Free Little Miss Stoneybrook...and Dawn by Ann M. Martin Page B

okay.”
    â€œNow tomorrow,” I said, thinking aloud, “we’ll have to make sure you’ve got your com plete outfits with you. We’ll have to remember socks, shoes, slips, barrettes, everything you’ll need.” I hoped I could handle it. The pageant was beginning to seem like a huge job. There were times when I was sorry I’d taken it on. At least Mrs. Pike would be able to help me. She was going to help us before the pageant, and then drive us to the high school.
    The girls put on their outfits and I led them down to the living room.
    â€œWhat you’ll have to do first thing is walk across the stage in the auditorium. All the judges except the head judge will be sitting in the first row of seats. The head judge will be on the stage. So what you do is walk toward the head judge. Remember to look at the audience and smile while you’re walking. Before you get to the judge, say in a nice loud voice, ‘My name is Claire Pike and I’m five years old.’ Margo, you, of course, will say, ‘My name is Margo Pike and I’m seven years old.’ You’ll curtsy and then shake her hand. Remember to use your right hand. That’s the wristwatch hand.” (Claire can’t tell time, but she always wears a watch on her right wrist.) “Anyway,” I went on, “shake her hand and remember to keep smiling . When you’re finished, walk the rest of the way across the stage.
    â€œNow, let’s try it. I’ll be the judge, and that’s the audience over there.” I pointed to the dining room.
    In the middle of our rehearsal I heard the Pikes’ phone ring. A few moments later, Mallory called to me, “Dawn, it’s Mary Anne!”
    â€œHold on, you two,” I told Claire and Margo. “I’ll be right back.”
    I ran into the kitchen and took the receiver from Mallory. “Hello?” I said. “Hi, Mary Anne. What’s up?”
    â€œWell, I was just wondering … I guess, um …”
    â€œWhat were you wondering?” I asked impatiently.
    â€œUm … um … How are the girls doing?”
    â€œFine. Are you with Myriah?”
    â€œYes.”
    I had a funny feeling that Mary Anne wasn’t wondering anything except how Myriah’s competition was doing.
    â€œListen,” I told her. “We’re really busy. We’re right in the middle of a dress rehearsal, so I gotta go.”
    â€œA dress rehearsal? Oh, great idea! Thanks, Dawn. Bye!”
    Darn , I thought. I’d given something away. The pageant was getting entirely too competitive. It wasn’t fun anymore.
    I returned to Claire and Margo. Even though I knew that when you hold a dress rehearsal, you’re supposed to go from the beginning to the end of a show without stopping, I decided that we’d have to work on each event a few times (except maybe for the talent part). The girls had forgotten to smile when they walked toward me, and Claire kept losing her balance when she curtsied.
    â€œOkay, let’s take it from the top,” I said professionally. “Claire, you first.”
    Claire pranced across the living room toward me.
    â€œSmile!” I hissed.
    She put on a huge, silly grin.
    â€œNot that much. A regular smile.”
    Claire toned her smile down and said, “I’m Claire Pike, I’m five years old, and I really want to win. I have seven brothers and sisters, a mommy —”
    â€œWhoa, whoa! All you say is your name and age,” I reminded her. Why, oh, why had I ever told Mrs. Pike I’d prepare the girls for the pageant?
    The rehearsal continued. When the girls were tired of curtsying, I said, “Let’s move on. The next part of the pageant is the talent competition.”
    â€œOh, goody!” said Margo. “My favorite part.”
    The girls ran upstairs and changed into their second outfits. I had to admit that those outfits were pretty cute. Mrs. Pike