"Good for you, Katie. "Jon pulled down the metal cage door that locked up the shop. "What's your IO percent bonus based on?"

"Based on?" Katie asked.

"You know, based on," Jon said. "You're going to get IO percent of what?"

Katie blushed. "I don't know. I didn't ask him. I was too excited, I guess."

"You can find out tomorrow," Christy suggested. "I'm glad your first day went so well."

"It was perfect, except for Slick Rick," Katie said, following Christy to the back of the store. "He came over to Santa's house and stood there for at least half an hour just smiling at me."

"Rick did?" Christy asked. 'Why would he do that?"

"To drive me crazy. Why else?"

Jon, with the cash drawer in his hands, had joined them in the back room. Christy noticed a wry grin on his face.

"The old tease-her-best-friend trick," he muttered. 'Worked a few times for me."

"What?" Katie asked.

"I don't think we want to know," Christy advised, pulling Katie out the back door. "Good night, Jon. See you tomorrow."

When they reached Christy's car, Katie said, "So, when are we going to make the cookies? We should make them Sunday afternoon; then we can take them with us to the Bible study that night."

'"What are you talking about?"

"You know, the G.o.d-Lovers group at Rick and Doug's apartment. We're going this Sunday night, aren't we?"

"Katie, where did you come up with all this?"

"Rick told me."

"When?"

'Well, I sort of talked to him on my break. He told me all about the weekend plans. Why? Didn't he tell you?"

Christy looked at Katie in disbelief. "Rick actually waited around for you, and you spent your break with him?"

"Yeah, so?"

"And he invited you to G.o.d-Lovers, and you really want to go?"

"Sure. Don't you? I think it'll be fun. I want to meet this Doug I've heard so much about." Katie plunged her felt hat and shoes into her bag and looked at Christy, who sat frozen in the driver's seat, the keys in her hand. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Christy snapped, swallowing all her confusion and surprise in one huge gulp. "Nothing at all."

Jamming the keys into the ignition, she started the car with a roar. Then she forced herself to ask calmly, "So, what kind of cookies should we make?"

Katie asked the next morning on the phone. "Can you go to G.o.d-Lovers?"

"I haven't asked them yet," Christy said with a sigh. "I have a feeling I already know what they'll say."

"Tell them I'm going," Katie urged. "My parents said it was okay. They even said I could have the car, and I don't have to be home until eleven. Maybe if you tell your parents I'm driving, they'll let you go."

Christy felt a tinge of jealousy over Katie's freedom. She knew she shouldn't compare. Still, it didn't seem fair.

"I was thinking," Christy said, "maybe we should try to go next Sunday night because Christmas break starts then, and we won't have any school on Monday. This Sunday is still a school night for me, and I'm supposed to be home by nine."

"Why don't we go both weeks? Or at least try to go both weeks. I'm really looking forward to it, and I'd like it if you could come with me this week."

Christy realized Katie planned to go whether Christy went with her or not. That hurt. After all, Rick and Doug were her friends. Why should Katie feel so welcomed into their group without Christy there?

"I have to get ready for work," Christy stated abruptly. "I don't want to be late again like yesterday." She said it with a jab, as if she wanted Katie to take the hint that it was her fault Christy had been late.

"Oh, you're right! It's already after ten, and I'm not dressed yet. Hey, do you want to meet at the food court on our lunch break?"

"Okay," Christy said. "I usually have my break at one."

"Great! I'll meet you at the doughnut bar at one unless I can't get away then. Bye!" Katie said cheerfully before hanging up.

Yeah, or unless Slick Rick comes to bug you again. Christy had thought through the situation with Rick a dozen times. None of it made sense. She could believe the part about. Doug wanting Rick to invite Christy to G.o.d-Lovers, but why did Rick wait around to have dinner with Katiea"especially since he had told Christy he couldn't meet her during her break?

She jumped into the shower and quickly washed her hair, debating whether to approach her parents this morning about driving to San Diego with Katie or to wait until that evening. She knew they would say no either way. Why bother asking at all?

It ended up taking a half hour to get ready for work, which meant she barely had enough time to fly out the door with a "See you later" tossed over her shoulder to Mom and Dad.

