Sprinkles and Secrets

by Lisa Schroeder

  “Hey, Dennis?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Remember how you said you were going to get me for bringing up the Power Rangers? Operation Cupcake isn’t going to show up in the school newspaper tomorrow, is it?”

  “You know, that’s not a bad idea.” He paused. “Just kidding. You have nothing to worry about, I promise. I just want things to be better with Isabel.”

  “Yeah. Me too.”

  He might not have been as motivational as Uncle Pete would have been, but he was all right. And I’m ready to do what I have to do. Mom drops me off around the corner from It’s Raining Cupcakes. Before I get out of the car, she says, “Good luck, honey. Remember to speak from your heart.”

  If she gives me the chance to speak at all. “Okay. Thanks, Mom.”

  “What time should I pick you up?” she asks.

  “I can walk home.”

  She hands me her phone. “Take this, just in case. And don’t lose it!”

  I slip it into the pocket of the shorts I’m wearing over my tights. I get out of the car, pull the costume and sign out of the backseat, and slip the costume on. Mom waves good-bye and pulls away. I suddenly wish I had asked Dennis to come with me. No, that wouldn’t have been right. I have to do this by myself. This is about me and Isabel, and I have to show her I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right between us.

  With my cherry-topped hat in place and the sign in front of me, I begin walking up and down the sidewalk. I do this for probably thirty minutes, back and forth, from one end of the sidewalk to the other. But then I realize I’ll have more visibility if I increase the size of the area I’m covering.

  So I broaden my path. I go across the street and make a big loop. Around the bookstore, past the post office, past the big park where some kids are playing, and back around to the cupcake shop.

  After an hour of doing this, my legs are starting to get tired of walking and my shoulders are sore from the straps holding up my costume. Still, I’m not ready to give up. I create an even bigger loop. With every route, I make sure that I pass by the cupcake shop at some point.

  Cars drive by and honk, and I wave, and soon I notice that traffic has increased a lot in front of the shop, and I see person after person going into the store and coming out with their boxes of cupcakes.

  It’s working.

  People are buying cupcakes!

  And so it goes, hour after hour, until every muscle in my body aches and I’ve waved at so many cars, my arm feels like it’s going to fall off.

  And yet, not one sign of Isabel.

  A raindrop falls, and then another one, and soon it’s not just sprinkling, it’s outright pouring. My stomach, as well as the darkened sky, tells me it’s time to go home. Four hours of total humiliation must not have been enough to show Isabel how sorry I am.

  I thought she’d realize how bad I feel.

  I thought she’d come see me, tell me it’s okay, and that I’m forgiven.

  It wasn’t enough.

  Obviously, there’s still more I have to do.

  Maybe it’s what Dad said to me that one night I couldn’t sleep. Sometimes you know how someone feels, but it’s nice to hear it too.

  I walk to the side of a building and stand underneath the awning, to stay dry. I take the phone out of my pocket and dial Isabel’s number.

  “Hello?”

  “Isabel, it’s me, Sophie. Please don’t hang up. Look, maybe it’s not going to make much difference, but I want you to know how sorry I am that I lied to you about the audition. I didn’t want to make you choose between me and your family. I never planned on actually doing the commercial. I went to the audition for practice. But then my agent called, and my mom was so excited, and neither of them asked me if I wanted to do the commercial. And I don’t! If it means losing you as a friend, I don’t want to do it. I’m not doing it. Isabel, you have to believe me. I’m so sorry.”

  She doesn’t say anything for a long time. And then finally, she lets out a sigh and says, “Okay. Thanks for calling.” And she hangs up.

  I stand there, watching the rain fall. It’s definitely not raining cupcakes.

  As if the day hasn’t been bad enough, now I get to walk home in the rain. Perfect. Just perfect.

  I’ve about reached the corner when I hear a voice.

  “Hey! Sophie Bird!”

  I turn around and there’s Isabel. She gives me a little wave.

  I try to run, but laundry baskets aren’t really made to run in. So I walk, really, really fast. When I reach her, she pulls me under the awning of Stan’s barber shop.

