by Coco Simon
“Speaking of which …” Mrs. Shipley handed me a white envelope that said CUPCAKE CLUB on it. “Here’s your payment.”
I was almost inclined to refuse it, for the honor of baking for Romaine, but Alexis reached out and took the envelope. “Thank you,” she said graciously.
“She’s our CFO,” I said, laughing.
“Good for her! She’s doing her job!” said Mrs. Shipley with a smile.
Mrs. Ford suggested a group photo with Romaine, and we all posed with ginormous grins on our faces, Romaine holding up a cupcake like she was about to take a bite.
“Well, we’ve got to be leaving now,” I said.
“Can’t you stay a little while longer? Could we get you something to drink?” asked Mrs. Shipley, so gracious.
“Actually, it’s our Camp Finale tonight. Our talent show … so, we need to get going. …”
“Oh, the Camp Finale! I remember that! I did a tap dance for mine!” said Romaine. “Mom, do you remember? That was one of the best nights of my life!”
Mrs. Ford winced and then laughed. “How could I forget?” She put her head in her hands. “Oh, the practicing! I thought I’d never recover!”
We laughed.
“That is so fun. So who’s doing what?” Romaine asked.
Alexis and I told Romaine the details, and she asked us what time it was, and what I’d wear and play, and what Kira was singing. Alexis let on that she had a special surprise planned, and while I groaned in dread, Romaine told us how excited she was for us.
Finally, we really did have to go. My mom was waiting in the car, and we knew Mrs. Shipley needed to get back to organizing her party.
With a long good-bye and lots of hugs, we left and tumbled back into the minivan.
We could not stop chattering. “That was so amazing!” and “She’s so nice!” and “I can’t believe she remembered me!” and on and on. My mom laughed, asking questions as she drove around dropping everyone off. Finally, it was just me and Alexis, who would help me get dressed for the event.
“So what’s your surprise?” I asked. “You can tell me now.”
“Not yet,” said Alexis with a mischievous grin. “Not yet.”
CHAPTER 14
Talent and Charm
The butterflies in my stomach had turned into birds by the time we got back to camp. There were so many people milling around—siblings, parents, even grandparents. I could not believe how big a crowd it was.
I had my dress in a garment bag, and I checked in backstage. The camp director handed me a program and told me when I’d go on. Raoul was in charge of props and costumes, and he whisked my flute and dress away for safekeeping while we joined the growing audience.
“Wow. This is major,” I said to Alexis, looking around. Because she wasn’t performing, her parents hadn’t come. She was sitting with me and my parents and brothers. But I noticed she kept looking around, like she was waiting for someone else.
Finally I said, “Who are you looking for?”
“Oh, just—There they are!” she cried, and I turned to see Mia and Katie heading right toward us. Mia had a garment bag too, and I wondered why until she handed it to Alexis.
“Here’s Jake’s costume,” Mia said. “Hi, Jakey! Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor.” She settled in next to Alexis and started joking around with Matt and Sam. Katie smiled.
“You guys are going to be great!” she said.
“Guys?” I looked at Alexis. “Now you have to tell me.”
Alexis sighed and looked at Mia and Katie in annoyance. They were so busy flirting it up with my older brothers that they missed the look. “I guess since some people don’t know how to keep a secret,” Alexis began loudly, “I will tell you our plan.”
I looked at her expectantly. “This better be good, or I’m not going up there,” I said.
“Oh, you’re going! You and Jake, who will introduce you and carry out your chair for you to sit in. He’s the charm.”
“Wait, you’re having that … unpredictable little slob be the charm in my act?” I said. I couldn’t believe this was happening.
“Yes,” said Alexis definitely. “And he will not be unpredictable because he has been bribed with a whole dozen Jake Cakes, just for him. And he will not be a slob because”—she unzipped Mia’s garment bag—“he will be wearing this!” She pulled out a mini tuxedo and a collapsible top hat.
I began to laugh. “Oh my gosh,” I said. “Where did you get that?”
