Fran Manushkin - Flower Girl Katie

Katie loved to visit her Aunt Patty. She was very !

When they had tea parties, Katie and JoJo wore Aunt Pattys fancy hats.

One day, Aunt Patty told Katie, Im getting married. I want you to be my flower girl.

Katie was .

Youll be great! said JoJo.

At school, Mattie told Katie, I was a flower girl. It can be tricky.

How tricky can it be? asked JoJo.

I can show you on Saturday, said Mattie.

Yoko and Fatima said they wanted to come too.

On Saturday, the girls met at Katies house.

Mattie said, The bride wears something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. You should too. It will bring your aunt luck.

I have something old, said Fatima. Its a butterfly pin my grandma gave me.

Thank you, said Katie. I will try not to lose it.

I have something new, said Mattie. My fancy socks with lace and ruffles.

Wow! said Katie. My feet and I will be happy. I know I cant lose them.

Yoko asked, Would you like to borrow my pink headband?

Its perfect, said Katie. Im wearing a pink dress.

! said JoJo. You look great in pink!

Now, said Mattie, Katie should practice tossing flowers. Lets pretend these are rose petals.

Katie began tossing petals.

Be sure not to drop the basket, said Yoko. I saw a flower girl do that once.

Oh my, said Katie.

Katie wont! said JoJo.

And dont step on the brides train, said Fatima. Her dress could fall off.

Oh no! Katie . There is so much to worry about.

Katie told her mom, Being a flower girl is tricky. things can happen!

Dont worry, said her mom. But Katie worried.

That night, she had a flower girl . Katie dreamed that she tripped and fell in the mud.

It was scary!

The next day, Katie asked Aunt Patty, Are you sure you want me to be your flower girl? I will have to be perfect.

You will be terrific, said Aunt Patty.

Katie practiced walking. She walked very carefully.

Oops! She kept tripping.

Just walk like you always do, said JoJo.

Katie smiled. Thats easy.

At school, Katie said, I forgot to borrow something blue.

Dont worry, said JoJo. Heres my bluebird bracelet.

Katie hugged her. JoJo, you always save me!

As they left school, Katie thought about JoJo. When Im with her, she makes me feel terrific.

Katie thought about JoJo all the way home.

That night, Katie asked Aunt Patty, Can a wedding have two flower girls? If JoJo is with me, I will feel calm. And I wont step on your dress.

Thats a wonderful idea, said Aunt Patty. I love JoJo.

When Katie told JoJo, oh how they hugged!

Katie said, It will be twice as much fun marching with you!

As they tossed the rose petals, Katie said, I feel like a princess.

Me too! said JoJo.

Nobody tripped, and everyone smiled.

At the party, Katie and JoJo did wild dances together.

Katie told JoJo, Nobody is blue at this wedding.

And it was true!

Fran Manushkin is the author of many popular picture books, including Happy in Our Skin; Baby, Come Out!; Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story; The Tushy Book; Big Girl Panties; Big Boy Underpants; and Bamboo for Me, Bamboo for You! There is a real Katie Wooshes Frans great-niecebut she never gets in half the trouble of the Katie Woo in the books. Fran writes on her beloved Mac computer in New York City, without the help of her two naughty cats, Chaim and Goldy.