  “How is it possible that you look so amazing and so ridiculous all at the same time?” she asks.

  “Takes a special talent,” I say.

  “You got that right. What kind of cupcake are you, anyway?”

  “Cherry and white chocolate. It’s a special creation, just for you. I hope you like it.”

  She pauses, and then says, “You shouldn’t have lied to me.”

  “I know.” I start to cry. “I’m so sorry. I handled it all really badly, and I want to talk to you about it some more. Can we go upstairs, to your place?”

  She looks at me. “Under one condition.”

  “Anything.”

  “That you do the commercial.”

  “But-”

  She shakes her head. “It’s a chance of a lifetime, Soph! You have to do it. Whatever happens to the cupcake shop is going to happen whether you do the commercial or not.”

  “Let’s talk about it. I want you to be sure, okay? And your parents too.”

  “Okay,” she says. “But you have to take that ridiculous cherry off your head. Fruit should be eaten, not worn as decorative headwear. Don’t you know that?”

  “What about the cupcake costume? Can I take that off?”

  “No,” she says. “Keep it on. I like it. It sold a lot of cupcakes today.”

  I smile through my tears. And then I reach out and hug her.

  “Careful,” she says. “I don’t want to get frosting on my new shirt.”

  “I love you, Chickarita,” I tell her.

  “I love you too, Sophie Bird.”

  Dream #12 –

  I have the best friend

  a girl could ever dream of.

  Chapter 25

  marshmallow chocolate-chip pie

  OOEY, GOOEY PERFECTION

  Christmas is wonderful. Dad loves his new robe, although he says he’s keeping the old one as a memento of the good old days. Spit-up equals good old days? Okay, whatever. Mom is totally surprised by her box of tea, and proceeds to make herself a cup of it right away.

  As for Hayden, I used my December allowance and got him three Star Wars figures, one of which is Yoda, his favorite character.

  “Happy Jedi, I am,” he says after he opens it. “Thank you.”

  Yes, we are now sharing a house with Yoda, which is about as much fun as wearing a cupcake costume in the pouring rain.

  My haul includes new clothes, a bunch of new books, including Bridge to Terabithia, a gift certificate for an acting class, and my very own cell phone!

  “Don’t lose it” is the first thing my parents say to me after I open it.

  Mom also got me a new purse, which has a special pocket inside specifically for the cell phone. And surprisingly enough, she did a good job picking out the purse. Although she went the easy route—she picked one that is almost identical to my old one. She’s a smart one, my mother.

  The day after Christmas, Mom drops me off at Isabel’s house with my suitcase in hand. It’s time to make the trek to Seattle, and I’m so excited!

  Isabel takes me to her room and shows me all the cool stuff she got for Christmas—lots of cute clothes, an art set, a cute apron that says, “Top Chef,” and a new suitcase.

  “Wow, a suitcase, huh?” I ask her. “Does that mean there’s a lot more traveling in your future?”

  “I hope so,” she says.

  I help her finish pack
ing, and then we head downstairs and wait for her parents in the cupcake shop. Her grandma is there, helping a couple of customers.

  When she’s finished, she says, “Hi, Sophie! So nice to see you! Ready to visit the Space Needle in the sky?”

  “I’m ready!” I say. “It’s going to be so much fun!”

  “But don’t forget,” Isabel says. “First we have to stop and have pie at Penny’s Pie Place.”

  I nudge Isabel and suddenly notice her hair looks really nice today. Like she spent a long time on it this morning. “Are you excited to see Jack?” I ask.

  She smiles. “Maybe.”

  “Okay, girls,” Isabel’s mom says, peeking her head through the door. “We’re ready to go. Thank you, Mother, for holding down the fort while we’re gone.”

  “You know I’m happy to do it. You guys have a wonderful time, all right?”

  “We will,” Isabel says. “Bye, Grandma!”

  “Bye!”

  Isabel and I pass the time in the car by playing cards with a deck she brought along and munching on Goldfish crackers and apples.

