Valentine Queen Read online

  For the REAL true Nanny, with love for Rick —MP

  Table of Contents

  All About Me, Kylie Jean!

  Chapter 1: Sweethearts

  Chapter 2: Be Sweet

  Chapter 3: Picking a Place

  Chapter 4: Lonely Hearts

  Chapter 5: Pet Peeves and Pet Projects

  Chapter 6: Spreading Sweetness

  Chapter 7: Two Hearts

  Chapter 8: Love Notes

  Chapter 9: Hearts, Doilies, and Happiness

  Chapter 10: Queen of Kindness

  Chapter 11: Party Time

  Chapter 12: Secrets

  My name is Kylie Jean Carter. I live in a big, sunny, yellow house on Peachtree Lane in Jacksonville, Texas, with Momma, Daddy, and my two brothers, T.J. and Ugly Brother.

  T.J. is my older brother, and Ugly Brother is . . . well . . . he’s really a dog. Don’t you go telling him he is a dog. Okay? I mean it. He thinks he is a real, true person.

  He is a black-and-white bulldog. His front looks like his back, all smashed in. His face is all droopy like he’s sad, but he’s not.

  His two front teeth stick out, and his tongue hangs down. (Now you know why his name is Ugly Brother.)

  Everyone I love to the moon and back lives in Jacksonville. Nanny, Pa, Granny, Pappy, my aunts, my uncles, and my cousins all live here. I’m extra lucky, because I can see all of them any time I want to!

  My momma says I’m pretty. She says I have eyes as blue as the summer sky and a smile as sweet as an angel. (Momma says pretty is as pretty does. That means being nice to the old folks, taking care of little animals, and respecting my momma and daddy.)

  But I’m pretty on the outside and on the inside. My hair is long, brown, and curly.

  I wear it in a ponytail sometimes, but my absolute most favorite is when Momma pulls it back in a princess style on special days.

  I just gave you a little hint about my big dream. Ever since I was a bitty baby I have wanted to be an honest-to-goodness beauty queen. I even know the wave. It’s side to side, nice and slow, with a dazzling smile. I practice all the time, because everybody knows beauty queens need to have a perfect wave.

  I’m Kylie Jean, and I’m going to be a beauty queen. Just you wait and see!

  Can you keep a secret? Because I have a big one to tell you. Here it goes . . . our whole family is planning a surprise anniversary party for Nanny and Pa! Everyone knows they were real, true high school sweethearts. They will have been married for fifty years this Valentine’s Day.

  All of the grown-ups in my family are sitting around our dining room table talking about party ideas. My best cousin, Lucy, and I are sitting quietly on the floor with Ugly Brother and listening.

  “Nanny and Pa have been in love for a long, long time,” Lucy whispers. “They deserve a party! I sure hope it’s as nice as they are.”

  I nod in agreement. “I wish Nanny were here to tell us their story,” I say. “But then the party wouldn’t be a surprise.”

  Then an idea hits my brain like red stripes on a peppermint stick! “Let’s tell each other a story!” I suggest. “I’ll start. When Nanny and Pa were in high school, Pa was a football star, just like T.J.”

  Lucy picks up the story. “Nanny was the new girl in town, and she didn’t know anyone, boys or girls. That made her feel nervous on her first day at Jacksonville High School.”

  “Don’t forget it was because she was shy, too!” I chime in.

  Lucy nods. “That’s right!” she says. “Then Nanny got mixed up and went to the wrong classroom. Pa was in his science class when Nanny walked in wearing a pink poodle skirt. She looked as pretty as a picture. It was love at first sight for Pa. When the teacher realized Nanny was in the wrong place —”

  “Pa offered to walk Nanny to her English class,” I finish. “Nanny didn’t say a word, but Pa talked the whole way because then he was nervous. And when they got to the right classroom, Nanny looked into Pa’s big brown eyes, and she fell in love, too.”

  Suddenly it’s so quiet I could hear a spider spin a web. Lucy and I look up and realize that the whole family is listening to us tell Nanny and Pa’s love story.

