“That’s fine,” said Amy. “Even if I stay an hour, it won’t be eleven yet.”
“Okay. I think it’s nice you don’t mind visiting the Dragon Lady,” said Ly.
“We don’t call her that anymore,” Amy pointed out.
“Maybe you don’t, but Cara still does.”
“I don’t think Cara ever really understood Miss McPhearson,” said Amy defensively. Cara had worked at the restaurant, as well as with Miss McPhearson, for a while. But she had eventually drifted to another town.
The next morning, after church, An dropped Amy at Miss McPhearson’s house. Oddly enough it was one of those foggy days like the first time Amy had gone to see her. Only this time, Amy wasn’t afraid. She’d called ahead of time, and the old woman was expecting her.
“Come in,” Miss McPhearson said as she opened the door.
Amy handed her the pink heart-shaped box. “My friends and I made this for you,” she told her. “We wanted to deliver it secretly, but I thought you might enjoy the company too.”
“You thought right, Amy Ngo.” Miss McPhearson smiled down at the box. “Very pretty. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“And I have made us tea.”
“You made it yourself?”
“Yes. I am on my own today. I’ve been giving Mrs. Platz Sundays off so she can go to church and whatnot.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“I have everything all set for us in the library, Amy.”
After they were seated, Miss McPhearson asked Amy to pour and serve the tea. Not a big surprise since she usually did this with Amy.
“I’ve missed you, Amy. You haven’t been to see me in weeks.” Miss McPearson’s tone was deep and gruff, as usual, but Amy knew by now that there was kindness beneath it.
“I’ve missed you too,” said Amy as she took a sip of tea.
“Tell me what you and your friends have been up to lately.”
So Amy told her about making all the secret admirer valentines, although she didn’t mention the Lonely Hearts Club part. “But you can’t tell anyone,” she said.
Miss McPhearson rolled her big owl eyes and said, “Humph. Who would I tell?”
“Well, we just wanted to keep the project top secret.”
“Wherever do you girls come up with your ideas?”
Then Amy explained about how she’d gotten some mysterious notes. “That kind of inspired me to think of it.”
“So, Amy Ngo, do you have a secret admirer?” Miss McPhearson’s brows shot up. “Do tell.”
Amy shrugged. “I guess I do. But I have to say, this secret admirer has made my life pretty miserable lately.” Then she went ahead and told Miss McPhearson the rest of the story. She expected the old woman to laugh, but Miss McPhearson simply nodded with a look of sympathy and understanding.
“You and I are a bit alike, Amy Ngo,” she said now.
“How is that?”
“We both have a fair amount of pride … and I suppose that it can sometimes get in the way.”
Amy nodded. “Yes. I think I sort of know what you mean.”
“But I hope that you will learn to control it, Amy, instead of letting it control you.”
Then Amy decided to tell Miss McPhearson about how she’d asked God to help her — and how he had. “I realized that I had left God out of things … and that I need him to guide me.”
“Then you are more wise than I was at your age,” said Miss McPhearson.
“How is that?”
Miss McPhearson waved her hand in a dismissive way. “Old things, Amy, just water under the bridge now.”
Now there was a quiet lull, and Amy decided to fill it. “Well, I did learn that it’s totally stupid to be interested in boys — especially at my age.”
Miss McPhearson nodded. “Yes … perhaps so … at least for now.”
“Or maybe forever,” proclaimed Amy. “Boys just end up hurting you.”
Miss McPhearson sighed as she looked out the window that overlooked the ocean. It was still gray and foggy out there. “But here is a bit of advice from an old woman,” she said quietly, then stopped.
“What is it?” asked Amy.
Miss McPhearson turned back to Amy now. “Do not allow yourself to become jaded, Amy Ngo.”
“Jaded?” Amy frowned.
“Do not become bitter … welcome life, and it will welcome you.”
Amy nodded now. She knew that Miss McPhearson had not lived her life quite like this. Perhaps this was her way of saying she regretted it.