  When we get to Seattle, it’s blue skies and sunny, but cold. Perfect weather for going up in the Space Needle. The plan is to have some pie, and then we’ll head over and spend the rest of the afternoon there.

  The outside of the restaurant is bright yellow and red, and the words PENNY’S PIE PLACE are printed right on the building, above the awning. And next to the words is a big piece of apple pie on a yellow plate.

  We go inside and a woman greets us. She’s wearing a yellow dress with an apron. Her name tag says “Karen.”

  “Hello, can I help you?” she asks.

  “I’m friends with Jack,” Isabel tells her. “I told him we’d be coming this way today. Is he here?”

  Just then, a cute boy with straight dark hair and big brown eyes comes from around the corner. He smiles and shows his two dimples.

  “Hey, Isabel,” he says. He gives her a really quick hug, and then she introduces all of us to him.

  “We’re going to go sit down,” Isabel’s mom says. She looks at Isabel. “We know you want to catch up with your friend, so go ahead and get a table and order, okay?”

  “Okay. Thanks, Mom.”

  Jack leads us over to a booth in the corner. I slide in one side of the booth, while Isabel slides in next to Jack.

  “So, girls, welcome to Seattle,” he says. “Otherwise known as the Emerald City. Unfortunately, we’ve given all of our emeralds away today, so all I have to give you is pie.”

  “Pie is good,” Isabel says. “How many flavors do you have, anyway?”

  “Twelve. But you have to trust me on this one, okay? Marshmallow chocolate-chip pie is the specialty pie this week, and I really think you should try it’”

  “Marshmallow chocolate-chip pie?” I ask. “It sounds a little bit like a s’more.”

  “You’re right!” he says. “It’s actually the recipe I entered for the contest.”

  Both of our mouths drop open. “Really?” Isabel says. “I entered as’more cupcake recipe. Well, until Mom sent in the recipe I really wanted to enter, which was for chocolate jam tarts.”

  Jack looks confused.

  “Never mind,” Isabel says. “Long story. The important thing is that it sounds delicious, and of course I want to try it!”

  “Me too,” I chime in.

  Jack turns and looks at me. “Isabel told me in her last letter you’re going to be in a commercial. You trying to put the rest of us out of business?”

  I know he’s joking, but it isn’t very funny to me. It’s still a sensitive topic, I guess.

  Isabel smiles and says, “Sophie, maybe you could make a pie costume next. I bet people would love that. You’d sell hundreds of pies for them, I just know it.”

  I shout “No!” while Jack shouts “Yes!”

  We laugh and then Jack’s face gets all serious. “Actually,” he says, leaning in and whispering, “just between us, Mom and Dad are thinking of closing the place down. Business hasn’t been very good lately.”

  “Oh no,” Isabel says as I feel my heart breaking in half.

  “Is there anything we can do?” I ask.

  “Nah, I don’t think there’s anything anyone can do. I mean, cupcakes are all the rage. They’re cute, they’re fun, and kids love them. Pies are sort of boring, you know?”

  “I don’t think so,” I say. “I love pie.”

  “Do you love it more than cupcakes?” he asks.

  I look at him. I look at Isabel. Then I throw my hands in the air. “Don’t put me in another impossible situation! I’ve had my share, thank you very much.”

  They laugh at me, and then Karen comes to take our order and brings our slices of pie back a few minutes later.

  “Oh my gosh, Jack,” I say, “this is seriously the best pie I’ve ever had. Can I get the recipe?”

  “Didn’t Isabel tell you?” he whispers. “It’s top-secret. If I told you, I’d have to kill you. But get me those secret brownie recipes and you might have a deal.”

  “That’s it, Sophie!” Isabel squeals. “You can be a spy for us. Find the secret to Beatrice’s Brownie’s success, and we can bring them down!”

  “But I don’t want to be a spy,” I tell them. “I just want to be an actress. Is that too much to ask?” And with that, I throw my head down on the table and pretend to weep.

  “She’s good,” I hear Jack say.

  “You’re telling me,” Isabel says.

