Lights! Camera! Cook!

by Diane Muldrow

  Amanda pictured herself with a bunch of cool kids studying pantomime on a green hill overlooking a beautiful lake. Summer camp, only for actors! she thought. That sounds like major fun.

  After rehearsal, as the students gathered up their backpacks, Amanda went up to Ms. Barlow, who was reapplying her deep-red lipstick.

  “Yes, darling,” said Ms. Barlow, squinting into her compact mirror.

  “I’m sorry I was late today, Ms. Barlow,” said Amanda. “I had to talk to my science teacher after class.”

  Ms. Barlow snapped the compact shut and looked up, her dark eyes twinkling.

  “Not a problem!” said Ms. Barlow. “So, what do you think about drama camp? Oh, I wish I could go myself. Doesn’t it sound terrific?”

  “It does,” said Amanda. “but I’d never get in.”

  “We’d make sure that you’d have the best audition tape possible. You should show those folks everything you can do.”

  “Well,” said Amanda with a nervous giggle, “I’m not sure there’s much I can do.”

  “You can sing well enough,” said Ms. Barlow matter-of-factly, “and you know how to do two types of British accents, thanks to My fair Lady and the play we’re doing now. So we’ll have you sing the songs you sang in My fair Lady, in the costume you wore. And you can do the piece you did for your audition for this play, and of course your new scenes. Okay?”

  “Thanks, Ms. Barlow,” said Amanda breathlessly, swept up in her teacher’s enthusiasm. “I—I’II think about it.”

  Amanda wasn’t sure about spending a whole summer away from Molly. But just the thought of making an audition tape made her feel more like a real actress.

  “Hello, Peichi? Hi, it’s Amanda.”

  “Oh, hi! What’s up? I was just reading our travel guide about China. It looks so awesome! Hey, did you think Shawn was acting weird today? And did you finish your book report?”

  Amanda chuckled and shifted the phone to her other ear. “I’m still working on my book report. And, yeah, I thought Shawn seemed a little—different—today. That was all Amanda wanted to say about Shawn. Despite how difficult things had been with Shawn lately, it seemed too private to discuss with Peichi.

  “Anyway.” Amanda went on, “guess what! I might be making an acting videotape! And I wonder if you could help me with it, now that you’re a bigshot filmmaker!”

  Peichi giggled. “Yeah, that’s me,” she said.

  Peichi had recently made a videotape documenting Chinese New Year celebrations in New York City and within her own family. When the video was finished, Peichi had held a “premiere” and had the girls over to see it. She’d had so much fun making her film that she thought she’d like to grow up to be a filmmaker.

  “Anyway,” Amanda went on, “I’m wondering if you can help me make my tape? And maybe you could shoot me a few times for practice, so that I can get used to being on camera?”

  “Sounds good,” said Peichi. “That’ll be fun! Gotta go. We’re having dinner now.”

  “Okay, we’ll talk about it tomorrow,” said Amanda. “’Bye.”

  As soon as Amanda hung up the phone, it rang again.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello. I’m calling for Dish.” The woman’s voice was deep and professional-sounding, like a radio announcer’s.

  “Yes, this is Dish. I’m Amanda Moore. How can I help you?”

  “Oh, hello, Amanda. My name is Daphne Dupree. I saw your flyer at Parkside Video.”

  “Oh! Good,” said Amanda happily.

  “I’m giving a bridal shower soon,” said the woman, and I thought it would be nice to have a brunch in my garden. Can you do a brunch?”

  “Sure,” said Amanda. “We—”

  “I mean, I can make a brunch myself,” interrupted Ms. Dupree. “I’m a good cook. But I’ll be on a business trip until the day before the shower. So I’ll need someone to do the food while I decorate.”

  Amanda smiled. “I see,” she said politely, wondering why the woman seemed embarrassed that she couldn’t do it all.

  “AMANDA! DINNER!” bellowed Matthew from the kitchen.

  “Matthew, not so loud,” Amanda heard Mom scold.

  “Excuse me?” asked Ms. Dupree. “Does your roommate need to speak to you?”

  Er—roommate? asked Amanda, confused. “No, that was nothing.” She quickly shut the door of the den. “Anyway, what day is the bridal shower?”

  There was a pause.

