Lights, Music, Code!

by Jo Whittemore

  “Something like that.” I stopped Mom. “No, don’t use a big bandage. I need to be able to use both hands.”

  She found a smaller one and applied it. “If you don’t want to eat in the kitchen, at least let me bring you something.”

  “Mom,” I said, looking her in the eye. “Every time I have to pick up a fork is time I don’t have a needle in my hand.”

  Mom didn’t blink. “Maya, you have to eat.”

  “Fine,” I said, switching the needle to my now-bandaged hand. “Then I’ll sew with this hand and eat with the other.”

  Oliver watched me jab a needle through the fabric. “I don’t think that’s a great idea. You might end up with a fork in your dress and a needle in your face.”

  Mom chuckled but stopped when I scowled.

  “Seriously, you guys. I don’t have time,” I said.

  Mom sat beside me. “What if we help you?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “You know how to sew?”

  She crossed her arms. “Who do you think made your baby clothes?”

  “A machine in a factory.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I meant the ones we didn’t buy from the store.”

  “Oh,” I said. I held up the dress. “You think you can do stitches like this?”

  “Yes,” she and Oliver both said.

  I gave him an incredulous look. “You sew, too?”

  He looked mock offended. “Just because I’m a guy, you don’t think I can? When I was in college, I had to mend holes in my shirts. And my socks. And even my pants.”

  Mom looked at him. “Were you the Incredible Hulk or something?”

  It was my turn to laugh. “Okay, okay. You guys can help,” I said.

  “Dinner first.” Mom reached for my hand.

  While we ate, I filled them in on what I still had to do for the dress.

  “So how do the lights know when to blink?” asked Oliver.

  “The code my friends and I programmed will pick up on the audio signal and turn it into a pattern for the lights,” I said. “It’s not quite what we’re doing for the display at the dance, since that’s using the different volume ranges, but the basic idea is the same. I’m only using one color of lights for Sophia’s dress, though.”

  “And once we sew the lights into the dress, you hook them up to a circuit board or something?” Mom asked.

  “Exactly,” I answered.

  “But how will it get power?”

  “From a battery pack,” I said. “I’ll sew it into the shoulder of Sophia’s dress, where it won’t be as noticeable.”

  Oliver shook his head. “This is amazing stuff, Maya. I have to say, I’m impressed.”

  I beamed at him. “Thanks!”

  “We’re raising quite a clever girl,” Mom agreed.

  I danced a little bit in my chair. “Can we please have more dinners like this?” I asked. “Where everyone says all these good things about me?”

  Oliver and Mom laughed.

  First, they’d offered to help me with the dress, and now they were praising me for the work I’d been doing. It wasn’t just my friends who appreciated me. My family did, too! And if they could appreciate me . . .

  I tapped my fork against the side of my drinking glass. “I’d like to make a toast,” I said, standing and raising my glass.

  My parents exchanged an amused look but did the same.

  “To Mom and Oliver,” I said. “Thank you for always supporting me and doing your best with a sometimes difficult child. Cheers!”

  “Cheers!” they both said.

  “What do you mean sometimes difficult?” Oliver added.

  I pretended to splash him with my drink, and Mom laughed.

  “Come on. Let’s put away these dishes so we can finish that dress,” she said, reaching for my dirty plate.

  “I’ll get them,” I said, taking hers instead.

  Mom drew back. “You’re offering to do chores?”

  “Well, yeah.” I stacked Oliver’s plate on top of the others. “If you can help me, I can help you.”

  “Aw, that’s nice,” said Oliver. “That makes me want to help you even more.”

  “Really?” I asked. “With what?”

  Oliver grinned and pushed back his chair. “With your dessert.” He dashed into the kitchen, and I glanced at Mom.

  She grabbed the plates from me. “Take no prisoners,” she said, arming me with a fork.

  I raised it like a spear and chased after Oliver.

  Because as much as I appreciated my loved ones, I also appreciated chocolate cake.

