Best Family Ever

by Karen Kingsbury

  On the way home, Ashley and Kari passed the Johnson house again. They were both quiet, thinking about their chat with Sarah Grace. Ashley took a deep breath. “I feel sorry for the Johnsons. Moving must be hard.”

  “The worst.” Kari shivered. They walked a few more steps and then Kari squeezed her hand. “Race you back!”

  Kari got a head start, but Ashley caught up. And a few minutes later the girls were running up the sidewalk to home. Where, inside, Ashley knew the greatest mother in the world was making dinner, and the best dad ever would be home any minute. It was her whole world under one roof. They were the Baxter family, and they were her family.

  The best family ever.

  3

  Valentine’s Day Disaster

  KARI

  Kari wasn’t sure how long her rope was, but she was definitely at the end of it. She didn’t really know what that meant, but it sounded good. And she had heard her parents say it.

  Her dad would come in after waiting in the car for too long and say, “Elizabeth, please hurry. I am at the end of my rope.”

  Kari heard that a lot.

  Or when her mother would burn something in the kitchen she would say, “I am at the end of my rope here!”

  Kari felt like she was almost out of rope because it was Valentine’s Day and she couldn’t decide what to wear. Yes, after days of listening to Ashley talk about her party, and hours of giving her helpful tips, February 14 had finally arrived.

  Ashley’s party was going to be a hit. Their mom had taken her to buy streamers and banners and balloons. And the whole family had helped cut out paper hearts. Which turned out better than Ashley’s first idea of snowflakes. All the pieces of a great party were in place.

  Last night, all the Baxter kids had worked on their valentine cards. A few of them had the box kind from the store. But Kari made her own from card stock—pink for the girls and dark blue for the boys.

  Now if only she could decide what to wear.

  The bus was leaving in forty minutes and her bed was covered in outfits. She let out a deep breath and grabbed her old journal and a pen from the desk. Sometimes a girl just had to put her thoughts on paper. She flipped to the first clean page and dropped to her bed.

  Today is already a disaster and it’s not even eight in the morning! It’s Valentine’s Day and I don’t know what to wear. Plus Jason Jennings has been talking to me way too much all week and I don’t want anything from him today. If he gives me a giant box of candy in front of everyone like he did last year, I’ll be so embarrassed. Cards from everyone. That would be better. I just want to enjoy the day.

  I think Valentine’s Day is the worst day of the year.

  “Kari! Breakfast!” Her mom’s voice from somewhere downstairs broke the moment. “The bus leaves soon. Please hurry!”

  Panic ran through Kari’s veins. “Coming!” She returned to her journal:

  More later. Gotta go!—Kari

  Kari slipped the little book in her backpack and faced the mess around her. Pants, skirts, dresses, shirts, sweaters. It was like a tornado had come through and destroyed her room. Good thing Ashley was already dressed and downstairs.

  “Okay, Kari. Just pick something . . . anything.” She blew a piece of hair out of her face and put her hands on her hips. She wanted to wear a dress, but she didn’t want to freeze. And she definitely didn’t want Jason Jennings thinking she wore a dress for him. Of all things. But if she wore jeans, then which jeans. She rummaged through the pile of clothes, desperate.

  Ashley walked into the room and completely ignored the disaster of it all. Which was one of the things Kari loved about Ashley, even if she didn’t understand it. A messy room never bothered Ashley like it bothered Kari. Ashley walked to her bed and threw her backpack over her shoulder. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail.

  “Mom said you need to come down and eat or else.” Ashley turned and looked at Kari. “You’re still in pajamas?” Ashley’s laugh sounded friendly. “You can’t wear that.”

  “I’m not.” Kari looked down. She wore a Johnson Elementary School T-shirt and flannel bottoms. “I can’t decide what looks best.”

  “You look good in everything.” Ashley flashed her sister a nervous look as she grabbed her backpack. “All I know is, you better hurry. The bus isn’t going to wait.” She headed out the bedroom door.

  Kari rolled her eyes and flopped onto the pile of clothes on her bed. She yelled into her pillow, “This is the worst day. I’m ruined!” It felt good to get it out, especially since no one was listening.

