Lights! Camera! Cook!

by Diane Muldrow

  “Back to reality!” said Mrs. Moore when the limo pulled up near the school.

  “Cool!” cried Molly. “The kids in the classrooms on this side of the building are gonna see us pull up! We’re celebrity chefs!”

  The girls took one last look at their fancy limousine and waved good-bye to their moms before heading inside. They came in just as the bell rang to change classes.

  “Wow!” said Molly. “Perfect timing! Everyone’s looking at us! And waving!”

  “Hey, can I have your autograph?” asked a boy.

  “Good job, Chef Girls!” called some girl.

  Shawn looked at the friends. “What’s going on? It’s like the whole school saw us or something.”

  “Hello, television stars,” called Miss Hinkle, the school secretary.

  “How did this get around?” asked Amanda. “It’s not like we told the whole school.”

  “But someone did,” said Peichi. “I wonder who?”

  By lunchtime, the girls knew.

  In Molly’s math class, Justin made a point of standing near the door to greet her as she walked in.

  “Hey, Justin.”

  “Is that any way to greet your publicity guy?” asked Justin with a grin.

  “What?”

  “Connor and Omar and I found out from Elizabeth that you were going to be on TV So we told Miss Hinkle, and then the principal made an announcement this morning and said that whoever wanted to come to the cafeteria to see you on TV could come! He had a big-screen TV brought down, and like a million kids came to watch!”

  “Really?” said Molly, surprised. “That was nice of you.” She smiled at him for the first time since the ice-skating incident.

  “So,” said Justin with a grin, “you and the rest of the Chef Cirls can stop ignoring us now.”

  “We’ll think about it,” teased Molly, “after our ice-skating bruises are gone.”

  “Sorry about that—” Justin began, but he was interrupted by Miss Spontak asking him to sit down.

  When Shawn opened her locker that morning, a folded-up piece of notebook paper fell out.

  Shawn opened the note and read:

  “I knew it!” Shawn said out loud. She crumpled up the note and looked up at the ceiling. I knew she’d think it was me. Why couldn’t today have just been a perfect day? She thought about the day ahead. Luckily, there’s no cheerleading practice today ... but what am I gonna do at lunchtime? Angie will be waiting for me in the caf.

  Lunchtime came quickly, but by then Shawn had made a decision. She wasn’t going to worry about Angie. After what she’d just been through with Crandma Ruthie, the Angie thing didn’t seem that important. Crandma Ruthie was alive and getting better, and that was what Shawn wanted to focus on—not petty girl stuff.

  As tempting as it was to show the twins Angie’s note, Shawn decided against it. Why ruin everyone else’s perfect day? she decided.

  “We’re still famous,” giggled Peichi as the Chef Girls walked into the cafeteria together. Kids greeted them as they had that morning.

  Shawn couldn’t help looking for Angie while she waited in line. As the friends chatted happily, Shawn’s eyes roved the large room, searching for Angie’s hair color. Her ears listened for the shrill voice. But Angie wasn’t there.

  As Shawn was reaching for a bowl of butterscotch pudding, she heard Jamie Tafoya say, “Shawn?” Jamie was a seventh-grade cheerleader.

  Shawn turned around. “Hi, Jamie.”

  “Great job today, Shawn! I didn’t know about Dish. That’s cool. Hey, Angie told me to tell you to meet her in the bathroom.”

  “Which one?”

  “The one just down from the cafeteria.” Jamie shrugged. “She’s in there right now, but I don’t know what she wants. Anyway, see you later.”

  “See you lafer,” Shawn said automatically, but she was picturing Angie leaning against the tiled wall in the bathroom.

  Waiting for her.

  Oh, so what, thought Shawn as she walked toward the Chef Girls’ usual table. She can rot in there...no, wait. I’m gonna get this over with so I can get on with my life!

  “You guys, I’ll be right back, Shawn told her friends. “Um, I need to wash my hands.”

  She hurried to the bathroom. She saw Angie’s reflection as she walked in. She was leaning against the wall, with her hands on her hips. No one else happened to be in there.

  “Hello, Angie.”