  * * *

  As promised, the next morning I delivered Sophia’s dress, which she couldn’t even wait until after school to try on. While my friends and I set up our light show in the library with Mrs. Clark’s help, Sophia disappeared into the librarian’s office and changed into her dress.

  “First, we’ll give you a preview of the lights display,” I told Mrs. Clark. “And then after that, Sophia’s dress.”

  Mrs. Clark rubbed her hands together. “I can’t wait!”

  When Sophia came out, Leila turned off the library lights and Erin started the music. Instantly, the display lights flared and faded to the music. Even though my friends and I had tested the LED lights several times, we were still excited to see the Christmas lights work. We cheered along with Mrs. Clark.

  “Wonderful!” she said, applauding. “You girls have done an amazing job.”

  Erin stopped the music, and the room darkened.

  “Now we’ll be switching off the display and switching on Sophia!” I announced as my friends giggled. “Are you ready, Sophia?”

  “Ready!”

  I activated the battery pack on her shoulder, and Erin started the music again. For dramatic effect, I’d had her choose a song that held its opening note for ten beats so everyone could see the dress all lit up.

  The reactions were not disappointing.

  My friends all gasped and squealed, including Sophia, who hugged herself and twisted from side to side to make the radiant skirt billow around her.

  “I love it!” she cried.

  “Soph, put your arms down! You’re blocking the lights,” I said with a laugh.

  “Sorry!” she shouted as the music picked up and her dress began to flash in time to the song. There was more cheering, and Erin squeezed my shoulder.

  “Dude! This is awesome.” Her smile was lit by the flickering bulbs of Sophia’s dress.

  “I’m just glad to see her so happy,” I said, nodding to Sophia, who was now hopping around with Lucy.

  Mrs. Clark put a hand on my other shoulder. “You’ve done a wonderful thing here.”

  I could’ve hugged myself and danced like Sophia at the compliment, but I knew I didn’t deserve all the credit.

  “Actually,” I said, “the code for the dress is a modified version of the one we wrote for the dance. So Leila, Erin, Lucy, and Sophia did a wonderful thing, too.”

  My friends cheered at the mention of their names, until Mrs. Clark laughed and told us to settle down. We quieted, and Erin turned off the music while Leila flipped on the overhead lights.

  “So what do you think of our display for the dance?” Erin asked Mrs. Clark.

  “Does it make you think of the future?” added Lucy.

  “It sure does.” Mrs. Clark smiled broadly. “And in the hands of you five, the future is very, very bright.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Normally I hate the school gym because it means sit-ups and smelly clothes. But on Saturday night, I almost leaped from the car when Mom pulled up in front of it.

  “We’re here!” I exclaimed, opening my car door.

  “You’re still wearing your seat belt,” Mom reminded me.

  “Oh, right.” I laughed and unbuckled
it.

  “Um . . . Maya? I have a small problem.” In the seat behind me, Lucy squinted through one eye while a set of false eyelashes dangled over the other. “They’re falling off.”

  “Shoot! I knew I should’ve used more glue.”

  I reached back and carefully adjusted Lucy’s eyelashes with the tips of my fingers.

  Lucy blinked a few times, and the lashes stayed.

  “Yay! Let’s go!” she said.

  Blowing Mom a quick kiss, I grabbed my purse and hopped out of the car. “We’ll see you in a couple of hours!” I called as Lucy and I ran toward the gym.

  “Don’t kiss anyone!” Mom called back.

  She and Erin’s mom must have been part of the same don’t-let-your-kids-kiss club.

  When Lucy and I entered the building, it was almost empty, which was what I’d expected. The dance committee was putting up decorations, and my friends and I were arriving early to set up our display. Except for Sophia. I’d told her to show up a little after the dance started, so she could make a grand entrance.

  Across the gym floor, I spotted a girl in red tights and a blue tunic that had a gold foil lightning bolt across the front. She was tacking a string of lights to the wall.

