Tina's Gimmick Page 5

  "Well maybe she has a problem or something." Nina said. She was painting her toes a light pink.

  "Yeah? Like what?" Sonia said.

  "I don't know, maybe some mucus condition."

  "Oh come on both of you!" I said. "Carol may have a problem with her nose or not, who cares. Her nose is pretty ugly and not worth talking about."

  "Yeah!" Sonia said laughing. "She's such a…" just then Mom came into the room.

  "Tina! Your letter! Do you seriously think I have nothing better to do than become your postman?"

  "Sorry mom!" I apologized. "And thanks!" my Mom shook her head and went downstairs.

  "Who's it from?" Nina asked.

  "Secret admirer?" Sonia asked. I looked at both of them and laughed.

  "Yeah right! It's from my two best friends Natasha and Tania. I told you about them, remember?" I said. I opened the letter and read it quickly.

  "What does it say?" Nina said.

  "Both of them are coming for the summer!" I said excitedly. "YAY!"

  Nina and Sonia looked at each other and laughed. "That's great news!" both of them said in unison and laughed.

  "Yeah it is!" I said and I knew it would be. But the best thing was that I was going to have all my best friends around me and I knew they would always stand by me through thick and thin.

  I glanced at my watch on the table and saw the sunlight twinkling on it. It really was a magical watch. I still haven't figured out how it fell off on its own that day. But I wonder: If I had gone back in time that day, I would never have known that Nina would stand up for me or that Sonia would actually choose to speak up for me than Carol. Sonia still has her group, but Nina and I were her best friends now.

  My Aunt Laina had been a brave woman and the best heir to this magical watch, and I wanted to repay her for saving my Mom by becoming just like her. I looked at the window and smiled to myself. This was just the beginning. In the years to come I would always cherish this watch and always help everyone like my Aunt Laina had. In the meantime,

  "You know, I think Carol eats her own snot!" I said and we all laughed.

  It was going to be a long and happy summer thanks to Carol and her snotty nose.

  THE END