Prom Date by Melody Carlson Page A

committee?”
    â€œNot me,” Devon told her. “I’m auditioning for the play too. And I expect to snag a big part.”
    Cass looked hopefully at Emma. “What about you?”
    Emma just shrugged.
    â€œYou’re artistic,” Bryn reminded Emma. “You’d be a realasset on the decorations committee. Maybe you could head it up. That would look good on your college app too.”
    â€œI guess if Cass does it, I could too.” But Emma looked less than enthused.
    Bryn turned to Felicia, who was looking down at her phone with a furrowed brow. “What about you, Felicia? You could help Emma with—”
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Emma suddenly asked Felicia.
    Felicia looked up with tears in her eyes, but said nothing.
    â€œIs it about Sofia?” Emma pressed.
    Felicia just nodded with a trembling chin, like she was on the verge of tears.
    â€œWhat happened? Is she okay?” Emma’s eyes grew wide.
    â€œYes . . . it’s just a problem . . . with her treatment.” Felicia looked back down at her phone. “Something unexpected.”
    â€œI already told most of you that Felicia’s little sister Sofia was just diagnosed with leukemia,” Emma said. “She’s only eight years old. She’s at the pediatric cancer center with her mom right now.” Emma turned to Felicia. “But what’s wrong?” she asked gently. “What’s the problem with her treatment—the unexpected thing?”
    â€œIt’s just that our insurance—it doesn’t cover the cancer center where Mom took Sofia for treatment. And it’s the best treatment center in the state and for miles around. They said she has to—to leave.” Felicia really did start to cry.
    â€œWell, that’s just wrong,” Emma proclaimed.
    â€œThat is totally wrong,” Bryn agreed. “How can they do that?”
    â€œWhere will Sofia get her treatment then?” Emma quietly asked Felicia.
    â€œMy mom has some names of other places . . . places thatare farther away . . . where our insurance will cover it. But none of them are as good as where Sofia is now.”
    â€œWhy can’t she just stay there?” Cassidy demanded. “Why should your insurance get to decide what’s best for her? Why can’t your parents decide?”
    Felicia sighed. “That’s the way it is.”
    â€œBut they have no right to turn her away,” Emma argued. “This is a free country, isn’t it? Why can’t people get treatment from the place they believe is best?”
    â€œBecause . . . without insurance . . . it’s too expensive.” Felicia wiped her tears with a napkin. “We can’t afford it.”
    The table got very quiet now. Abby felt seriously indignant for Felicia’s sake. How was it fair that good medical treatment could be denied to a child—just because her family had the wrong insurance provider, or simply didn’t have enough money? It was so unjust.
    â€œI have an idea to save our prom,” Bryn said suddenly.
    â€œSeriously? Are you still obsessing over prom?” Abby could feel the irritation in her tone. “What about Sofia?”
    â€œThis is for Sofia too.” Bryn’s brows arched mysteriously. “A way to help her.”
    Suddenly every girl at the table gave Bryn her full attention.
    â€œWe’ll turn prom into a fund-raiser,” Bryn began. “I’m not totally sure how, but I’m sure it can be done.” She twisted her mouth to one side. “For starters we’ll raise the price of tickets—”
    â€œBut that will turn the guys totally against it,” Devon told her.
    â€œNot if all the proceeds go to help someone in need.”
    â€œBut proms are expensive,” Abby pointed out. “Ticket proceeds help to cover the cost.”
    â€œUnless we got some