something entirely new to say on the spot. Stevie’s mind began racing as she proceeded to the platform.
The whole day, and the three and a half weeks leading up to it, flashed through her mind. It had been quite a time. Even with a lot of help from her friends, she’d seen her grades slip a bit and she’d had to skip a couple of riding classes. No doubt about it, she didn’t want to go through a period like that again. Of course, the experience had had its rewards, too. For one thing, she was having a lot of fun spending time with the Italian boys, and she had most definitely gotten the best of Veronica diAngelo. Most important, however, the Festival had been a wonderful success for Children’s Hospital and the Fair had made a lot of money for her school. She hadn’tcounted the proceeds yet, but she was pretty sure they’d exceeded their $1,500 goal. Stevie’s new leaf had been a lot of work, but it was worth it. The question was, would her leaf stay turned for good?
Stevie sat where Miss Fenton indicated and tried to remember what it was she wanted to say. The only good news at that moment was that Bobby was supposed to go first.
He stood up and the crowd became quiet. Stevie saw his parents in the front row. His grandmother was there. She waved to him.
“Good afternoon,” he began. “I’m here to try to convince you to vote for me for Middle School President and I’ve got to say it’s not going to be an easy thing to do, not after the show Stevie Lake has put on for us all today.”
The crowd laughed. Stevie found herself feeling vaguely uncomfortable. After all, those people out there didn’t know that the biggest reason she had done any of this was because of Veronica diAngelo and four Italian boys. She shifted in her seat and tried to smile.
Bobby went on. He had prepared a good, thoughtful speech. He had a lot of proposals for the Middle School, including ideas for several community projects, canned goods drives, and book drives. He explained that he had always been on committees at school and wanted to be helpful to the students as well as to the town.
Stevie listened. Bobby Effingwell cared. He reallycared. He was earnest, sincere, and hardworking. She’d hardly ever talked to him, but she found that she could really admire the boy who was giving the speech she was hearing. Stevie began to feel a little rotten about how confident she’d been about winning the election. Life just wasn’t that simple.
While she was listening attentively, Stevie saw something out of the corner of her eye that she could hardly believe. It was Max’s truck, pulling a four-horse van. As soon as it drew to a stop, Christine, Kate, Carole, and Lisa piled out, as well as Phil, Enrico, Marco, Andre and Gian. They began unloading horses and equipment from the van. Stevie couldn’t believe what she was seeing, but she knew it was true. Her friends had decided to move the demonstration from Pine Hollow over to the hospital. It was a great idea that had never occurred to her!
Stevie’s thoughts were interrupted by polite applause. Bobby stepped back to his chair and sat down. Stevie reached over, took his hand, and pumped it.
“You’re something,” she said. Bobby looked at her curiously.
“Stevie Lake,” Miss Fenton announced.
Stevie gulped. For a second, her entire body shook. She was very, very nervous, but she knew what she had to do. She saw her Saddle Club friends and the Italian boys join the audience, standing at the back. She took a deepbreath, stood up, and walked toward the audience. She was ready.
“This has been quite a day,” she began. “I guess you all don’t know it, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I agreed to do all these things. I’m such a dummy, I didn’t even realize they were all happening on the same day!” People laughed. Stevie wasn’t sure why. She wasn’t trying to be funny. “Anyway, the day is here and mostly over now and there are a few things I
The whole day, and the three and a half weeks leading up to it, flashed through her mind. It had been quite a time. Even with a lot of help from her friends, she’d seen her grades slip a bit and she’d had to skip a couple of riding classes. No doubt about it, she didn’t want to go through a period like that again. Of course, the experience had had its rewards, too. For one thing, she was having a lot of fun spending time with the Italian boys, and she had most definitely gotten the best of Veronica diAngelo. Most important, however, the Festival had been a wonderful success for Children’s Hospital and the Fair had made a lot of money for her school. She hadn’tcounted the proceeds yet, but she was pretty sure they’d exceeded their $1,500 goal. Stevie’s new leaf had been a lot of work, but it was worth it. The question was, would her leaf stay turned for good?
Stevie sat where Miss Fenton indicated and tried to remember what it was she wanted to say. The only good news at that moment was that Bobby was supposed to go first.
He stood up and the crowd became quiet. Stevie saw his parents in the front row. His grandmother was there. She waved to him.
“Good afternoon,” he began. “I’m here to try to convince you to vote for me for Middle School President and I’ve got to say it’s not going to be an easy thing to do, not after the show Stevie Lake has put on for us all today.”
The crowd laughed. Stevie found herself feeling vaguely uncomfortable. After all, those people out there didn’t know that the biggest reason she had done any of this was because of Veronica diAngelo and four Italian boys. She shifted in her seat and tried to smile.
Bobby went on. He had prepared a good, thoughtful speech. He had a lot of proposals for the Middle School, including ideas for several community projects, canned goods drives, and book drives. He explained that he had always been on committees at school and wanted to be helpful to the students as well as to the town.
Stevie listened. Bobby Effingwell cared. He reallycared. He was earnest, sincere, and hardworking. She’d hardly ever talked to him, but she found that she could really admire the boy who was giving the speech she was hearing. Stevie began to feel a little rotten about how confident she’d been about winning the election. Life just wasn’t that simple.
While she was listening attentively, Stevie saw something out of the corner of her eye that she could hardly believe. It was Max’s truck, pulling a four-horse van. As soon as it drew to a stop, Christine, Kate, Carole, and Lisa piled out, as well as Phil, Enrico, Marco, Andre and Gian. They began unloading horses and equipment from the van. Stevie couldn’t believe what she was seeing, but she knew it was true. Her friends had decided to move the demonstration from Pine Hollow over to the hospital. It was a great idea that had never occurred to her!
Stevie’s thoughts were interrupted by polite applause. Bobby stepped back to his chair and sat down. Stevie reached over, took his hand, and pumped it.
“You’re something,” she said. Bobby looked at her curiously.
“Stevie Lake,” Miss Fenton announced.
Stevie gulped. For a second, her entire body shook. She was very, very nervous, but she knew what she had to do. She saw her Saddle Club friends and the Italian boys join the audience, standing at the back. She took a deepbreath, stood up, and walked toward the audience. She was ready.
“This has been quite a day,” she began. “I guess you all don’t know it, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I agreed to do all these things. I’m such a dummy, I didn’t even realize they were all happening on the same day!” People laughed. Stevie wasn’t sure why. She wasn’t trying to be funny. “Anyway, the day is here and mostly over now and there are a few things I
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