Her morning continued at a frenzied pace. She couldn't believe it was already one when Jon asked if she wanted to take her lunch break.

Christy arrived at the doughnut bar at 1:04- Katie wasn't in sight. After waiting ten minutes, Christy realized if she didn't get in line and order lunch, her break would be over. She was starving and had no trouble deciding on the French bread pizza, even though that line was one of the longest.

While she waited in line and then sat down to eat her pizza, Christy kept scanning the noisy plaza for Katie. For some reason, she half expected to see Rick as well. She saw neither and had to hurry back to the pet store. If she had had more time, she would have visited Santa's house to watch Katie in action. Or maybe even spot Rick there.

Stop it! she reprimanded herself. Why are you thinking like this about Rick and Katie? Get your head out of the garbage can, girl! It stinks in there.

From the minute she stepped back into the shop until she left at six, business remained steady. She felt glad the afternoon had zoomed by. Since Katie never appeared, Christy thought she had better check in on her before going home.

The line at Santa's house wrapped halfway around the large snow scene. In the middle of the display stood a three-sided cottage complete with fake snow, icicles, and mechanical elves who were wired to continually wrap presents and paint red stripes on candy canes.

Christy thought the snow looked funny at this Southern California mall, where most of the shoppers wore shorts. The jolly, rotund Santa sat on his throne with a camera positioned in front of him.

And there, next to the camera, danced Katie. The eyes of the toddler on Santa's lap followed her antics with obvious glee. "Look at Rudolph!" Katie said in a squeaky voice, holding up a reindeer hand puppet. "He's about to fly!"

Katie swooped the puppet forward, beeping Rudolph's red nose on the little boy's nose. She ducked as the bright flash went off, capturing the child's big smile.

No wonder Rick stuck around. I could watch her for hours too. She sure has a knack for this. Why was I getting so jealous and worried about Rick being interested in Katie? That's ridiculous!

As the next child approached the place of honor, Christy caught Katie's attention and called out, "I'm going home now. Call me, okay?"

Katie called back, "We've been so busy! I'll be here another hour. Do you want to bake cookies at my house tonight or tomorrow?"

Aware of the photographer's disapproving glare, Christy shrugged and said, "Call me when you get home, okay?"

Katie nodded and waved. She reached into a basket next to the camera, pulled out a squeaky snowman, and went back to her make-the-baby-smile routine.

Katie finally called Christy at nine-thirty, full of excitement. "I just got home, and you'll never believe what happened! You know the photographer? He offered me a job! After Christmas. He wants me to work at his studio when he does children's portraits. He says I'm the best a.s.sistant he's ever had! And get this: He offered to pay me double what I'm getting now!"

"That's great, Katie! Good for you." Christy tried to make her voice sound light and sweet, even though she didn't feel that way. No one had ever said she was the best at anything or offered to double her salary. '

"And the best part of all is that I don't have to wear a costume." Katie laughed. "I did tell him the ears were real. though, but he promised me his company didn't discriminate against big ears. I'm so excited! I can't believe he hired me just like that."

"That's really great, Katie."

"Sorry it took me so long to get home. I know it's too late to make cookies tonight, but why don't we do it tomorrow? Can you come over here right after church?"

"Hang on," Christy said. "Let me ask my mom."

Christy covered the phone and called to her mom in the other room, "Mom, is it okay if I go to Katie's after church tomorrow to bake cookies?"

"Sure, that would be fine," Mom called back. "I have some b.u.t.ter and chocolate chips in the freezer you can take with you."

' The next afternoon, as the girls began their cookie baking, Christy realized it was a good thing she had brought the extra chocolate chips. Katie, who admitted being unable to stay in the same room with any form of chocolate without devouring it, had already made a dent in her supply.

"Pretend they aren't there," Christy advised, "and measure the flour for me."

"You're asking me to ignore them?" Katie looked longingly at the chips spilling from the open bag. "Look at them, Christy. Look at those sad little chips with their tiny, little brown elf caps. Can't you hear them?"

Katie bent closer to the counter, her hand cupped behind her ear. "They're saying. 'We're cold out here, wearing nothing but our tiny elf caps. Please let us come inside your warm tummy!'"

With her most sympathetic expression, Katie pleaded with Christy. "How can you be so cruel as to leave them there, alone in the cold, shivering?"