  Momma smiles at us. “They loved each other so much they decided to get married on Valentine’s Day.”

  Suddenly all of the grown-ups start talking at once. You might not know it, but planning a big party is a lot of work! Nobody seems to have an idea that everyone can agree on, and Lucy and I are getting bored.

  “Let’s play a game!” I tell Lucy. “When someone says ‘love,’ we’ll eat a candy heart.”

  Ugly Brother barks excitedly, “Ruff, ruff!” That means yes. He wants to play, too, but I think he really just wants to eat candy.

  “Okay, you can play, too,” I tell him, “but you’d better be listening, or you’re not getting any candy.”

  Ugly Brother sits at attention. He doesn’t have to wait too long before someone mentions putting lovebirds on the cake.

  “I love that idea!” our cousin Lilly says.

  Lucy and I grin at each other. It’s a good thing we have a bowl full of heart candies! Lucy and I each get two. Ugly Brother whines, so we give him two candies, too.

  “How about red roses and daisies as the centerpieces for the tables?” Aunt Suzie suggests. “Those are the flowers Nanny had at her wedding, so they’d be just perfect for her party.”

  Lucy and I glance at each other. That idea doesn’t get us any candy. While we wait, we look through the bowl. The hearts are all different colors: pale pink, yellow, lavender, green, white, and peach.

  “I bet you like the pink candy hearts the best,” Lucy says.

  I giggle. “Well . . . everyone knows pink is my favorite color!”

  Next Momma suggests a banner, but no one can think of what to put on it.

  “How about ‘Happy 50th Anniversary!’” Daddy suggests.

  Momma shakes her head. “I think we need something more creative,” she says.

  My tummy grumbles, and I hold up a candy heart. It says, “Love is Sweet.” I think the grown-ups need some help or Lucy and l will have to quit playing our game. Luckily, candy isn’t just a yummy treat — it’s also good inspiration!

  “How about ‘Love is Sweet!’” I shout.

  “That’s a great idea, Kylie Jean,” Momma says. “It’s perfect for the banner!”

  Lucy and I each pop a pastel piece of sugary goodness into our mouths. Ugly Brother licks his right up off of the floor. It gives him a pink tongue. He looks so adorable!

  We keep listening and playing our game, but pretty soon the family is fresh out of ideas. Luckily the party is still two weeks away, so the grown-ups decide to stop planning for today. That’s a good thing for Lucy and me — we are almost out of candy!

  The next day at school, our teacher, Ms. Corazón, has a note on the chalkboard. It says: “Buddy Reading today!”

  We are all excited, because buddy reading is so much fun! After the announcements, we line up to go read and walk to the kindergarten classroom on the other side of the building.

  When we get to the room, the teachers match us up with our reading buddies. My buddy is a little girl with blond hair.

  “Hi,” I say. “My name is Kylie Jean.”

  “My name is Summer,” the little girl tells me.

  Summer and I walk over to the bookshelf to pick out a book together. She holds out a book about princesses. “How about this one?”

  “Perfect!” I say.

&
nbsp; Summer and I find a spot on the story rug. I read the page, then I show her the picture.

  Before long, it’s time to go back to our classroom. Summer gives me a big squeezy hug. “Thank you for being my special reading buddy today!” she says.

  Then she gives me some candy kisses. Yum-o!

  When we get back to our classroom, Ms. Corazón has an announcement.

  “I have a challenge for our class,” she says. “It’s called the Be Sweet project. I want everyone to try to find fourteen ways to be kind in the month of February. You’ll record each kind act in your writing journal.”

  Everyone is so excited about the project! And we already have one thing to put in our journals. If you guessed being reading buddies, you’re right! That leaves thirteen nice things to do.

  I raise my hand. “Can we do more than fourteen nice things?” I ask.

  Ms. Corazón smiles. “Yes, of course, Kylie Jean!”

