Lights! Camera! Cook!
Page 10
And when her cue came, she stood tall and entered the set gracefully.
“...Why, Lord and Lady Ashleigh!” she heard herself saying in a British accent. “How wonderful to see you again! How have you been?”
Yesss! thought Amanda as Carl Hastings spoke his line to her. First line down—and it was good! Suddenly, she was aware of her feet, in those delicate shoes, rooted to the stage floor.
This was where she wanted to be. She never wanted this play, this night, this feeling, to end.
The next week, Amanda felt a letdown. The costumes were put away, and the set was dismantled. The cast missed hanging out with one another. All that work, all that anticipation—and now it was over. And soon school would be over, too.
Amanda spent lots of time wondering if she had made it into Spotlight. During the school day, when she looked up at the clock and realized that Elaine, the mail carrier, had probably been to the house, she pictured a letter waiting for her on the floor in the hallway. That’s where the mail fell every day after Elaine put it in the slot on the front door.
But every day, when the twins got home, Mom shook her head and said, “No, sweetie, nothing yet.”
Then one day, Amanda and Molly did a favor for Mrs. Tortelli and walked her beagle, Casey. Casey had nipped Amanda on the ankle, which he’d never done. It didn’t really hurt, but for once Amanda wasn’t thinking about the mail when she got home.
Matthew rushed down the hallway to greet them. He was holding a white envelope and acting more hyper than usual.
Amanda gasped. “What’s that?”
“Special de-liv-ery, Amanda,” said Matthew in his annoying singsong voice. “Here’s something you’ve been wait-ing for! Something—”
“Let me see!” cried Amanda, reaching for the envelope.
“Come get it!” cried Matthew, running with the letter up the stairs.
“Give me that, you little shrimp! Come back here!”
Amanda easily tackled Matthew and grabbed the letter. Then she hurried into the twins room and sat down on her bed, her hands trembling.
As Matthew and Molly stood in the doorway, Amanda opened the letter and read:
“What does it say?” asked Molly.
“You don’t look like you got a good letter,” said Matthew.
Amanda set the letter aside, not answering right away.
Oh, good, thought Molly. She didn’t get in. We’ll be together all summer like always.
“No,” said Amanda, hiding her face in her hands.
Suddenly, all Molly wanted was for Amanda to have gotten in.
“But you’ll still have a good summer, Manda,” said Matthew softly. “We’ll all go to the shore together and see Poppy, and hang out on the boardwalk and ride the rides.” He shrugged and gave her his goofy smile. “It would be really weird if you weren’t here. What am I gonna do with just her around?” He jerked his thumb at Molly.
Amanda giggled and wiped away a tear. Then she let out a big sigh. “Gee, Matthew, I never knew ya cared.” She stood up, as tall as she could. “Well, who wants to go get an Italian ice? I’m putting this letter away. School isn’t out yet, but my summer’s starting right now. Come on, let’s go!”
“Yeah, let’s go!” cheered Matthew.
Molly smiled at her twin. “It’s still good that you tried out, right, Manda? Anyway, we’ve got an unforgettable summer waiting for us. I can feel it!”
Amanda nodded happily. “You’re right. I can feel it, too. This summer’s gonna be big.”
cooking tips From the chef Girls!
The Chef Girls are looking out for you!
Here are some things you should know if you want to cook. (Remember to ask your parents if you can use knives and the stove!)
1. Tie back long hair so that it won’t get into the food or in the way as you work.
2. Don’t wear loose-fitting clothing that could drag in the food or on the stove burners.
3. Never cook in bare feet or open-toed shoes. Something sharp or hot could drop on your feet.
4. Always wash your hands before you handle food.
5. Read through the recipe before you start. Gather your ingredients together and measure them before you begin.
6. Turn pot handles in so that they won’t get knocked off the stove.
7. Use wooden spoons to stir hot liquids. Metal spoons can become very hot.
8. When cutting or peeling food, cut away from your hands.
9. Cut food on a cutting board, not the countertop.
10. Hand someone a knife with the knifepoint pointing to the floor.
11. Clean up as you go. It’s safer and neater.
12. Always use a dry pot holder to remove something hot from the oven. You could get burned with a wet one, since wet ones retain heat.
13. Make sure that any spills on the floor are cleaned up right away, so that you don’t slip and fall.
14. Don’t put knives in clean-up water. You could reach into the water and cut yourself.
15. Use a wire rack to cool hot baking dishes to avoid scorch marks on the countertop.
An Important Message From the Chef Girls!
Some foods can carry bacteria, such as salmonella, that can make you sick.
To avoid salmonella, always cook poultry, ground beef, and eggs thoroughly before eating.
Don’t eat or drink foods containing raw eggs.
And wash hands, kitchen work surfaces, and utensils with soap and water immediately after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry.
Instant messaging and e-mail dictionary!
mooretimes2: Molly and Amanda
qtpie490: Shawn
happyface: Peichi
BrooklynNatasha: Natasha
JustMac: Justin
G-ma R or GR: Grandma Ruthie
Wuzzup: What’s up?
Mwa : smooching sound
G2G : Got To Go
deets : details
b-b : Bye-Bye
brb : be right back
L8R: Later, as in “See ya later!”
g8tor : gator, as in “Later gator!”
L0L : Laughing Out Loud
GMTA : Great Minds Think Alike
j/k : Just kidding
B/C or b-cuz: because
W8 : Wait
W8 4 me @: Wait for me at
thanx or thx: thanks
sez: says
BK: Big kiss
MAY: Mad about you
RUF2T?: Are you free to talk?
TTUL: Type to you later
E-ya : will e-mail you
LMK: Let me know
GR8: Great
WFM: Works for me
2: to, too, two
C : see
u : you
2morrow: tomorrow
2day : today
VH : virtual hug
BFFL : Best Friends For Life
<3 hearts
: - @ shock
: -P sticking out tongue
%- ) confused
: - o surprised
; - ) winking or teasing