  Oh, no, thought Amanda. She knew what a pause usually meant: a rush job!

  “Well,” said Ms. Dupree in an apologetic tone, “it’s this Saturday. I just found out about my business trip today.”

  “Oh, this Saturday. Well, that should be all right,” said Amanda, wincing. Yipes! Saturday is just a few days away! she thought.

  “What will you make? This is for a colleague of mine, and it really has to be perfect, said the woman anxiously.

  Amanda frowned. Lady, you’re making me nervous. she wanted to say. Instead, she said brightly. “How about eggs Benedict? For some reason, that had just popped into her head...even though she wasn’t quite sure what it was.

  “Fabulous! said Ms. Dupree. ”That’ll be nice. However, I’d prefer that you make it with smoked salmon instead of the traditional Canadian bacon.”

  “Er—not a problem,” said Amanda, trying to act as if she knew what Ms. Dupree was talking about.

  “And you’ll make some other things, too? In case some people don’t want eggs? I’d like a fruit salad, some breads—”

  “We could make popovers with strawberry butter,” said Amanda. She’d just had the light, airy muffins recently, when the Moores had gone out for brunch on Dad’s birthday.

  “Ter-rif-ic. There will be fifteen people. Thanks so much. I’ll expect you at ten o‘clock. ’Bye-bye.” Click.

  “’Bye.” said Amanda to the dial tone. She laughed softly to herself, thinking, Oh, well, we’ve had tougher jobs. I guess Dish can handle Daphne Dupree!

  Amanda joined the family at the dinner table and said, “Guess what! We have a cooking job. Finally! It’s gonna be a bridal shower brunch-for a new client named Daphne Dupree. She sounds like a real big shot!

  Everyone looked impressed with the job, even Matthew.

  “Great!” said Molly, helping herself to some mashed potatoes. “Lets e-mail the Chef Girls right after dinner.”

  To: happyface; BrooklynNatasha; qtpie490

  From: mooretimes2

  Re: Dish job!

  Meanwhile, Shawn was on the phone with her cousin Sonia, who lived down in South Carolina near Grandma Ruthie. Sonia was about to graduate from college.

  “Listen, Shawn, I don’t want you to worry about Grandma Ruthie,” Sonia was saying. “Okay? She’s in good hands here with a wonderful doctor.”

  Shawn swallowed hard, and a tear trickled out of her eye. She took off her purple cat glasses to brush it away.

  “If you say so,” said Shawn slowly. “Can I talk to her?”

  “She’s sleeping right now, Shawnie,” replied Sonia. “Put your dad on again, and I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? You can talk to Grandma Ruthie then.”

  “Okay. Here’s Dad. ’Bye.”

  “Don’t worry, baby. Grandma Ruthie’s going to be fine,” Mr. Jordan told Shawn after he’d hung up the phone.

  “What does she have again?” Shawn asked.

  “She has pneumonia. That’s when the lungs become inflamed. So that’s why her chest hurts.”

  “Is she really going to be all right?”

  “She sure is. I wouldn’t tell you that if it weren’t true. I spoke to her doctor just a few hours ago. Are you okay, baby girl?”

  “I’m fine. I’m just worried about Crandma Ruthie.”

  “Do you have any homework?”

  Shawn sighed and let her head fall back onto the sofa. “Of course.”

  “Well, why don’t you go get started then. And when you’re finished, I’ll make you the biggest hot fudge sundae you ev
er did see.”

  Shawn giggled. “Can I call my friends first?”

  “Five minutes per friend. That’s it.

  “Okay.” Shawn sighed and stood up. Her whole body felt heavy.

  This week has been the pits, thought Shawn. This had better be as bad as it gets!

  “Hi, Manda, it’s me.” said Shawn softly when Amanda picked up the phone.

  “Oh, hi, Shawn. What’s up?”

  “Well, Grandma Ruthie’s sick. She has pneumonia.”

  There was a gasp.

  “Really! Oh, no. Is she okay?”

  Shawn shrugged. “My dad says she’s gonna be okay. But...”

  “Pick up the other line,” Amanda called to Molly. “Grandma Ruthie’s sick.”

  There was a clicking sound. “Hi, Shawn,” said Molly. “Is Grandma Ruthie in the hospital?

