“He did it without asking you first?” Andrea asked the critical question.

“That’s right. He said he knew I was the prettiest girl in the county and he wanted everybody to see how beautiful I am. Is that crazy, or what?”

“Crazy in love,” Hannah offered, grinning a little. “That’s very sweet, and you don’t have to worry about it. If you get chosen as a finalist, you can always turn it down.”

“I was chosen as a finalist. Lonnie just told me. And I can’t turn it down.”

Andrea began to frown. “Why not?”

“Because Mother signed the papers agreeing I’d be a contestant.”

“Can she do that?” Hannah recovered enough to ask.

“Oh, yes. The rules say that if you’re under twenty-one, a parent can sign the forms for you.”

“Oh, boy!” Hannah muttered. “When is the contest?”

“In June. It’s part of the Winnetka County Fair. And I’m not going to college this summer, so I don’t have that for an excuse. I’m stuck, and I don’t know how to get out of it. But at least I’m not alone.”

“What do you mean?” Andrea asked.

“I’m not the only one Mother signed up. She entered you and Tracey in the Mother-Daughter Look-Alike Contest, and she entered Bethany in the Beautiful Baby contest.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake!” Andrea said, but she didn’t look too upset.

Hannah burst out laughing. “I’m going to have fun at the fair this year. I can hardly wait to see both of you up there on stage.”

“Don’t laugh too hard,” Michelle warned.

“Why not?”

“Mother signed you up to judge the baked goods at the fair.”

“That’s fine with me. It sounds like fun.” Hannah smiled, but her smile turned into an anxious look as Michelle burst out laughing. “What?”

“Don’t crow yet. She also volunteered you for the Lake Eden Historical Society Booth.”

“That’s not so bad. I don’t mind passing out literature for the Historical Society.”

“It’s not literature this year.”

“It’s not?”

“No, they’re doing a fund-raiser. Have you ever seen the type of booth where a lady in a fancy silk dress and a parasol sits over a tank of water?”

Hannah gasped. Surely Mother wouldn’t do that to her! “Are you talking about the kind of booth where people try to hit a target with a baseball and dunk the lady?” she asked.

“That’s right. You’re in the booth from two to four on Saturday afternoon. According to Mother, that’s a heavy traffic period. And Bill says to tell you that Norman and Mike have already signed up with a coach to take pitching lessons!”

OOEY GOOEY CHEWY

COOKIE BARS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack

in the middle position

For the Crust:

˝ cup white (granulated) sugar

ž cup flour (not sifted)