  But just then a knock sounded at the door. Kari rolled over to see her mom standing there. “Hi.” She was leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed. There wasn’t even a hint of anger in her smiling face. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

  “Happy Valentine’s Day.” Kari tried to smile, too, but she felt embarrassed. “You heard me?”

  “I did.” Her mom came closer and sat on the edge of the bed. She took Kari’s hand in hers. “Ashley said you were stressed?”

  Kari couldn’t hide the truth. “A little.”

  “You want to talk about it?” Her mom was in no hurry. Even if the bus was coming soon.

  “Look at this.” Kari motioned to the clothes piled up around her. “I don’t know what to wear.”

  “Kari, honey . . .” Her mother sounded extra-kind. “It’s not the clothes that matter, but the person in them.”

  Kari knew this was true, but it didn’t help. She stood, exasperated. “Mom.” The word came out like a cry for help. “I want to look good. This is a big day!” She shot another look at the clothes covering her bed. “Nothing’s right.”

  “Maybe I can help.” Calm and gentle, that was her mom as she joined in with the search. “Are you trying to look good for the party?”

  Kari caught her mom looking at her, and she could feel herself turning red. “Yes. But not for Jason Jennings.” She focused on the floor and a stack of jeans. “I told you about him, right?”

  “You did.” Her mom held up a top.

  Kari shook her head. “Jason keeps trying to talk to me and everyone says he’s going to give me a special valentine today, which is exactly what I don’t want to happen.” She threw her hands in the air very dramatic and flopped on the bed again. “But if it does happen and if everyone is looking at me, then I should at least have the right outfit. Not something that makes me look ten.” She looked straight at her mom. “Does that make sense?”

  “Of course.” Her mother nodded. “We’re going for ten, is that it?”

  “Yes.” Kari stood again. It was hopeless.

  Just then her mom held up a pretty white sweater and a pair of dark jeans. “How about this?” Her mom looked at the clothes and back at Kari. “I’d say they’re perfect.”

  “Wait.” Kari studied them. “Actually . . . yes.” She took the items from her mother. How had she missed these? “They are perfect.”

  “Now you’ll be the best dressed girl in fifth grade.”

  Happiness came over Kari like sunshine on a rainy morning. Now the whole day was better. “Thank you.” She took the clothes in her arms. “For everything.”

  Her mom stood and ran her fingers through Kari’s hair. “You’re a rare and beautiful girl, Kari. The clothes don’t make that any more or less true.” She smiled again. “Now get dressed. The bus won’t wait.” Her mom left the room and shut the door.

  Kari dressed and hurried downstairs. She grabbed a muffin and walked to the bus with her siblings. They made it just in time. Once they were seated, everyone was talking. Even the air felt like it was full of excitement.

  A wonderful, buzzy sort of Valentine’s Day thrill.

  Kari clutched her bag of handmade cards.

  Next to her on the seat, Ashley looked over and nudged her. “You okay?”

  “I guess.” Kari gave Ashley a weak smile. “I just don’t want Jason to do anything weird. You know boys . . .”

  “Yes, I do.” Ashley nod
ded. “Most of them are great. But every now and then . . .”

  Kari laughed and looked out the window. Sure, she thought Jason was funny. And okay, he was the fastest guy in her class. But she didn’t want a boy liking her in the fifth grade. Too young! Plus three of the girls in their class already teased her about Jason. Apparently Jason was going around saying he thought Kari was pretty.

  It was all too much. Kari just wanted to enjoy Valentine’s Day with her friends.

  “Kari?” Ashley tapped her shoulder.

  She turned to her sister. “Yes?”

  “I think that’s a perfect outfit! It’s gonna be a good day!”

  “Thanks.” Kari laughed and sighed at the same time. “You have your supplies for the party?”

  “Right here.” Ashley held up two bags. “Lydia is helping me set up at lunch. I can’t wait!”

  The rest of the bus ride was full of laughs and hopes for Valentine’s Day. After the earlier talk with her mom and now with Ashley, Kari arrived at school feeling better than she had since she woke up. In fact, every student at Johnson Elementary seemed to be in a good mood. Nothing could ruin this day now.