“It’s like my father used to say,” she continued. “But I’m afraid I didn’t listen very well. I was too proud.”
“What did he tell you?”
“Oh, it’s an old adage … about getting back on the horse that bucked you off. He had numerous ways of saying it. But his meaning was always clear.”
“Oh …”
“So, even if you think all boys are silly now … someday you will need to reconsider.” Miss McPhearson smiled. “But you are a smart girl, Amy Ngo. I’m sure you will figure things out.”
chapter eleven
Amy tried to put thoughts of her secret admirer note completely out of her mind on Monday. She still thought there was a chance it might be Tyler. But at the same time she told herself that she simply did not care. Despite Miss McPhearson’s encouragement, Amy still felt she was finished with caring about whether or not some stupid boy liked her. And her plan was to completely ignore the boy. Well, as much as she could anyway. She still had English to contend with, but fortunately their group project would be turned in today and that would be the end of it.
“Oh, Amy,” said Chelsea when they met in front of the cafeteria before lunch. “I am so totally bummed!”
Amy looked at Chelsea and could see that something serious was wrong. “What is it?” Amy asked urgently. “Is it someone in your family? Is someone sick? Has there been a car wreck?”
“No.” Chelsea was actually blinking back tears now. “Nothing like that.”
“What is it then?” demanded Amy. “What happened?”
“Brett broke up with me.”
Amy frowned. Was that all? “Oh …”
“I know you don’t care, Amy. You’re probably glad he broke up. But I am totally devastated. I’m brokenhearted.”
Amy knew that she should be kinder to her friend, but the truth was she really didn’t care. The sooner Chelsea figured out that boys were stupid and mean and selfish, the better off everyone would be.
“I can’t believe he did this to me,” continued Chelsea. “And the day before the Valentine’s Day dance too.”
“So?” Amy just shrugged. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Maybe not to you …” Now Chelsea really did start to cry, and Amy felt a little guilty for being so insensitive.
“I’m sorry,” she told Chelsea. “I know it hurts when a boy you like doesn’t like you back.” Although, she wanted to add that she thought they both had invited these troubles — just by allowing themselves to be boy crazy. Still, she managed to keep those thoughts to herself. Maybe she could explain this to Chelsea later.
“I just can’t believe he did it,” continued Chelsea. “I mean, I went up to say hi and he just gave me the meanest look. And then he said he didn’t like me anymore. Just like that.”
“Well, Brett is stupid,” said Amy.
“No, he’s not.”
Amy blinked. “Do you mean you still like him?”
“Of course!”
Amy rolled her eyes now. “Whatever.”
“Will you talk to him for me, Amy?”
Now Amy laughed. “Sorry, Chelsea. But I am done with that kind of thing.”
“Please, Amy.” Chelsea looked desperate now. “I did it for you.”
“And look where it got me. Look where it got you too.”
Chelsea frowned.
“I’m sorry, Chelsea,” said Amy in a gentler voice. “If I thought it was a g
ood idea, I would talk to him. But, really, I’m so sick of the whole boy-crazy thing.” Amy hadn’t even told Chelsea about Tyler coming to the restaurant or her latest mystery note. Mostly Amy just wanted to forget the whole thing.
“Fine,” said Chelsea.
“Come on,” urged Amy. “Let’s get lunch.”
“But I might see him in there,” said Chelsea.
“So?” Amy tugged on Chelsea’s arm. “Just do like I do, Chelsea. Hold your head up and act like everything is fine.”
Chelsea studied Amy for a moment then nodded. “Okay. I will.”
Together the two of them marched into the cafeteria. And, walking right past the group of seventh grade boys, including both Tyler and Brett, they went and got into the lunch line. So there!
“See,” said Amy. “That wasn’t too bad, was it?”
“No … it wasn’t.”
“And don’t look back,” warned Amy.
They got their food, and Amy was relieved to join their other friends. Chelsea told them about her recent heartbreak.
