On Friday, I notice that something strange is going on. The contest judges are still here! They have been here all week long.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and the Garden Club is having their Earth Day luncheon. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Granny finally gets to be Garden Club president!

Mysterious things keep happening. That night while we are all watching TV, Momma gets a phone call.

When she hangs up, she tells us, “Granny says our family has been invited to the luncheon.”

“Really?” I ask. I have never been to a luncheon before!

“Usually only Garden Club members attend,” Momma says. “What do you think is going on?”

“I think this is a very good sign!” Daddy says. “Before you know it, I’ll be calling my momma ‘Madame President.’”

“Be careful, or you might jinx her,” T.J. warns.

T.J. only thinks that because he’s a football player. They’re really superstitious. He has a pair of lucky socks that he wears for every game. They are old and stinky but so full of luck that T.J. won’t let Momma throw them out.

Just then an idea hits my brain like salt on a fresh garden tomato! “T.J., you should let Granny wear your lucky socks tomorrow for the Garden Club luncheon,” I say. “She’ll be president for sure!”

T.J. shakes his head. “No way!” he says. “Those socks only make me lucky.”

Momma doesn’t agree. “Just smelling them is unlucky, so let’s agree to leave them behind,” she says.

The next day, we get all dressed up in our fancy church clothes to attend the Garden Club luncheon. It’s being held in the Magnolia Hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Momma and I wear pretty dresses with flowers on them. Mine’s pink, of course. We also have on gloves and hats.

All the tables are set with fancy crystal, china, and silver and have dazzling flower arrangements in the middle. When we arrive, a waiter walks us over to a special table right in the front. There is a little sign on our table that says RESERVED.

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“It means they have been saving the table just for us!” Momma tells me.

Just then, I recognize someone walking toward us. “Here comes Granny!” I announce.

Daddy and T.J. stand up like real true gentlemen. T.J. pulls out Granny’s chair for her, and Daddy kisses her cheek.

“I’m as nervous as a cat in a canoe!” Granny says. “I wish they’d just serve lunch already.”

Granny has to wait for a special announcement before she gets her wish. The mayor’s wife and current Garden Club president, Lottie Jenkins, walks up to the podium to welcome everyone. She is a teeny-tiny woman wearing a humongous hat that is completely covered with silk roses.

Mrs. Jenkins says, “Mrs. Carter, would you mind joining me on stage for a moment?”

Granny makes her way up to the podium and Momma whispers, “This is it! Granny is going to be the winner!”

Mrs. Jenkins smiles and says, “Everyone, please give Mrs. Carter a round of applause for all her hard work. Thanks to her, Jacksonville has lots of new gardens for everyone to enjoy!”

Everyone claps for Granny, and I smile proudly. Granny’s gardens are sure to help us win the Prettiest Town contest!

“Mrs. Carter is my dear friend and a fabulous gardener,” Mrs. Jenkins continues. “And now she is also our new Garden Club president!”

People are standing, clapping, and cheering. Mrs. Jenkins hugs Granny and steps to the side. Granny says the blessing and invites everyone to enjoy a delicious lunch. Back at the table, Momma gives Granny a kiss.

“I am so proud of you!” Daddy tells her.

The waiter comes around and sets plates down in front of everyone. I think it’s supposed to be a salad, but I see flowers in with the spinach leaves.

“This is too pretty to eat!” I exclaim.

“They really do taste good,” Granny reassures me.

I’m really glad Granny is the Garden Club president, but I think Garden Club Queen sounds better. Even so, I tell her, “Granny, you know everything about gardens, and that is why you are a real true Garden Club president.”

“Thank you, sugar,” Granny says. “That’s real nice of you.”

After we eat our second course of chicken and some delicious strawberry shortcake for dessert, Granny gets up to thank everyone for coming. Mrs. Jenkins goes to the podium, too, and Granny looks confused.

In fact, everyone except Mrs. Jenkins looks confused. Suddenly the doors to the ballroom open. The mayor and the judges from the Prettiest Town contest walk in!

Mrs. Jenkins asks, “Madame President, may I please introduce some special guests?”

“Yes, please do,” Granny says.

The mayor and the judges come to the front of the ballroom, and Ms. Fairchild steps up to the microphone.

“Jacksonville is a remarkable town with a great green spirit,” Ms. Fairchild says. “You have lovely gardens and trees. You are pretty inside and out, and we are very pleased to name you the Prettiest Town in Texas!”

Everyone goes crazy! One of the male judges hands the mayor a giant check. It is so big that it takes two people just to hold it!

“How do you spend a check that big?” I ask.

Daddy laughs and tells me, “The real check is smaller.”

The mayor steps up to the microphone next. Everyone stops cheering so he can speak.

“Jacksonville is pleased to have received such a special honor,” Mayor Jenkins says, “but it would not be possible without the vision of one fine citizen. Let’s all give Mrs. Carter another round of applause for all of her hard work!”

Everyone cheers again. Granny is so happy she looks like she might cry.

“I know just what to do with some of this prize money,” the mayor says. “We will put a new sign at the city limits so everyone knows that Jacksonville is the Prettiest Town in Texas!”