  Not even Jason Jennings.

  Finally, after lunch, Mrs. Pike announced it was time to give out valentines. Kari joined the others, finding their bags of valentine cards and passing them out. Each student’s desk had a paper basket on top to hold whatever they were given.

  “I made mine myself.” Brittany held up her cards with hand-drawn hearts, butterflies, and words that read, You’re extra nice. Happy Valentine’s Day!

  “Looks good!” Kari gave her friend a thumbs-up. “I made mine, too.”

  Jessica Howland sneered at both of them. Jessica always seemed sort of mean. She chuckled at Kari and Brittany. “My dad would never let me make valentine cards. He bought me the most expensive ones at the store.” She held up a bag bursting with oversize chocolate bars. “Also, everyone gets candy.” She looked Kari and Brittany up and down. “I bet you two didn’t bring candy.”

  “Jessica, really?” Kari stared at the girl. “That’s not nice.”

  The girl rolled her eyes. “I’m just saying . . .” She walked away, her voice trailing behind her, probably looking for the next classmate to tell. Kari was not impressed.

  “Sorry, Brittany. She’s so rude.” Kari put her hand on Brittany’s shoulder.

  “It’s fine.” Brittany took a slow breath and stared at Jessica across the room. “Something must be wrong with that girl. That’s what my mom always tells me about mean kids.”

  Kari smiled. “Mine, too. She says hurt people hurt people.”

  “Exactly.” Brittany nodded. “You have to feel sorry for her.”

  The girls joined the rest of the class and passed out their cards. The excitement in the room made it impossible to worry too much about Jessica’s mean words. Kari could hardly wait to open her valentines.

  When they returned to their seats, Kari found a card sitting on her desk, a few inches away from her basket. Hand-drawn flowers and hearts decorated the envelope. Please, God, not from Jason.

  Kari looked around as she opened it. Sure enough, it read: Happy Valentine’s Day to a Special Girl. Jason.

  A faint feeling came over Kari. This could not be happening. She had ignored Jason all week so this wouldn’t happen. But still he hadn’t gotten the message.

  All the sudden she noticed Jason. He was standing a few feet away and he was holding a teddy bear. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Kari.” He handed her the stuffed animal. From the back of the class Kari heard a few students giggling.

  She looked that way. Jessica was whispering to the girls around her.

  Kari cleared her throat as she took the bear. She needed Jason to understand. She could almost hear her mom telling her that. Be yourself. That’s what her mother would say. Kari found her smile. “Thank you, Jason. I only want to be friends. Just so you know.”

  He smiled. “I do. It’s okay.” He held a pen and now he took the card from her desk. He crossed out something and wrote some new words. When he handed it to her this time it read, “Will you be my friend?”

  Everyone was watching. Kari could feel that. But Jason only smiled and gave her an easy shrug. “You can give the bear to your little brother if you want.”

  Suddenly Kari didn’t care what the other kids said or whether Jessica Howland was making fun of her. Jason was only being nice. She took the bear and nodded. “I’ll do that.” She grinned at Jason. “Friends. Definitely.”

  “Great.” Jason looked around. “Sorry. For the big scene. I told everyone I just wanted to be your friend.” He gave her one last smile. “See you around.”

  “Sure.” Relief filled Kari’s heart. “See you.”

  Jason returned to his seat. Eventually Mrs. Pike took the front of the room and the moment was behind them. Kari couldn’t have been happier.

  Brittany leaned over. “You okay?”

  “I am.” Kari smiled. “Everyone needs friends.”

  “Yes.” Brittany was on Kari’s side for sure. “Exactly.”

  Kari promised herself she’d write about this in her journal later. She had been worried about nothing. Jason just wanted to be her friend.

  Nothing more.

  Which meant maybe she would even keep the teddy bear.

  You could never have too many friends.

  4

  The Perfect Party

  ASHLEY

  Ashley couldn’t believe the party was finally here. She and Lydia—with Miss Wilson’s help—stretched crepe paper in rows across the top of the classroom, and they taped pink and red and white balloons in every corner.