  “Hey, Leila!” I nudged Lucy, and we hurried to join our friend. “I love your costume.”

  She glanced at us and widened her eyes. “Maya, your dress is way more awesome in person! I love the mirrors.”

  “It’s a little awesome,” I agreed, holding my index finger and thumb close together.

  “And, Lucy, you look great, too!” said Leila.

  “Thank you!” Lucy said with a small curtsy. Her dress was covered with planets and stars.

  Leila pointed at Lucy’s dress. “Your idea of the future is . . .”

  “Space exploration,” said Lucy, stepping back to study the light display. “I think you need more orange over there.” She pointed to one side, and I helped Leila drape some orange bulbs over a bare spot.

  Suddenly, near the gym entrance a cellphone blared “Hail to the Chief,” the president’s fanfare. Leila, Lucy, and I all looked over to see Erin wearing a pantsuit and carrying an American flag. As she approached us, she waved to an invisible audience with a toothy grin. The rest of us hooted and clapped.

  “The future is female politicians! I love it!” crowed Lucy.

  “It’s perfect,” I agreed. “But, Erin, I thought you wanted to wear something to match Jeremiah.”

  “I am! He’s dressed as a Secret Service agent.” She tucked her American flag into her jacket pocket and studied our handiwork. “The display’s looking pretty good!”

  “Yep. Just a few more lights to string up,” said Leila.

  “Well, let’s get to it,” said Erin. She flicked her jacket collar and raised an eyebrow. “That’s an executive order.”

  I groaned, and Lucy giggled.

  “Yes, Madam President,” said Leila.

  After we finished hanging our display, we hooked up the sensor and Arduino system to the relay board with help from the custodian.

  “Should we test the lights?” I asked, after we’d plugged them into the relay board. I reached into my purse and pulled out a tablet computer. “I have an app on this thing that’ll show us sound fluctuations, and we can compare them to the lights.”

  “Yes! But we need the perfect song,” said Lucy, running to the DJ table. We chased after her and watched her beg the eighth-grader who was DJing to let us see his playlist.

  Leila and Erin joined Lucy behind the table, and I stood on the opposite side, looking at the song titles upside down.

  “What about this one?” I pointed to a song.

  “Too slow,” said Erin. Her finger went down the list. “This one?”

  “Not enough quiet beats,” said Leila. “I vote for the one under it.”

  I nodded. “That’s a good one! I’m going to the back wall so I can film our light display after I test it.”

  Erin picked up a headset and passed it to me. “Use this to talk to us.”

  “Hey!” said the DJ.

  Leila rolled her eyes. “It’s the school’s equipment, Derek, not yours. And we only want to borrow it for one song.”

  “Maybe two,” said Lucy with a big smile, picking up another headset.

  I giggled and put mine on. “Okay, I’ll let you guys know when I’m ready,” I said, jogging across the room.

  Once I was in position, I opened the sound-visualizing app and spoke into my headset mic. “Give me five seconds, and then play it loud!”

  Lucy gave a thumbs-up from across the room and started a countdown on her fingers.

  I pulled my phone from my dress pocket and set it up to record.

  A moment later, rock music flooded the room.

  And once again, the lights worked perfectly, matching the app on my tablet note for note.

  Students started trickling into the gym, and many were drawn to our light display. They took pictures of it and with it before wandering to the dance floor or the punch bowl.

  And then Sophia walked in.

  Her hair and makeup were flawless, and her dress twinkled like a sky full of stars. Beside her, Sammy was grinning from ear to ear, but not at the people crowding around the two of them. He only had eyes for Sophia.

  “Aww!” Lucy’s voice sounded in my ear.

  We all rushed over to Sophia.

  “You look so beautiful!” Leila told her.

  “Stunning,” I agreed.

  “Who do you think can fit more chips in their mouth, me or Jeremiah?” was Erin’s contribution. Her date was smiling, too, with potato chips falling from his lips.

