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“You could at least ask her. Can’t hurt, right?” Maeve was on a roll.
    Katani raised an eyebrow, but there was now hopeshining from her eyes. She reached over and hugged Maeve. For all her dramatic antics and giddiness, Maeve could have such great ideas. And she was so enthusiastic she swept everyone else along with her. “You know what, Maeve? You’re absolutely right—it’s worth a try,” Katani said as she got to her feet. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
    “I love that quote,” Charlotte interjected. “I just can’t remember who said it.”
    “Me neither.” Katani shrugged her shoulders. “But whoever said it was smart.”
    “Hey, Kgirl, where are you going?” asked Avery.
    “Sorry, girls, no time to chat. I gotta catch my grandma before she leaves school for the day!” Katani had gotten her second wind. She took a swig of iced hot chocolate, threw on her bag, and in a second she was out the door.
    The BSG watched Katani charge down the street back toward school. Avery saluted her and said proudly, “You gotta give her an A for effort!”
    Another Hope to Go
    Mrs. Fields was halfway through the door when Katani came hurdling around the corner. Kelley had been picked up earlier by their mom for her Monday afternoon riding lesson. “Grandma Ruby! Grandma Ruby! Wait up!” Katani sputtered, jogging breathlessly over to Mrs. Fields.
    “My goodness, Katani!” Mrs. Fields smiled. “Where’s the clothing sale?” She knew her granddaughter’s love of fashion.
    Katani sighed. “Grandma Ruby, I have somethingreally important to talk to you about.” She walked her grandma out to the car and, as she did, unfolded the story of her fashion catastrophe.
    “Oh, baby,” Mrs. Fields exclaimed when Katani finished. “I didn’t realize that was the same weekend!” She looked sympathetically at Katani. She’d seen her ecstatic granddaughter dancing around the house for the past two days after the phone call from Michelle. Now the slightest glimmer of hope that was left in Katani’s big brown eyes all rested in Mrs. Fields.
    “But it is the same weekend. Oh please, Grandma Ruby!” Katani pleaded. “This is really important to me! Isn’t there some way I could reschedule the test? You know I’m a good student. I’d take it whenever you say. But I can’t miss this fashion show, Grandma Ruby, I just CAN’T! I would never get over it in a million years!”
    Mrs. Fields looked down at the ground, then looked up at Katani. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” she began. “I know it would have been wonderful for you to fly down to New York to help Michelle, but this is a national test, and I simply have no control over the rules. And even if I did, I can’t give special treatment to family members. Katani, I love you, but there’s really nothing I can do.”
    Katani felt as though her heart had been ripped right out of her chest. She blinked back the devastation that was about to pour out of her eyes in endless streams of tears. She tried to look strong and protested fiercely, “But, Grandma Ruby !”
    Mrs. Fields brushed Katani’s cheek kindly. “There, there, honey. I know this is disappointing. How about ifI give you a ride home, we’ll make some brownies and have a nice talk. Or would you rather go back and meet your friends?”
    Katani shook her head. “I think…I think I just want to walk home by myself.” Katani’s house was close to the school and she often chose to walk if it was a nice day or she just needed time alone with her thoughts.
    Mrs. Fields nodded compassionately. “I’ll see you in a few minutes then.”
    Katani nodded sullenly. This was a major blow. Not going to New York was a disappointment that neither brownies nor even the BSG could fix.

CHAPTER
4
“Fashion, Fashion, That’s My Passion!”
    K atani’s A for effort was truly earned that night at the dinner table. On her walk home, she decided to take a little inspiration from Maeve’s enthusiasm. She was not