Read JULIA JONES - My Worst Day Ever! - Book 1: aged 9 - 12 for Free Online Page A

the
excitement we had just witnessed.
    Sara remained pretty quiet until we had
finished eating and then someone suggested that Jackie should open her
presents.
    It was at that moment that Sara had a sharp
change of mood. “Yes, I can’t wait to see what Jackie’s been given!” She looked
smugly around the group as we all left the dining table and headed out to the
veranda, where the pile of wrapped presents waited to be opened.
    “Save mine till last,” Sara stated firmly,
as she nudged it out of Jackie’s reach.
    As we sat watching, Jackie opened her gifts
and we looked on with admiration at the lovely things she had been given. There
was a gorgeous bracelet, a really cool hand bag, some cute pj’s for the summer
months, an iTunes gift card and some gift vouchers. The boys had chosen to give
her some cash so that she could choose something for herself.
    Millie and I were really pleased to see how
much she loved our gift and also that the jacket fitted her so perfectly. She
was especially pleased with the J pendant necklace that we had bought for her
and she smiled at us gratefully.
    “I’ve always loved your necklace, Julia and
now I have one of my own! Thank you so much girls!” and she gave us each a big
hug.
    “Ok, now for Sara’s gift,” she exclaimed,
smiling towards Sara questioningly. “I wonder what could possibly be inside
this huge box.”
    We sat with anticipation, each of us
wondering exactly the same thing. As I glanced at Sara, I could see that her
smile really couldn’t have become any wider as she waited expectantly for
Jackie to open her present.
    “Wow!!!” Jackie sighed in absolute
astonishment as she removed the lid. Inside were several individually wrapped
presents sitting decoratively amongst some pretty lilac tissue paper that had
been scrunched up. As Jackie opened each parcel, the oohs and aahs from all of
us looking on, continued with the unwrapping of each little gift. There was a
set of lip gloss, each one a different flavor, a box of expensive chocolates, a
double pass to the cinema in town, a really pretty halter top and pair of
shorts in contrasting colors and a gorgeous necklace that certainly was
prettier than the simple J pendant that Millie and I had given her.
    Just then, Jackie’s parents arrived and the
look of amazement on her mom’s face echoed our thoughts completely. “Oh, my
gosh, Jackie! You are such a lucky young lady! You’ve been given so many
beautiful gifts. And are those the things that came out of that box?”
    When Jackie nodded her head in
acknowledgement, her mom continued, “Sara, you have really spoilt her. That was
very naughty of you!” she exclaimed.
    “Thank you so much, Sara!” Jackie hugged
her tightly and then sat back looking at her gifts with huge delight.
    “Oh, that’s ok, Jackie!” Sara exclaimed
modestly. “I’m glad that you like them!”
    Shaking my head in wonder, I looked towards
Millie whose eyes were still as wide as saucers at the sight of the extremely
generous gift Sara had brought.
    Then the silence that had enveloped all of
us, was abruptly broken when Jackie’s mom announced that it was time for
birthday cake. Crowding together around Jackie for photos while her dad lit the
candles, we all donned huge smiles as we called out, “Happy Birthday, Jackie!”
We followed this by singing happy birthday to her and then sat down to the most
delicious birthday cake I think I have ever tasted.
    Soon after…as the sun was starting to set,
it was time for the boys to leave. All the girls were staying for a slumber
party. Jackie’s parents had set up a tent in their back yard and had even
gathered wood for a campfire. It was going to be the best night ever!
    Jackie’s Dad started the fire and we all
sat around and sang songs. Then he brought out some marshmallows. We put them
on sticks and toasted them in the fire. They were so delicious and it was really
cool being able to sit there watching them gently sizzle over the