Free Petal's Problems by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

did the job all by herself.
    She used one hand to force open one of Petal's eyes so she could see Aunt Martha, even if it was in monovision, while she used the other hand to clamp Petal's mouth shut so that there'd be no more babbling.
    "Go ahead." Annie nodded at Aunt Martha. "But make it quick. I'm not sure how long I can hold her like this."
    "Petal?" Aunt Martha said. "I'm sure all the girls would like to have the honor, because it's the sort of thing all little girls dream of doing, but I singled you out because you have the perfect name for the job. It's as though you were born for it." Aunt Martha paused. "Would you be my flower girl?"
    Aunt Martha was right about one thing, proving she was that rare family member who might just have a head on her shoulders. Yes, being asked to be a flower girl was what most little girls dreamed of doing.
    There was just one problem. Petal Huit had never been a member of "most little girls." Come to think of it, none of us had.
    So Petal did the Petal Huit thing to do, given the situation.
    She shrieked, " No! " in horror.
    Then she fainted.
    Then when she woke from fainting, she raced upstairs and dived under the bed.

TEN

    Once again we were all crouched around the bottom of a bed trying to talk some sense into Petal, only this time Aunt Martha was there with us. Turned out we were the kind of kids who could drag another relative down with them like nobody's business.
    "It's so difficult to have a conversation with you like this," Annie said.
    "Talk to the feet" came the muffled voice.
    "But I don't understand, dear." Aunt Martha was clearly puzzled. "What sort of girl doesn't want to be a flower girl?"
    "Me" came the muffled answer.
    "But I still don't understand," Aunt Martha said.
    "Because it scares me," Petal said. "And anyway, why can't Zinnia do it? She loves doing that sort of thing. And she's got the perfect name for it too, since obviously you're just looking for a girl whose name has something to do with a flower."
    For once in her life, Petal had a point there; two, actually. Zinnia did love that sort of thing, and she did have the name of a flower.
    "But don't you see?" Aunt Martha said, preparing to shoot down Petal's points. "Your name is even more perfect. Petal. Ever since I heard you were coming to the wedding after all, I thought how cute it would be, someone whose name was actually Petal strewing rose petals from a basket all down the aisle."
    Aunt Martha was determined. We were fast learning there was little point in trying to get between a bride and what she wants.
    But then, Aunt Martha had never come up against Petal, or at least she hadn't seen Petal in a very long while.
    "But that's the whole terrifying part," Petal said. "Me? Petal? Strewing petals down an aisle for other people to walk on? It would be like ripping off little pieces of myself and throwing them away. Surely, even if you are the bride, you can't expect me to do that. "
    And another point for Petal, because when she put it like that...
    "I guess I hadn't thought—" Aunt Martha started to say, but Petal cut her off.
    "No, clearly you hadn't. But that's the thing: people hardly ever think when it comes to me. I'm sorry to spoil your plans for your big day, but nope, sorry, can't help you out here, try someone else, please call again when it's all over with."
    "Well, seeing as you feel so strongly about it..." Aunt Martha rose to her feet. "Zinnia, can you help me out? I do still need a flower girl."
    "Gladly." Zinnia's smile was as wide as a river. "I don't even care if you want me to carry zinnias and rip them to shreds."
    We knew Zinnia would react that way to such an offer.
    "Well, I don't think we need to go that far," Aunt Martha said, "but thank you."
    Then she was gone.
    And so ended Monday, our first day in France.
    ***
    We spent the remainder of the week leading up to the wedding sightseeing in the daytime and going to parties in the chateau at night.
    On Tuesday we saw the Right Bank