Liv’s mom was there, and next to her was a very jolly-looking man who I guessed was Liv’s dad. He had a big round belly like Santa Claus, with big furry eyebrows and absolutely no hair on his head at all.
Minnie’s moms were in the second row next to Cora’s parents and the twins Bo and Lou, who were poking each other with sticks. Maya was there with her mom, and so were Noah and his teenage babysitter, Ivy, who had a green streak in the front of her hair.
“All right, actors,” whispered Miss Tibbs. “It’s showtime. I’d like to wish you all good—”
“NO!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.
“Miss Conti!” Miss Tibbs looked so mad, her eyes bulged.
“Ginger said you should never, ever tell an actor good luck before a show,” I stammered.
Liv agreed. “She said we should say ‘break a leg!’”
Miss Tibbs closed her eyes and sighed really loudly.
“All right, then. Break a leg,” she said. “But don’t really break a leg, or an arm, or a collarbone, either. There have been two broken arms this month at recess, and I don’t wish to add to the list.”
Chapter 16
The play was a smash hit! It will go down in theater history!
Liv did not forget one single line. Not one.
There was someone who did forget her lines.
Me!
I never thought, in a million years, that I would get stage fright, but I did! Just like Minnie and Liv had warned me.
I walked onstage and the lights were so bright, I felt blinded. Then I started to feel really, really hot. I felt like I couldn’t breathe normally.
I opened my mouth to say my first line, but no words came out. All of a sudden, I had absolutely no idea what I was supposed to say! I opened and closed my mouth a whole bunch of times. I must have looked like a fish.
I heard a familiar voice yell, “HI, WONNY! HI, WONNY! PWETTY WONNY!” I squinted into the first row and saw Dad stick a pacifier into Pearl’s mouth to keep her quiet. Mom gave me a thumbs-up. But it was like someone had pressed PAUSE on my brain, and I just could not think.
Thankfully, Liv flew to the rescue. She did a pirouette, and while she spun around, she whispered, “What is your name, child?”
It was like she had pressed the PLAY button on my brain. Suddenly, I remembered everything I was supposed to say.
“What’s your name, child?” I said in my jolly good British accent.
The audience laughed, and that let me know I was doing a great job, so after that, I wasn’t nervous anymore.
I shouted “OFF WITH HER HEAD!” louder than ever before. After I yelled it, I heard Pearl shriek “OFF WIFFER ’ED!” a few times until Dad popped the pacifier back in her mouth.
There were a few other wee problems, as Ginger would say. Liv was supposed to do a bunch of pirouettes when Alice falls down the rabbit hole, but she lost her balance and knocked over one of Jude’s swirly green bushes. Matthew Sawyer was hiding behind that bush, ready to pop out as the Cheshire Cat. So not only did Liv bash Matthew Sawyer in the head, which made him scream, “HEY! Watch it!” but she also broke the bush, which made Jude scream, “No! Not my bush!” Someone else yelled, too. It was Liv’s dad, and he shouted, “Opa!”
And then there was the problem with Camille. She was worried about forgetting her lines, so she wrote them all along her arm. Halfway through the play, she pulled up her sleeve so she could read her arm, and when she pulled the sleeve back down afterward, she yanked a little too hard. It fell right off.
When she leaned over to pick up her sleeve, her bunny-ear headband slipped off her head and fell right off the stage. She should have just left it there, but she didn’t. Quick as a flash, she hopped off the stage to grab the bunny ears. And that’s when she broke her leg.
Well, she didn’t break it, really. She just twisted it. But Miss Tibbs made a big deal out of it anyway.
“I knew I shouldn’t have told you all to break a leg!” she grumbled as she helped Camille limp backstage. We had to call an emergency intermission while Matthew Sawyer’s mom, who is a doctor, examined Camille. Even though she didn’t break her leg, it still hurt her a lot, so Dr. Sawyer told her to sit out the rest of the play.
