The hands on the clock seemed to took extra slowly as Maddie and Mom hung the last birthday decorations in the den.

"How soon will they be here?" asked Maddie anxiously.

"Be patient," said Mom smiling. "Do you want me to share my slumber party secrets with you?"

"What are slumber party secrets?" Maddie wanted to know.

"Oh, they're just a few tricks I've learned to make a slumber party more fun," said Mom. "You already know the first one- if you're planning to invite more than five kids from your class, it's best to invite them all to prevent hurt feelings. You've invited all the girls in your class."

"I hope Trevor doesn't bug us too much," said Maddie.

"Be nice to you little brother," Mom reminded her.

"Sorry. I will," Maddie shrugged. "It's just that I want everything to be perfect."

"I know," said Mom. "I've invited Trevor's friend Jacob to sleep over so that he'll have a special night, too."

Suddenly the doorbell rang.

"Someone's here!" Maddie squealed as she raced for the door.

Soon the den was filled with happy girls and piled high with sleeping bags, favorite pillows, and brightly wrapped birthday presents.

"Now that everyone's here, let's start the games," said Mom.

Maddie had chosen a karaoke theme for her party, and Mom rented a karaoke machine complete with a real microphone and a spotlight. They even had a costume box filled with hats, boas, super-glittery jewelry, and crazy sunglasses. Trevor and Jacob were so excited that Maddie let them play, too.

The singing was about to start when Maddie noticed that Ariel and Jennifer looked nervous. "What's the matter?" she asked.

"We don't like to sing," Jennifer said quietly. Ariel nodded.

"That's OK," Maddie smiled. "One of you can announce each singer before they start and take their picture on stage."

"I'll do that!" said Ariel happily.

"What about me?" asked Jennifer.

"You can be in charge of the karaoke machine and the spotlight," Maddie decided.

"Cool!" Jennifer agreed.

"Good job," Mom whispered to Maddie. "You figured out the second slumber party secret by yourself."

"I did? What is it?" Maddie whispered back.

"Make sure that everyone is part of the fun and doing something that they enjoy," said Mom.

Finally it was time for bed. Mom suggested that the girls put their sleeping bags in a circle with their heads facing the center.

"How come?" asked Maddie.

"Slumber party secret number three," smiled Mom. "Keep everyone involved in the fun."

"Aaahhh," said Maddie. "That's a pretty smart trick. Besides, it'll be easier to talk all night that way!"

The girls giggled and told stories while Trevor and Jacob helped Mom fix ice cream snowballs- Maddie's favorite treat.

"Pick that one, Maddie!" cried Trevor, pointing proudly to a large tasty-looking snowball in the center of the plate. "I made it especially for you."

Maddie took a spoonful of the snowball. "Delicious," she grinned.

When they were finished passing out the snacks, Trevor and Jacob went to play video games in Trevor's room while the girls stretched out in front of a movie. Everyone started falling asleep, except Katie, whose eyes looked teary.

"What's the matter?" asked Maddie.

"I miss my mom," Katie sniffed.

Maddie brought Katie into the kitchen to cal her mom. After a little while on the phone, Katie decided to go home.

"Don't worry," Maddie told Katie. "I'm really glad that you came."

"I'm sorry that Katie had to leave," Maddie said to her mom.

"I know you are," said Mom. "But that's the fourth slumber party secret: let everybody do what makes them feel the most comfortable."

The next morning, everyone looked tired but happy as they ate their breakfast and waited for their parents to pick them up.

"I figured out one more slumber party secret," said Maddie after she had hugged everyone goodbye.

"What's that?" asked Mom.

"When we're all nice to each other, everyone has more fun," said Maddie.

"That's the most important slumber party secret of all," Mom agreed.