  “No.”

  “Oh, good.” said the twins at the same time, which made Shawn chuckle.

  “I can’t stay on the phone,” said Shawn, “’cause I have to write that book report for English. But I just—wanted you guys to know.”

  “Oh, Shawn,” said Amanda, “I’m glad you called. I’m sure she’s going to be fine.

  “That’s right,” added Molly. “Please don’t worry, Shawn. But we know what you’re going through. We really do.”

  “You’ve been through this with me before,” said Shawn, her voice breaking.

  “We know you’re thinking about your mom—” Amanda nearly whispered.

  “But it’s not going to be like that,” said Molly confidently. “Okay? She’s gonna be fine.”

  “Okay,” said Shawn. “I’ve gotta go.” She paused. “You guys are great, you know?”

  “We know!” cracked Molly, lightening the mood. “’Bye!

  “’Bye,” said Amanda.

  “See you tomorrow,” said Shawn. She hung up.

  She stared at the phone, thinking about all the years she’d spent with the twins. She remembered early-morning walks to school...getting scolded together by Mrs. Moore for eating too much Halloween candy...and all those sleepovers in the twins’ large room, after Mom got sick...

  Brrrriiinnngg!

  The sound startled Shawn. She quickly answered the phone to cut off the sound.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey. Shawn, it’s Angie.”

  “Oh—hi. Um, what’s up?”

  “What’s up with you? You sound like you’re crying or something!

  “Well, maybe I was,” said Shawn defensively.

  “Whoa, whoa,” said Angie. “Whats goin on?”

  Shawn didn’t say anything.

  “Listen. Shawn,” Angie went on. “I’m sorry I called you a geek the other day. Can we just forget if?”

  Shawn rolled her eyes. “I guess so.”

  “Good.”

  Shawn thought she heard Angie exhale with relief. Or was she snickering?

  “I just found out my grandma’s sick,” Shawn blurted.

  “No way. Is she bad?”

  “She has pneumonia...! guess you could say that’s pretty bad.”

  There was a pause.

  “I’m so sorry, Shawn,” said Angie. This time her voice sounded softer. “Don’t worry. She’ll be okay.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Shawn, I know what you’re going through. I’ve had hard things to deal with, too. Like...when I got held back in school.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, I had to-repeat fifth grade. My parents were fighting a lot then. I was upset all the time; and I missed a lot of school.”

  “So, you’re supposed to be in—”

  “Seventh grade.”

  “Oh.” Shawn wasn’t sure what to say next.

  “You don’t know what it was like,” said Angie simply. “It was really hard to know I couldn’t move ahead with my friends. And then those friends ... weren’t my friends, really, the next school year. You know what I mean? I begged my mom to let me switch schools so I could start over, with people who didn’t know. You’re not gonna tell anyone, are you?”

  “Don’t worry, Angie. I won’t tell anyone.”

  “Okay.”

  “I have to go study.”

  “Shawn? I really hope your grandma gets better soon, okay?... Bye.”

  Shawn smiled. “Thanks, Angie. ’Bye.”

  Wow, thought Shawn as she hung up the phone. Angie got held back! I’m not the only one who’s been through some tough stuff. I just wish my other friends knew the “real” side of Angie. Too bad Angie doesn’t let everyone see if.

  chapter 4

  “Hi-eeee!” said Peichi to the friends as she set her crowded tray down on the table the next afternoon. “Hey, Justin and Omar are right over there. They’re looking over at us. What should we do?”

  “Peally?” asked Amanda, looking cautiously in the boys’ direction.

  “Ignore them,” said Molly.

  Amanda quickly turned back to her friends. “Yeah, ignore them,” she echoed. “We’ve got business to discuss, anyway.” She pulled out a recipe from her backpack. “Like eggs Benedict!”

  “What’s eggs Benedict?” asked Elizabeth, slipping into the empty seat near Shawn. Elizabeth Derring was new to Windsor Middle School. She and her Aunt Paula had just moved from Minnesota into an apartment in Natasha’s large house. Petite and cute, with deep blue eyes and wavy auburn hair, she was a talented cheerleader. The Chef Girls liked her, though as a group they hadn’t hung out with her much yet. Elizabeth had been quick to make friends with other people, too, and had joined the debate club.