  “So, what do you have to say for yourself? You’re gonna pay, Shawn. How could you—humiliate me?”

  “It wasn’t me. Believe me, Angie. I wouldn’t do something like that.”

  “Who else could it have been? I know people are talking about me. It didn’t help that Amanda yelled it down the hall—”

  “Hold it. I did not tell anyone. Amanda heard it from somebody in the locker room. You know, people at this school know people from your old school. Stuff like that just...gets around. I had nothing to do with it.” Shawn snapped at Angie.

  “Yeah, right,” Angie sneered.

  “Why do you have such an attitude all the time?” Shawn shot back at her. “No wonder people gossip about you. You treat Amanda so badly, and now Elizabeth, too. And you didn’t even care about how sick my grandmother was. I didn’t hear from you at all while I was in South Carolina! You haven’t been nice to anyone!”

  For a moment, neither girl said anything. When Shawn looked back at Angie, she was surprised to see that Angie had tears in her eyes. Whoa, Shawn thought. Maybe I went too far. What do I do now?

  Just then, Angie spoke. “How—how is your grandmother?”

  “She’s doing better,” Shawn answered.

  “Good,” Angie said softly. She cleared her throat. “Um, sorry I flipped out. I just figured you had to be the one spreading the rumor.”

  Shawn shook her head. “I wouldn’t do that to you, Angie.”

  Angie smiled at Shawn. “I know. Are we cool, girlfriend?” She reached out and put her arm around Shawn’s shoulders.

  “Sure,” Shawn replied. But even though the fight was over, she still felt uncomfortable around Angie.

  “I’m glad our moment of fame is over,” Amanda told Peichi later that day. “Now we can start thinking about other stuff, like our video.”

  “And the party for Molly,” Peichi reminded her. “Her big game is on Saturday, right? You know, I think we should invite Justin and Omar and Connor. Don’t you?”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Amanda said. “I’ll send an e-vite tonight. Well, I’m off to rehearsal.” She gave Peichi a little wave. “I don’t know how I’m gonna stay awake. I feel like I’ve been up for days.”

  Peichi groaned. “I know what you mean. I was so nervous about this morning that I didn’t sleep at all. And now I have my flute lesson!”

  The red light on the Moores’ answering machine was already flashing rapidly—indicating messages from lots of people who wanted to hire the Chef Girls!

  After dinner, Dad pushed the machine’s PLAY button for the family and Shawn. “This is a funny one,” he said. “Listen.”

  “Hello? Dish? Hi, this is Lorraine! You girls were just so cute on TV today! And I could really use your help! I’ve got a full-time job as a secretary at Brooklyn Sewer Rooter Service, and five kids—”

  As the girls and Matthew shrieked with laughter, Dad pressed the FORWARD button.

  Beep!

  “Hello? I’m calling for, um, the Chef Cirls? My name’s Mary Mendel? Do you have a cookbook? I’d love to get that lasagna recipe—”

  Dad hit the STOP button. “We may have to hire a manager for Dish,” he joked.

  Later that night, even though all of the Chef Girls were exhausted by their big day, they all resisted falling asleep. There was so much to relive, remember, and smile about in the dark. Peichi had kept her parents up late telling them every detail of the day. Natasha had kept her parents and Elizabeth up late, too—then spent an hour writing about it in her diary.

  In the
twins’ room, Amanda murmured, “You guys?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “This day was so special.”

  “I know,” Molly agreed. “But it felt more like a dream than for real. That makes me kind of sad, ya know?”

  “I can’t believe it’s all over,” remarked Shawn sleepily. “The best part for me was knowing that Grandma Ruthie got such a thrill out of it.”

  “Yeah,” said Amanda with a sigh. “I’ll never, ever forget being in the TV studio, talking to Maris Miller. And then meeting Serena.”

  “I still can’t believe it happened at all,” Molly said drowsily. “Who knew that last summer, when we were cooking for the first time, it would lead to us being on Good Day, America? ‘Night, you guys.”

  “Night, Molly.”

