Ann Martin - Kristy's Big Day

"I guess," answered Mary Anne sadly.

The highlight of the evening came as the dinner was drawing to an end. Watson and Mom took the members of the Baby-sitters Club aside and handed us each an envelope containing a check for one hundred and thirty dollars.

"That's one hundred and twenty for a job very well done," Mom told us.

"And a ten-dollar bonus," added Watson.

I gawked at my friends. We were rich!

After we got through thanking Mom and Watson and saying good-bye to everyone, it was time to go home. The next day was . . . the wedding!

(And I still had no idea what to give Mom and Watson.)

Chapter 13.

Wedding Countdown:.Saturday - Zero Hour.

"Ee-iiiii!"

It was the Big Day, the day of the wedding.

I woke up with a start and leaped out of bed without really knowing why. Then I remembered. I had to see what the weather was like. The day before had been rainy. If it was still rainy, then (horror of horrors) the wedding would have to be held indoors. The guests would be jammed into Watson's living room like sardines in a can.

I stood at the window and picked up the corner of the shade, but I couldn't bear to pull it back.

If it was raining, Mom would be in one of her moods.

I gathered my courage and lifted the shade.

I was greeted by a clear, blue sky.

"Oh, thank you, thank you,thank you!" I exclaimed. "Now if I could just get an idea for a wedding present."

I ran downstairs thinking, Coffee cups? No.Cheese server? No.Paperweight? No.Pitcher? No. ...

The wedding wasn't untiltwo o'clock in the afternoon, but the morning went by in a flash. There was still a lot to do.Nannie came over to help us out. She gave Mom a hand packing for the honeymoon. Then she and Mom rode to the beauty salon in the Pink Clinker to get their hair done. When they came back,Nannie made us all eat something.

"I'd hate for one of you to faint during the ceremony," she said.

"But I'm too nervous to eat," Mom replied.

"Just a little something,"Nannie insisted, and suddenly she sounded very much like themother, and Mom like the daughter.

After we'd eaten enough to pleaseNannie , it was time to get dressed. I went to my room, closed the door, and, with a feeling of awe, took my bridesmaid gown out of the closet. It had been hanging there in a plastic dry cleaner's bag since the day before.

I was about to put it on when something

occurredto me. I ran to my window."Hey, Mary Anne!" I shouted. I hoped she was in her room. "Mary Anne!"

Mary Anne's head appeared in her window.

"Come over!" I called. "You want to help me get dressed?"

"Sure!"

Mary Anne was in my room in a flash. She helped me remove the dress from the bag. Then she zipped me into it.

The dress fit perfectly.Nannie had done a terrific job.

"Oh, Kristy," whispered Mary Anne, "you look beautiful!"

"Thanks," I replied. "I feel kind of beautiful."

I put on my white knee-high stockings and my new shoes with the heels.

"What if I trip?" I cried, the awful thought slamming into my mind like a truck.

"You won't," Mary Anne assured me.

My bouquet and the flowers for my hair had been delivered to Watson's, so I was as dressed as I could get for the time being. When Mom andNannie and my brothers were dressed, too (we looked so elegant!),Nannie whisked us over to Watson's.

"See you at the wedding!" I called to Mary Anne from the window of the Pink Clinker.

At the Brewers' house, Mom and Watson were not allowed to see each other (it was supposed to be bad luck or something), so Mom and Karen and I were taken into a spare bedroom, whereNannie put the finishing touches on us.

Karen was overexcited. She jumped up and down and danced around the room. "Oh, I'm the little flower girl," she sang."The flower girl, the flower girl. And here are my white magic petals- "

"Karen, sweetie," said Mom patiently, "sit down for a minute. You're going to wear yourself out."

"Mom!Oh, no!"I cried suddenly.

"What is it, Kristy?" Mom asked, alarmed.

"It's a little late for this, but do you have something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue?"

"Believe it or not, I do," said Mom. "My earrings are antiques, my dress is new, I borrowedNannie's pearl necklace, and, well, some of my underwear is blue - pale blue."

Karen began to giggle.

"That's a relief," I said.

Nannieleft the room for a moment, and Andrew wandered in. His shoes were untied, his shirt was unbuttoned, his hair was a mess, and he was trailing his necktie along the floor.

"Andrew!" exclaimed my mother. "You should be ready by now, honey."

"Everybody's busy," Andrew wailed, "and I need help."

"I'll help you," I said. I put Andrew together and sent him out into the hall, where I caught sight of theFieldings . "Andrew, you're going to sit with your friends. There are Katherine and Patrick. Stay with them, okay?"

Just as Andrew was running off,Nannie returned. "It's time!" she said excitedly.

Mom andNannie hugged each other.

I ran to the window and peeped outside. The street in front of Watson's house was lined with cars. "Everybody's here already?" I squeaked.

"They're seated and waiting," repliedNannie .

Yikes!

"Now are you two sure you know what to do?" Mom asked Karen and me for the eighty-zillionth time.

"Yes," said Karen.

"Positive," I said.

"All right.Let's go."

Nannieled us through Watson's house to the door to the patio. There we were met by Sam and Charlie, looking handsome and solemn and somehow not muchlike my big brothers.

Sam escortedNannie down the aisle between the folding chairs, and seated her in the front row. The guests watched, murmuring approvingly. Then he joined Watson, who was standing with David Michael (the ring bearer) and the minister in front of the guests.

I drew in my breath. I hadn't really had a good look at the yard until then, and I saw that it was beautiful. The minister and my brothers were separated from the guests by garlands of flowers strung between poles. Behind the minister was a sort ofarbor , covered with more flowers. It all would have been perfect if not for the sight ofMorbidda Destiny's house beyond.

"Okay, Kristy. You're next, honey," said Mom.

There was a piano player on the patio, and he struck up the wedding march. I stood still for a moment, collecting myself. Then, holding my bouquet firmly in front of me, I walked slowly up the aisle. I was aware that everyone had turned around to look at me. I tried to smile, especially when I spotted Mary Anne and Claudia, but my mouth trembled as if I were going to cry.

The aisle looked a mile long, but at last I reached the garlands of flowers. I stepped through them and stood next to the minister, on the other side of him from my brothers and Watson. When I was able to focus on the people in front of me, I saw Karen walking jauntily up that long aisle in front of my mother, who was escorted by Charlie. Karen was strewing her rose petals and grinning broadly. No stage fright for her.

When Mom walked byNannie ,Nannie burst into tears.

In all honesty, I have to say that the next part of the wedding, the vows and stuff, got kind of boring. I stopped paying attention and looked out at the guests. Mary Anne smiled at me. So did Dawn. Jamie Newton waved and called out, "Hi-hi!" which made several people laugh.

Just as the minister was saying, "You may kiss the bride," I noticed Staceysignaling frantically. She was pointing to me. . . .No, not to me, to Karen. I looked down. Karen had turned around and was staring at something behind us. From the look on her face, I thought for sure Dracula was back there.

Then Karen let out an ear-piercing shriek. Luckily, she let it loose just when Mom and Watson were finishing their kiss (a very big