  I have so many great ideas that my brain feels more stretched out than a banana taffy twist! But before I can tell Lucy, Paula, and Cara about my plans, it’s time for lunch.

  I grab my lunchbox and get in line with the rest of my class. When we get to the cafeteria, everyone is talking about our project. Right away I notice that kids are being nicer to the cafeteria ladies. Everyone is saying please and thank you.

  “I don’t think they should be able to count please and thank you as a kindness,” I say. “Those words come out as natural as breathing if you were raised up right.”

  “You do have a point,” Lucy agrees.

  “It’s not up to you,” Paula says. “Every student decides what to count on their own.”

  “I know,” I tell her. “I’m just sayin’ what I think.”

  After lunch, kids are picking up every smidge of trash off the floor and putting it in the trash can. I decide to get a rag and wipe down all the tables so the lunch ladies won’t have to. That is a time-saving kindness.

  While I’m busy wiping off the tables, Randall Jeremiah Johnson, a boy in my class, grabs my pink princess lunchbox and runs away. He takes off across the room shouting, “Come and get it! Come and get it!”

  I decide that ignoring him is the best plan. Sooner or later, he’ll give up and bring my lunchbox back. When T.J. takes something of mine to tease me, I just wait it out. Besides, I am too busy helping to deal with that silly boy!

  Sure enough, Randall Jeremiah wears himself out. When all of the tables are clean, I see that he has disappeared to the playground. My lunchbox is sitting right by the door.

  1. Be a kindergarten reading buddy

  2. Help Miss Ruth wipe tables in the cafeteria

  After school, Momma does not have a snack ready! At first I can’t believe it, but then she tells me she has a dilemma.

  “What’s a dilemma?” I ask.

  “It’s a problem that needs to be solved,” Momma explains. “I have to find someplace to have Nanny and Pa’s surprise party. I was planning on using the hall at the church, but it’s too small. Can you help me think of a place?”

  “How about the Veteran’s Hall?” I suggest. “That’d be just perfect since Pa is a veteran.”

  “It would be perfect,” Momma agrees, “but I already called and it’s booked.”

  As much as I want to help Momma, I can’t help but think about my Be Sweet project. “We have a new project at school,” I tell her. “Ms. Corazón wants us to find fourteen ways to be sweet this month. I’ve already been sweet two times today!”

  “That’s wonderful, sugar!” Momma says. “Keep up the good work.”

  Just then, T.J. comes in and fixes his own snack. “What are y’all talking about?” he asks.

  “We’re trying to figure out where to have Nanny and Pa’s anniversary party,” I tell him.

  “My friend had a party at the Party Barn,” T.J. says. “You could have it there.”

  “I don’t know,” Momma says. “I was hoping for something a little fancier.”

  “I think we should check it out,” I say. “Nanny and Pa live on a farm, so they might like a barn!”

  “You might be right,” Momma says with a smile. “Thanks, T.J.”

  Momma calls the Party Barn and finds out the space is available, so we decide to hop in the van and go take a look at it. During the drive, we talk about more ideas for my Be Sweet project.

  “You could help at out at Nanny and Pa’s farm or walk Miss Clarabelle’s little dog,” Momma suggests.

  I am still waiting for the perfect idea to hit my brain when we pull up to the Party Barn. It is so cute! It looks like a real, true barn! There are big pots of cheerful red flowers sitting out front, clean white shutters, and a door that looks just like the one at Nanny and Pa’s barn!

  “So far, so good,” Momma says. “I sure hope the inside is as pretty as the outside!”

  A lady comes outside and greets us at the door. “Hey, y’all, I’m Miss Pam. Come on in!”

  Inside there are several old wood tables. Pretty red-checked curtains hug the wide windows. I can tell Momma just loves it. “This place has character!” she exclaims. “And all the red is perfect for a Valentine’s Day anniversary party.”

  “I think it would be perfect for your party,” Miss Pam says. “I’ll let y’all have a look around. Let me know if you have any questions.”

