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Today was Kate's graduation from her lessons. She was now about 9 years old. This afternoon, her teacher would come to the Turner's house for a small dinner party. During this time she would judge Kate, and determine if she was ready to pass.
Kate had been given a new dress just for the occasion. It was made of blue silk, had short puffed sleeves, and she had gotten her hair done up with matching ribbons. Needless to say, normally Kate would rather have jumped off a cliff and onto a coral reef than have worn it, but she'd been looking forward to graduation since the first class and wearing a dress was a small price to pay.
It was an hour before the party, Kate's teacher had already arrived, and Elizabeth was in Kate's room, helping her get ready. Kate was in her petticoats, balancing on one foot, trying to get her shoes on. "I really hope I don't make a fool of myself.", she muttered.
"You won't.", Elizabeth said, taking the dress out of the closet. "In fact, I invited a family with a little girl about your age. Hannah, I think her name is."
"What?", Kate lost her balance and fell in heap on the floor. Hannah was the name of the girl whom she had knocked the wind out of with a crab apple the day of the first blacksmithing lesson. "Mother, tell me it wasn't Hannah Kingsburg!"
"Actually, yes, I think that is the name.", said Elizabeth as she helped Kate to her feet.
"This is a disaster!", Kate yelled. "Hannah hates me!"
"Oh, come now. I'm sure she doesn't hate you."
"Yes she does! Ever since I snuck up behind her and put a cricket in her hair when I was 5! Every time I see her, she throws some insult at me about how I'm a tomboy and she thinks I'll never be a lady. Not only that, she thinks a blacksmith is the lowest job you can get! She always says that the only reason Anthony and I don't starve is because Daddy married you. We know it's not true and we both hate her!"
"Well, even so, you'll just have to deal with her for today. All you have to do is make it through the evening, and you'll never have to go to another lady lesson again. If she starts mouthing off, just think about that. Besides, not that I'm saying you should, but you'll have plenty of time to get back at her after the party."
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At 4:00 the guest began to arrive. It was a very small party and only one other family was attending. Unfortunately, that family didn't have any children at all. They were just some old friends of Kate and Anthony's Grandfather, the Andrews'. The couple was the first to arrive.
"Anthony, how good to see you!", said Ann, Mrs. Andrew, as she shook his hand. Phil, Mr. Andrew, did the same.
"Well now, young Katherine, you look lovely. Today's a very big day for you. I suppose you're feeling a little nervous?", asked Ann.
What Kate was feeling was her 3 layers of hot, itchy petticoats forming a large bunch under her skirt. She didn't think it would be appropriate to say that, so she said, "Not at all. I'm confident that I will pass without much difficulty."
A few minutes later, the Kingsburg's arrived. Hannah was wearing a light green dress and what Kate could tell was a forced smile. Her parents, Paul and Sarah, graciously greeted Elizabeth, Will, Anthony and Kate. Hannah did the same, but when she got to Kate she whispered, " I'm surprised you even made it to graduation, much less wearing something like that. It seems a bit to clean for you."
"You know, Hannah, that dress matches your personality just perfectly. It's the exact same color of a rotten egg.", Kate said, in a very polite tone.
Hannah's eyes popped, the narrowed to tiny slits. She stuck her nose up in the air and walked off.
"Well, that was easy enough. But Hannah Kingsburg never gives up without a fight.", thought Kate, "She's definitely going to get worse. But whatever she does, I can't let her get to me. I will NOT take another term of lady lessons!"
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After a few minutes of talking among the adults, they all sat down at the table. Kate poured the tea without spilling a drop. She sat down next to Hannah and smirked at her
Hannah smiled nastily and whispered, "You call that elegant pouring! A rat could have done it better than that. But then again, there's not much difference between you and a rat anyway."
Kate clenched her teeth. "No! Katherine Elizabeth Turner, you are going to control yourself!", she silently yelled at herself, "You can get her back all you want after you pass this test and get out of this frock from hell!"
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The rest of the party went along without much incident. When it was almost over, Kate's teacher called everyone to the table. She stood up at her seat and said, "Katherine has shown much improvement over the course of her lessons. From what I have seen tonight, I believe she is ready to join society as a proper young lady. And so, I am pleased to present Miss Katherine Turner her graduation diploma."
She handed Kate a small roll of paper tied with a red ribbon. All the guests clapped softly. Hannah leaned over to Kate and whispered, "Congratulations Katherine. Though, that piece of paper won't come in handy when your mother comes to her senses, leaves your father, and you're left on the street."
That did it! Kate face tuned red with rage. She reached over the table, took a big, soft sweet potato out of a dish, and smashed it as hard as she could in Hannah's face!
The squishy mass exploded, covering Hannah from her hair to the top of her corset. Hannah gave a blood-curdling shriek that must have shook the windows. Everyone at the table gasped.
Will stood up from his seat. When Kate saw this, she grabbed her diploma with her clean hand, ran up the stairs to her room, and locked the door. Will looked to Elizabeth for help. She nodded toward the stairway. Understanding what she meant, Will left the table and headed for Kate's room.
DO YOU LOVE IT! YAY KATE! You know you're all cheering for her right now.
