Time's Up (17 page)

“That's okay.” Marky laughed. “It's so crowded in here!”

“It's jammed!” Katani smiled at her friend. “I didn't know you were coming.”

“I wouldn't have been able to if Whitney hadn't come over this morning to help me with my social studies project.” Katani couldn't help but wonder how Whitney had time to help anyone, what with her extra riding lessons and super-successful barrette business. “I was complaining yesterday at the stable about this paper on China,” Marky went on, “and she just said, ‘Do you want some help? I lived in China for a year.' She totally saved me.”

“Whitney did that?”

Marky nodded. “She's really nice, you know. Once you get to know her.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Katani couldn't take all this in right now. “I better go check in with my sis. She's collecting donations over there.” Katani pointed at the counter.

“Well, congrats, Katani.”

“Thanks. Oh, and thanks for coming too.”

Katani hurried over to find Kelley, trying to make sense of everything in her head. On top of everything, had she been unfair to Whitney?

Sapphire Pierce was leaning on the counter across from Mrs. Fields and Kelley. “You must be so proud of your granddaughters,” she told Mrs. Fields.

“I certainly am,” Mrs. Fields replied with a smile.

“Katani!” Kelley shouted. “Mr. Bear's scarves are all gone, even the one he was modeling, and I shook hands with the mayor! The smiley mayor of Boston! He mumbles, you know.”

“Kelley, you're a superstar! Can I please shake Ms. Kelley Summers's hand, too?” Katani leaned over the counter, extending her hand.

Kelley shook her head. “No, Katani, I am all shook out.”

“That's okay, Kel,” Katani said, and blew her sister a kiss.

Just then Ms. Pink flashed the store lights on and off, and the room quieted down. “Hello, everyone. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Razzberry Pink, and this is my store. I want to thank everyone for coming out today to support our fund-raiser. The power to fight cancer comes from the heart and—” She paused. “From the pocketbook.”

Laughter rippled through the room.

“We all know what a pink ribbon means,” Ms. Pink continued, “and as you can see by looking around you, you're in the right place. Now, I am so pleased to introduce Katani Summers, who is the girl behind these beautiful scarves. Katani, come on up and say a few words.”

Kelley held up Mr. Bear and shouted, “Wooo-hooo!”

Katani stepped to the center of the room. She had prepared a short speech, but now she decided to keep her paper folded in her hand.

“Thank you, everyone, for being here today to support such a good cause,” Katani spoke clearly, her eyes circling the room. “I had this idea to start a business to support a worthy cause. But this past week I was so busy with school work, an entrepreneur contest, and this fund-raiser, I somehow forgot what was most important—
working together
. I thought I could do it all myself, but I learned my lesson.”

“I told you, you needed help!” Kelley blurted out.

A few people laughed, including Katani. “You were so right, Kelley,” she agreed. “And now I want to thank everyone who helped me get to this point today: my friend Maeve; my entire family; Kelley, for her perfect mini-scarves; Mrs. Martinez; the Knitwits; and finally, Ms. Pink, for hosting this special party at her spectacular pink store. But, most importantly, thank you all for being here today and contributing to the Race for the Cure!”

As Katani paused, the room was so quiet, she could hear Chelsea's video camera making a low whirring noise. She glanced down at her notes to make sure she got this next part exactly right.

“Working together, we can really make a difference—no matter how old or young we are.” Katani raised her lemonade cup to toast everyone. Ms. Pink threw a rain shower of sparkling pink confetti on everyone, and Maeve pronounced the event “Miraculous, simply miraculous!”