Suddenly we heard a crash, and everyone turned around to stare. Dropping things in restaurants is always the worst, especially if it’s crowded. Everyone just stops and I imagine you must feel like you want to sink into the floor.

Usually what goes down is either silverware, which makes a loud racket, or worse, a dish or glass, which shatters. If there’s food on a plate, it makes a huge mess. This time it was a tray, and of course, it was Lily who had dropped it.

I love my cousin, but Lily is a bit clumsy. Uncle Charlie always jokes that to have Lily work as a waitress means ordering an extra set of dishes, because she breaks so many.

Rich and Molly rushed over to help, and I heard Grandpa sigh as he strode over with a broom.

“Poor Lily,” whispered Kelsey.

“I know,” I whispered back. “So embarrassing!”

Lily is really pretty and smart. She has long, wavy dark hair and bright red lips, even without lipstick, and everyone always tells her that she looks like Snow White. Someone passing through town told her she could be a model if she wanted to, in New York. But Lily really wants to be a nurse like her mom, my aunt Sabrina.

“So what outfit are you wearing for the first day of school?” Kelsey asked.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I haven’t really thought about it. Plus, it will still be hot.”

Kelsey tilted her head. “Then can I borrow one? I want to wear something new!”

“Sure,” I said. “But I just don’t get dressing up for the first day. We’ll probably see everyone the day before school starts. So why would you dress up the next day, just to see the same people at school?”

Kelsey paused. “Well, I don’t know. I guess it’s like Thanksgiving or a holiday. I mean, you see your family all the time, but for certain things you just dress up.”

“Yeah,” I said. “That makes sense.”

Kelsey looked at her watch. “This is going to be such a long day. I almost wish school had started already!”

We packed up all the donuts for the order and stacked the boxes into bags.

“All set?” asked Dad, glancing in.

“Yep,” I said. “Ready to go.”

“Okay, I need someone to run these over to the high school,” Dad said, looking around.

“I’ll go!” said Lily.

Uncle Charlie, Dad, and Aunt Melissa all said, “No!” at the same time, and Lily stomped off, looking hurt.

“Jenna!” Uncle Charlie called. “Delivery!” He tossed her his keys. “And hide the keys from your cousin!”

Nans came out of the kitchen.

“What did you say to Lily to upset her?” she asked Uncle Charlie.

Kelsey and I saw our opening. She grinned at me and nodded, and I skittered into the kitchen to grab the fresh donuts from the rack.