Holly's Heart Collection Two by Beverly Lewis Read Free Book Online Page B

nothing.
    “What about classical?” Andie’s mother said. “I understand you enjoy Mozart.”
    Christiana the Great replied, “In Salzburg, we are surrounded by serious music.”
    “So maybe we should expose you to other types here,” Andie said. She was beginning to sound like the Queen of England herself. I could hardly wait to get out of the car. Away from this strawberry blonde who seemed to affect everyone in her path.
    Then Andie’s mother mentioned my party. “Holly has a Valentines Day birthday,” she said. “And she’s invited you both to a make-over party tonight.”
    Christiana had no idea what that was all about. Briefly, Andie explained.
    I wasn’t surprised when Christiana decided she would not be interested in a make-over. No doubt she was quite satisfied with her present look, thank you very much.

    That afternoon Andie escorted Christiana around to the principal and all the teachers at Dressel Hills Junior High. They’d been expecting her, of course, so the reception was red-carpet.
    I ate lunch with Jared, without Andie. “Everyone’s freaking out over Christiana,” I moaned. “Especially Andie.”
    “It won’t last forever,” he assured me.
    “Even Danny Myers is following her around, volunteering his services.”
    “Hmm,” Jared said. “Sounds serious. Are you jealous?”
    “Are you kidding?” I laughed, and Jared grinned.

    All day I avoided Paula as best I could. And it wasn’t easy. She kept showing up at the most conspicuous places. Places like the stall next to mine in the girls’ bathroom. And in the exact same section of the library—three books down. This was turning into a nightmare. Mostly because I refused to forgive her. How many times had she asked—begged—for my pardon?
    Seeing her grim face only reminded me of that horrible tube in my cat’s stomach. Poor little Goofey. His suffering had been caused by a senseless act, and it was totally Paula’s fault.
    When it came to prayer, I avoided the forgiveness issue with God. It was much easier to pray about a zillion other things, like Goofey’s restored health and Christiana’s quick return to her homeland.
    There was one request I asked for repeatedly, however. “Dear Lord,” I prayed, curling up on my window seat after school. “I need your wisdom and help as fast as you can send it. It’s about Goofey’s next home. He needs a new one—fast! Please let it be a place where I can visit him every day. Could you do something soon? Amen.”
    I reached for my journal and recorded my thoughts.
    Friday, February 11: I miss Andie already. Every time I looked for her at school today she was tied up with Christiana. I want to disappear and come back AFTER Christiana leaves!

SECOND-BEST FRIEND
    Chapter 10
    The phone rang.
    “Holly!” Mom called. “It’s for you.”
    The vet was on the line. Goofey was being released tomorrow. A sad lump squeezed my throat.
    “You’ll need to monitor his eating and drinking for several more days,” the vet reminded me.
    I swallowed the lump. My heart was pounding. My darling Goofey was well, but for a cat without a home, this was horrible news. “Is there any way you can keep him a little longer?” I asked.
    A short pause, then, “Is there a problem?”
    Quickly, I shared my dilemma.
    “We have a kennel of sorts,” he explained, “but we can only keep him up to a week here.”
    “How much will it cost?” I thought of the birthday money I’d already started acquiring from relatives.
    “About ten dollars a day,” the vet said.
    Mentally I tallied up my money. I had just enough to handle it. “Let’s do that,” I said. “Uh, only if I can visit Goofey every day.”
    “No problem. We’ll look forward to seeing you. Good-bye.”
    I hung up the phone feeling a little better. But I wasn’t independently wealthy, of course. And Mom must never find out about this. She wouldn’t approve of using birthday money for Goofey’s temporary housing.
    When Uncle Jack