Ann Martin - Kristy's Big Day

"Terrific!" cried Claudia enthusiastically, and the rest of us agreed with her.

So Claudia rummaged through her art sup-

pliesand found scissors, construction paper, and string. We made red star nametags for Luke, Ashley, and Emma; bluebird tags for David Michael, Berk, and Karen; yellow suns for Grace, Catherine, and Andrew; green dinosaurs for Peter, Patrick, and Maura; and pink hearts for Beth and Tony, the babies.

"Now we should make tags for ourselves," Stacey pointed out. "The group leaders should have tags like their kids'. Then the older children will be able to read our names, and the younger ones at least will be able to figure out who their leader is by matching the tags."

So we made five more nametags. When we were done, we attached all the tags to string, except for Beth and Tony's, which we decided to safety-pin to them.

Claudia then announced that it was time for a high-energy snack, so she rustled up a Snickers bar (from the drawer of herjewelry box), a package of Ring Dings (from the STILL LIFS AND PORTRTTS box), and a roll of Life Savers (from her pocket). For Dawn, who often prefers healthier food, and for Stacey, she went to the kitchen and got a box of crackers and some fruit. When she returned, she was with her grandmother, Mimi, who was carrying a tray of sodas for us.

"Hello, girls," said Mimi in her gentle voice. "You seem to be working very hard."

Claudia told her what we were doing.

"Oh, my," said Mimi softly."Fourteen children! Next week, while your mother is busy, Kristy, and your parents are at work," Mimi nodded to Claudia and Mary Anne, "you must be sure to call on me if you need anything. I will be here at home. You must let me know if you have any problems. I will be happy to help out."

"Thanks, Mimi," I said. "That's really good to know."

"It sure is," said Mary Anne, jumping up to kiss Mimi's cheek.

I could tell Mary Anne was still a little nervous about what we were going to be doing. But she loves Mimi, and if anybody could make her feel better, Mimi could.

Mimi is special to all of us.

When Mimi was gone, I said, "You know, you guys, taking care of fourteen children is kind of like teaching school or running a play group. Maybe we should think of some activities for our kids."

"Yeah, different groups can do different things," said Dawn.

"We could take them to the elementary school playground," suggested Stacey.

"Do art projects," said Claudia.

"I can even take the babies on walks," said Mary Anne.

We were all starting to get excited. We talked and planned and made lists. We couldn't wait for Monday.

Chapter 6.

Wedding Countdown: Sunday - six days to go.

Sunday is myfavorite day of the week, summer or winter, for one reason: I get to sleep late.

That's why, when Mom came into my room the next morning, I was not at all pleased.

She opened my door and began pulling up my shades and straightening the things on my dresser, humming all the while.

"Come on, Miss Sleepyhead," she said finally. "Rise and shine."

I scrunched my pillow over my face to block out the light. "Mo-om," I complained. "Why are you doing this to me? What time is it?"

"Eight o'clock."

"Eight o'clock!" I figured she wouldn't be bothering me unless it was at least ten.

"All your brothers are up already."

"But I won't have another chance to sleep late until next Sunday. That's after the wedding." I tried to make "after the wedding" sound farther away than it really was, like when you say, "See you next year" on December 31st.

"Honey, I need you today. This is the countdown to the wedding. Only six days left. Aunt Colleen and Uncle Wallace, and Aunt Theo and Uncle Neal are arriving today. They're going to the motel first, but then they're coming over here. They'll probably stay for dinner. AndNannie is going to come over. She wants to measure you again."

Nannieis Mom's mother. She lives in an apartment about forty-five minutes away from us.Nannie is really great. She's in her seventies, but she does all sorts of things. She goes bowling, she gardens, she volunteers at the hospital, she's a terrific cook - and she sews.

Nanniehad offered to make my bridesmaid gown and Karen's flower girl dress. She had already taken Karen and me shopping, and we had chosen the patterns and material. Every so often, she needed to measure us.

"IsNannie going to stay for dinner?" I asked.

"I think so," said Mom. "I'm sure she'll want to see your cousins."

Ashley, Berk, Grace, Peter, Emma, Beth,

and Luke areNannie's grandchildren, too, of course, and since they live so far away, she doesn't get to spend nearly as much time with them as she does with my brothers and me.

"Good," I said. I found the courage to remove the pillow from my face. "Aughh, the sun is bright!"

"That's because it's a beautiful day out," Mom said cheerfully. "Now get a move on."

Nanniewas supposed to arrive early in the afternoon. After I'd eaten lunch, I decided to sit on the front steps and wait for her. Louie came with me. He took a nap with his head resting on my knees while I watched the street.

I spottedNannie's car when it was still a couple of blocks away.Nannie's car is easy to pick out. If s asecondhand car that's about a hundred years old, and when she bought it last year, she had it painted pink.

"Pink!" my mother exclaimed when she heard the news."For heaven's sake, why pink?"

"Why not?"Nanniehad answered gaily. And then she had fastened a pink plastic flower to the antenna and hung a little stuffed koala bear from therearview mirror. She named her

carthe Pink Clinker. (It's not in very good condition.)

As the Pink Clinker pulled into our driveway, I woke Louie up, moved his head off my lap, and ran out to meetNannie .

"Hi!" I called.

"Hi, there!"Nanniereplied. She waved to me with one hand, and turned off the ignition with the other. The Pink Clinker shuddered into silence.

I helpedNannie into the house. She never comes over empty-handed. She carried a casserole, and I carried her pocketbook, a shopping bag full of presents, and her recipe box. (Mom andNannie were going to discuss hors d'oeuvres or something.)

WhenNannie had had a chance to sit down with a cup of tea on the back porch, I asked her an urgent question. "How's my dress coming?"

"Now, Kristy, don't pesterNannie ," said Mom as she and David Michael joined us on the porch.

"Oh, she's not pestering me," saidNannie with a smile. "She's just excited. Kristy, your dress is coining along nicely. But I think the sleeves are going to be a bit long, so I want to measure your arms again."

"How much is done?"

"Well, it's almost all basted together,"Nannie answered."Karen's dress, too. But they're both a long way from being finished."

"Oh." My face fell.

"But don't worry. They'll be ready by Saturday. I promise."

"Okay," I said uncertainly, even thoughNannie has never broken a promise.

"Kristy, relax," said Mom. "Have a cup of tea with us. Then I want you to round up your brothers so you kids can give me a hand with some things."

"Some things" turned out to be cleaning the entire house. Mom handed Charlie the floorwaxer , Sam the vacuum cleaner, me a roll of paper towels and a bottle of Windex, and David Michael a rag and a can of furniture polish. Then she andNannie holed up in the kitchen and talked about wedding food.

It was not as if wedding food hadn't already been discussed endlessly, but Mom andNannie had to figure out how to instruct seven adults to prepare hundreds of hors d'oeuvres (appetizers) and canapés (crackers with stuff on them), not to mention salads and desserts, during the week. Mom had been very lucky in finding a caterer who, on short notice, could prepare the main dish for the buffet at the