Starr and the High Seas Wedding Drama (Flower Girl World chapter book) by Karen Lynelle; Wolcott Woolley

Chapter One
    â€œ
¡Delicioso!
”
    Starr Rubio licked her fork and placed it on the side of her dinner plate. Her family was having tamales for dinner, Starr’s favorite meal. Each tamale was like a sweet-and-spicy food present wrapped up in a cornhusk shell.
    Starr was sure her grandmother, Abuela, made the best tamales in all of San Antonio, Texas. But she only made them on special nights. That meant something important was happening at the Rubio’s house.
    What could it be?
Starr wondered. She looked around the table. It seemed like a regular evening. Her twin brothers, Ricky and Randy, were arguing. Her dad was rubbing his belly, and her mother and grandmother were complaining about the price of avocados.
    â€œStarr, please help me clear the table,” her mother said. “After the kitchen is cleaned, Abuela wants to share some big news. It involves all of us.”

    Starr’s grandmother had just returned from a cruise. For five days, she had sailed around Mexico on a huge ocean liner. Starr knew that Abuela loved taking cruises, because this trip was her third one this year.
    I wish I could go on a cruise
, Starr thought.
    Taking a cruise was like vacationing in a fancy floating hotel, with all-you-can-eat buffets, day-trips into port cities, and, best of all, big shows every night. Starr loved everything about the theater: singing, dancing, acting, and especially being in the spotlight.
    Maybe one day I’ll be the star of a cruise ship show
.
    Starr got goose bumps as she imagined herself on a stage, taking a bow, and blowing kisses to her audience. For a moment she got so lost in the dream, she forgot about the dirty plates on the table.
    When the dishes were finally back in the cabinets, the family gathered in the living room.
    â€œMy dear
familia
, as you know, I love cruises,” Abuela said with her Spanish accent.
    â€œThat’s for sure!” said Starr.
    â€œSurprise!” Abuela cheered. “I’m taking the whole family on a cruise around Mexico!”
    â€œHooray!” Starr and her brothers leaped into a celebration dance.
    â€œMama,” Starr’s mother said to Abuela, “tell them why we’re going on a cruise.”
    Starr’s parents glanced at each other with knowing smiles.
    â€œBecause I’m in love!” Abuela announced.
    Starr gasped. Randy squealed. Ricky looked confused.
    â€œAren’t you too old to fall in love?” Ricky asked.
    Starr’s mom shook her head. “You’re never too old to fall in love.”
    â€œHis name is Walter,” said Abuela. “We met in a ballroom dance class during my first cruise. We’ve been dancing together ever since.”
    Abuela put her hands on her heart and sighed. “And that’s not all. We’re getting married!”
    â€œWhat?” Starr’s jaw dropped.
    â€œWe want our families to meet before we set a wedding date. Walter will be on the ship too, along with his daughter and granddaughter.”
    Starr was speechless. This was a lot of news to absorb at once.
    Abuela pulled Starr aside for a private talk. “I know you’ll like Walter. You can call him Grandpa Walt.”
    Both of Starr’s grandfathers had passed away before she was born. This would be thefirst time she would call someone Grandpa.
    â€œStarr, I have something very important to ask,” Abuela went on. She reached into her tote bag and pulled out a large pink flower made of tissue paper.
    Starr’s eyes widened. “It’s so pretty!”
    â€œI made this for you during my cruise.” Abuela smiled. “On my wedding day, will you be a flower girl? You and Walter’s granddaughter can walk down the aisle together.”
    Starr loved being a flower girl. She had been in another wedding, along with two other flower girls, Rosie and Iris. The three of them lived in different cities, but their friendship kept growing through phone calls, video