Hannah Maria Estevez eyed the pile of brightly colored cards in Pastor Chuck’s hand. She wondered what he was going to have them do in Sabbath School today. Whatever it was, she wanted to have a pink card, she decided. Or maybe one of the sunshine yellow ones.
MacKenzie Isabelle Evans climbed out of the car. She looked at the long gray building in front of her. Pink, and blue, and white petunias bloomed cheerfully in the rock planters beneath the long row of windows.
Joseph Anderson Donetti frowned. He looked over the top of his Primary Treasure at G.M. “I don’t like this story,” he said firmly. “It isn’t fair.”
Outside, the sun was shining brightly. Trevor sighed. He couldn’t believe that he really had to pull weeds instead of playing basketball with Matthew across the street. He was sure he was the only boy in the neighborhood who would be on his knees in the garden instead of shooting hoops.
Joseph Anderson Donetti let the screen door bang behind him. He walked across the porch and stopped at the edge with the toes of his sneakers hanging over. They almost touched the tops of the perky daffodils blooming below.
Hannah Maria Estevez held her breath. She looked from Papa’s twinkling eyes to Mama. Baby Paulo banged his spoon on the tray of his high chair, but Hannah didn’t even hear him. Would Mama let her go? Would Mama really let her miss a day of school when she wasn’t even sick?
Joseph Anderson Donetti stared at G.M. “You look funny,” he said.
Joseph Anderson Donetti sat in the pew between Mom and G.M. His stomach felt nervous and fluttery.
Just then the kitchen door banged. They heard Mr. Evans’s deep voice. “Are those cookies I smell? I knew it! I knew it! I was driving by the house, and the car just turned in and stopped. It must have smelled the cookies too.
Joseph Anderson Donetti looked around the kitchen. Where could G.M. have left the cordless phone this time?