  Chapter 13

  As the rest of the week flew by, the Chef Girls enjoyed the attention they got from students and teachers. They watched the tapes of their segment that their parents had made, over and over. And they returned all the Dish phone calls, saying that they’d be ready to take jobs again in a few weeks. Things still seemed so hectic for most of the girls.

  They’d also invited Elizabeth to join Dish, and although she was so happy to have been asked, she said she’d have to think about it. “I don’t know if I really love to cook,” she admitted.

  Amanda and Peichi shot the audition video in one afternoon. It took a couple of tries, but Amanda finally performed her material in a way she was happy with. Then she and Peichi had fun editing it over the next few days.

  Molly and her teammates psyched themselves up for the big game. After being on TV, Molly felt like she could handle anything!

  Shawn and Elizabeth cheered at the boys’ basketball game and worked hard at cheerleading practice. Angie was quiet in practice. Shawn was pleasant to her, but she didn’t go out of her way to be near her.

  The Chef Girls spent Friday night preparing for Molly’s party. They bought everything they needed at Choice Foods and had fun decorating the “softball cupcakes.”

  Saturday morning was sunny and hot. It was the middle of May, and summer wouldn’t be far behind now.

  As the Moores, Natasha, and Peichi arrived at the ball field, Amanda spotted Justin right away. He was sitting alone in the first row of the bleachers, loading his camera. He photographed lots of Windsor games for the Post.

  “Let’s sit there,” she suggested to her family and the Chef Girls, pointing in Justin’s direction.

  “Gee, I wonder why,” teased Matthew in a singsong voice.

  Amanda decided to ignore him. And she made sure to sit next to Justin.

  “Hi, Justin!” she said. “Are you coming to the party today?”

  “Hi, everyone,” said Justin with a wave. He looked at Amanda. “I’ll be there,” he said. “Connor and Omar are coming, too.”

  “Good. Shouldn’t you be taking pictures down on the field? Why are you in the bleachers?”

  “Oh, I’ll head down in a bit, when Athena’s up. She’s a powerful hitter, and that’ll make a good shot.”

  Sitting next to Justin, it was hard for Amanda to focus on the game. She chatted on and on with him about the play, and her audition video. “So Peichi did a great job,” she was saying. “And I think I have a good chance—”

  “Go, Molly!” called Justin suddenly. Amanda blushed with embarrassment. She realized she hadn’t been paying attention to Molly.

  Crack! On Molly’s first swing, she hit the ball hard and straight.

  “Run, Molly!” cried Justin, standing up. “Safe! Yessss!”

  Justin was cheering even louder than the Moores!

  But Windsor got only a few hits after Molly was at bat. And it didn’t take long to see that Marine Park was the better team. They beat Windsor by six runs.

  “That’s okay, Molls,” said Dad as the family met Molly afterward. “You did a great job striking out that big girl. And you’re swing’s getting better.”

  “Is Athena coming over?” asked Mom.

  “Uh-huh,” said Molly, looking over at Athena, who was being consoled by her parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and both sets of grandparents. “Come on, let’s go. I could use a hot dog and half a dozen cupcakes!”

  Molly couldn’t help but cheer up as everyone came streaming into the garden for the party. Athena finally showed up, and after a while she was laughing and joking with everyone, the game forgotten for now.

  “Good job, Molly,” said Justin, putting two of Mr. Moore’s grilled hot dogs on a paper plate. “I’m glad I got to see you play.”

  “Thanks.”

  Just then, Amanda and Peichi came over.

  “So, I heard you guys made an audition tape?” Justin said to Peichi.

  “Yeah! It looks great! I did some cool editing stuff with it, too,” Peichi exclaimed.

  “Do you want to see it?” asked Amanda, brightening.

  Justin shrugged. “Sure.”

  Later, after most people had gone home, Amanda and Peichi played the tape for Justin.

  “It looks good,” he said. “Peichi did some nice closeups. And, uh, your acting looks pretty good.”

  “Thanks, Justin!” said Amanda, her face reddening. “Are you going to come to the play?”

  “Yeah,” said Justin. “Actually, I’ll be photographing your dress rehearsal for the Post. Well, see ya. I have to take off. I’m going back out to say good-bye to everyone.”