  “It has to be perfect.” Ashley tied a string around a group of balloons near the doorway.

  “It is!” Miss Wilson laughed. “You girls went way beyond what I expected.”

  Over the last few nights, Ashley and Lydia had decorated paper bags for their classmates. So when Ashley finished with the balloons, she set one bag on each desk. Then Lydia sprinkled confetti hearts around each one. So every desk was super decorated.

  Next, Miss Wilson left to get plates and napkins from the cafeteria. While she was gone, Ashley and Lydia took the large hearts the Baxter family had cut out and taped them to the walls and the blackboard.

  Finally they hung pink and white streamers from the top of the doorframe. So every boy and girl would walk through them after lunch. And last of all, the girls hung a Valentine’s Day banner with the name of every student in their class. Ashley and Lydia stepped back and examined their work.

  “You did it, Ashley.” Lydia pushed her glasses up higher on her face. Then she looked around the room, clearly happy.

  Ashley turned to her friend. “We did it.” She gave Lydia a high five. Ashley surveyed the place. It was a wonderland of Valentine’s Day perfection.

  Miss Wilson came in through the pink and white streamers and gasped. “Girls, this is stunning! How exciting.” She hurried the plates and napkins to her desk. “I have a little gift for you two.” She pulled out a little box.

  “What is it?” Ashley jumped in place a few times. Surprises were the best.

  “Hold on.” Miss Wilson laughed. She opened the box and pulled out two little heart pins. “These are for you girls. The best party makers in fourth grade.” She helped the girls pin the hearts to their sleeves.

  “They’re beautiful, Miss Wilson.” Ashley looked from their teacher to Lydia. “It’s official. We really are extraordinaire!”

  The bell rang and Miss Wilson checked her watch. “Do you need anything else?”

  Just as their teacher finished talking, a group of boys came into the classroom, Eric Powers in the lead. Ashley winced a little. As far as she was concerned that meant just one thing.

  Trouble.

  “Touchdown!” Eric yelled before he even came into the room. Then he tore through the doorway, ripping down most of the pink and white streamers. The boys who followed brought down what remained.
>
  Miss Wilson rushed to the pile of fallen streamers. She looked crushed. “Boys! Look what you’ve done. I’ll talk with you both in a minute.” She began to pick up the streamers lying in a mess on the floor.

  It all happened so fast that Ashley didn’t have time to be calm and breathe like normal. She picked up a handful of streamers and walked it to Eric. “How could you?”

  “We didn’t know.” Eric threw his hands up like he was innocent.

  But Ashley wasn’t buying it. “You didn’t know? Really? Well you want to know something now, Eric?” She threw the wad of streamers at his feet. “You just ruined Valentine’s Day.”

  How could Eric do this? Ashley marched back over to Lydia, who was standing still. Like she was too shocked to move. Ashley put her hands on her hips. “We worked so hard.”

  “Yeah.” Lydia sounded like she might cry. “Everything is ruined.”

  Ashley took a deep breath. She was mad, but she didn’t want the day to be ruined. No matter what she had just told Eric. She looked at the boys, who were now getting a lecture from Miss Wilson.

  I hope they get in big trouble, Ashley thought. They deserve it.

  Eric came over, followed by the other boys. He looked right in her eyes. He was trying to be serious, but she could still see his smile. He wasn’t good at hiding it.

  “I’m sorry I ruined your decorations, Baxter.” He swayed back and forth. “Now I gotta stay after school every day next week and organize Miss Wilson’s bookshelves.”

  Ashley almost smiled at the news. Still, Eric didn’t seem very sorry.

  “It’s Ashley.” She crossed her arms. “And I don’t believe you.” She turned her head away. He didn’t deserve her attention.

  “Hey.” Eric took a step toward her. “I’m sorry. Really.” He tried to look right at her. “I wasn’t careful. Truce?” He held out his hand.

  Ashley stared at him. She was still really mad. But it was important to forgive people. Even enemies named Eric.

  “Fine. I forgive you.” She uncrossed her arms. She shook his hand and then walked to the damage zone. Lydia was already there, helping Miss Wilson.