Katie Starting from Scratch by Coco Simon

believe it.
    â€œSo is Emily part of the Cupcake Club now?” I blurted out. “I mean, do we vote on these things or what?”
    Everybody just kind of stared at me.
    â€œWell,” said Mia, looking around, “Emily is a great helper, and we could sure use the help. Right?” She glanced at me.
    â€œSure,” I said, not knowing what else to say. “If her dad says it’s okay.”
    Emily got up. “I’ll go, um, ask him.” But I could tell she was leaving because she felt uncomfortable.
    â€œWhat was that about?” Mia asked when Emily had gone.
    â€œNothing,” I said. “It was a normal question, that’s all.”
    â€œBut you sounded so angry,” Mia said. “And I think maybe you made Emily feel really bad.”
    I sighed. “Forget it.”
    â€œSeriously, is something bothering you?” Mia pressed.
    Normally, I would tell Mia anything. But I was still mad at her. It was like she was taking Emily’s side.
    â€œNo, I’m fine,” I snapped. “Let’s just finish the meeting, okay?”
    So we finished the meeting, and Emily came back in, and things went back to normal. Well, maybe on the outside they were normal. On the inside, I didn’t feel normal at all.

CHAPTER 9
Thank Goodness for Mr. Cheddar!
    A fter the meeting, Alexis’s mom picked up Alexis, Emma, and Mia.
    â€œEmily and I should be getting back home,” Jeff said. I was relieved. Finally!
    â€œKatie, we need to talk to you first,” Mom said. “Emily’s mom is going to be out of the country all next week. She’s been going to Haiti to help out the people there.”
    â€œOh, she’s a doctor, right?” I said. “That’s nice.”
    â€œThe thing is, I have basketball tryouts after school most of this week,” Jeff said.
    â€œSo I suggested Emily come here after school,” Mom chimed in. “With you. Otherwise she’d have to hang out in the gym for hours, waiting for Jeff.”
    â€œYeah, and it can be pretty sweaty and smelly in there,” Jeff said with a laugh.
    I let this sink in. “So, Emily would be taking the bus back with me?”
    Mom nodded. “Then you two could hang out until I get home, and Jeff will pick up Emily when he’s done.”
    I couldn’t believe it. After spending this whole weekend with Emily, I was going to be stuck with her for another week! But what was I supposed to say?
    â€œSure, whatever,” I said.
    â€œGreat!” Jeff said. “Emily will meet you by the bus tomorrow. How does that sound, Emily?”
    â€œThat’s fine,” Emily said, but her voice sounded kind of small. She didn’t seem thrilled either.
    â€œThen it’s settled,” Mom said. She gave Jeff a kiss. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow. Have a nice night, Emily.”
    â€œThank you,” Emily said, and then she and Jeff left.
    â€œWell, that was a lovely weekend, wasn’t it?” Mom asked. “I know we’re filled up with chicken salad, so I’ll make something light for dinner. Maybe I’ll just heat up some soup.”
    â€œSure, whatever,” I repeated, and then I wentup to my room. No one cared what I thought anymore anyway.

    On Monday morning, I was in a pretty bad mood on the bus. Mia was talking to me about something Dan did, but I was barely listening.
    Then I heard this squeaky voice.
    â€œGood morning, Katie. Got any cheese?”
    I looked up and saw a mouse puppet peering over the back of my chair.
    â€œGeorge! What are you doing?” I asked, looking over the back of the seat.
    â€œIt’s my new act,” he said. “This is my puppet, Mr. Cheddar.” He held up the puppet. “How do you save a drowning mouse?” he asked in his squeaky voice.
    â€œI don’t know. How?”
    â€œWith mouse-to-mouse resuscitation!” the puppet replied, and then George started