Carly and I sat down at the table.
Mr. Wright flipped on the back porch light. He opened the kitchen screen door and shouted, “Hey, boys! It’s getting dark outside. Come on in and get some homemade ice cream!”
I looked out the window and saw Carly’s two brothers throw down the baseball and their gloves to rush inside.
Chad was younger than Carly. Her older brother was Cabe. I had a crush on him! I watched Cabe mow their yard every Saturday. Their grass was always greener than ours. His hands were huge. He was going to be a real cute baseball player some day. His dark, wavy hair was never out of place even after he mowed their big yard.
Carly sat on my left. Cabe was on my right. I held my breath at first and squirmed in my chair. What if he looked at me? What would I do? What if he asked me a question? What would I say? But I didn’t have to worry. He never even knew I was there.
Carly’s mom was still dancing across the checkerboard floor, serving up bowls of ice cream.
“Glenie, you are not going to spill anything on your spotless new tile floor, are you honey?” Carly’s dad teased. He gave Carly’s mom a playful pat on the behind.
Carly’s parents acted as if they still liked each other. It was just like one of those old black and white TV shows where the mom and dad always got along and the whole family sat down together for dinner.
“This floor is going to stay perfect. I’d better not see so much as a speck of dust on it. If I do, I’m ready with my brand new dust mop in the pantry,” said Mrs. Wright.
“Yup, Dave, you did an outstanding job on the floor. It looks real nice,” said Carly’s dad, gulping down ice cream.
I hoped they wouldn’t run out of that real homemade ice cream. It had a special taste. I knew I could eat five bowls of it. I looked at the spoon in my hand. It was smaller than Carly’s spoon. Why wasn’t my spoon as big as hers?
I scooped up my first spoonful of cake. Oops! It fell in my lap. I was glad everyone was busy talking. I didn’t think anyone saw me drop it. Whew! I was so glad it stayed on my lap and didn’t fall on the shiny new floor. I grabbed it with my napkin and stuffed it in my mouth. I didn’t want Carly’s mom to get mad at me.
After that, I carved off smaller pieces of cake with my tiny spoon. That was okay.
Other Jolly Time Books You Will Like
Kelly Adventure Series
(Read in this Order):
Searching for Kelly (Book 1)
Chasing Kelly’s Shadow (Book 2)
Kelly Saves the Day (Book 3)
(Study Guides):
Searching for Kelly (Book 1)
Chasing Kelly’s Shadow (Book 2)
Kelly Saves the Day (Book 3)
Jolly Family Series
(Read in any Order)
Captured by Aliens! (#4)
Into the Dungeon! (#5)
Yucky Boogers! (#6)
Are We There Yet? (#7)
Goat Finger! (#8)
Yikes! It’s Alive! (#9)
Lost in the Jungle! (#10)
Save Janie! (#11)
Blast Off! (#12)
Halloween Moon! (#13)
Special Delivery! (#14)
Keeping Up! (#15)
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Today I Will Fly
Mr. Wobbler’s Long Walk
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Mayberry Park
Elvira’s Happy Feet
Elvira Gets Tough on Bullies
Elvira Tackles Picky Eaters
One Ring-a-Dingy
The Good Life
The Handyman
Jolly Time Books
Dog Squad Series
Lost Spaceship (#1)
Fang, the Ornery Cat (#2)
Moon Over Miami (#3)
I’m So Popular (#4)
That Stinks (#5)
Surf’s Up (#6)
Molly Megaphone (#7)
Once in a Blue Moon (#8)
Rescue Me (#9)
What’s Up? (#10)
Bullies Beware (#11)
My Perfect World (#12)
Jolly Time Books
Playhouse Series
Rhyme Time (#1)
The Big Score (#2)
I Hear You (#3)
I Want a Pet (#4)
Big Red Fire Truck (#5)
Big Bad Bully (#6)
T. Rex Shares a Secret (#7)
My Birthday Party (#8)
Catch Me if You Can (#9)
Searching for Treasure (#10)
Pooter’s Big Stink (#11)
Stuff Happens (#12)
Leo the Lion Politician (#13)
Hopscotch Hoopla (#14)
Jolly Time Books
Storytime Series
Stop Fighting (#1)
King of the Jungle (#2)
On the Road Again (#3)
Good Night Friends (#4)
How to Be Cool (#5)
Leo the Lion King (#6)
The Perfect Gift (#7)
It’s Mine (#8)
Who’s Got Talent? (#9)
Yes We Can (#10)
Where’s Big Owl? (#11)
The Dancing Queen (#12)
I Am Somebody (#13)
In My Room (#14)
What I Do Best (#15)
Tear Down This Wall (#16)
What’s for Dinner? (#17)
Dark Shadows (#18)
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About the Authors
Karen S. McGowan has worked more than 20 years as a teacher and holds a Master of Education degree. She is a children’s book author and leading advocate of education.
She believes in inspiring, strengthening, and nurturing students and their families. Readers will discover different ways to make friends and build confidence, develop empathy, strengthen family relationships, deal with bullies, and more!
Dennis E. McGowan has worked in foreign affairs and human resources for more than two decades. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree.
Text and illustrations copyright
2014, 2017
by Karen S. McGowan
and Dennis E. McGowan
Book cover design by
Dan S. McGowan
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the authors except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
To Denise and Dan
for inspiring Jolly Time Books!
Kelly, the joy and enthusiasm you created
made us pause and say, “Gee, whiz!”
The most valuable lesson you taught us was
how precious life really is.
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