just didn’t think one could happen to me.
That evening I shut myself in the kitchen. I’d told Mum I’d got this work I absolutely had to finish, and that Mrs Weaver would skin me alive if I didn’t hand it in by tomorrow. But it was actually because I couldn’t stand the thought of spending another evening with Amber and Patsy.
Anyway, there I was, miserably doodling felt-tip hearts on the inside of my work book, when suddenly the phone rang.
It was for Mum. I wasn’t in the mood for eavesdropping, to be honest, but I got the vague impression someone had given hersome upsetting news. A few minutes after she’d replaced the receiver, the phone rang again. And after Mum had heard what this caller had to say, she sounded totally distraught.
She burst into the kitchen, looking as white as a sheet.
“Did you know about this?” she demanded. “I’ve just had Frankie and Lyndz’s mothers on the phone. Apparently their daughters can no longer perform their bridesmaids’ duties on Saturday.”
I know it sounds heartless, but I almost burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it. Sometimes my friends take my breath away. That’s the Sleepover Club all over, I thought. One out, ALL out!
Luckily Mum was too busy ranting to notice my reaction. “What’s going on, Fliss?” she blazed. “Have you had some kind of stupid quarrel or something?”
I jumped to my feet. “Stupid quarrel !” I screamed. “It’s not us who’s stupid. You’re the one who forced me to choose between my friends, remember?”
“I didn’t do anything of the kind—” Mum began.
“Yes, you did!” I yelled. “You FORCED me. And you know what? I’m proud of my friends for taking a stand. That’s what I should have done in the first place. But it’s OK, because I’m doing it now!”
I glared at her, breathing hard.
Mum looked alarmed. “What do you mean?” she gasped.
All at once I knew exactly what I was going to say. “It’s up to you,” I said. “You can have ALL of the Sleepover Club for your bridesmaids, or none of them.”
I wasn’t shouting now. I was as quiet and reasonable as can be.
“You’ve got to make up your mind, Mum,” I told her calmly. “Is it Amber you want at your wedding? Or is it me?”
It was true what I said to Mum. I should have stood up for my mates at the start. But now that I’d finally done it, I felt like a new person. All my mixed-up feelings melted away like a bad dream, and I knew exactly what I had to do next. But I didn’t have much time to do it.
I quickly abandoned my pretend homework, and went to hunt out this fancy writing set which my Auntie Paula gave me last Christmas.
It was the first time I’d used it, actually.
I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I wasn’t too thrilled when I first got it, so Ididn’t look at it that closely. But as I stripped off the cellophane, I suddenly noticed an eerie coincidence.
My notepaper and envelopes were decorated with cute little cartoons of baby angels. There was also a motto which said, “ Angels fly because they take themselves lightly .” Isn’t that SWEET! Don’t tell anyone, but I truly felt like those angels had just popped up to show me I was on the right track.
I was incredibly sleepy after my bad night, but I forced my eyes to stay open until I’d written four letters, one for each of my friends, explaining what I’d just told my mum.
Then I slipped the sealed envelopes into my school bag and zipped it shut. I didn’t think it was wise to leave them lying around. If Amber thought it was OK to muscle in on my mates’ bridesmaids’ dresses, she might figure it was OK to read people’s letters too.
I went to bed, convinced I’d found the perfect way to put things right. But so far, it was just a theory.
When I actually went into our classroom next day, I almost lost my nerve. It was like walking into this like, icy wall of HATE. When Lyndz and Frankie saw me coming, they immediately pulled faces, as if I
That evening I shut myself in the kitchen. I’d told Mum I’d got this work I absolutely had to finish, and that Mrs Weaver would skin me alive if I didn’t hand it in by tomorrow. But it was actually because I couldn’t stand the thought of spending another evening with Amber and Patsy.
Anyway, there I was, miserably doodling felt-tip hearts on the inside of my work book, when suddenly the phone rang.
It was for Mum. I wasn’t in the mood for eavesdropping, to be honest, but I got the vague impression someone had given hersome upsetting news. A few minutes after she’d replaced the receiver, the phone rang again. And after Mum had heard what this caller had to say, she sounded totally distraught.
She burst into the kitchen, looking as white as a sheet.
“Did you know about this?” she demanded. “I’ve just had Frankie and Lyndz’s mothers on the phone. Apparently their daughters can no longer perform their bridesmaids’ duties on Saturday.”
I know it sounds heartless, but I almost burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it. Sometimes my friends take my breath away. That’s the Sleepover Club all over, I thought. One out, ALL out!
Luckily Mum was too busy ranting to notice my reaction. “What’s going on, Fliss?” she blazed. “Have you had some kind of stupid quarrel or something?”
I jumped to my feet. “Stupid quarrel !” I screamed. “It’s not us who’s stupid. You’re the one who forced me to choose between my friends, remember?”
“I didn’t do anything of the kind—” Mum began.
“Yes, you did!” I yelled. “You FORCED me. And you know what? I’m proud of my friends for taking a stand. That’s what I should have done in the first place. But it’s OK, because I’m doing it now!”
I glared at her, breathing hard.
Mum looked alarmed. “What do you mean?” she gasped.
All at once I knew exactly what I was going to say. “It’s up to you,” I said. “You can have ALL of the Sleepover Club for your bridesmaids, or none of them.”
I wasn’t shouting now. I was as quiet and reasonable as can be.
“You’ve got to make up your mind, Mum,” I told her calmly. “Is it Amber you want at your wedding? Or is it me?”
It was true what I said to Mum. I should have stood up for my mates at the start. But now that I’d finally done it, I felt like a new person. All my mixed-up feelings melted away like a bad dream, and I knew exactly what I had to do next. But I didn’t have much time to do it.
I quickly abandoned my pretend homework, and went to hunt out this fancy writing set which my Auntie Paula gave me last Christmas.
It was the first time I’d used it, actually.
I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I wasn’t too thrilled when I first got it, so Ididn’t look at it that closely. But as I stripped off the cellophane, I suddenly noticed an eerie coincidence.
My notepaper and envelopes were decorated with cute little cartoons of baby angels. There was also a motto which said, “ Angels fly because they take themselves lightly .” Isn’t that SWEET! Don’t tell anyone, but I truly felt like those angels had just popped up to show me I was on the right track.
I was incredibly sleepy after my bad night, but I forced my eyes to stay open until I’d written four letters, one for each of my friends, explaining what I’d just told my mum.
Then I slipped the sealed envelopes into my school bag and zipped it shut. I didn’t think it was wise to leave them lying around. If Amber thought it was OK to muscle in on my mates’ bridesmaids’ dresses, she might figure it was OK to read people’s letters too.
I went to bed, convinced I’d found the perfect way to put things right. But so far, it was just a theory.
When I actually went into our classroom next day, I almost lost my nerve. It was like walking into this like, icy wall of HATE. When Lyndz and Frankie saw me coming, they immediately pulled faces, as if I
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