6 Stars of the Show
On the morning of the fair, Allie heard everyone getting ready outside. She went to the window and looked down.
She saw Amy and Gracie watching the stage get set up for the talent show.
“Hi, Amy! Hi, Gracie!” Allie called out the window. “I’m over here!”
But there was so much noise that her friends couldn’t hear her.
When the stage was finished, Madame Lulu stepped up to the microphone.
“Gather round, fair-goers!” announced Madame Lulu. “My crystal ball says a great show is about to begin.”
The audience rushed to the stage while the performers got ready. Allie saw Amy put on a sparkly bow and bright red tap shoes.
Amy gets to be a star. All I get to be is sick, thought Allie. Everyone’s forgotten me.
She looked at her old bathrobe and fuzzy slippers. There wasn’t a sparkle in sight. Allie got back into bed and pulled the covers over her head. Soon she was asleep.
The talent show went on without her. The audience laughed when Gracie told her jokes. They groaned when Marvin and Dave did their gorilla imitations. And they swayed along with the music when Dr. Bogwell and Madame Lulu danced a waltz.
Then it was Amy’s turn. There was a big round of applause as she went onstage. She looked up at Allie’s window. She wished Allie were there to cheer her on.
Amy had two great songs, and she wanted everyone to hear them—especially Allie.
“Ahem! Ahem!” Amy cleared her throat. No frogs were present. She began to sing.
“Hello, my name is Amy,
and I’m here all alone.
We need money
for our playground,
so I’m singin’ on my own.”
When Amy finished the song, the audience cheered. She looked up at Allie’s window. Allie still wasn’t there. But Amy had to go on.
“This next song is dedicated to my best friend, Allie,” she said. Then she sang:
“Allie! Allie! Allie!
I’m so sorry you’re sick.
Allie, Allie, Allie!
Please get well quick!”
While Amy was singing, Allie was tossing and turning in her bed. She dreamed that she was all alone and lost in a strange place. Suddenly in her dream she heard her name again and again.
Allie! Allie! Allie!
She opened her eyes and smiled. The voice Allie was hearing in her dream was Amy’s real voice, saying, “Everybody sing along!”
Allie jumped out of bed and headed for the window. The next thing Allie knew, the whole town was waving to her and singing:
“Allie! Allie! Allie!
We’re so sorry you’re sick.
Allie! Allie! Allie!
Please get well quick!”
Allie waved back. She wasn’t wearing tap shoes or a sparkly bow. But thanks to her friend Amy, she felt like a star.
7 Insta-Story!
When Amy’s performance was over, she and Gracie moved to the Instant-Story Booth right below Allie’s window.
“Now you can be part of the booth,” called Amy.
“This is so great,” said Allie.
“Get your insta-stories here!” called Gracie. “Don’t be shy! Step right up!”
A moment later two customers appeared. They were…
“MARVIN!!!” called Allie from the window.
“DAVE!!!”
said Amy from the street.
“We want to hear a story about the two of us,” said Marvin, handing over their tickets.
“Here are three facts,” said Dave. “First, we’re the coolest guys on the block.”
“Second,” said Marvin, “we’re the coolest guys in town.”
“Third, we’re the coolest guys on the planet!” said Dave.
Allie rolled her eyes and called down from the window, “Here’s your story: Once upon a time there were two guys. They thought they were the coolest ever.”
Amy continued, “They were cooler than wind. They were cooler than snow.”
“They were so cool, someone thought they were ice cubes and dropped them into a pitcher of lemonade,” said Gracie, bouncing up and down.
“Those cool guys melted away to nothing,” called Allie. “And that is…”
“The end!” shouted Amy, Allie, and Gracie together.
“Did you say ‘the end’?” said Dave.
“That’s the best news we’ve heard yet,” said Marvin.
Amy yawned.
“Are we boring you?” asked Marvin.
“No more than usual,” said Amy grumpily.
“What’s the matter?” asked Gracie.
“I don’t know. I’m not feeling so well,” said Amy.
* * *
Ring! Ring! A few hours later, the phone rang at Amy’s house. It was Allie.
“How are you?” asked Allie.
“Terrible,” said Amy. “I have to stay in bed one full week, and…”
“Amy? Amy, are you there?” said Allie.
There was silence at the other end. Amy had fallen fast asleep.
