Ms. Colman’s Wedding

While we were putting on our coats, three different kids said to me, “You are going to be Addie’s best friend, Karen?” (I guess I had not been using my indoor voice when I told Addie that.)

“Yes, I am,” I replied proudly. Somebody in our room had to be nice to Addie, and I guessed it was me.

That afternoon, Mrs. Dawes drove Nancy and me home. Nancy sat in front with her mother. I sat in back with Danny. Danny is Nancy’s new baby brother. He sleeps a lot, especially when he is in the car.

The ride to the little house was very quiet. Danny was asleep. No one was talking. I did not like so much quiet.

“Nancy?” I said. Nancy did not answer. “Nancy?” I said again. “… Nancy? Calling Nancy Dawes.”

“What is it?” Nancy did not laugh. She did not even turn around.

I paused. “Are you in a bad mood?” I finally asked.

“No.”

Nancy did not say anything else. Her mother pulled into the driveway. I did not want to go next door to the little house. Not yet. Not until I knew what was wrong with Nancy.

Nancy and I climbed out of the car. We watched Mrs. Dawes lift Danny out of his seat. Then Nancy turned away. “Well, ’bye,” she said to me.

“Nancy, wait!” I caught the sleeve of her jacket. “What is the matter?” I asked her. “Are you mad at me?”

“Of course I am,” she answered.

“But why?”

“Because you want Addie to be your new best friend.”

“I do not!” I cried. “I said I am going to be Addie’s best friend. But you and Hannie are my best friends.”

“Oh,” said Nancy. “Then never mind.”

Nancy and I giggled. We were friends again. (I was not even sure if we had actually had a fight. But it did not matter anyway.)

I spent the afternoon at Nancy’s house. First we played with Danny. We pretended we were his baby-sitters. Mrs. Dawes let us change his diaper. Then we went to Nancy’s room to talk.

“Maybe,” I said, “after Ms. Colman gets married, she will have a baby.”

“Like Danny,” added Nancy. “Do you think she really will?”

I shrugged. “Lots of people have babies after they get married. But not everybody. You know what? Ms. Colman already has a whole classful of kids.”

“I wonder what her husband is like,” said Nancy.

“You mean her fiancé,” I corrected her. “He is not her husband yet. He will not be her husband until after the wedding.”

“Her fiancé then,” said Nancy. “I am sure he is very nice.”

“I wonder what he will give her for Valentine’s Day.”

“Something extra, extra special,” said Nancy dreamily. “Since they are in love.”

“I wish we could meet Ms. Colman’s fiancé,” I added. “I would like to know who Ms. Colman is marrying.”

When Nancy and I got tired of talking, we played with Danny some more. Then I had to go home for supper.

That night I thought about Addie. I wondered how I would feel if I could not use my legs. How would I go up and down our stairs? Would someone have to carry me? What would I do outdoors on nice days? Would I ever be able to go swimming? Or build a snowman? Could I ride on a sled? What would I do if I were downstairs and Andrew were upstairs, and he yelled, “Hey, Karen! Come here!”?

I told myself once again that I had to be very, very, VERY nice to Addie.