Lucky for us, Cora looks exactly like Camille, so she just slipped on Camille’s costume and did the part. She had to hold her script, and she was wearing only one sleeve, but it was still pretty good. As Ginger always said, the show must go on.
When the play was over, we got a standing ovation! We all bowed together—even Camille, who limped back onstage for the curtain call.
When I was standing there on the stage, holding Liv’s hand on one side and Camille’s hand on the other and listening to all those people clap and cheer, I felt so full of happiness, like a hot-air balloon floating through the clouds.
Afterward, Liv’s dad rushed over. He gave Liv and me a huge bear hug and lifted us off the ground.
“The famous Veronica Conti!!” he cheered. “I’ve heard all about you—and the rest of these Fix-It kids. You were lifesavers, you know that?”
“Thanks, but the truth is, Liv was the lifesaver today,” I said, turning to her. “If you hadn’t told me my line, I’d still be standing there, with my big old fish mouth.”
She laughed. “It’s no big deal. Everyone needs a little help sometimes. Even you.”
Just as Liv’s family was leaving, Mom and Dad walked over, carrying a big bunch of red roses.
“We didn’t even have to paint them red,” joked Dad.
Nana was smiling and wiping her eyes. Nana is a big crier. When she is happy or proud, she instantly tears up.
“You-a are una stella vera!” she sniffled. “A true star!”
“There goes Nana with the waterworks!” Nonno joked. Then he asked me to autograph his program.
Pearl begged and begged to wear my crown and cloak, so I let her. Then she pretended to be the Queen of Hearts for the rest of the night and kept yelling “Off wiffer ’ed!” to Ricardo. She loved that cloak so much, she refused to take it off. So I guess Cora has one fan, at least.
Chapter 17
I was feeling like it was the absolute best day ever—even better than my birthday or Christmas. And then Miss Tibbs walked over to me.
I tried to think of what I’d done that had got me into trouble. Was it because I ran down the hall to the auditorium after school? Was it because I was chewing gum while I ran? Was it because I was yelling “Show day! Show day!” while I chewed gum and ran?
But she didn’t scold me or lecture me. In fact, she smiled at me and handed me an envelope.
“Congratulations,” she said.
Guess what was inside the envelope?
A homework pass! Which means that one night, whenever I want, I can have NO HOMEWORK!!
Instead of slaving away and breaking pencils, I’ll just lie on the sofa and eat marshmallows and watch cartoons. And when Jude passes by to get a new pencil because he’s used up all the pencils at his desk because he has sooooooo much homework, I’ll just say oh-so-casually, “Oh, it must be a tough homework night. I wouldn’t know. I have a homework pass.”
And I will be thinking, Eat your heart out, big shot! Ha!
“I was very impressed by the way you helped Liv with her script,” Miss Tibbs said.
I nodded.
“And I think you were the perfect person to play the Queen of Hearts,” she went on. “Do you know why?”
“Because I like to boss people around and yell at the top of my lungs?” I asked.
She shook her head.
“Because you have one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know,” she said.
I threw my arms around Miss Tibbs without even thinking. As soon as I realized what I had done, I jumped backward. I was sort of embarrassed. But Miss Tibbs just seemed happy.
“I know you had a little help,” she said, and she handed me three more envelopes that said MR. CONTI and MR. POWELL and MISS KLEIN.
“Will y
ou make sure they get these?” she asked.
For a second, I considered keeping them for myself. Then for a few more seconds, I considered just keeping Jude’s for myself. But then I remembered the heart necklace.
“Absolutely,” I told Miss Tibbs.
* * *
A few days later, at dismissal time, Miss Mabel handed out bright red papers again—but this time, just to the Drama Club kids.
“It’s a letter!” squeaked Cora. “From Ginger!”