“See,” said Carlie. “That’s what happens.”
“You don’t have to be happy about it,” said Chelsea.
“I think everyone gets their heart broken at some time in her life,” said Emily. “I’ve read enough poetry to believe this is true.”
“But you shouldn’t go out there looking for it,” said Morgan.
“Probably not,” said Emily. “But I’m sure it will happen to all of us eventually.”
“It sounds horrible,” said Carlie.
“It is,” admitted Chelsea.
Then Amy told them about what Miss McPhearson had said to her yesterday. “I think she had her heart broken too,” she said finally.
“I knew it,” said Emily. “Remember I thought she’d had some romantic tragedy.”
“But you know what she said,” continued Amy.
“What?” they all asked.
“She said that you shouldn’t become bitter. She said not to allow pride to keep you from trying again … or something like that.”
“Well, maybe when you’re older,” said Morgan.
“Like eighteen,” added Carlie. “My dad doesn’t want me to have a boyfriend until I’m eighteen.”
They laughed.
“I’m guessing your dad is in for a big surprise,” said Chelsea.
“Maybe sixteen,” said Carlie.
“I don’t want a boyfriend until God tells me I’m old enough,” proclaimed Morgan.
“Me too,” said Emily.
“Ditto,” added Amy.
“I’m with you guys,” said Carlie.
“I don’t know …” Chelsea frowned. “Do you think God will actually do that? I mean, what’s he going to do — write it in the sky?”
“He has his ways,” said Morgan.
Then the bell rang, and it was time to head for class. As the afternoon wore on, Amy began to dread the idea of English class. She didn’t want to sit in the small group with Tyler again. It was actually making her stomach hurt, and she wondered if she wasn’t getting an ulcer. It wouldn’t have been that bad if she hadn’t gotten that last note — the one at the restaurant. Still, as she went to English she reminded herself of what she’d said to Chelsea. Hold your head high and just act perfectly normal.
“Here are the copies of the play,” she told her group as soon as they sat down. “Maybe we should just read them to ourselves.”
“But Mrs. Hilliard said we’re supposed to practice,” said Myrna.
Amy glanced at the clock. “Well, let’s skim them and then we can practice. Okay?”
At least this bought Amy enough time to calm down. Because the first thing she’d noticed was that Tyler was still using the pen that was the same color as the one that had written her mystery notes. She wished she could get another peek at his handwriting. But, at the same time, she didn’t want to think about it. She just wanted to move on.
Finally they had skimmed the play, read their parts, and Amy turned in their project just before the bell rang. It was all she could do to control herself from cheering. The project was over. Well, other than the competition part tomorrow. But Amy felt fairly certain that their play, which in her opinion wasn’t very good, could not possibly win.
“Time to go make decorations,” announced Morgan as the girls gathered in the locker bay.
“I don’t even want to now,” complained Chelsea. She still looked pretty bummed, and her eyes were puffy from crying.
“This was your idea in the first place,” pointed out Carlie.
“And Amy’s too,” added Chelsea in a sharp tone.
“No, it wasn’t,” protested Amy.
Naturally, this resulted in a big argument about who had wanted to go to the dance, who had been boy crazy, and who wanted to be in Honor Society. And, of course, no one could remember it quite right. And, sure, maybe Amy had originally wanted to go to the dance, but that had all changed. Now, as they headed to the room where they were supposed to help with decorations, she couldn’t care less about some stupid dance, and the last thing she wanted was to actually go out on the dance floor and dance.
“Hey, there’s Second Chair and her friends,” said Oliver Fitzgerald when the girls went to the classroom that was filled with what were obviously the materials for decorations. It was like a sea of red, pink, and white paper and balloons.
“You’re here,” said Vanessa Price. “Great.” Then she immediately assigned them to the boring task of cutting out what seemed like hundreds of various-sized paper hearts. “Any questions?” she said.
“Do we really have to do this?” asked Carlie.
