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You sprawl in the grass. Sunny is next to you. She says, “I figure we let everybody have ice-cream sundaes in about half an hour.”

“At least.” Dawn, who is propped against a tree, groans. “I didn’t know I could eat so much pizza. How am I going to eat ice-cream sundaes?”

Maggie says, “With a spoon!” and cracks up like a little kid.

You hear Sunny laughing and you turn. In the half-dark, she smiles at you. You smile back and relax.

You and Sunny are still a team. A good team. In spite of all the drama of the past few weeks.

After awhile [sic], you make ice-cream sundaes.

Dawn glances up as Sunny takes charge of that too. She smiles, relieved.

She’s glad you and Sunny are still friends.

Glad, like you, that your friendship survived this bad time.

You go outside to wave good night when everyone leaves. Sunny gives your hand a squeeze.

“Not bad, Ducky. Just what we needed.”

“Ice cream, pizza, and friends,” Maggie adds.

Brendan says, “Here’s to it, especially the friends part.”

“Especially,” Maggie echoes.

“And here’s to this year and everything amazing that is going to happen,” Dawn adds.

“That too,” Amalia agrees.

And then they are gone.

You stand on the front walk until they are gone. Then you stand there some more.

You look up at the stars.

If you wished on a star, you’d wish for friends exactly like these.

You, Christopher, are one lucky Duck.

About the Author

ANN MATTHEWS MARTIN was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, NJ, with her

parents and her younger sister, Jane.

Although Anne [sic] used to be a teacher and then an editor of children’s books, she’s now a full-time writer. She gets ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences. Others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events.

All of Ann’s characters are made up. But some of her characters are based on real people.

Sometimes Anne [sic] names her characters after people she knows; other times she chooses names she likes.

In addition to California Diaries, Ann Martin has written many other books, including the Baby-sitters Club series. She has written twelve novels for young people, including
Missing Since
Monday
,
With You or
[sic]
Without You
,
Slam Book
, and
Just a Summer Romance
.

Ann M. Martin does not live in California, though she does visit frequently. She lives in New York with her cats, Gussie, Woody, and Willy, and her dog, Sadie. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework — especially making clothes for children.

Sunny and I are just friends.

Sunny and I are JUST friends.

Sunny and I are JUST FRIENDS.