Alexis shrugged and glanced at Mia. “It helps to have connections in the fashion world.”
Then everyone started to shush the crowd, and the first act began. It was a bunch of boys who were break dancing, and they were actually pretty good. I had a hard time enjoying it, though, because I was so worried about my own act to come.
Next up was a group of Wolverines who did a rap song about camp that was really funny. Some of it was unintentionally funny because they kept forgetting the words, but in the end they got a lot of applause. Elle and Tricia danced around using Hula-Hoops and were awesome, but it wasn’t that much of an act. Just them twirling stuff to music. Caroline sang beautifully, and Charlotte and Georgia did their gymnastics routine, which was pretty impressive.
And then it was Sydney’s turn.
The music started up, and she strode out in a cowgirl getup that was waaay too sophisticated for her. She had on piles of makeup—if I could see it from the twentieth row, you had to know it was a lot—and she kind of shimmied in time to the music as she came out. Romaine Ford would have died.
I had to give Sydney a little credit for being brave enough to come out by herself and sing. But then I thought she probably just couldn’t find anyone else she thought was good enough to join her.
Until she opened her mouth. Then I realized that probably no one joined her because no one thought she was good enough.
Sydney Whitman can’t sing.
At first, it was awkward. People felt bad for her, you could tell. They tipped their heads to the side, as if they were really trying to give her a good listen. But then she started doing these really hammy country dance moves, and people started to giggle. Sydney must’ve been pleased, seeing all the smiles in the audience. With her ego, she surely thought people were just in awe of how good she was. She began to work the audience, encouraging people to clap along with the song, which they did. And then she sang louder—she was getting progressively worse—and danced more enthusiastically, and people just started to laugh their heads off.
The funny thing was, Sydney was so blindly into herself that she never noticed. When her song ended, she gave a triumphant bow and punched the air with her first, like, “I really nailed that one!” and she skipped off stage.
Alexis, Katie, Mia, and I looked at one another in shock.
“She really doesn’t get it, does she?” said Alexis, shaking her head in disbelief.
Katie was smug. “I told you she couldn’t sing!”
We didn’t have long to marvel over what we’d just witnessed because Alexis was suddenly hustling me backstage. Mia grabbed Jake by the hand (she and Katie were going to be in charge of him), and Alexis led me to my changing area.
“Deep breaths. You are very, very talented,” said Alexis as she turned her back to allow me to change privately.
“Ready,” I said, even though inside I wasn’t. Alexis came to zip me up and help with my hair.
I mentally went through Mona’s checklist for modeling, which made me feel more in control. “Chin up, shoulders back, smile, sparkle, and just breathe. …”
Mia appeared with Jake all dressed, and I had to admit, he looked absolutely adorable. Alexis hustled me to the curtain and gave last-minute directions as we stood there.
“Jake, you’ll carry out the chair, put it down in the center of the stage like you practiced with your mom at home. Then you’ll bow and say ‘Now presenting, my sister, Emma, who will play …’” She looked at Jake.
He nodded and said, “Beethoven’
s ‘Ode to Joy.’”
“Right. Then you turn and hold out your hand, and Emma comes out. Then, Emma, do a little bow, and sit and play. When you’re done, stand up, bow, and Jake will come back out to collect the chair, okay? Got it?”
“Got it!” we said.
And then suddenly they were calling my name, and it was all a blur. I remember the crowd clapping for Jake and saying “Awww …” when he came out. I remember sitting to play my piece and that I was amazed that that many people could be so quiet. I caught Sam’s eye out in the audience at one point, and he was smiling proudly and nodding, but I had to look away.
Then it was over, and Jake was back out, and this time the crowd roared its approval as we left the stage. I was shaking so hard and smiling and so, so relieved. And most of all, I was so glad Alexis had made me do it! I felt great, like how Kira must’ve felt when she swam.
Backstage, Alexis grabbed me in a huge hug (so unlike her!), and so did Mia and Katie, and then I was quickly out of my dress and Jake was out of his tux. We were back in the crowd to watch the end of the show with my family. Now I could really relax and enjoy it.
