A Tricky Sleepover (2 page)

Jasmine was so happy. But a new flutter in her stomach started as she counted the number of days until the party. What would she wear? Did Kayla and her friends sleep with dolls or stuffed animals? Jasmine had a favorite doll. She couldn't sleep without it. What if they don't? Would they think she was a baby?

Jasmine ran straight home as fast she could from the bus stop that afternoon. She burst through the front door, out of breath and jumping up and down excitedly.

“Mom! Mom! I got invited to a sleepover! Can I go? Please? Please?” Jasmine yelled.

Jasmine's mom came out of her office. She was talking on the phone and held her finger up at Jasmine to wait. Jasmine bounced up and down, her braid swinging wildly, until her mom finally said goodbye to the person on the phone.

“What is this about a sleepover?” her mother asked. She seemed distracted about work and kept the phone to her ear.

“Kayla, a girl in my class, is having a sleepover and she invited ME!” Jasmine squealed. “And Annie can go too. And we have always wanted to have a sleepover. And I really want to go. Please?” Jasmine's words came tumbling out so fast, she sounded like she was on fast-forward.

Her mom laughed and kissed the top of her head.

“I guess you can. Do you think you can stay the whole night? This is a really big deal,” her mom said. “Remember when you tried to sleep at Grandma's house? I had to come and get you at ten 10 o'clock at night because you were afraid.”

“I can. I can! Thank you, Mom! I am going to call Annie!” Jasmine said.

Jasmine and Annie chatted happily about what they would wear, what they would bring, and which doll they would
hide in their pillowcases. They decided they wouldn't tell anyone about needing their dolls to sleep. Jasmine was sure if she had her doll, she would be able to last the whole night.

Chapter Three

Secrets and Decisions

The long wait was almost over. The sleepover was the next night. Jasmine and Annie talked about nothing else since they both got their invitations.

Jasmine wound her hair in a special braid that morning. She couldn't stop smiling. When she got to school, she saw Kayla and her friends standing in a circle, laughing and whispering to one another. When Jasmine walked up to them, they stopped talking.

“Hi everyone,” Jasmine said, smiling shyly at the group. “I am really excited about your party tomorrow night, Kayla!”

“Me too,” Kayla said. “We have lots of surprises planned.” Kayla's perfectly smooth ponytail was arranged over her shoulder. Jasmine looked at it wishing her hair would do the same. She was sure her hair was sticking up out of her braid all over the place.

“Like what?” Jasmine asked. All of the girls in the group were covering their mouths and giggling. Jasmine could feel her heart thudding in her chest. She tried to press down her hair. She thought for sure it was escaping from its twists and ties.

“Oh, you'll see,” Kayla said in a sing-song voice. She walked away with the other girls, giggling and whispering to one another.

I wonder what that was all about,
Jasmine thought. My hair must look really weird. She felt a familiar flutter of nervousness in her stomach.

Later that day, while Jasmine was in the library, she heard some girls whispering in another row. The voices sounded familiar to Jasmine. “I heard Annie and Jasmine haven't even been on a sleepover. I can't wait to teach them a couple of tricks! It will be so fun. Did you see Jasmine's hair today?” The
two girls giggled as they walked down the row. Jasmine peeked through the shelf. It was Kayla and one of her friends!

Jasmine slowly unwound her braid. Jasmine didn't know what to do. Was Kayla planning on playing tricks on her and Annie? She was so angry. She was really looking forward to having a sleepover. Should she tell Annie? Maybe Kayla really didn't mean it. She walked back to class, thinking about what she'd heard.

Chapter Four

The Paint Trick

When Jasmine got back to class, she noticed a couple of boys standing near Kayla's desk. They had poured paint on her chair.

“Don't tell. Let's see what happens!” Tommy said.

Tommy and the boys high-fived each other, sat down, and tried to look bored.

Ha!
Jasmine thought. Now Kayla will know what it feels like to have a trick played on her! She smiled sweetly and watched while Kayla sat down in her chair.

“AAAHH!” Kayla screeched. “Someone poured paint on my chair! My skirt is ruined!”

The boys erupted with laughter. Mr. Garcia, their art teacher, sent them to the principal's office. Kayla hid her face as she cried.

Jasmine thought the trick the boys played on Kayla would be so funny. She thought it would make her feel so much better after what she overheard in the library. But now, all of a sudden, she didn't feel very well. Kayla seemed really upset and hurt that the boys would be so mean to her.

Maybe I should have warned Kayla about the paint,
she thought.

Jasmine asked Mr. Garcia if she could go help Kayla get cleaned up. He let her take Kayla to the bathroom. Kayla was sobbing and her skirt was a mess. This only made Jasmine feel worse. Her feelings were so hurt by what she heard, she didn't think about how Kayla might feel to have a trick played on her.

Jasmine decided not to say anything to Kayla. She helped her get washed up. They walked to the office together so Kayla could call her mom to bring her some clean clothes.

“Thanks for helping me, Jasmine,” Kayla said. “I am so glad we are becoming friends.”

“Me too,” Jasmine mumbled. Her stomach felt tied up in triple-knots.

Chapter Five

The Whole Truth... Or Is It?

When Jasmine saw Annie on the bus after school, she told her all about what happened in art class. Annie's eyes opened wide and she let out a small gasp.

“Why wouldn't you tell her about the paint?” Annie asked.

“I overheard Kayla and the other girls in the library. I think they are planning to play tricks on us at the sleepover. They were also talking about my hair,” Jasmine said. She felt both mad and ashamed at the same time.

“Why would they be so mean?” Annie said. “We just want to be their friends. Should we still go to the sleepover?”

“I think we should. But we should be prepared. If they want to play tricks on us, then we should be ready with our own!” Jasmine said.

The girls spent the rest of the bus ride making a plan. Neither wanted to tell the other, but they both had a very uneasy feeling about what they came up with.

When Jasmine got home, she plodded up the stairs. She wanted to curl up in a ball under her bed and hide. She never felt so unhappy. She didn't know what to do to make everything better. As she packed for the sleepover, she hid what they would need to play tricks on the other girls. Instead of feeling excited, Jasmine wanted to cry.

She didn't eat much that evening. After dinner, Jasmine's mom knocked on her bedroom door.

“I got some new clothes for you for the sleepover. I know this is a big deal for you,” she said, handing Jasmine a bag with a skirt and matching shirt inside.

Jasmine thanked her, but she couldn't look her in the eye.