Girl Power (17 page)

“You guys coming over tomorrow?” asked Morgan as they went outside.

“I can’t come over until one,” said Carlie. “I have to babysit.”

“And I promised to help at the restaurant tomorrow morning,” said Amy.

“Why don’t we just get together at one then?” suggested Emily, knowing full well that the three girls would be there sooner. And she’d already arranged with Morgan’s grandma to sneak the bus key out and into the mailbox while Morgan was still asleep.

“Okay,” said Morgan. But she looked disappointed.

“See ya tomorrow,” called Emily as she left Morgan still standing by the abandoned bus.

The next day, Emily, Carlie, and Amy sneaked over to the bus at noon. Carlie had gotten the key out of the mailbox, and they let themselves in and quickly went to work setting up their surprise party. Shortly before one, the three girls stepped back to look at their accomplishment.

“The decorations are fantastic, Carlie,” said Emily.

“Yes,” agreed Amy. “So colorful. Morgan will love it.”

“And the dishes and things you brought …,” said Emily. “They’re perfect too, Amy.”

“That cake looks yummy,” said Carlie.

“It’s almost one,” said Emily. “We should hide in the back of the bus.”

“What if Morgan doesn’t come?” asked Amy. “She might be worried about the lost key.”

“I think she’ll come,” said Emily. “She’ll have to explain to us why we can’t get in the bus.”

“But we won’t be here,” said Carlie. “If we’re hiding.”

“I’ll leave the door open,” said Emily. She ran up to open the door then back to where Amy and Carlie were waiting.

After about five minutes, they heard someone coming in the door. And sure enough it was Morgan. They all jumped out and yelled, “Surprise!”

“Whoa!” said Morgan, almost falling backwards out the door.

“Happy Birthday!” they yelled.

It was obvious that she was totally surprised, and this made the three girls even happier.

“You’re a teenager now!” said Emily, giving Morgan a quick hug.

Morgan grinned. “And you guys aren’t.”

“I will be in November,” said Emily.

“I won’t be thirteen until next April,” said Carlie.

“And I won’t be thirteen for almost two years,” admitted Amy. “How come you’re so old anyway, Morgan?”

Morgan laughed. “My mom and I were living in Thailand when I was six, and she didn’t start me in school.”

“So you weren’t held back?” said Amy.

“Amy!” said Emily in a scolding tone.

But Morgan just laughed even harder now. “No, Amy, I wasn’t held back. I just didn’t start first grade until I was
seven. But I never really minded. I actually think it’s pretty cool being older than everyone.”

“I think it’s cool that you got to live in Thailand,” said Emily. “You’ll have to tell us more about that.”

“Not right now,” said Morgan, eyeing the cake and presents.

And so Emily lit the thirteen rainbow-colored candles, they sang “Happy Birthday,” and then Morgan blew them all out in one big breath.

“You’ll get your wish!” exclaimed Emily.

“I already did,” said Morgan, smiling at her three best friends. “It seems like my prayers and wishes just keep coming true.”

MELODY CARLSON
has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. Before publishing, Melody traveled around the world, volunteered in teen ministry, taught preschool, raised two sons, and worked briefly in interior design and later in international adoption. “I think real-life experiences inspire the best fiction,” she says. Her wide variety of books seems to prove this theory.

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Other books in the growing faithgirlz!
^Tm
series:

Bibles

The Faithgirlz! Bible

NIV Faithgirlz! Backpack Bible

Bible Studies

Secret Power of Love

Secret Power of Joy

Secret Power of Goodness

Secret Power of Grace

Nonfiction

My Faithgirlz Journal

The Faithgirlz! Handbook

The Faithgirlz! Cookbook

No Boys Allowed

What’s A Girl To Do?

Girlz Rock

Chick Chat

Real Girls of the Bible

Faithgirlz! Whatever

My Beautiful Daughter

Beauty Lab

Body Talk

Everybody Tells Me to Be Myself, But I Don’t Know Who I Am

Girl Politics

Fiction

  From Sadie’s Sketchbook

Shades of Truth
(Book One)

Flickering Hope
(Book Two)

Waves of Light
(Book Three)

Brilliant Hues
(Book Four)

  Boarding School Mysteries

Vanished
(Book One)

Betrayed
(Book Two)

Burned
(Book Three)

Poisoned
(Book Four)

  Sophie’s World

Sophie’s World

Sophie’s Secret

Sophie Under Pressure

Sophie Steps Up

Sophie’s First Dance

Sophie’s Stormy Summer

Sophie’s Friendship Fiasco

Sophie and the New Girl

Sophie Flakes Out

Sophie Loves Jimmy

Sophie’s Drama

Sophie Gets Real

  The Girls of Harbor View

Girl Power
(Book One)

Rescue Chelsea
(Book Two)

Raising Faith
(Book Three)

Secret Admirer
(Book Four)

  The Lucy Series

Lucy Doesn’t Wear Pink
(Book One)

Lucy Out of Bounds
(Book Two)

Lucy’s Perfect Summer
(Book Three)

Lucy Finds Her Way
(Book Four)

  Check out www.faithgirlz.com

ZONDERKIDZ

Girl Power
Copyright © 2007, 2012 by Melody Carlson

Mystery Bus
Copyright © 2007, 2012 by Melody Carlson

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