  Amanda scanned the recipe. “Well, an English muffin is on the bottom—”

  “Then you put Canadian bacon on top of that—” Molly broke in.

  “But our client wants us to use smoked salmon instead,” Amanda interrupted. “And then you put a poached egg on top of the meat, and hollandaise sauce on top of that”

  “Don’t you guys think it’ll be perfect? Plus we could make popovers with strawberry butter,” said Molly.

  “It all sounds great,” said Natasha, reaching for the recipe. “Hollandaise sauce,” she read aloud. “This goes on top of the eggs? I think I’ve watched my mom make this. It’s kind of tricky, but I think we can handle it.”

  “We should practice making it,” suggested Shawn.

  “Yeah, but when?” asked Molly. “It’s already Tuesday. It really should be today, because I don’t have softball practice. The coach is sick.”

  The girls looked at one another.

  “Right after school? At our house?” suggested Amanda. “Today’s the one day this week that none of us has any school activities.”

  “Oh, yuck!” cried Shawn suddenly. Her hand flew up to her neck. “Who’s shooting spitballs over here?”

  The girls heard loud laughter and turned to look in the direction of the boys’ table.

  “Don’t look over there!” Molly whispered. “They did it!”

  “Yeah!” agreed Natasha. “Let’s ignore them!”

  Amanda chuckled. “That’s gonna drive them crazy,” she said. “Like, if I ignore Matthew when he tries to bug me, he almost goes insane!”

  The girls laughed, but then Shawn’s face quickly grew serious.

  “Are you going to talk to your grandma after school. Shawn?” asked Natasha softly. Shawn had told her and Peichi the news earlier, before school started.

  “Uh-huh,” said Shawn. She looked at the twins. “And then I’ll come over to your house.” She smiled. “We have a menu to plan!”

  Amanda smiled at Shawn. That coldness she’d felt toward her friend was long gone.

  What a relief.

  In the Moores’ kitchen after school, Molly turned up the radio. “Okay, who wants to separate the eggs?” she asked.

  “You can do it,” said Peichi, who’d just walked in. She was out of breath from walking up the hill to the twins’ house.

  “I’m not very good at it,” protested Molly.

  “Then y
ou should practice,” Amanda told her.

  “Let’s both do it, then.”

  “This doesn’t look too hard to do,” commented Shawn, peering at the recipe. “I’ll melt the butter. I think we should practice poaching the eggs, too.” She headed down to the basement to get the supplies. To keep the food for Dish separate from the Moores’ supplies, the Chef Girls kept their staples in their very own mini-fridge that they’d bought with the money they’d first made.

  “I’ll help you,” offered Natasha, following Shawn. “So, did you talk to Crandma Ruthie after school?”

  Shawn opened the door of the fridge and handed Natasha a carton of eggs. “I tried to, but she was sleeping again. I’ll call her later.”

  Just then, the phone rang upstairs.

  “I’ll get it!” cried Amanda, even though Molly was closer.

  “Go ahead,” muttered Molly. rolling her eyes. Amanda rushed over to the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Uh, is this Molly?” asked a boy’s voice.

  “No, it’s Amanda.” Her cheeks began to flush. Was this Justin? She wasn’t sure.

  “Hi, it’s Connor.”

  Amanda exhaled. “Oh, hi, Connor. What’s up?”

  “Uh, is Natasha there?”

  “Maybe she is, maybe she isn’t.” Amanda smirked at Natasha, who’d just come back upstairs, and pointed to the phone. Natasha looked at her, confused, then pointed to herself.

  Amanda covered the receiver with her hand. “It’s Connor!” she whispered dramatically.

  The girls giggled loudly, saying, “Oooh, Natasha! Connor’s got a crush on you!”

  “Ssshhhh!” hissed Amanda. “He’ll hear us.”

  “What does he want?” whispered Natasha. She was blushing. “How’d he know I was here?”

  Amanda shrugged. “Do you want to talk to him?”

  Natasha looked around at her friends. “I don’t know! We’re still mad at the guys, right?”

  Amanda uncovered the receiver and said crisply, “She’s very busy, Connor. We’re all extremely, unbelievably, incredibly busy. Call back later when we’re not so busy. ’Bye!” She quickly hung up the phone.