  Momma takes pictures to show Aunt Susie. In the back of the building, there is a nice clean kitchen we can use for the party food. It even has an oven and a refrigerator.

  “A person could really live here!” I say.

  “Who knows?” Momma says. “Maybe Miss Pam does live here when there aren’t parties.”

  When we’re done checking everything out, we spot Miss Pam stacking some chairs.

  “We should help her,” I tell Momma.

  Momma and I head over to help, and before long all of the chairs are put away.

  “Kylie Jean, you just did another kind deed!” Momma says. “Now you only need to do eleven more sweet things. You are going to be done with this project in a snap!”

  After Momma and I are finished at the Party Barn, we go next door to the Dairy Bee. Momma still owes me an afternoon snack. I decide to order the Ice Cream Dream. Yummy!

  You’ll never believe who’s behind us in line. Randall Jeremiah Johnson is there getting ice cream, too.

  I try to be sweet. “What flavor are you getting?” I ask.

  “Cookie dough,” he replies.

  All of a sudden, Randall Jeremiah reaches up and yanks on my ponytail! My barrette with the pink bow pops off and flies across the room. It lands right on top of a little girl’s ice cream. The little girl starts to cry, and Randall Jeremiah runs off.

  “Oh, my!” Momma says. “We’d better get that little girl another sundae.”

  Once we finish our ice cream, Momma and I hurry home to start dinner before Daddy gets home from work. I save Ugly Brother a bite of my Ice Cream Dream. That dog sure does love a frosty treat!

  3. Help out at the Party Barn

  The next afternoon when I get on the bus home from school, the first thing I do is offer to share my candy with Mr. Jim. After all, candy is sweet, just like I’m trying to be!

  As we drive, I see a giant brick house with green shutters. The yard is full of tall, strong, leafy trees and the flowerpots are filled with all kinds of colorful blooms. Some older folks sitting on the porch.

  I’ve always wondered what that house is. I decide to ask Mr. Jim. “What is that place?” I ask. “And how come there are so many people there? Are they having a party?”

  “It’s called Oak Manor,” Mr. Jim says. “And no, they’re not having a party. All those folks live there together.”

  “How come?” I ask.

  “A lot of them are too old to live alone,” Mr. Jim explains. “And s
ome of them are sick. They need help. In fact, my momma, Miss Hattie, lives there.”

  “It must be real fun to live with your friends!” I say.

  Mr. Jim shakes his head. “There are a lot of lonely hearts at Oak Manor,” he tells me. “Some folks don’t have a single soul to come and visit them. Like my momma’s roommate, Miss Rose. She’s all alone in the world. Miss Betty, the woman in charge there, is always looking for ways to cheer them up.”

  Just then an idea hits my brain like Skittles on a rainbow! As soon as I get home, I call my best cousin, Lucy.

  When she answers the phone, I am so excited the words pop right out of my mouth like sugary sweet bubblegum. “I want to help the folks at Oak Manor!” I say.

  “I love that idea!” Lucy says. “I want to help, too!”

  Lucy and I decide to make a list of things we can do to help.

  “This is a great start!” I say when we’re done. “Now we have all sorts of things to add to our list of sweet deeds!”

  That night before I go to bed, I tell Ugly Brother all about my idea for the class project. He loves my idea so much he covers my whole face with doggie kisses.

  “Thank you for the kisses,” I say. “I sure do hope Ms. Corazón likes my idea as much as you do!”

  Ugly Brother agrees. “Ruff, ruff.” Then he looks at my list, looks back up at me, and barks some more.

  “What’s the matter?” I ask. “Am I missing something?”

  Ugly Brother barks two more times. Finally, I catch on. “How about this?” I say. I grab a pencil and add something to the list. When I’m done writing, I show it to him again.

  Ugly Brother goes wild, chasing his tail in a circle and barking happily. “Ruff, ruff! Ruff, ruff!”

  If there’s one thing you can say about my dog brother, it’s that he is a really good helper. And he always wants to be included.