“Excuse me,” I said. “I will be right back.”
I ran upstairs and got my gift. I brought it into the den and handed it to Grandad.
“This paper is so beautiful,” said Grandad. “I wonder what is inside.”
He carefully opened the package. Then he smiled.
“Grandad, this is my gift to you. I worked very hard on it and I hope you enjoy it,” I said.
I popped my movie into the VCR and pressed the button marked “play.” I saw myself on the screen. Then I heard myself speak.
“ ‘Princess Gigglepuss by Karen Brewer with a little help from her friends, Hannie and Nancy.’ ”
“I am in the movie, too,” said Andrew.
“Quiet please,” I said.
We watched the movie. At the end, everyone clapped. Grandad gave me a big hug.
“Thank you, Karen. I love my gift,” he said.
“It was wonderful!” said Mommy.
“I wish I could have been in your movie,” said Tia. “It must have been so much fun to make.”
“Think of all the cooperation it must have taken,” said Granny.
Cooperation? Hmm. I guess there had not been too much of that. I was glad Tia had not been in my movie. If she had been, she probably would not be talking to me anymore.
Nobody saw the extra parts that Bobby had filmed. They would have seen how bossy I was. They would have seen me talking like a big shot and not listening to anyone. I started to feel bad. My friends were all mad at me and I knew why. I had to do something to make it up to them, and I knew just what.
Grandad was having a very good time at his welcome-home party. My friends like parties, too. I decided to give a party for them to thank them for being in my movie. I would give it as soon as I got home.
Making Plans
It was Sunday. It was time to say goodbye to Granny and Grandad. I hated to leave them.
“Call us when you get home,” said Granny.
“If we do not answer right away, it is because we are busy watching our movie,” said Grandad with a smile.
There were hugs all around. Then we went outside to meet Tia and her parents. They were going to drive us to the airport so Granny would not have to leave Grandad alone.
“I wish you did not have to leave so soon,” said Tia.
“Me, too,” I replied. “But I will be back. And I promise to write.”
I felt sad about leaving Tia, but I was looking forward to getting home. I missed Hannie and Nancy. I wanted to give my party for them and for my little-house friends.
While we were on the plane, I asked Mommy and Seth if I could have the party. They said yes. They even said they would help if I wanted them to. Seth offered to make the snacks. Mommy said she would think of some games we could play.
As soon as we got home, I went to work making plans. First I wrote out a guest list. There were eight of us, counting me. Oh, yes. There was Midgie. She did not make it into the movie. But she had always showed up for rehearsals. That made nine. And Rocky would probably come whether I invited him or not. So I put him on the list, too. Ten guests.
Next I thought about things we could do at the party. The most important thing was for everyone to see the movie. It would be just like opening night for famous movie stars. That was it! This was an Opening Night Party.
We would have snacks and play games. Then we would watch the movie. Maybe I would make a speech because I was the director. No. Maybe it would be better if I did not make a speech. I think my friends had heard enough speeches from me while we were making the movie.
I needed to think of one more thing. I wanted to find a special way to thank my friends. I sat in my room and wondered what that special thing should be. Hmm …
The Party
The party was on Wednesday night. Right after dinner the doorbell started ringing. My guests ran inside. They found the house decorated with streamers and balloons. Seth had made his excellent brownies. There was punch to drink, plus popcorn and plenty of snacks.
“Who wants to play Draw a Movie Star?” I asked.
This was one of the games Mommy had made up for the party. When she explained the rules, everyone wanted to play.
We divided up into two teams. I was on a team with Hannie, Nancy, and Andrew. On the other team were Bobby, Alicia, Kathryn, and Willie.
Mommy taped two big pieces of paper to the living room wall. She drew an oval on each one. The kids on each team lined up. When Mommy said, “Go!” we were supposed to take turns drawing a face and hair. The first team to finish drawing the movie star won the game.
“On your mark, get set, go!” said Mommy.
Hannie drew one eye. Nancy drew the other eye. Andrew drew a smiling mouth. When it was my turn, I drew hair. We kept going until we had drawn eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Our movie star was very funny-looking. But we finished first and won the game.
After that we had a popcorn hunt and played musical chairs. Then I said, “It is showtime!”
I handed each of my friends a paper bag filled with popcorn. When everyone had found a good seat in front of the TV, I popped the movie into the VCR and turned off the lights. We watched our movie and ate popcorn just like in a real movie theater. Everyone was very excited to see themselves on TV. We clapped at the end.
I wanted to show the movie again. But it was late and my friends were getting ready to leave. It was time for my surprise. I made a speech. But it was a teeny-tiny speech and I was not one bit bossy.
“Thank you for coming to my party,” I said. “I know I could not have made this movie for my grandad without you. He really loved it. So now I would like to give each of you a thank-you present to take home.”
My surprise was homemade movie posters. (I drew one poster and Mommy copied it for me at the post office.) I put the title at the top. Below the title was a picture of a giggling cat wearing a crown. I wrote the names of the stars in alphabetical order. Then I wrote, “Filmed by Bobby Gianelli.” At the very bottom of the page in the smallest letters it said, “Directed by Karen Brewer.”
I went to bed that night feeling very happy. My friends liked their surprises and they were not mad at me anymore.
“That is the way it is with friends, Goosie,” I said. “Sometimes you get mad at each other. But then you make up.”
Before I fell asleep, I had a very good idea. Since this movie was such a big hit, maybe next summer we could make the sequel. I could see the poster now.
Princess Gigglepuss, Part Two—
Coming Soon to a Theater Near You!
About the Author
ANN M. MARTIN is the acclaimed and bestselling author of a number of novels and series, including Belle Teal, A Corner of the Universe (a Newbery Honor book), A Dog’s Life, Here Today, P.S. Longer Letter Later (written with Paula Danziger), the Family Tree series, the Doll People series (written with Laura Godwin), the Main Street series, and the generation-defining series The Baby-sitters Club. She lives in New York.
Copyright © 1995 by Ann M. Martin
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or
are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
First edition, 1995
e-ISBN 978-1-338-05783-6
Ann M. Martin, Karen's Movie
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