Time's Up (11 page)

K
atani's parents were out and her grandmother was working on the school budget, so everyone was having a grab bag dinner. Katani wolfed down Patrice's leftover special homemade pizza with sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives, and ricotta and mozzarella cheese. Grandma Ruby, who was munching on a Caesar salad at the table, occasionally glanced over at Katani in that all-knowing way. Katani could tell that her grandmother had sensed something was wrong between her and Maeve the minute she picked up Katani at school. Katani wished she could talk to her grandmother about it, but she was afraid she'd blurt out the whole story about the contest and everything.

Kelley was also under Grandma Ruby's watchful eye. When their grandmother asked how Kelley's afternoon was, Kelley pretended to zip her lips shut with her fingers and wouldn't say a word. Then she gave Katani the pinkie-swear shake under the table.

“Well, Patrice, I hope you can tell me something about your day,” Grandma Ruby said pointedly, while she gave
Katani her “I AM THE PRINCIPAL” look. The one that said, “I'm watching you, and I know something is up, and you better tell me before the trouble starts.” Katani hated that look.

Thank goodness Patrice went on about how busy she was with basketball and how they were definitely going to make the play-offs this year. On top of that, Patrice announced that she had Student Council, the Honor Society, and a major math test tomorrow.

Katani blocked her sister out. In her mind she envisioned Patrice floating away on a puffy cloud. Bye-bye, she waved. She was so tired of Patrice always making everything look so easy and doing everything just right.

Patrice grabbed a few brownies and called “Gotta go!” on her way out the door to her library meeting. As soon as she was gone, Grandma Ruby went upstairs to work in her study, but said that she wanted to have a talk with Katani later.
What's that about?
Katani thought.
Is she going to try to get me to tell her the whole story now?
A tiny part of Katani acknowledged it might be a relief to tell someone who cared about her how hard everything had become lately.

She looked over at Kelley, who was finishing her favorite pudding. “I'm busy, very very busy, Katani,” Kelley told her with an extremely serious expression. “I need time by myself right now. I'm very, very busy.” As she watched her sister bound up the stairs, Katani was puzzled. Usually, Kelley wanted to talk to Katani about everything. But she decided to take advantage of the quiet to start rereading
Let the Circle Be Unbroken.

However, as soon as she opened the book, all she could think about was all the things that were bothering her. Why would Maeve use Betsy's tutoring business? It really was a
complete betrayal, as far as Katani was concerned.
Well, fine. If Maeve cares so little about loyalty between friends, then I'm going to just stop caring too.
Then Katani thought of Reggie acting so dense and Mr. Sherman telling her that if their meeting that afternoon had been a real business meeting, she wouldn't have made a good impression being late. Why couldn't she seem to get anything right? she asked herself.
Maybe I'm just not cut out to be a business owner after all.

Worse, the scarves she had to knit loomed over her. The idea of them was like a weight pressing into her shoulders. With a big sigh, she put down the book and took up the scarf she was halfway through knitting.

Suddenly Kelley ran in and plopped herself down right next to Katani. “You're busy, aren't you, Katani? Busy, busy, busy like a bee.”

“Yes, Kelley.” Katani tried to be patient. After all, a minute ago she had wanted her sister's company.

“You're
too
busy!” Kelley announced, sidling up close to Katani. “So I helped knit some scarves.”

“What?” Katani was now exasperated.

“Close your eyes. Don't peek, Katani. Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Okay, open.”

Katani stared at three pink mohair scarves exactly like the ones she was knitting for the contest. “Where did you get these?” she asked, astounded.

“I made them. Remember? You taught me how! It's easy-peasy. See, I've been busy, busy, busy like a bee too.”

Katani's mouth opened, and she stared at her sister. “You made these for me?”

“I saw all your yarn.”

The stitches were a bit loose, but Katani had to admit the
scarves were impressive for someone who'd just learned how to knit.

“Thank you,” Katani said, her eyes filling. She couldn't believe Kelley had really done this for
her.
She reached her arms around Kelley, and Kelley let her hold on for a moment. Katani knew that was a big deal for her sister, who really didn't like to be touched.