  I was about to comment when I spotted another person by our light display. Except this time I didn’t squeal with joy.

  Because it was Nicole.

  She glanced over at that exact moment, no doubt feeling my eyes on her. I wasn’t sure how to react. Should I wave an open hand of peace? A clenched fist of defiance?

  Nicole lifted a hand and waved me over. It wasn’t friendly or hostile, but my palms felt clammy just the same.

  “Want me to go with you?” Lucy asked.

  I shook my head. “I can handle her,” I said, and strode toward Nicole with more confidence than I felt.

  “I know what you did,” Nicole said as soon as I was in earshot.

  She let her words dangle in the air, as if waiting for an apology. But I couldn’t give it.

  “I had to,” I said. “Your actions hurt people more than you think.”

  Instead of arguing with me, Nicole lowered her gaze to the gym floor. “Yeah, my aunts were pretty mad when they found out.”

  “And a girl threatened me when she thought I stole her bracelet,” I said.

  “I heard.” Nicole hunched her shoulders. “I didn’t want either of those things to happen. And I don’t want to put anyone else through it.”

  I took a hopeful step toward her. “So change! Be better.”

  She gave an exasperated sigh. “I’ve tried. But nobody pays attention to me when I’m Good Nicole.”

  “You did all those things so people would notice you?” I asked.

  Was it possible she felt unappreciated like I had?

  She nodded. “But people haven’t noticed. Not the way I wanted.”

  I thought for a moment and pointed at myself. “Look at my dress.”

  Nicole frowned. “Maya, I don’t think this is the time to talk fashion.”

  I held my skirt out so she could see her image in all the mirrors. “Just look. See your reflection?”

  “Yeah. So?”

  “So the future is you,” I said. “And you can either let it be a bad one or a good one.”

  Nicole’s forehead wrinkled. “But I don’t know how to make it good.”


  “You did bad things and got negative attention. Guess what happens when you do good things?”

  The corners of Nicole’s mouth curled up. “You think so?”

  I glanced past her to the kids talking with Sophia. Sophia was smiling and pointing to me and my friends.

  “I know so,” I said.

  Nicole scrunched her nose. “Well . . . I guess I could try.”

  “I admire your enthusiasm,” I said with a wry smile. “How about starting small? Maybe apologize to Lucy and Sophia for trying to bully them.”

  “But—”

  I nudged her in Lucy’s direction. “Go.”

  As Nicole wandered over to Lucy, Erin hopped over to me and bumped my hip with her own.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  “Just trying to get Nicole to deliver some overdue apologies.” I glanced at Erin’s empty hands. “No fruit punch?”

  “One of the chaperones took away my punch privileges!” she said with a frown. “If there’s a five-cup limit, they should mention that on the flyer.”

  I laughed. “Where’s Jeremiah?”

  Erin leaned closer and said, “Getting me another cup.”

  I wagged a finger at her. “Watch out. You’re gonna cost him his privileges.”

  Leila bounded over in her superhero costume. “Point that finger somewhere else!” she said to me. Then she turned to Erin. “It’s okay, Madam President. I’ve got you.”

  Ever the actress, Erin pointed to me and shouted, “Put the freeze on her, Ms. Marvel!”

  I held up a hand. “Why am I a villain?”

  “You’re right!” declared Erin. “Nicole Davis is the real villain.”

  “Actually, she might not be,” said Lucy, joining us. “You guys won’t believe this, but she just apologized to me!”

  “Really?” I asked with a smug smile. I spotted Nicole in the crowd as she was walking away from a puzzled Sophia.

  Sophia said something to Sammy and then made a beeline for the rest of us.

  “That was weird,” she said. “Nicole told me she was sorry she’d been rude to me.”

  Lucy pointed to herself. “Me too!”

  “That is weird,” said Erin. “Do you think she meant it?”

  “She looked pretty uncomfortable,” said Lucy. “So I’d say yes.”