Vanessa smiled in a slightly smug way. “No one is making you. But someday you will be thankful that you did. We all did it at one time.”
“We’re fine,” Emily assured her as she picked up a pair of scissors.
“Good.” Vanessa nodded. “Then I’ll leave you to it. And when you’re done, just stack everything in that office.”
“How about the balloons?” asked Oliver.
“Fill those garbage bags and then put them on the stage until tomorrow. We’ll start decorating the cafeteria after lunch.” She grinned. “We get the whole afternoon off. And then you guys will take over for us right after seventh. That gives us time to clean up.”
“How do we know what to do?” asked Chelsea.
“Oliver will still be there to supervise. The dance starts at three thirty, so you’ll have to work fast.”
“And then we can go home?” asked Amy hopefully.
Vanessa frowned. “No, of course not. You’ll also be doing the teardown afterward. And we do expect you to attend the dance — any future Honor Society members must be there.”
Chelsea let out a groan.
“Attitude check,” said Vanessa brightly. Then she waved good-bye and left the room.
“You girls are really paying your dues,” said Oliver as they settled into cutting out hearts.
“What ab out you?” asked Amy suddenly. “Why are you here?”
Oliver grinned sheepishly. “I guess I’m paying my dues too.”
“Why?” asked Emily. “I thought you were an eighth grader.”
“I missed the planning meeting.” He chuckled. “And so I was appointed head balloon blower.”
“Lucky you,” said Morgan.
“Oh, that’s okay,” said Amy quickly. “Oliver is just full of hot air.”
They all laughed. And for the next few hours they continued to tease and joke and really, it wasn’t too terrible. Although Amy’s hands were seriously tired by the time they stacked the hearts in the office.
“Oliver’s kind of nice,” said Morgan as they walked home.
“Yeah,” said Emily. “You always make him sound so terrible, Amy. He’s actually pretty funny.”
“You mean funny looking,” joked Amy. And when her friends laughed, she felt bad and almost told them about how Oliver had actually come to her defense that day when Ty
ler had publicly humiliated her. But she didn’t. Most of all she just wanted to forget that it had ever happened.
chapter twelve
“You girls sure made a lot of folks happy this morning,” said Morgan’s grandmother as she pulled up at the school. They’d just finished delivering the last of their Lonely Hearts Club valentines, and Amy had been worried that they would be late, but now it looked like they were just fine.
“And this one is for you, Mrs. Evans,” said Amy as she handed the last heart to her from the backseat.
“Why, thank you very much,” said Morgan’s grandma. “And you girls tell all your friends thank you for me, won’t you?”
“You’re not supposed to know that it’s from us,” pointed out Morgan as she got her backpack.
“Oh, that’s right.” Her grandma nodded and placed a finger to her lips. “I’ll pretend that I found it on my doorstep.”
“Just like the one we left at Mom’s shop,” said Morgan.
“And for Mr. Greeley and the others,” said Amy happily. It had been such fun to sneak up to houses and plant their surprises in front of the doors. They had considered ringing doorbells, but worried they might wake someone up.
“Have a good day, girls!” called Grandma.
Amy and Morgan thanked her and waved, then walked up to the school. Amy noticed that a lot of the other girls were kind of dressed up. Probably in anticipation of the “big” Valentine’s Day dance that would be right after school. And, to be honest, at this same time last week, Amy thought that she’d have been dressed up too. But considering how things had gone, Amy had no big expectations for the dance. And besides jeans and a pink sweater, which really weren’t very festive, Amy looked pretty much like normal.
Thoughts of the dance were just an irritation now. Mostly she just wanted to get the decorating done, the dance over with, the decorations stripped down, and then she would be perfectly happy to go work at the restaurant tonight. An said there were lots of reservations. And the plan was to put a red rose and a candle on each table. That was An’s idea and something new for them. Still, it would be fun. More fun than this stupid old dance!
“We got them all sent,” said Emily when Amy and Morgan found her and Carlie.
“Did anyone see you?” asked Amy.
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