"Oh, all right!" Christy scooped up the bag and twisted the top to lock the remaining chips inside. "Just these orphans here on the counter. Their brothers and sisters are mine! And I shall keep them as my prisoners while you measure the flour."

"Oh, thank you, thank you! I knew you had a tender heart. Come, little chips." Katie brushed them into her hand. "Time to go for a ride on a big slide! Ready? Go!" She dropped the handful into her mouth.

"Murf eill b.u.mph dhl grayde," Katie said.

'"What?" Christy asked.

With a swallow and a lick of her lips, Katie repeated, "I said, they feel better already."

Christy shook her head. "You know, Katie, you really should be in drama. You're going to be the next Lucy, I just know it."

"It's my red hair. When the first word you recognize as a child is carroitop, you quickly figure out you're not in line for the future Miss America."

"Oh yeah? Well, that's not what Glen seemed to think this morning. Isn't this the first time he's actually sat by you at church?"

"You noticed, huh?"

"Noticed! How could I not notice? He acted like you were the only one in the whole Sunday school cla.s.s. I'd say that shy guy has come a long way!"

"Going a long way is more like it," Katie said with a sigh. "He's leaving as soon as school is out this Friday. His parents are going on a two-week trip to Oregon to raise their support so they can go back to Ecuador in the spring."

"Then he won't be around for Christmas," Christy said, feeling sorry for Katie. Glen was a nice guy, and Christy thought he and Katie were good for each other.

Katie poured the flour into the mixing bowl. "I bought him a CD yesterday at the Christian bookstore. I was going to give it to him this morning, but he didn't get me anything, and I felt strange giving him a present, so I didn't."

"Wait a minute." Christy paused from her batter mixing. "If I remember correctly, you were the one last Christmas who convinced me to give a gift to Rick, even though I barely knew him. I think it's your turn to give a guy a present in the church parking lot."

"No, no, no. You see, you provided both of us with a very good learning experience last year. I learned from your embarra.s.sment, and therefore, I do not need to repeat the same mistake you already made on behalf of both of us."

"Oh, right! That is such a wimp out, Katie. First of all, Glen is not Rick, so it won't be the same kind of mistake. Second, Glen probably didn't give you a gift because he has no money, right? And thirda" Christy hesitated. "I forget what third is. But I still think you should consider it missionary support and give Glen the CD. He'll have something to listen to on his long trip to Oregon."

Katie thought for a minute. "I guess you're right, as always. Christmas is supposed to be about giving, not receiving, right? I hate it when you like a guy, and you can't tell if he likes you back."

"Believe me," Christy agreed, "I know how that feels. You should do what you've told me to doa"be honest about your feelings and see what happens."

"All right, I'll give Glen the CD. But when? He's leaving on Friday."

"He usually goes to church on Sunday nights, doesn't he? Why don't you give it to him tonight?"

"What about the trip to San Diego?"

"Katie," Christy confessed, "I can't go to San Diego tonight. I never even asked my parents. I knew they'd say no."

"I thought you worked it out with them!"

"No," Christy admitted, shaking her head. "But I still wanted to make the cookies. I thought we could mail them to the guys. Or if you go by yourself tonight, you can deliver them."

Katie pulled the cookie sheets out from the cupboard and slammed them on the counter. "What you're really saying is that you don't want me to go down there by myself because Doug and the others are all your friends. If you can't go, then you don't want me to go. Right?"

"It's not like that, Katie." Christy caught herself before she made up a lie. "Well, maybe that's part of it. I do feel left out. But I only know Doug and Rick. I don't know anyone else there. I just wanted us both to be able to go. That's all."

Katie had been staring at the floor while Christy was talking. She looked up and flashed her green eyes at Christy. "Okay, I'll wait and go when you can. And I'll give Glen the CD tonight."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Thanks, Katie. You're the most understanding friend in the world."

"Wait. There's a condition. If I can do all that, then you can at least ask your parents about going to San Diego next Sunday."

"I will," Christy promised. "They'll say no, but I'll ask anyway."

"Christy, you won't know until you ask!"

Two hours later, as Christy walked in the front door with a plateful of cookies in her hand, the phone rang.