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Walker Wildcats Year 1: Age 10
Episode 5: Miss Popular
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CASSIE CROUCHED BESIDE Riley’s desk before school started in the morning. “So did you ask your mom about my party?” she asked, breathless from having run all the way from the bus loop.
“Yeah, she said it’s fine,” Riley said, doodling a pretty girl with a heart-shaped face and big hips on her paper. “But she’ll be out of town, so my dad will bring me over.”
“Are you having a party this weekend?” Mikaela Reese, the girl who sat next to Riley, asked. “Oo, fun! Why?”
Cassie’s cheeks burned, embarrassed to have been overheard. “It’s my birthday Saturday.”
Mikaela’s eyes widened. “Really? How amazing! It’s mine too!”
“Oh, yeah?” Cassie had never met someone before with her same birthday. “Will you be eleven, too?”
“Yep!” Mikaela grinned at her. Then she frowned. “I haven’t decided when to do my party. I might do it Saturday. Or Friday.” She looked at Cassie. “Would that be bad, if my party were the same day as yours?”
Riley frowned at Mikaela. “Yeah, I can’t go to yours if you do it the same day as Cassie.”
Mikaela nodded. “Okay. I’ll plan a slumber party for Saturday, then. You’re invited too, Cassie.”
“Thanks,” Cassie said, not bothering to explain that she wouldn’t be there. Her family had strict rules about honoring the Sabbath, and one of them was no birthday parties on a Sunday. She moved to Danelle’s desk next.
“Did you find out if you can come on Friday?”
“Yeah, I don’t know yet,” Danelle said, tapping her pencil from the eraser to the point and back again on her desk. “But I’ll find out, okay?”
“Okay,” Cassie said, feeling foolish for asking.
The final bell rang, and Ms. Dawson hit the bell on her desk. Cassie backed away from Danelle and sat down to begin her morning exercises.
The next day when Cassie walked into class, she found a white envelope on her desk. Glancing around, Cassie saw that every girl’s desk in the classroom also had one. Some students were already opening theirs.
Excited, Cassie slid the card out from inside. An invitation.
Come celebrate! You’re invited to Mikaela Reese’s 11th birthday party!
Cassie flipped it open and read the inside.
This Friday at 4pm, bring your pillow and pajamas over for a slumber party!
An address followed, but Cassie put the invitation aside. A hard rock formed in the pit of her stomach. She’d already known she wouldn’t be going to Mikaela’s party. But now she’d gone and planned to have it on the same day as Cassie’s.
About the Author
Tamara Hart Heiner is a mom, wife, baker, editor, and author. She currently lives in Arkansas with her husband, four children, a cat, a guinea pig, and several fish. She would love to add a macaw and a sugar glider to the family. She’s the author of several young adult suspense series as well as a nonfiction book about the Joplin Tornado, Tornado Warning.
Connect with Tamara online!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.tamara.heiner
website: http://www.tamarahartheiner.com
Thank you for reading!