Katie Sprinkles and Surprises Read Free Page B

greet,” I started to clean my room like crazy. I don’t think in the history of my life I have ever cleaned up my room without my mom telling me to, but I guess I was nervous or something. So that’s why I was hanging upside down over my bed, pulling out dirty socks covered with dust bunnies from underneath.
    â€œGross!” I squealed, removing a sock so covered with dust that I couldn’t tell what color it was originally. I tossed it into my laundry basket, shuddering.
    After I got all my dirty clothes off the floor, I glanced at the clock: 5:50. Ten more minutes until Jeff showed up. This was more suspenseful than on those reality shows, when they make you wait untilafter the commercial to tell you who gets voted off. I was still really nervous, so I sent a text to Mia, Emma, and Alexis:
    Jeff will be here in 10! Freaking out!
    Mia replied first.
    Don’t freak. Go to ur happy place.
    My happy place is an imaginary room filled with shelves of delicious cupcakes, comfy beanbag chairs shaped like cupcakes, and cupcake recipe books to read while you’re eating. I closed my eyes and tried to go there, but then my phone made a twinkly noise. I had another text.
    He will be nice , Emma texted. I can feel it.
    And there was a text from Alexis, too.
    Be calm. Nothing big will happen 2nite.
    Alexis had a point. This was just a meeting.
    Tx guys! I texted back.
    Full report when you’re done , Alexis typed.
    K , I replied.
    I closed my eyes again, so I could try to go to my happy place, but then the doorbell rang downstairs. I didn’t move, though. I sat very still on my bed, listening to the muffled voices coming from the front door. Then Mom yelled, “Katie!”
    I took a deep breath. For a split second I considered climbing out my window, but I knew that was ridiculous. How bad could this guy be, anyway?
    I slowly made my way down the stairs. The voices were coming from the kitchen now, and I could hear Mom laughing.
    Jeff must make her really happy, I thought, not for the first time. So the least I could do was try to like him, right?
    I slowly peeked into the kitchen. Mom was at the stove, stirring a pot of spaghetti sauce, and Jeff was sitting at the kitchen table, although I couldn’t see him yet. I kind of had to take in the whole scene for a minute. I couldn’t help wondering: If Mom married Jeff, is this what it would be like? The two of them together, laughing and talking, while I watched from the sidelines? It was a depressing thought.
    Then Mom’s mom-radar kicked in, and she looked up and saw me by the door.
    â€œOh, there you are, Katie!” she said. “Come meet Jeff.”
    I stepped into the kitchen and walked up to the kitchen table. Sitting there was . . . Mr. Green! The math teacher! For a second I was confused.
    â€œMr. Green?” I asked. Had Mom hired him to tutor me in math or something?
    Mr. Green laughed. “You can call me Jeff when we’re out of school, Katie,” he said. “Nice to meet you officially.  Your mom has told me all about you.”
    Then it really, actually hit me. Mr. Green and Jeff were the same person! My mom was dating Mr. Green, the math teacher at school who everyone liked! Not only that, but he said Your mom has told me all about you . Which means, when he came up to our table the other day, he knew who I was, but I didn’t know who he was. That didn’t seem fair at all. I felt pretty mad at my mom at that point, but I tried not to show it.
    â€œUm, that’s nice,” I said.
    â€œKatie, can you please set the table for us?” Mom asked.
    â€œSure,” I replied. Our house is kind of small, so we don’t have a dining room, like at Mia’s house. We eat in the kitchen, which can be prettycozy. Although right then it was feeling a little bit crowded.
    I opened the cabinet to take out the plates, and Mr. Green–Jeff jumped right up.
    â€œLet me help you with