  After we finish eating, I excuse myself to use the bathroom so Isabel can have a few minutes alone with Jack. I scrub my hands for a good five minutes, trying to drag out the inevitable. She’s going to have to leave him, and I know she’s not going to want to.

  Finally, I walk out to find them standing by the front door with Isabel’s parents, waiting on me.

  “Bye, Jack,” I say. “The pie was fabulous. Tell your parents I hope they can hang in there.”

  “Bye, Sophie. I will.”

  I head toward the car with Isabel’s parents. Isabel stays behind a minute, saying good-bye to Jack in private.

  When she finally gets in the car, she’s beaming.

  “To the Space Needle?” Isabel’s dad asks.

  “To the Space Needle!” we all shout back.

  And as we drive away, Isabel opens her hand and shows me the silver necklace with the pink cupcake charm she’s holding.

  Awww. What a sweet guy.

  Chapter 26

  chocolate-dipped fortune cookie

  IT SAYS YOUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT

  For three days we have fun exploring Seattle. The Space Needle is really high. Like, amazingly high. I can’t even go out on the viewing deck because it freaks me out.

  We spend a whole afternoon shopping at Pike Place Market. We watch the men throw the fish over customers’ heads and we eat all kinds of good food. We go to two museums, the Museum of Flight as well as the Science Fiction Museum. The whole time I’m there, I think of Hayden. He’d love it. He should live here!

  And before I know it, we’re driving back, heading toward Willow where school will be starting back up in just a few days.

  Isabel is sad to be leaving, I can tell. She stayed happy through most of the trip, wearing the necklace he gave her the whole time, and reaching up to touch it every once in a while, like it made her feel close to him. But now we’re heading home, and home is a long, long way from Seattle.

  “Maybe he’ll come visit you,” I whisper.

  “I hope so.”

  Isabel is writing stuff down in her little notebook, so I pull out my dream notebook and write:

  Dream #13 –

  I dream of a happily ever after

  for everyone.

  When I get home, Mom and Dad are glad to see me. Hayden says, “Good trip, was it?”

  “Yes, a most excellent trip, Yoda wannabe. Mom, Dad, we have to take Hayden to the Science Fiction Museum someday. He would love it!”

  “Mayb
e this summer,” Dad says. “I haven’t been to Seattle in a long time. It’d be fun to spend some time up there.”

  “Oh, and there’s this great pie restaurant we have to go to.” If it stays open that long. “Maybe I could bring Isabel with us, since she was nice enough to invite me to come with her.”

  “I don’t see why not,” Mom says.

  Oh, wait until I tell Isabel! She’ll be over-the-moon happy about the possibility of seeing Jack again.

  At school I take Dennis Holt’s movie back to him. I feel bad I had it for so long, but I kept forgetting to watch the ending. I finally found time last night. It was good, but sad, like everyone said. I definitely want to read the book now.

  I find Dennis at his locker before school starts.

  When he turns around, I can’t believe what I see. Is this really him?

  “Dennis, what . . . what happened?”

  “I got contacts. And I finally listened to my mom and got my hair cut. I’m not sure about it. What do you think?”

  “I think it looks fantastic.” As soon as I say it, I feel my cheeks getting warm.

  “Well, thanks,” he says. “If you like it, then it must be all right.”

  We chat for a while, about Christmas and stuff, and then the warning bell rings, telling us it’s time to head to class.

  “Oh, wait, I almost forgot. I brought your movie back. Thanks for letting me borrow it. It was really good.”

  “You’re welcome,” he says as he throws the movie into his locker and shuts the door. “Someday I bet I’ll be watching you in a movie like that.”

  I shrug. “Maybe. We’ll see what people have to say about the commercial first.”

  “Yeah, when do we get to watch it?” he asks.

  “We shot the commercial last week, when I got back from Seattle. They’re saying it will air for the first time in a couple of weeks. I’m so nervous!”

  “It’ll be great,” he says. “That reminds me, I have something for you, too. I’m not sure what you’re going to think, but uh, well, I want to give it to you.”

  He stops and rummages around in that messy binder of his, and pulls out something in a plastic wrapper. He hands it to me and says, “I hope it’s not broken.”