Suddenly, Kelley flung herself away from Katani. “They're for our pinkie-swear secret,” she whispered dramatically. “Now I'm going to knit little scarves for Mr. Bear. Pink mohair Mr. Bear scarves.”

“Pink ones for Mr. Bear?” Katani asked, slowly putting together what Kelley was saying.

“Yes. He wants pink, don't you, Mr. Bear?” Kelley said as she gave her bear a squeeze.

For the first time, Katani realized that Kelley was really serious about entering the contest with her. No way could that happen. Kelley as her business partner? Total disaster! Kelley always meant well, but Katani just knew that if she got involved in her project it would ruin
everything.
But she knew better than to upset Kelley right now, so she kept her mouth shut.

“Did you find the yarn behind my sewing curtain?” Katani asked.

Kelley nodded. “For the pinkie-swear secret.”

“Why don't you start on Mr. Bear's scarves?” Katani tried to keep her voice level, but she thought she was an inch away from losing it. She turned back to the scarf she was knitting so she could focus on something and get one more scarf done, or at least well under way.

“All right, Kgirl,” Kelley said. “I'm a Kgirl, too! Katani and Kelley. K names, K girls.”

Just as Katani began to count slowly to herself, the doorbell rang.

Kelley jumped up. “Who's that? Who's here, Katani? Someone must know about our secret!”

She yanked the bedspread down over the scarves. The bell rang a second time.

“Don't let them in. No one can come in here. Right, Katani?”

“It's okay, Kelley. Don't worry. Grandma Ruby will get the door.”

A couple minutes later, Grandma Ruby opened the door to Katani and Kelley's bedroom. “Maeve's here, Katani.”

“Maeve?” Katani stopped knitting.

“Maeve!” Kelley shouted. “Maeve's here, Katani! We can't tell her about the pinkie-swear secret!”

Katani wouldn't even look at Grandma Ruby. She wished her grandmother weren't so smart about every little thing. It was starting to get on her nerves.

“Let's all go down and say hello to Maeve and then I have something special I want to show you in my study, Kelley,” said Grandma Ruby, her eyes never leaving Katani's.

“Maeve!” Kelley shouted, and ran down the stairs. She clapped her hands when she saw Maeve.

“Hi, Kelley!” Maeve gave Kelley a wave and a big smile. All the BSG were supportive and friendly to Kelley.

Grandma Ruby encouraged Kelley to follow her upstairs, promising her a treat, and Maeve and Katani were left standing on opposite sides of the kitchen, glancing at each other. The only sound was the refrigerator humming between them. Katani, arms folded, watched Maeve shifting her feet side to side and resisted the urge to say, “Well, how does it feel to betray your friend?”

Finally Maeve took a deep breath and tucked some loose strands of curly red hair behind her ear. “I'm soooo sorry about this whole Betsy mess. I really am, Katani. It's just, I know you never need any help with your homework, but I
really, really
do. Writing is so hard for me. I never know where to begin and then I get all messed up and it's just a totally bad, awful, horrible scene.

“And this week is crazy, like a total overload. My dad's in New York, my mom has a major project, my tutor, Matt, is out of town, and the BSG are all too busy with their own projects to help me. I know Betsy's entering your contest, but she's a really good tutor…and the only one I could get on such short notice. I mean, she's actually pretty cool when you talk to her. And it feels so awesome to actually know what I'm doing on a big project!” Maeve digressed. “Please don't be mad at me, Katani.” Maeve looked up at her friend with pleading eyes.

Katani understood that Maeve felt awful, and then she thought of everything that had gone wrong with her day, and it was just too much. Katani burst out crying right there in the middle of the kitchen.

Maeve's mouth dropped open, her eyes widened, and she jumped back. She'd never seen Katani cry so hard before…ever. The Kgirl was always composed and together. Now Katani covered her face with her hands, her whole body shaking. Maeve went to her friend and put a comforting arm around her shoulders.

“Please don't cry, Katani. It's okay. I didn't mean to make you more upset. Don't worry, things will be fine. I promise I won't use Betsy anymore. Please don't cry!”

