Chapter 2
Immediately when we stepped through the doorway, Claire Coolidge was quick to run up to me and sweep my wild, brown hair off my shoulders, smiling sweetly at me. "Oh, Winnie! This hair is so gorgeous. You absolutely must let me work some hair magic and give you a curly afro sometime." she said. I laughed, pretending to be enthusiastic about it. Truth was, I wasn't all that anxious to have my hair all done up like %90 of the girls at Ashland High were. But if Mrs. Coolidge liked my hair, that had to be a plus. "Thanks, Mrs. Coolidge." I replied. "Saaay!" I turned around and watched Bart Coolidge walk into the room with a big grin on his face. "Winnie! Very nice to see you!" he said. "Nice to see you too, Mr. Coolidge." I told him, returning the smile. I turned to Catman. "Catman? What's the news?" I asked. No way was he getting out of telling me what was going on. He nodded. "Yeah," he said. "Starlight Animal Rescue's coming to Ashland for another Coolidge reunion." he said simply. I felt my jaw beginning to drop. "Starlight Animal Rescue's coming to Ashland." I repeated, stunned. "What do you mean? How?" I inquired, confused. Note to self: find a dictionary that lets you see inside Catman Coolidge's mind. "Isn't it grand?" Mrs. Coolidge said, her face bright with obvious happiness. I nodded, agreeably excited, but Catman still owed me an explanation. "Catman?" I said, glancing at him with a confused expression. Catman turned towards me and nodded again. "Uncle Chester, Aunt Annie, Hank, Kat, Wes, and Dakota. The whole crew is coming to our pad and I thought it would be cool if you were here when they arrive. They all want to see you." Mr. Coolidge looked at his son and nodded in agreement. "Definitely." he then looked back at me, taking his hat off of his head. "Saaay, Winnie, how about bringing Nickers? We can't have a Coolidge reunion without her." I couldn't possibly decline. "I'll be here." I promised, heading back outside with Catman right behind me.
