Best Friends by Ann M. Martin Page A

living room. It was filling up fast with both neighbors and presents. Her mother kept sending out plates of food, which Olivia, Ruby, and Flora were in charge of passing to the guests.
    Olivia loved company. There were Mr. Pennington and Min, sitting side by side on the couch. There was Aunt Allie, talking awkwardly to Robby, who was so excited about the surprise that he was bouncing up and down on his toes. “We bought the baby a car seat!” he exclaimed. “It’s in that box, that big one over there. It’s almost the biggest present of all!” There was Margaret Malone talking to Mr. Willet, and Lydia Malone sitting on a chair in a very bored fashion, sneaking a peek at the texts on her phone, which Dr. Malone had told her not to bring. And there were the Morris kids, chasing Jack and Henry up and down the stairs.
    In the midst of the confusion Olivia glanced first at her watch and then through the front window. Suddenly, she yelped, “I see the Fongs! Here they come! They’re almost here!”
    The room grew quiet.
    â€œEveryone stand back there,” said Mr. Walter, pointing. “And don’t say a word,” he added, looking deliberately at Jack, Henry, Alyssa, Travis, Lacey, and Mathias, who had screeched to a halt at the bottom of the stairs. “I’ll answer the door. When I let them in, yell ‘Surprise!’ … but not too loudly.”
    The Row House neighbors huddled at one end of the Walters’ living room, while Mr. Walter waited in the hallway. Ruby suppressed a giggle, Mrs. Morris hushed Travis and Alyssa, and Flora reached for Olivia’s hand and gripped it.
    Olivia heard the door open.
    â€œHi,” said her father.
    â€œHi,” replied Mr. Fong. “We thought we’d pick up the high chair, if it’s convenient.”
    â€œAbsolutely. Come on in.”
    The Fongs, Mr. Walter behind them, appeared in the entry to the living room, and Olivia and her family and friends cried, “Surprise!”
    Olivia watched Mrs. Fong’s face closely and decided she wouldn’t be able to look quite so startled unless she was either truly surprised or a very good actor. She actually thought her neighbor seemed just a teensy bit frightened.
    Mrs. Fong’s hands flew to her cheeks.
    â€œDid we surprise you? Did we surprise you?” asked Alyssa.
    â€œYou certainly did,” said Mrs. Fong, and she began to smile. “Thank you!” she exclaimed. She turned to her husband. “You knew, didn’t you?”
    He was smiling, too. “Hardest secret I’ve ever had to keep.”
    Mrs. Fong, hands resting on her belly, was ushered to a chair, and the adults began to talk and laugh. Olivia and Flora and Ruby passed the plates of food again, but after just a few minutes, Lacey Morris cried, “Open the presents now! We can’t wait any longer.”
    And so the present opening began.
    â€œI’ve never seen so many gifts,” exclaimed Mrs. Fong.
    There were baby blankets and baby socks and baby hats. There was a red wagon from Dr. Malone and a stack of picture books from the Morrises and plenty of handmade gifts, including the album from Olivia (“Stunning,” said Mrs. Fong) and the dress from Flora (“You’re so talented,” said Mr. Fong) and the teddy from Ruby (“Our baby’s first stuffed animal,” said Mrs. Fong). Min, Mr. Pennington, and Mr. Willet had pooled their resources and bought a baby carriage. Even Lydia had bought and wrapped a crib mobile and seemed genuinely pleased when the Fongs proclaimed it to be exactly the kind their baby book recommended.
    When the last gift had been opened, Olivia surveyed the paper-strewn room with satisfaction. Then she glanced at Mrs. Fong and saw tears in her eyes.
    â€œShe’s crying ,” she whispered to Flora and Ruby.
    â€œBecause she’s happy,” said Ruby.
    â€œBecause she’s pregnant,” said