Chapter Fifteen

I, Amber Brown, have glittery fingers.

I also have birdseedy fingers.

These party favors are a lot harder to make than I thought they would be.

I am glad Brandi and Kelly got here. They are really good at crafts.

I like doing crafts, and I love glitter. But I have so many things on my mind right now . . . . . especially the toast that I still haven’t written . . . . that I keep messing things up.

Justin, Fredrich, and Danny are not helping. In fact, they are un-helping. A few minutes ago they had a small birdseed war. I now have birdseed in my hair and in my lap as well as glued to my fingers. The only ones who are really happy are the sparrows who just got a free meal.

“The birdseed is to throw at the bride and groom AFTER the wedding, not at each other right now,” Brandi says sternly.

The boys settle down and we get an assembly line going.

Brandi and Kelly make tags that say SARAH AND MAX in glittery letters. They let Danny help sprinkle the glitter.

Fredrich is putting birdseed in squares of netting.

I have the wrap-up job . . . which really is wrapping up. When Fredrich slides a packet of netting and seed to me, I tie it up with a piece of ribbon. Then I pass it to Justin, who ties the other end of the ribbon to one of the glittery tags.

Once we all get going, it’s a lot of fun. I love working with my friends this way.

When I think this, I am surprised to realize that I consider Fredrich one of my friends. When did that happen?

“Finished!” Justin says when he ties on the last tag.

We call Aunt Pam to come look.

“Very nice. Your mom is going to love these.”

I feel good. The bags of birdseed look beautiful in the bright netting.

“What’s next?” Brandi asks. She’s counted the favors twice to make sure we have enough.

“I have to practice my toast.”

I don’t mention that I haven’t written it yet.

“Great!” Kelly says. “Practice on us.”

I shake my head and mumble, “I’m not ready.”

Justin is looking at me.

“Just try it,” Brandi insists. “It doesn’t have to be perfect.”

“No, I want it to be a surprise.”

“Do you want to see the camp?” Fredrich asks.

“Sure,” Brandi and Kelly say together.

Danny runs down the porch steps. “I want to see the boats again!”

“Will you guys watch Danny?” Justin asks. “I’ll stay here. I have something I need to work on too.”

“Sure,” Kelly says. “He’s cute.”

Justin rolls his eyes.

When the others have gone, I ask Justin what he needs to work on.

“Helping you.”

“Helping me do what?”

“Your toast. You haven’t written it yet, have you?”

“How did you know?”

He smiles. “We’ve been friends since preschool, Amber. You always put things off . . . . . especially when they’re important. Come on, let’s get to work.”

“What do you know about giving a toast?” I ask.

“Nothing. But we’ll figure it out. What are best friends for?”