Katy's Homecoming Read Free Page A

the high school in Salina. “I just meant the mints were very good. They were creamier than ones we’ve had at other weddings.”
    Gramma smiled. “We liked them too. That’s why we’re making them for Samuel and Rosemary.”
    “I hope we bought enough candy forms,” Mrs. Graber said. “They’re reusable, of course, but I don’t know how long it takes for the candy to set up so they can be removed from the forms.” The two women began discussing mint making, leaving Katy out of the conversation.
    Katy leaned into the corner of the seat and let her mind wander to the moment when the principal announced her name as the sophomore attendant for homecoming. The other students in the room had looked at her in surprise, probably mirroring the stunned expression on her own face. No one congratulated her the way they had the boy attendant, Michael, but she didn’t care. Just being chosen was so much more than she had ever expected.
Now if only Bryce would—
    She frowned, forcing herself to face the truth. Even though Dad would be happy for her, he would never let her buy a dress and put on makeup and leave her hair uncovered in public. And how could she possibly stand with all the other royalty in her Mennonite caped dress and mesh cap with its ribbons hanging alongside her cheeks? She would look ridiculous, and people would laugh. No, she wouldn’t be able to actually be the attendant, so she should stop thinking about it.
    Sadness struck so hard her eyes burned. She blinked several times to keep tears from forming. Maybe she wouldn’t tell Dad at all, just to keep from hearing him say,“No, that’s not something you can do, Katy-girl.”
    Mrs. Graber pulled her car beside the barn and turned off the engine. Katy reached for the door handle to let herself out, so she could escape to her bedroom and writeall her frustration in her journal. But Mrs. Graber’s voice stopped her.
    “Oh! Kathleen, I nearly forgot. Your dad asked me to tell you we’ve decided to take a little trip — just a weekend one — after our wedding. Caleb Penner has agreed to take care of the cows for us, so you won’t be needed here at the farm. Your dad thought you might like a little vacation of sorts too.” She laughed lightly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “So he plans to ask Shelby’s father if you could spend the weekend with them. That is, if you want to stay in Salina with the Nusses. Would that be all right with you?”
    Katy’s sadness zipped away so quickly it almost made her dizzy. The wedding was the day before homecoming. If she stayed with Shelby, Katy could go to the same places Shelby went. And Katy knew where Shelby would be going. She answered quickly. “Sure. That would be fine with me if it’s okay with Shelby’s parents.”
    “Good. Your dad will go into the grocer and give them a call later this week then.”
    Katy bounced out of the car and headed for the house with Mrs. Graber and Gramma Ruthie trailing behind her. Guilt tried to pinch her conscience, but she pushed the feeling away. She wasn’t going to get into any trouble. She’d be with Shelby. And Bryce. And for one night, she would get to find out how it felt to be a normal, popular girl.

Chapter Three
    Katy hesitated before entering the forensics room the last hour on Thursday. She smoothed her hands over the skirt of her best dress, the purple dress Mrs. Graber had sewn for her Christmas present. She’d chosen it that morning because purple was a happy color but mostly because Annika had told Katy the purple made her eyes seem violet instead of blue. When Bryce asked her to homecoming, he’d probably lean close, and she wanted him to notice her violet eyes.
    “Kathleen, out of the way.” The bossy voice came from behind Katy. Katy skittered through the door so Marlys and a couple other forensics girls could go in too. Marlys flounced past Katy with her nose in the air. The other girls did the same.
    Several of the sophomore girls had been