Katani's chest heaved in and out until she caught her breath. Then she wiped her face with a kitchen cloth. “It's not
Betsy,” she sniffled. “It's everything!” And then she let out one final sob.

“When in doubt, call a BSG. You should know that!” Maeve smiled at her friend. “My dad sometimes makes tea for me when I'm upset. You want some?”

Katani gave her a small smile. “Grandma Ruby does that too.”

Katani directed Maeve to the tea bags and mugs. Katani splashed cold water on her face while Maeve brewed the Chai tea. As she handed Katani her cup, she said, “What's up? What's going on with you? Talk to Auntie Maeve.”

Katani snorted. “Ugh. Everything's such a total mess, I don't even know where to start.”

“The beginning?”

“I guess that's as good a place as any.” Katani smiled and took a sip of tea. “I told you about Whitney from High Hopes. I just knew all she wanted was information about the contest. That's when it started.” Once she started, Katani couldn't stop. It felt so good to spill everything.

“Then I forgot to bring the application for Pony Camp home that day, so Kelley and I probably won't be able to go because we don't go back there for over a week and the camp fills up really fast. Then we have so much work this week at school, it's not fair. Why does it all have to come now? Ms. R approved my
Let the Circle Be Unbroken
idea, but I haven't even started the paper yet.” With a hint of a smile, Katani added, “I did find a place to sell my scarves. Guess where?”

“Where?” Maeve sipped her tea and leaned forward.

“Well, they're pink mohair. Pink with heart beads on the ends.”

“Think Pink!? Wow, Katani!” Maeve exclaimed. “Only
my absolute favorite store in the entire universe!”

“Ms. Pink's going to display them in the window, and a portion of the sales will go to support breast cancer research. My only problem is that I have to knit all the scarves by Sunday. Isabel's mother is knitting three of them for me, and I've finished three, but I still have to do fourteen more.” Katani closed her eyes. “That's the deal. I don't know how I'm going to do it on top of everything else!”

Maeve started pacing the kitchen. “That's too much knitting,” she said. “You might collapse or something.”

Katani nodded. “Kelley knitted three, too, but the stitches are too loose and I don't think I can use them.”

“That was sweet of her and Mrs. Martinez.”

“Yeah. But Isabel doesn't know that her mom is helping me, so you can't tell her, okay? I just want to make sure I can really do this before it becomes a huge deal for everyone.”

Maeve nodded.

Katani sighed and went on. “And the other thing is, while I was talking to Ms. Pink, I totally lost track of time and I was late to meet Math Boy. We were supposed to talk about our math project. Reggie was so mad, he told Mr. Sherman he didn't want to work with me anymore.”

“No way!”

“It worked out because Mr. Sherman said I could use my budget plan, but I still can't believe that Reggie dumped me.”

“That
was
kind of harsh. I mean, everyone's allowed to make a mistake on occasion…even you,” Maeve agreed.

“And Kelley thinks she's going to enter the contest too. She's making pink scarves for Mr. Bear just like my scarves. I have to tell her this is
my
thing, but I have to be super careful. You know Kelley.” Katani shook her head.

Maeve smiled. “She just wants to help.”

“That's one way to put it.” Katani took a big gulp of her tea, which was lukewarm by now. “And I haven't been able to talk to the BSG about anything because I've been too busy and stressed out.”

“Hmmm. That's sure a lot to do by yourself, Katani. I can't help you with any of the school stuff, but I think I have a good idea for your scarves,” Maeve said. Her eyes were bright and twinkling.

They heard Katani's grandmother humming as she came down the stairs.

Maeve asked quickly, “Who all knows about the contest?”

“The BSG, Kelley, some of the girls in my horseback riding class, and a few people at school.”

“OK, meet me at Irving's after school tomorrow and bring all your yarn,” Maeve instructed her. “I know some people who can help you.”

“Okay. But, Maeve—”

“Yeah?”

“This is just between us, right? You won't tell any of the other BSG? I'd be really embarrassed if they knew what a mess I'm in.”

Mrs. Fields peeked her head into the kitchen. “Tell me when, Maeve.”

“It's pretty late. I should probably go now,” Maeve answered, looking at Katani.