Mr. DeWitt walked out the back door, white flecks of paint in his hair. "Who wants to go to Burger Town?"

The kids ran to the cars, yelling with excitement. Me? I kept my cool. I followed them quietly. I helped them settle in the car.

But I could not wait to sit indoors with a nice, big, greasy cheeseburger.

"The kitchen is too dark, sweetheart," Mrs. Barrett said, taking a french fry from her bag.

"More mee-oke!" Ryan demanded. (Translation: more milk.)

"But we decided on the color long ago," Franklin protested.

"It’ll cover up food stains better," Lindsey suggested.

"Oh? Do you plan to fling food at the wall?" Franklin asked.

"I do!" Buddy piped up.

"Eat your burger," I urged him.

"Did you call the tux rental place?" Mrs. Barrett asked Franklin.

His face fell. "Oops."

"We have to be on top of these things, Franklin," Mrs. Barrett said.

"I know, I know," he said sheepishly.

"I've ordered all my bridesmaids' dresses except Stacey's."

I nearly choked on a pickle slice. "Huh?"

"What are you, a size six?" Mrs. Barrett asked.

I swallowed. "You want me to be a — a — bridesmaid?"

"Oh, dear . . . You mean, I didn't tell you?"

A grin slowly spread across Franklin's face. "Harrumph," he said. "On top of things?"

Mrs. Barrett blushed. "I'm awfully sorry. We've been so frantic! You see, Stacey, one of my college friends had agreed to be. a bridesmaid, but the other day she canceled. Would you like to take her place? You've been like part of our family."

My mind was in the ozone layer. The kids

could have been pelting each other with

chicken nuggets and I wouldn't have noticed.

I love weddings. I cry just thinking about

them. My eyes were starting to water already.

Me? A bridesmaid? I would be part of their