Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
And there was that pride again. Wow, we’d really pulled it off. The songs were fun and touching, and everyone, including the kids, seemed to be having a great time. I’d heard from Principal Alana that we’d more than hit the fundraising goal, which was awesome, but as the video rolled, my pride was less about the money and more about…
Me.
I was good at this. I was good at keeping the kids on beat, cueing the different parts, directing the dancing. My spine stiffened, waiting for one or both of my parents to remark on how teaching was so much more stable than acting. However, they were frowning.
“A little amateur, dear, don’t you think?”
“Couldn’t you have managed better costumes?”
“A professional accompanist would have sounded far better than taped music.”
And so on, until I saw exactly where I got my nitpicking from.
“No.” I said the word so forcefully everyone in the room turned in my direction. “No, we couldn’t have done better. It was wonderful, and I’m so proud of the students and myself. And Merry, who brought it all together with the decorations.”
My mother blinked at the same time my father said, “What kind of name is Merry?”
“A good one.” I was beyond irked at this point, but weirdly, a newfound peace settled over me. I was never going to impress either of my parents. Not with my acting, not with a different job, not with the perfect boyfriend. I thought I’d let go of that urge to please them years ago. Apparently, it had continued to fester, though, a wound beneath the surface. But now I was finally free. I could decide for myself the worth of something.
“And a good guy,” Cara soothed, ever eager to maintain the peace. “Can I see you for a second, Nolan? I have a job for you and Merry.”
“A job? One that might get me out of the house?” Mood lifting, I followed her into the kitchen, away from the others still watching the video.
“Don’t sound so eager.” Cara made a pained face as she lowered her voice. “This is a Santa disaster. I ordered everything online, and as the packages came, I didn’t bother opening them until last night when I started wrapping.”
“I said I would help—”
“And I said I like wrapping. When I have time.” Cara pursed her lips. “And, of course, by procrastinating, disaster struck. I’ve looked everywhere all day, but I couldn’t find the professional-quality microphone setup I ordered for Athena in any of the boxes I had stashed. Craig even helped pick out the right one via chat. Finally, I checked my orders, and it never shipped.”
“Oh no.” I managed to keep my moan to a whisper.
“It’s her big present, the one thing she’s been asking for all fall.” Cara let her head fall back against the fridge. “The good news is I actually found the same one for sale on the island, but it’s at an electronics place in downtown Honolulu. They’re holding it for me, but they’re also closing at five.”
“So, you need me to call Merry and ask if he and I can go get it?” I tried hard not to bounce at the prospect of a couple of hours with Merry, away from the house, even if shopping on Christmas Eve was ill-advised at best.
“Yes. Exactly. I need to be here for party prep and early arrivals, and you need a break from your folks. Tell Merry he can drop the boys off here if he can give you a ride.”
“Absolutely. I’m sure he’ll be willing to play Santa’s helper with me.”
“Is that what you two are calling it?” Cara chuckled. “An elfing good time?”
“Cara.” I narrowed my eyes at her.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” She stretched to give me a kiss on the cheek. “And grateful to you for saving Christmas.”
“Let us actually accomplish the mission before you say thank you.”
Nineteen
As a gentle winter break reminder, growing middle school brains need regular fresh air and sunshine! Don’t spend the whole break in front of a screen.
NOLAN
Any hassle in calling Merry for a favor was worth it because I got more time with him and because of the look on my parents’ faces when they met Barney and the twins.
“Is that a dog?” My mother somehow managed to sound and look like a Muppet—long neck, googly eyes, dramatic voice.
“No, it’s a chicken.” I rolled my eyes at her. “Yes, Mother, that’s Merry’s family’s dog.”
“Why is it heading to the pool?” She put a hand to her chest as Barney sauntered out to the pool area through a door the kids had left ajar.
“He likes the purple raft.” I shrugged. The dog had grown on me substantially since our first meeting. Besides, it was more than worth having the dog over to watch my mother’s horror.
“Dear heavens. The hair in the filter. Your poor pool boy.”