Free Fabulous Five 006 - The Parent Game by Betsy Haynes Page A

wearing the dress yesterday. You kind
of told me that I was pretty important to you. I love you for it."
    Jana snuggled deep into her mother's arms. "Mom?"
    "Yes, sweetheart."
    "Pink can keep some of his trophies in my room if he
wants."
    Her mother pulled back so that she could see Jana better.
She smiled sweetly and tears filled her eyes. "Thank you, Jana. Do you
know what Pink suggested last night at the bowling alley?"
    "No, I am not learning how to bowl," said
Jana, laughing. "Christie's dad wants her to play tennis with him all the
time, and she doesn't want to. It's okay if you two go bowling without me."
    "That's not what he suggested at all. What he said, young
lady, was that we ought to raise your allowance."
    "Raise my allowance?"
    "Yes. With two of us working we can do that now. I wasn't
able to do it before."
    "I know. Your job didn't pay enough."
    "One other thing. Now that Pink is going to be around,
I won't be such a worrywart about you. It's hard when you're the only parent,
you have to think of everything, and you get overly protective because you're
afraid something might happen that you can't handle. So you're probably going
to see a little relaxing of the rules around here. But don't try to get away
with anything. There will also be two of us to mete out the punishment,"
she said with a gleam in her eyes.
    Later, in her room, Jana took the letter and the invitation
from the desk drawer. She went to the closet and pulled out the boot box and
put them in with her father's letters and the support-payment envelopes. Maybe
I'll see him again someday, she thought as she put the box back. The wedding
was her mother's and Pink's, and her father didn't really belong there.
    She picked up the pink bunny and stroked it. Things were
changing a lot, as her mother had said. They were even changing between the
members of The Fabulous Five. Everyone was getting so many things to do, but
she knew when she called them later, after she had talked to Taffy, they would
all jump in to help her with her plan. She straightened the rabbit's ears. Maybe
it was time to give him a name. Since he was pink, she would call him Little
Pink, and Pink would probably be thrilled.
     
    "Oh, hi, Jana." Taffy's voice sounded cheerful
over the phone.
    "Hi, Taffy. I guess your dad told you what I said."
    "Yes, and thanks. You were right. If anyone found out
that my parents sat with Monique, I'd get my grade knocked down. You are a good friend."
    "How was your appointment?"
    Taffy sounded cautious when she answered, "Oh . . . it
was okay. A typical modeling job, hot lights and all."
    "Since we're friends now, I'd like to see you model
sometime."
    "I think that would be all right."
    "Taffy, I called to tell you I won't be able to bring
the bear by today. Pink's not here. But instead of you and your dad picking it
up, why don't I just bring it to school in the morning?"
    "That would be super, but won't that be a lot of
trouble?"
    To Jana's delight, Taffy sounded relieved, as if she thought
the two of them were still friends.
    "Oh, don't worry, Taffy, it's not too much trouble,"
Jana assured her.
    After hanging up with Taffy, Jana quickly dialed Christie,
Melanie, Beth, and Katie. Later, when each of them had arrived, she grabbed
sodas and settled everyone in her room. And then she said in her most solemn
voice, "I hereby call this meeting of The Against Taffy Sinclair Club to
order."

CHAPTER 15
    "There she is." Katie pointed at Taffy, who was
walking onto the school ground with Chad Wallace on Monday morning. Taffy was
chattering away as if Chad and she were old friends. He was looking around and
not paying the slightest bit of attention to her.
    "When you know the truth, it's pretty obvious, isn't
it?" muttered Jana.
    "It sure is," answered Christie. "He's
totally ignoring her."
    Christie had her bunny. Melanie was holding her walrus. Beth
had her panda, and Katie, her Sheena doll. Jana had Rex and Little Pink. Taffy
saw them and headed for them