  “Okay, byeee!” said Peichi.

  “See you later, Justin,” said Amanda. She sighed. That Justin. He was always running off.

  The following Monday after rehearsal, Amanda handed Ms. Barlow her tape.

  “Thanks for encouraging me to make this, Ms. Barlow. Do you want to see it?”

  “Of course! Let’s look at it right now!”

  Ms. Barlow didn’t say much while she watched Amanda’s performances, but she kept nodding her head. When the tape was over, she looked at Amanda and said, “Nice job. It’s ready to send in.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. And you look good on camera. I’ll send it today!”

  “How long until I find out if I made it?”

  “Oh, darling, it’ll be a while. I’d say at least a month. The camp directors will have to review all the tapes and make their decisions, and send out the letters. In the meantime, young lady, you’ve got a play to prepare for!”

  Amanda worked very hard on her role as Miss Claudia Crumb. She practiced her lines over and over, in her best British accent. Sometimes she even dreamed them.

  She practiced walking, standing, and sweeping elegantly into a room, the way Miss Crumb was supposed to. She learned how to make her voice carry in the big auditorium. And she slowly realized that this sort of physical training would help her be confident in real life, all her life.

  Best of all, she was having a blast! She was doing what she’d only dreamed about before this school year. For three whole nights, the audience would be watching her!

  And Amanda loved being involved in a project with lots of people. The cast and crew were always laughing together at inside jokes during rehearsal. The eighth-graders were nice to the sixth-graders. The cast would say their lines to each other as they passed each other in the halls.

  Meanwhile, the costume crew was putting together some fun and glamorous looks for the girls. After wearing black work boots and a shawl and being covered with soot in My Fair Lady, Amanda was so thrilled that she got to be pretty this time that she tried on her costume as often as she could. It was a pink “flapper” dress that had spaghetti straps and hung straight, ending with fringe on the bottom. She got to wear long, long ropes of pearls, a thin rhinestone tiara across her forehead, and delicate little shoes.

  And the set began to come together. It was a formal room of a 1920s English mansion, with giant “wooden” bookcases, elegant “antique” furniture (that Ms. Barlow had found at the Salvation Army), and even a spiral staircase.

  Suddenly, it was the week of the show, then the
night of dress rehearsal. It was also the week of the twins’ twelfth birthday, and the Moores had planned to take the twins, their friends, and Poppy, their grandpa, out for a big dinner after the Friday night performance. Saturday night would be the cast party at Ms. Barlow’s house.

  The cast helped each other with their hair and makeup.

  “Wow! You look great, Amanda!” said a few people.

  And when Amanda saw herself in the mirror with her costume on, with her deep red lipstick and rouged cheeks, her hair arranged in an elegant style, she thought, Hey! I do look great!

  Dress rehearsal was like a dream—in some ways, like a bad dream. People forgot their lines. Tiffany tripped on her pointy shoes and stumbled onstage (which made everybody laugh, including Tiffany). At one point, Amanda accidentally said Tessa’s line instead of her own because Justin was there taking photos, making her nervous.

  “I’m not worried!” said Ms. Barlow when it was over. “A bad dress rehearsal means a great opening night! Co home, get your beauty sleep, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Call is at six o’clock sharp!”

  Everyone grabbed hands and cheered.

  “Now, remember, Mom, please don’t sit front and center,” Amanda said as Mom drove her to the school the following night. “I’ll get too nervous if the first thing I see is all of you in a row, smiling at me!”

  “Okay” promised Mom. “Break a leg!”

  Hanging out in the greenroom with the other actors was so much fun. Everyone was hyper—joking, saying their lines to the mirror, putting on makeup, warming up their voices. Bottles of water were everywhere, as were good-luck cards that the cast had made one another. Ms. Barlow dashed in and out, looking like a movie star in her red silk Capri pants and black velvet top.

  And finally Sam Wong, the stage manager, said, “Places!”

  Amanda’s part started late in the first act. Here goes, she thought, as the Act One players filed quietly down the hall and went backstage. For some reason, she wasn’t nervous. She felt electric, more alive than she ever had before, right down to her fingertips!