Make Believe by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Author:Susan Beth Pfeffer
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497682009
Publisher: Open Road Media

7

“Are you sure everything is ready, Mom?” Carrie asked.

“Of course I’m sure,” Carrie’s mother replied. “This isn’t a sit-down dinner for twenty. I think I can handle a five-girl sleepover.”

“I’m not sure I can,” Carrie said.

“Of course you can,” her father declared. “You’re twelve now. Twelve-year-olds can handle all kinds of social events.”

“Give me a little more practice, okay?” Carrie said. “I’ve only been twelve for two days. I’m still new at it.”

“It’ll be fine,” Carrie’s mother said. “What can go wrong? Ice cream sundaes first, then a movie, and then pizza and birthday cake. It’s calorie heaven.”

“Cavity heaven too,” Carrie’s father said. “I expect business to quadruple after this sleepover.”

“We have to have all that stuff, Dad,” Carrie said. “It’s traditional.”

“It’s traditions like that that’ll put you through college,” her father replied.

“Mike, you’ll be nice, won’t you?” Carrie asked. “You won’t tease us?”

“Do I ever tease?” Mike asked, not even looking up from his chessboard.

“Of course you do,” Carrie said. “But not today, all right?”

“I’ll be a saint,” Mike told her. “Do you want me to kiss your friends’ hands or will a simple bow do?”

“Mom,” Carrie said.

“Just ignore the girls,” Carrie’s mother said to Mike. “If it’s possible to ignore five twelve-year-old girls.”

“I won’t even know they’re here,” Mike said.

“Teach me your system,” Carrie’s father said, but then he laughed. “Don’t worry, honey. This is going to be a perfect sleepover. Whatever that entails.”

“It means no sleeping and lots of junk food,” Carrie’s mother said. “Plus a sympathetic deaf family.”

“I hear someone driving up,” Carrie said. She ran to the window, and sure enough, a car pulled in, and out came Sara. Carrie ran to the door and let her in.

“Am I the first?” Sara asked. “I always hate to be first.”

“You are, but it’s okay,” Carrie said, suddenly feeling shy. “Uh, Sara, you know my family.”

“Of course I do,” Sara said. “Hi, Mr. Baird. Hi, Ms. Talmann.”

“It’s the other way around,” Carrie said.

“Oh,” Sara said. “Sorry. Hi, Mike.”

“Hi, Sara,” Carrie’s mother said. “Do you want to put your stuff in Carrie’s room while you’re waiting for the other girls?”

“Okay,” Sara said. She carried her bag upstairs, and while she was up there, the doorbell rang. Carrie opened the door and found Tiffany standing there.

“Hi, everybody,” Tiffany said. “Happy birthday, Carrie, sort of. Well, I wished you a happy birthday on Thursday, when it really was your birthday, but happy birthday party, anyway. Is anyone else here?”

“Sara’s in my room, putting away her stuff,” Carrie said. “When everybody gets here, we’re going out for sundaes and a movie.”

“PG-13?” Tiffany asked.

“I’m not sure,” Carrie said. “Mom, what’s the rating?”

“Appropriate for twelve-year-olds,” her mother replied. “I think just PG.”

“Oh, well,” Tiffany said. “I can make up sexy stuff if the movie needs it. I’ll go get Sara.” She ran upstairs, and in a moment she and Sara were back in the living room.

“Your room looks different,” Sara said.

Carrie smiled. “Mom and Dad got me a new bedspread and curtains for my birthday,” she replied.

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