Chapter Nineteen

Karen's Party

On the morning of the party I woke up and I was gigundoly excited. I dressed in my beautiful outfit and waltzed down to breakfast. I could tell that Andrew still did not believe I had turned over a new leaf and was giving me the dirtiest look he could while he ate a bowl of cereal. I did not care though. It did not matter what Andrew thought of me. It did not even matter if I had really changed or not. All that mattered was that Mommy thought I had changed and for right now at least I had.

"Oh look it is evil Karen," Andrew grumbled, "She is up to no good as usual."

Mommy handed me a bowl and a box of cheerios, "Now Andrew, we agreed that unless Karen does something bad again that we are going to give her another chance so please be nice."

Andrew stood up and put his bowl in the sink, "Alright Mommy but it is very hard not to be suspicious of Karen."

"Andrew, I am really trying to be good now." I poured myself a big bowl of cereal and gave him a smile.

Andrew stormed out of the kitchen which was fine by me. It meant I could eat my breakfast in peace. He calls me evil but really he is the evil one.

After I ate, I went out to the backyard to help Seth decorate. Seth even found some white Christmas lights in the garage which he helped me string on the fence with the paper streamers. We set up chairs for everyone. The yard was full of balloons too. Some of them we taped to chairs and tables and the trees. Others were just blown up and allowed to roll free in the grass.

We put all of the presents I had made on a table and then we set out the food on another table. Everything looked great. I had the cards inside a shoebox which I had stapled green, yellow and white paper to.

Soon it was time for the party. My little house family was ready for my guests. All except Andrew that is. Andrew ignored Mommy saying it was time to go out to the yard. He walked right by her and went to the living room.

Andrew sat on the couch, "It is time for Caillou. I am not going to your party, Karen. I have not seen the episode about Caillou making pizza with Jason and Jeffrey yet and it is going to be on today. I am sorry but I need to watch Caillou."

Mommy took the remote, "Andrew, you are going to the party. Karen has an apology to make to you too."

"She is not sorry," Andrew snapped at Mommy but he got up and followed us to the yard.

Soon my friends, neighbors and big house family had arrived. Everyone was eating and having a great time. Except Andrew. He was sitting inside the playhouse looking out the window with an angry face.

I had been sitting and eating pizza with Hannie and Nancy. My frenemy Pamela and her best friends Leslie and Jannie were sitting next to us. Natalie Springer was sitting by herself a few feet away. I think she was still scared of me and she really is a wannabe with no friends.

However, I could not eat my pizza comfortable with Andrew glaring at me. I knew I would need to do something.

I went over to the playhouse, "Andrew what is the problem? You are ruining my party."

"I do not like you, Karen. I am the only one here who has not fallen for your scam. I know you have not changed. You will never change. You are a huge meanie mo. The rest of the world may believe that you are really sorry but I do not. I never will." Andew was very angry.

I could not help myself. I did my animal growl at him, "No Andrew. As far as you and everybody else is concerned, I have changed. Mommy believes I had changed and I need her to keep believing that. You need to start believing it to or else."

"Or else what?" Andrew snapped at me. "All I have to do right now is yell for Mommy and she will come over here and see how you have not changed a bit."

"Call her," I challenged him. "She will not believe you."

Andrew took a deep breath and yelled, "Mommy!"

Mommy and Seth had been chatting with Nancy and Pamela's parents. Mommy came running as soon as she heard Andrew. I rolled my eyes but I had a plan.

As soon as Mommy got close, I turned on the fake tears, "Mommy, Andrew says I have not changed and I am not sorry. That really hurts my feelings because I worked so hard on this apology party and writing all the apology letters for everyone."

Andrew started to cry too, "Mommy, that is because she has not changed. She did an animal growl at me just a moment ago. Karen is a big liar and a phony."

I made my lower lip quiver, "He is lying. Not me."

"Andrew, I do not see Karen doing anything evil. I did not hear the animal growl from her. Until I see her doing anything to suggest otherwise, I have to believe that Karen has really changed." Mommy turned to look at me, "Karen Brewer, if I see even one hint that you have gone back to your old ways, it will not end well for you. Do you understand?"

I frowned, "Yes Mommy."

Mommy looked at Andrew again, "Do you understand, Andrew?"

Andrew looked madder than ever, "Not really, Mommy. You are rewarding her for being mean."

Mommy gave him a hug but he pulled away from her and went back inside the playhouse. Mommy ignored him, "Karen, everyone is just about finished eating. It is time for you to give out the presents and read your apology cards."

"Goody! That is the part I have been waiting for," I was super excited. I would have done the sweater pants dance but I did not want to ruin my cardigan sweater. Plus the sweater pants dance was really something private just for me.

I went over by the back porch. Underneath the table that I had put the presents on, I had placed the box with the apology cards. On top of it I had set my pink battery operated microphone. I was going to look super important with the microphone. It would make my voice extra loud and everyone would pay attention to just me, Karen Brewer which is how I like it.

I could see Mommy gathering up dirty paper plates. Kristy and Elizabeth were helping her. It is always good to see both of my families getting along. Seth and Daddy still were not friends and were ignoring each other but that was okay. As soon as everyone heard my apologies, they would be so happy it would not matter if they were friends or not.

"Attention everybody!" I turned my microphone on maximum volume. "May I have your attention please? I am ready to start reading my apologies and giving out gifts. Please come and gather around me."

Everyone came over to where I was. Almost everyone except Andrew. He was still in the playhouse. I noticed that for some reason Natalie Springer was standing at the playhouse talking to him instead of joining me. I ignored them for now because I had everyone else gathered around me.

I waited until everyone was settled either sitting in a chair or on the ground. "Now we are ready to begin. When I call your name please come up to me.

I pulled the first card out of the box and started to read.