Emma's Not-So-Sweet Dilemma Read Free Page B

that the space between the inside corners of my eyes had doubled.
    â€œOn no.” I began to sob, which of course made my nose hurt more and my face look even uglier. “I’m not going to be able to leave the house for weeks!” I wailed.
    My mom put her arm around me and hugged me tightly. “I think you’re going to have to wear a hat and maybe some sunglasses for a few days,” she whispered into my hair.
    â€œMore like for the rest of my life!” I whimpered.

CHAPTER 3
Smushed
    T hat afternoon, I was lying on the couch with yet another ice pack on my nose when the phone rang. My mom picked it up in the kitchen, but I couldn’t hear who she was speaking with. Then she came and peeked her head into the TV room, the phone clutched close to her chest. I think she thought I might be asleep, but I wasn’t.
    â€œOh. It’s Mona,” she whispered. “Can you take it, or should I tell her you’ll call her back?”
    â€œI can take it,” I said, sitting up. Did you tell her? I mouthed, and gestured at my nose. My mom shook her head, and I gave her a thumbs-up.
    â€œHi, Mona,” I said into the phone, trying to sound bright and cheerful. I do love Mona, but I was really not feeling my very best at that exact moment.
    â€œ Darling ! How are you?” Mona is a very dramatic speaker. A very dramatic person in general, actually. I had to smile when I heard her familiar, throaty voice.
    â€œI’m . . . pretty good,” I lied, crossing my fingers.
    â€œWell, I have the most divine news,” said Mona, using her favorite adjective. There was a dramatic pause, and then she announced, “Harry Rosner has finally agreed to let me carry his line. Can you stand it? Harry Rosner at The Special Day bridal salon!”
    â€œCongratulations, Mona!” I said enthusiastically. I was genuinely happy for her; she’d been pursuing Rosner’s very exclusive line for a year or more.
    â€œThank you. It’s too, too faboo ! So he’d like to come in later this week, and he’ll have some bridesmaids samples, and I wondered if you might be free for a spell after school one day?”
    â€œOh . . . I . . .” Yikes! I wanted the job, I needed the money, and I wanted to help Mona out. But my nose ! Could I really show up to model looking like this? I had to tell her the truth. “Well, Mona, I’d love to do it. There’s just one little problem. . . .” I explained about my nose.
    â€œOh, darling, don’t be ridiculous!” she said emphatically. “You’re divine, nose or no nose. Harry Rosner can see past that, anyway. He’s a professional.We’re just looking at fit and drape. It has absolutely nothing to do with noses!” she said.
    I wasn’t so sure about that. I’d heard Harry Rosner was a perfectionist, handpicking every account that carried his work, and even handpicking many of the models.
    â€œWell . . .” I stalled.
    â€œJust say yes, darling. We’ll cross the nose bridge when we come to it. Thursday? Friday?” she offered.
    As much as I wanted the extra day for healing, I had to bake on Friday for the holiday boutique. “Um, let’s say Thursday, then, if you really think it won’t matter?”
    â€œDarling, you’ll look divine. See you then. Thanks so much. Big kiss!” And she made some kissy sounds and hung up.
    I clicked off the phone and breathed a huge sigh of dread. “Oh boy,” I whispered. I took a selfie with my phone, so everyone could see how this injury had progressed, then I texted it and the news to the Cupcakers, asking for any advice. With Mia’s mom a stylist, and Katie’s mom a dentist, I figured someone, somewhere might have some advice for me.
    Sure enough, Mia invited us all over the next day and promised that her mother would be onhand with advice. Phew. At least it was a