At quarter to nine, the girls were ready. Sarah had ironed their best dresses and polished their best shoes. She had carefully braided their long hair, tying matching ribbons around the end of each braid. At last, she was finished. She took a step back to look at them. They stared back at her, serious looks on their scrubbed faces.
“Do we look good?” Jessie asked. “Will she like us, do you think?”
Tears sprang to Sarah’s eyes inexplicably. She had to turn her face away.
“Oh, yes,” she said, her voice unnaturally high. “She’ll be amazed at how beautiful you are.”
“Who will?” Emma wanted to know. “Who’ll be amazed?” She pulled at her braids. “They’re too tight, Mommy.”
“Oh, Emma. Let them be. They’ll loosen up soon.”
“But why do I have to wear them? Can’t I just have a ponytail?”
“Don
