• CHAPTER 9 • WORN AND TORN

Even though I still feel bad that it doesn’t fit Coco anymore, I plan to wear the flannel to Stitch and Share. I tell myself it’s because I want to show Josefina and the other sewists my mending work. That’s partly true, but it’s not the only reason. I also want the burst of confidence I feel when I wear the shirt.

I need all the confidence I can get if I’m going to finish my gown. Especially now that Tía Abuela’s surprise turned out to be such a flop. I’m starting to get nervous that I’m not as prepared to sew the Dragon Dress 2.0 as I thought I was.

I fold the silky green fabric pieces and pack them into my sewing bag, along with all my supplies. Since I know it’s going to take a lot of work to finish the dress, I arrive at the library even earlier than usual. The community room is still empty, and the lights are off. I switch them on and spread the pieces of my dress out in the middle of the floor to examine them.

It’s even worse than I thought.

I managed to sew the sleeves, but one is longer than the other. The bottom of the skirt is all crooked. The edges are beginning to fray.

“Catalina?”

“Aah!” I jump up, startled. But when I turn around to see who’s there, it’s only Josefina the Librarian. She’s carrying the fabric bin, and it’s even emptier than it was last time.

“You’re here early,” Josefina continues. “Even for you.” She looks down at my green fabric pieces. “What’s all this?”

Now that my breath has slowed down, I kneel on the floor again. I explain my plan to recreate Tía Abuela’s Dragon Dress in a size that would fit me.

“I bet lots of people would come to see it, and that would help you raise money for the sewing machine,” I say. “I wanted to surprise you and the other sewists with the finished dress, but I’m having a little trouble.” I frown. Even with all my practice, I can’t seem to sew this dress.

Josefina sets the bin down on the desk at the back of the room. She comes back and sits on the floor next to me.