I cry.
I could read no further. Paula felt left out because of me. My unkind words, snide remarks…all of it bored into my soul.
The letter shook in my hand as the realization of who I was and what I’d done pierced through me. I was treating Paula exactly the way Andie had treated me. Ignoring her, rejecting her…
Carrying the letter to my window seat, I knelt down on the floor as tears streamed down my face. I didn’t want to read the rest of her letter. Paula Miller had painted a deft description of Holly Meredith. Pathetic as I was.
SECOND-BEST FRIEND
Chapter 16
I confessed my sins to God in prayer, then got up and recorded the event in my journal. I titled my entry and began to list the things I intended to change about myself.
MY “MOMENT OF TRUTH” LIST
I resolve to do the following:
_____ 1. Make friends with many different girls.
_____ 2. Say only good things about others, even behind their backs.
_____ 3. Forgive Christiana for taking my clothes—and my best friend.
_____ 4. Invite Andie, Christiana, and Paula to go skiing.
_____ 5. Trust God for Goofey’s future.
_____ 6. Forget the idea of a number-one best friend.
_____ 7. Practice Matthew 5:44 every day of my life!
That done, I felt like Ebenezer Scrooge in the scene where he flings wide his window on Christmas Day. If only my friends were in town, I might hire a Goodyear blimp to broadcast my news. HOLLY MEREDITH COMES TO HER SENSES it might say. Or, A FABULOUS COLORADO WELCOME TO CHRISTIANA DERTNIG.
I floated downstairs on a cloud of transformation, greeting and hugging my family, including Carrie, who gave me a wide-eyed, cynical reception.
“How can I help you with supper?” I asked Mom.
“You may set the table,” she said, pulling out the utensil drawer.
My initial thought was to remind Mom that it was Phil’s chore, but I squelched it.
At supper I made sweet alien faces at Mark.
“Stop it,” he said. “That’s my thing.” But by the grin on his face, I knew he loved it.
I addressed each member of the family with endearing terms. “Precious Phil, please pass the salad,” I said without smirking.
“Knock it off, fish lips,” he said.
But that didn’t discourage me. “Stephie, sweets, pass the salt.”
“Call me Stephie-Heart,” she teased.
Uncle Jack had to interrupt my flow of flowery expressions to announce the expansion of his business. “It’s going to be big, and I mean big.” He held up his water glass, proposing a toast.
Mom clinked her glass against his, beaming as she gazed at him. “And…it’s a sure thing. We are definitely going skiing next weekend.”
Phil and Mark cheered, Carrie and Stephie squealed, and Stan and I tipped our John Wayne “hats” at each other.
That night, after I read my devotional, I recommitted Goofey to God for safekeeping. “Please don’t let him see my tears tomorrow when I go for the final visit,” I prayed. “That’s all I ask. Amen.”
Settling down in my canopy bed, I fell asleep, clean as a kitten after a bubble bath.
The next morning I awakened to Mom’s lovely singing. She sounded as happy as I felt. I looked at the clock. Ten o’clock. I’d overslept!
Bouncing out of bed, I raced downstairs in my pajamas, first hugging Mom and Uncle Jack, then running upstairs to kiss Carrie and Stephie.
“Lay off,” Carrie said, pushing me away.
Stephie hugged me back. “What’s with Carrie?” she asked.
“Beats me, but maybe we can sweeten her up,” I said, skipping to the bathroom to find some spray cologne.
“Leave me alone,” Carrie hollered as I sprayed the air around her.
Just then, the doorbell rang. I dashed to my room, grabbing my bathrobe. Scrambling to the front door, I looked through the peephole.
It was Andie.
I looked closer and saw Christiana beside her. My heart thumped. A feeling of overwhelming delight filled me as I flung the door wide.
Andie studied me cautiously. Noting my smile, she broke into a mighty grin. “Happy belated birthday, Holly,” she said.
“Come in, both of you,” I said.
“We have a present for you,” Andie said. She pointed at the white wicker basket she held. “It’s not a joint present like last time. It’s just, well…we worked out a little surprise.”
Christiana seemed nervous. When I turned to her, she said, “I’m sorry about the birthday suit joke, Holly. It was a really mean thing to do.”
Then she flashed a rueful grin at Andie. “I’ve learned a hard lesson, thanks to Andie,” she admitted. “She hid our science project from me for twenty-four hours. Practical jokes are…well, simply not very practical.” She extended her hand. “Sorry about taking your clothes. Friends?”
I hesitated a second. Had she given up her hand-zinging days, too? Then I shook her hand. “Friends,” I agreed.
“Okay, Holly,” Andie said. “Sit down.” She led me to the rocking chair. “It’s time for your present.”
Bending over, Andie picked up the basket. It was decorated with a pink ribbon, my favorite color. She placed it on my lap.
I accepted the heavy basket, wondering what on earth she was up to now. “Thanks.” I held the basket firmly. What could it be?
I felt Andie’s eyes on me as I slowly opened the lid. There was something crocheted inside. It looked like one of Paula’s creations.
But wait! Something moved beneath the mound of creamy-white yarn. A little pink nose nuzzled through a hole in the crocheted coverlet.
It was my cat, Goofey.
Tears clouded my eyes. “Oh, hello, baby,” I whispered. I looked at Andie, amazed. “You brought him so I could say good-bye?”
Andie chuckled as Christiana pulled another present from her pocket. By now, Stephie and Carrie had wandered into the living room. They were making over Goofey like crazy. Thank goodness Mom was still upstairs.
“You’re going to need this today,” Christiana said.
“But—”
“Try open
ing it before you say anything,” Andie said in her silliest voice.
“Here, hold my baby.” I handed Goofey over to her so I could open the package.
Inside the wrapping paper was a bottle marked AllerCat. I held it up. “What’s this?”
Andie looked like she was ready to pop. But it was Christiana who responded. “If you apply this liquid to Goofey’s skin as the directions recommend, your stepdad should have complete relief from his allergy.”
“Really?” I looked at Andie. “Are you sure?”
Andie nodded. “Christiana told me about it. I tried and tried to call you and tell you, but, well, let’s just forget about that.”
Christiana stroked Goofey’s neck.
“It’s a miracle.” I hugged them both. “Thanks for being my friends.”
My birthday wish had come true after all.
“Mom,” I called. “Come quick!”
The living room was already crammed with Stan, Phil, and Mark, who had wandered in, drawn by the commotion. Uncle Jack came wearing grubby jeans and a big grin. Carrie and Stephie took turns holding, stroking, and whispering to Goofey. And then Mom arrived, flying through the middle of them like Mary Poppins.
“Mom, this is so fabulous,” I said. “Goofey’s back home to stay.” Before she could launch a protest, I quickly read out loud the directions on the back of the bottle.
“Well, why didn’t we think of this?” Mom said cheerfully.
That’s when I did it. I asked Andie and Christiana to come skiing with us the following weekend.
“Let’s do,” Christiana said.
“Love to,” Andie replied, zipping her jacket.
“Thanks for the kitty surprise,” I said, addressing both Andie and Christiana as they headed for the door. “It’s the perfect gift.” And I meant it.
I took Goofey from Stephie and followed my friends to the front porch. “How was the concert?” I asked.
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