Katie and the Cupcake War Read Online Free Page B

doctors say she’s going to be fine. She’s in really good health. You know how active she is.”
    I nodded. “She’s better at sports than I am.”
    â€œBut she has a lot of doctor’s appointments to go to, and Grandpa Chuck is still having trouble with his knees, so I’m going to take her,” Mom explained. Grandma Carole lives, like, an hour away, so I knew that wasn’t going to be easy. “And then, when she goes in for her surgery . . .”
    The doorbell rang—it was the pizza guy. While Mom paid for the food, I thought about what shehad just said. It sounded serious, but Mom said Grandma was going to be okay. Moms don’t lie about that stuff, do they?
    I set the table, and soon we were eating broccoli pizza and salad. It was so delicious, I didn’t mind we were having pizza for the second day in a row.
    â€œThis is sooo good,” I said, swallowing a bite of pizza. “I was starving after school today.”
    Mom threw down her napkin. “Oh, Katie, I almost forgot! How was the first day of school?”
    â€œIt was pretty good,” I said. I told her most of the stuff that happened. I left out the part about Eddie and George, because that was kind of embarrassing. And I didn’t tell her about Callie, because I didn’t want her to get upset. I also left out the part about the missing cupcake, because now I understood why she forgot about it.
    â€œWell, it sounds like you’re off to a good start,” Mom said with a smile, and then her look got serious. “Katie, we still need to talk about the surgery. I’m going to have to stay with Grandma Carole a few days while she’s recovering. Mrs. Rogers is going to stay with you.”
    Mom announced it in that fake-happy voice adults use when they are trying to convince you that what they are saying is good when they reallyknow it isn’t. I almost groaned out loud.
    Mrs. Rogers is the woman who took care of me when I was a little kid and Mom had to work. She still babysits me sometimes when Mom goes out late, and the annoying thing is that she still treats me like a three-year-old. The last time she was here, she actually checked my toothbrush before I went to bed to make sure I had brushed my teeth. My mom is a dentist! Of course I brushed my teeth!
    â€œMom, not Mrs. Rogers, please,” I begged. “She treats me like a baby. Can’t I go with you?”
    â€œAbsolutely not,” Mom said. “You need to stay in school.”
    I bit my lip. “But, Mom, it’s not fair!”
    â€œKatie, I really need your cooperation here,” Mom said, and I could tell I had upset her. “I don’t want to worry about you while I’m taking care of Grandma. So no complaining, okay?”
    It was really, really hard not to say anything back, but I kept quiet. I knew Mom was right. I would just have to deal with Mrs. Rogers for a few days. Thank goodness for school.
    But I was still feeling kind of bad. Then I remembered something from Ms. Chen’s boring fitness lecture that actually made me feel better.
    â€œMom, the lights on the high school track stayon until nine,” I said. “Can we go for a run?”
    The worried look on Mom’s face relaxed. “Why not? Let’s wait a little bit. It’s not good to go running right after you eat. But I think a run would do us both good.”
    So a little while later I changed into my running clothes, and Mom and I went down to the track. There was a chill in the air, but it wasn’t too cold—perfect weather for running. As we ran around and around in circles, I stopped feeling worried and sad and guilty.
    It just goes to show you that sometimes it pays to listen to boring lectures in school!

CHAPTER 5
The War Begins
    T he second day of school was pretty good, especially since it was Friday, and there was a three-day weekend to look forward to. Two days of school, three days of break.