Here is what it said:
I was terribly disappointed to miss the show! I heard from everyone, including Miss Tibbs, that it was an absolute smash! But I didn’t just take her word for it. Liv’s father was kind enough to record the performance. I have watched the video three times, and here is what I think:
You did it, loves! You made magic. You transformed that auditorium into a Wonderland. You did it by working together: listening to each other and looking out for each other. You were true collaborators. I’m terrifically proud of you. Well done!
Big hugs,
Ginger Frost
I pressed the letter to my heart and grinned. Then I looked at it again, and I saw something written at the bottom, underneath her name. It was a handwritten note, just for me.
Veronica,
I know your brother’s almost always right about everything, but you were right about my name. Ginger’s the real part. My name’s Ginger Butte. Yes, I know. It’s dreadful.
P.S. You must keep acting. You’re a natural. Today, the Queen of Hearts. Tomorrow, Lady Macbeth!
Take the Fix-It Friends Pledge!
I, (say your full name), do solemnly vow to help kids with their problems. I promise to be kind with my words and actions. I will try to help very annoying brothers even though they probably won’t ever need help because they’re soooooo perfect. Cross my heart, hope to cry, eat a gross old garbage fly.
When Reading’s a Real Struggle …
Reading’s a big challenge for a lot of super-smart kids—and grown-ups, too! There are a few reasons why reading might be tricky, but the most common explanation is something called dyslexia. People who are dyslexic don’t hear sounds in words as easily as other people, which means they have a hard time matching letters to the sounds those letters make. Because of this, reading can be really tough.
How does it feel?
“I like reading a lot, but when I come to a big word that I can’t figure out, I get really, really stressed. Like I want to yell, ‘Ahhhhh!’”
—Zola, age nine
“It makes you feel dumb. You feel like you can’t do anything.”
—Chloe, age twelve
“It’s really hard for me to read the words, so I only read if I have to. I would read for one minute if I could have an hour of computer time.”
—Sean, age eight
What helps?
“If you’re stuck on a word, keep on reading and then you can figure out the word that you missed. Also, take a break, calm down, and then go back to reading later when you’re not as stressed out.”
—Lanie, age ten
“I look for patterns or rules, like the silent e rule, or the vccv pattern, or compound words.”
—Zola, age nine
“I use my hands to only see that word on a page. Bigger text helps, because there’s more space in between words.”
—Chloe, age twelve
“Slowing down and breaking up the word helps. Don’t hesitate to read out loud. If you get something wrong, you just move on.”
—Ethan, age twelve
What to Do When Reading’s Really Hard
Ready to hear something that might surprise you? Tons of people have dyslexia—about one out of every five people! In fact, lots of your favorite athletes, movie stars, musicians, and other world-famous, super-successful folks are dyslexic. Ever heard of a guy named Steven Spielberg? Muhammad Ali? Tom Cruise? Yep, they’re all dyslexic. Reading was really hard for them when they were kids, but they didn’t let it stop them from dreaming incredible dreams and working hard to achieve them. Guess what? It won’t stop you, either! You just need the right kind of help.
1. Work with a special reading tutor.
For some kids, learning to read the way most people do, by sounding out words, just doesn’t work very well. The great news is, there are other ways to read. Your parents or school can find a special reading tutor for you, someone who’s an expert in special reading systems. The tutor will teach you awesome strategies like how to break words down and find patterns in them; before long, reading will start to make a lot more sense.
2. Read with your ears.
Reading print books can be tough, but listening to audiobooks—which are read aloud by people—well, that’s a whole different ball game. Whoever said you need eyes on paper to read, anyway? You can listen to just about anything—not just books, but also magazines, websites, and even homework!
3. Use tech tools.
Audiobooks are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to technology that can be helpful. If handwriting’s a big problem, you can type on a keyboard. If spelling’s stopping you in your tracks, you can dictate your work to an electronic device. If taking notes in class is the challenge, snap a picture of the blackboard with a camera.