I got to see Kira sing, and she had an amazing voice. I spied what must’ve been her dad and her sisters in the audience. At the end, her dad gave her a standing ovation and was mopping his eyes with a handkerchief. I was glad he was there for her, and he seemed really proud of her.
And finally, there was a pause at the end while the judge tallied up their results. The crowd chatted quietly among themselves as we waited.
“Cupcakers, thanks for coming,” I said to the girls. “And thanks for a great summer so far.”
“Don’t thank us, thank the Hotcakes!” said Katie really nicely.
“It’s been really fun,” agreed Mia.
We talked about some of our plans for the rest of the summer and then the camp director was back onstage with the microphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we had a wonderful program tonight. All these kids are so talented and worked so hard. All the participants will receive a small silver camp whistle to honor their participation. Now, the winners for tonight are in each of three categories: charm, talent, and presentation. Then we do have one overall winner who nailed all three. But before we announce the winners’ names, I would like to introduce a special Spring Lake Day Camp alumna who will be our presenter tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you … Romaine Ford!”
There was a shocked silence and then the crowd erupted as Romaine came out, smiling and waving. She was in a pretty white sundress with daisies on it, and the Cupcakers and I exchanged knowing looks. It was the dress she must’ve worn to the shower. I craned my neck to catch Kira’s eye across the crowd, and we smiled at each other and made gestures of surprise.
“Hello, folks, thank you for the warm greeting,” began Romaine. “I loved my time here at Spring Lake Day Camp so when my friend Emma Taylor and her Cupcake Club told me that tonight was the Camp Finale, I just couldn’t miss it!”
My friends and I all cheered and grabbed one another in excitement that she’d mentioned us. I couldn’t believe it! I saw Sydney look around the crowd until she spotted us and scowled in disgust.
“Now there were some really wonderful acts I saw when I got here, and I am impressed by all of your hard work, so congratulations to all of you who performed, and to all the backstage crew who helped the performers. And here we go …!” She looked down at a sheet of paper and began reading out the awards.
I was ecstatic when Kira won for talent. She had a lovely voice, and she was thrilled to receive the award from Romaine, who gave her a big hug and a kiss on each cheek. The magic show boys won for presentation—they’d been really organized, with lots of props and stuff—and then Sydney won for charm! I was in shock.
Romaine shook her hand graciously, and maybe I was imagining it, but she didn’t seem that friendly toward Sydney. Sydney couldn’t tell, though, because she was in heaven. I guess a part of me had to admit that her act had had a certain weird, funny charm. And at least this way she did win something, even if she was banned from attending the camp next year.
And finally Romaine said, “The all-around winner is … my good friend Emma Taylor!”
I couldn’t believe it! It was like I was dreaming. I was up on my feet and on the stage, with Romaine hugging me so hard and rocking me back and forth. I just couldn’t believe it! She handed me a big trophy and smiled for a photo Raoul took of us. She called “Good night and good luck!” to the crowd, and we walked offstage together.
Romaine was mobbed afterward, but she managed to sneak over to my family before she left. I introduced her to my parents and my brothers, and she said hi to all the Cupcakers, remembering everyone’s name!
“You should be really proud of your sister, boys,” she said to Matt, Sam, and Jake. “She’s a very talented young woman—in the kitchen, on the runway, and onstage! Watch out, world!”
I never wanted this night to end, but it all went so fast in the end. We dropped off all the Cupcakers and headed home, just the six of us, where we sat and ate some of the dozen Jake Cakes (baked today and dropped off by Mia and Katie) at the kitchen table. (Even though the Cupcakers told Jake all twelve cupcakes were for him, he said we could share them with him.)
“Great job, honey,” said my dad. “As usual.”
“Yeah, honey, great job introducing us to the hot celeb!” said Sam through a mouthful of cupcake.
I rolled my eyes as the crumbs spilled out of his mouth and onto the table.
“We’re proud of you, lovebug,” said my mom.
