Mallory's Super Sleepover Read Free Page A

kinds of cupcakes are you going to have?” asks Pamela.
    “Can we bring more than one stuffed animal?” asks Emma.
    “I love water balloon fights,” says Dawn.
    “We’re going to have so much fun!” squeals April.
    That was exactly the reaction I’d been hoping for. I high-five Mary Ann. My sleepover is going to be so super.
    Wednesday afternoon, at the mall
    “Girls pajamas are up the escalator to your right,” a salesclerk tells Mom.
    Mary Ann and I follow our moms up the moving stairs.
    “I hope they have birthday pajamas,” I say to Mary Ann.
    We both cross our fingers as we ride up the escalator. “Maybe they will have them with cute little cupcakes all over them,” says Mary Ann.
    “That would be so cute!” I add.
    When we get to the pajama department, Mom and Colleen start looking at one rack, and Mary Ann and I start on another.
    “Over here,” Colleen says a few minutes later. Her voice sounds excited. When I look, I see why. She’s holding up two pairs of pajamas with cupcakes on the front.
    Mary Ann and I hug each other.
    Our shopping trip is turning out to be just as super as I know my sleepover will be.

    Thursday night, on the phone with Mary Ann
    “Mallory, it’s for you,” Max calls from the kitchen.
    I run to get the phone.
    “It’s Birdbrain,” he says as he hands me the receiver. “Tell her I’ve got a very big water balloon waiting for her.”
    You would think the day before my birthday, he’d try a little harder to be nice to me and to my best friend, but I ignore him and take the phone.
    Me: Hey! Hey! Hey!
    Mary Ann: Hey! Hey! Hey! I can’t believe tomorrow is the big day. Is everything ready?
    Me (pulling checklist I made out of my pajama pocket): I think so.
    Mary Ann: Snacks and supplies?
    Me: Check.
    Mary Ann: Marshmallows and movie?
    Me: Check.
    Mary Ann: Party favors?
    Me: Check.
    Mary Ann: Did you talk to Max?
    Me: He talked to his friends, and they’re coming over for the water balloon fight. Everything is a big check.
    Mary Ann (laughing): Great. Then get a good night’s sleep because you won’t get one tomorrow night.
    Me (laughing too): Check. I guess we forgot to put sleeping on the checklist.
    My best friend and I both laugh as we hang up. My sleepover is going to be so much fun. I’ve done everything to get ready. Today after school, I even went to the wish pond and made a wish. I wished that my sleepover will be the most super sleepover ever.
    Now there’s only one thing left to do, and that’s wait for it to get here. And the good news is that I don’t have to wait much longer.

PARTY TIME
    Today is Friday.
    Actually, scratch that. Today was Friday. And it was the best Friday ever.
    This morning, my family gave me a chocolate chip muffin with a candle in it for breakfast, even though it’s not my real birthday. And when I got home from school, everyone in my family helped me get ready for tonight. Mom set up the kitchen for cupcake decorating. Max made sure his friends are coming over for the water balloon fight. Mary Ann helped me make the snack trays for the party. And Dad made a pit in the backyard so we can roast marshmallows while we tell scary stories.
    Now it’s Friday night, which means it is officially party time.
    Even though it’s not my official birthday, I scoop up Cheeseburger and sing a little song to myself.
    Happy birthday to me.
    Happy birthday to me.
    Happy birthday, dear Mallory.
    Happy birthday to me!
    I look at my reflection in the mirror. I don’t know if it’s my hairstyle or the pajamas Mom bought me for the sleepover, but I think I look older today than I did yesterday.
    I smear some sparkly gloss on my lips. I feel older too. Well, I don’t know if I really feel older, but what I do feel is ready for my
Super Sleepover
to begin. I look at my watch—6:45. My friends should start arriving in fifteen minutes.
    “Mallory, telephone!” I hear Mom calling my name from down the hall.

    “Coming!” I yell. I skip down the