4. Know that everyone learns differently.
Some people with dyslexia have said that their difficulty with reading made them think they weren’t smart. This could not be further from the truth! In fact, most people with dyslexia are really smart. Dyslexia does not mean that you don’t learn as well as other kids; it just means you learn differently.
And everyone learns in slightly different ways. Some people learn best by hearing information, others by seeing it, and others by moving their bodies around or by working in groups.
If you need things that other kids don’t—extra time on a test, to get reading material in advance, to use a tech tool—don’t waste a second worrying about how that makes you different from the rest. After all, anyone who is extraordinary is always different.
5. Celebrate your strengths.
People with dyslexia are some of the most curious, creative, talented people around. They’re amazing at solving problems in new and exciting ways because their dyslexia has given them plenty of practice doing just that.
Remember, if something’s important to you—whether it’s scoring the lead in the school play or writing a book—you can absolutely achieve that goal. Just be creative, stay determined, and get the right people in your corner to help! Like the Disney saying goes: “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
Want more tips or fixes for other problems? Just want to check out some Fix-It Friends games and activities? Go to fixitfriendsbooks.com!
Resources for Parents
If your child is struggling with reading, these resources might be helpful.
Books for Kids
The Alphabet War: A Story about Dyslexia by Diane Burton Robb and Gail Piazza, Albert Whitman & Company, 2004
It’s Called Dyslexia by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos, Barron’s Educational Series, 2007
Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco, Philomel Books, 2012
Books for Parents
The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide, MD, MA, and Fernette F. Eide, MD, Hudson Street Press, 2011
The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan: A Blueprint for Renewing Your Child’s Confidence and Love of Learning by Ben Foss, Ballantine Books, 2016
Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level by Sally Shaywitz, MD, Vintage, 2005
Websites
Bright Solutions for Dyslexia
www.brightsolutions.us
Dyslexia help from the University of Michigan
www.dyslexiahelp.umich.edu
For parents of dyslexics
www.dyslexichelp.org
International Dyslexia Association
www.interdys.org
www.ldonline.org
Understood: For Learning and Attention Issues
www.understood.org
Xtraordinary People
www.xtraordinarypeople.com
Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity
www.dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexiastraighttalk.html
Praise for
The Fix-It Friends: Have No Fear!
“Fears are scary! But don’t worry: the Fix-It Friends know how to vanquish all kinds of fears, with humor and step-by-step help. Nicole C. Kear has written a funny and helpful series.”
—Fran Manushkin, author of the Katie Woo series
“Full of heart and more than a little spunk, this book teaches kids that fear stands no chance against friendship and courage. Where were the Fix-It Friends when I was seven years old?”
—Kathleen Lane, author of The Best Worst Thing
“I love the Fix-It Friends as a resource to give to the families I work with. The books help kids see their own power to overcome challenges—and they’re just plain fun to read.”
—Lauren Knickerbocker, PhD, Co-Director, Early Childhood Service, NYU Child Study Center
“Hooray for these young friends who work together; this diverse crew will have readers looking forward to more.”
—Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Nicole C. Kear grew up in New York City, where she still lives with her husband, three firecracker kids, and a ridiculously fluffy hamster. She’s written lots of essays and a memoir, Now I See You, for grown-ups, and she’s thrilled to be writing for kids, who make her think hard and laugh harder. She has a bunch of fancy, boring diplomas and one red clown nose from circus school. Seriously. Visit her online at nicolekear.com, or sign up for email updates here.
About the Illustrator
Tracy Dockray illustrated the paperback cover of Lois Lowry’s Stay, a dog’s tale about his life, and a picture book, Izzy & Oscar (Sourcebooks, 2015) a story about a more unusual kind of pet. Tracy has illustrated numerous other picture books such as The Tushy Book and the prize winning Lost and Found Pony, as well as an edition of Beverly Cleary’s Ramona series, Ralph the Mouse series and Henry Huggins series. You can sign up for email updates here.
The Fix-It Friends--The Show Must Go On Page 5