“So am I!” said Jake, with a big Oreo-covered smile.
“Thanks, guys,” I said. “You’re the best.”
I looked at my family and then thought about the Cupcakers and the Hotcakes, and meeting Romaine and all the wonderful things that happened over the summer. I had worried about fitting everyone and everything into my plans, but like a great cupcake recipe, the more things I added to the mix, the more delicious and fun everything became.
Sam, Matt, and Jake were gobbling up all the cupcakes.
“Boys!” Mom cried. “We can make more! Slow down.”
And then I realized that sometimes cupcakes are like friends … you can always make more!
Want another sweet cupcake?
Here’s a sneak peek
of the eighth book in the
series:
Alexis
cool as a
cupcake
Partners? What Partners?
Business first. That’s one of my mottoes.
When my best friends and I get together to discuss our cupcake company, the Cupcake Club, I am all about business. My name is Alexis Becker, and I am the business planner of the group. This means I kind of take care of everything—pricing, scheduling, and ingredient inventory—the nuts and bolts of it all. So when we actually go to make the cupcakes and sell them, we’re all set.
Mia Vélaz-Cruz is our fashion-forward, stylish person, who is great at presentation and coming up with really good ideas, and Katie Brown and Emma Taylor are real bakers, so they have lots of ideas on ingredients and how things should taste. Together we make a great team.
But today, when we were having our weekly meeting at Mia’s house, they would not let me do my job. It was so frustrating!
I had out the leather-bound accounts ledger that Mia’s mom gave me, and I was going through all of our costs and all of the money that’s owed to us, when Mia interrupted.
“Ooh! I forgot to tell you I had an idea for your costume for the Homecoming Parade, Katie!” said Mia enthusiastically, as if I wasn’t in the middle of reading out columns of numbers for the past two jobs we’ve had.
The high school in our town has a tradition for their homecoming football game every year. It started when the game fell on Halloween one year, so everyone came in costume. Over the years it’s grown into a big costume parade through town, followed by a bonfir
e rally, and then the game. It’s a pretty big deal, and it’s happening in about a month, right before Halloween.
“Oh good, what is it?” asked Katie, as if she was thrilled for the interruption.
“Ahem. Are we conducting business here or having a coffee klatch?” That’s what our favorite science teacher, Ms. Biddle, says when we whisper in class. Apparently, a coffee klatch is something gossipy old ladies do: drink coffee and chatter mindlessly.
“Yeah, c’mon, guys. Let’s get through this,” said Emma. I know she was trying to be supportive of me, but “get through this”? As if they just had to listen to me before they got to the fun stuff? That was kind of insulting!
“I’m not reading this stuff for my own health, you know,” I said. I knew I sounded really huffy, but I didn’t care. I do way more behind-the-scenes work than anyone else in this club, and I don’t think they have any idea how much time and effort it takes. Now, I do love it, but everyone has a limit, and I have almost reached mine.
“Sorry, Alexis! I just was spacing out and it crossed my mind,” admitted Mia. It was kind of a lame apology, since she was admitting she was spacing out during my presentation.
“Whatever,” I said. “Do you want to listen or should I just forget about it?”
“No, no, we’re listening!” protested Katie. “Go on!” But I caught her winking and nodding at Mia as Mia nodded and gestured to her.
I shut the ledger. “Anyway, that’s all,” I said.
Mia and Katie were so engrossed in their sign language that they didn’t even realize I’d cut it short. Emma seemed relieved and didn’t protest.
So that’s how it’s going to be, I thought. Then fine! I’ll just do the books and buy the supplies and do all the scheduling and keep it to myself. No need to involve a whole committee, anyway. I folded my arms across my chest and waited for someone to speak. But of course, it wasn’t about business.
“Well?” asked Katie.
“Okay, I was thinking, what about a genie? And you can get George Martinez to be an astronaut. Then you can wear something really dreamy and floaty and magical, like on that old TV show I Dream of Jeannie that’s on Boomerang?” Mia was smiling in pride at her idea.
