Fabulous Five 020 - The Witches of Wakeman (8 page)

"Look at that dress," said Jana, pointing to a fuchsia
dress with long, full sleeves and large white buttons. It was hanging up in one
of the windows of a store in the mall. "Isn't that gorgeous?"

"Maybe you can get Randy to buy it for you as a
present," said Melanie, looking at Jana's boyfriend teasingly.

"Well,
I
think that outfit with the black pants,
yellow Mickey Mouse T-shirt, and suspenders is the greatest," said Beth
winking at Keith Masterson. "I don't think I can live without it one more
day."

"Listen to them, guys," said Randy Kirwan to
Keith, Tony Calcaterra, and Scott Daly. "You'd think they didn't have
enough to wear, as it is."

"Yeah," agreed Keith. "I bet if you looked in
their closets you'd find clothes they haven't even worn yet."

"Not true," said Jana. "I've worn everything
I own."

"How many times?" challenged Keith. "Once?
Twice?"

"More than that," said Jana, putting her hands on
her hips.

"Listen to these guys talk," Christie joined in. "I
bet you're the ones who have clothes you haven't worn."

"Right,"' said Katie. "You wear the same faded
jeans all the time. Everything else you're got is probably gathering dust in
your closets."

"Yo, Your Honor," said Tony. "What's wrong
with wearing jeans? They're comfortable."

"I know," said Katie sweetly. "But shouldn't
you take them off to wash them once in a while?"

Tony faked a swing at Katie and grabbed her around the neck
pulling her against him in a fake wrestling hold.

"I can't imagine what it would be like to have only one
outfit to wear," said Beth.

"I know," said Christie thoughtfully. "But some
people right here in the United States don't ever get to wear anything new.
They're lucky if they find a place to sleep for the night or get enough to eat.
There are homeless people living right here in our town."

"There
can't
be too many," said Melanie. "How
many people like that do you know of?"

"I guess they don't hang out in malls and places like
Bumpers," said Jana soberly. "That's why we never see them."

The others nodded in agreement.

Jana gets a chance to find out more about the homeless when she
tries to befriend a girl who lives in a shelter. Find out what happens in The
Fabulous Five #21:
Jana to the Rescue.

Betsy Haynes, the daughter of a former newswoman, began
scribbling poetry and short stories as soon as she learned to write. A serious
writing career, however, had to wait until after her marriage and the arrival
of her two children. But that early practice must have paid off, for within
three months Mrs. Haynes had sold her first story. In addition to a number of
magazine short stories and the Taffy Sinclair series, Mrs. Haynes is also the
author of
The Great Mom Swap
and its sequel,
The Great Boyfriend
Trap.
She lives in Colleyville, Texas, with her husband, who is also an
author.