After a few days, Amy was feeling a little better and called Gracie.
“Dr. Bogwell just left,” Gracie said. “My mother’s making me soup.”
“Oh no!” cried Amy. “Feel better soon.”
When Gracie was a little better, she called Marvin.
“I can’t talk right now,” said Marvin. “I’m feeling pretty sick.”
When Marvin was better, he called Dave. All Dave could do was groan.
“Welcome to the club,” said Marvin.
* * *
Two weeks and two dozen bowls of soup later, all five friends were well again. The nasty bug they’d each had was traveling fast, so people were wearing masks to keep each other well.
The friends raced to the playground and burst through the gate.
“The swings are empty!” called Gracie.
“Let’s go!” said Dave.
“Race you,” said Allie.
The friends ran to the swings, jumped on, and called out together, “On your mark, get set, go!”
Swinging to the top, they got a clear view of their town’s new playground.
“Looking good!” said Allie. “And we helped make it happen.”
“Insta-story!” said Amy. “Three facts.”
“First, the playground was closed,” said Allie.
“Second, we gave our great talents to raise money,” said Gracie.
“Third,” said Marvin, grinning, “we’re the coolest guys at the playground!”
“We’re the coolest guys in the universe!” said Dave.
“Arghhh!” said Allie, Amy, and Gracie together.
“How about we’re just five cool friends?” said Allie.
“Sounds good to me,” said Marvin.
The friends were happy to agree. When they were finished swinging, they raced off to try everything in sight.
Word List
applause (uh•PLAWZ): Clapping to show appreciation
chomping (CHOMP•ing): Biting or chewing in a forceful way
dedicated (DE•dih•kay•ted): Done in someone’s honor
duet (doo•EHT): A performance by two people
husky (HUH•skee): Sounding deep and rough
medical (MEH•dih•kul): Related to medicine or the treatment of an injury or illness
mumbled (MUM•buld): Spoken in a way that’s hard to hear and to understand
nervously (NER•vus•lee): In a worried way
obnoxious (ob•NOK•shus): Annoying or unpleasant
plunked (PLUNKD): Set down heavily
remind (rih•MIND): Help to remember
screeching (SKREE•ching): Sudden, and often noisy
slurping (SLER•ping): Eating or drinking noisily
solo (SO•low): A performance done alone
squinted (SKWIN•ted): Looked at with eyes partly closed
tongue depressor (TUNG dih•PREH•ser): A thin, flat piece of
wood rounded at both ends, used to press down on a person’s tongue to give a better view of the throat
trance (TRANCE): A sleeplike state during which one is not fully aware
trudged (TRUJD): Walked slowly with heavy steps
waltz (WAHLTS): A dance for two people moving together to a certain beat, going around the dance space
wobbled (WAH•buld): Moved unsteadily
Questions
1. If you were at the fair, what would your booth be?
2. What would you do at the talent show?
3. Can you make up an Instant Story? Here are three facts: Something in your neighborhood is missing. Two investigators are on the case. There will be a big reward when the item is recovered.
4. What would you do to cheer up a friend who was sick?
5. Allie and Amy’s plan got turned upside down when Allie got sick. Has a plan of yours ever suddenly changed? What did you do?
More from this Series
Our Principal Is a…
Our Principal Is a…
Our Principal's Wacky…
Rockin' Rockets
The Best Friend Plan
Our Principal Breaks a…
About the Author and Illustrator
Stephanie Calmenson and Joanna Cole have written many books for children, both on their own and as a team. Stephanie is best known for her popular picture books and early chapter books (including Dinner at the Panda Palace and the Our Principal books) and for her books about dogs (including May I Pet Your Dog?). Joanna was best known for her famed Magic School Bus series. With the Adventures of Allie and Amy, Stephanie and Joanna have brought together their high-spirited humor and true-blue friendship.
James Burks is the author and illustrator of many popular children’s books, including the graphic novel series Bird & Squirrel and the picture book Pigs and a Blanket. He lives in Southern California with his wife and two kids.
Aladdin Quix
Simon & Schuster, New York
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www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Stephanie-Calmenson
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Read more ALADDIN QUIX books!
By Stephanie Calmenson
Our Principal Is a Frog!
Our Principal Is a Wolf!
Our Principal’s in His Underwear!
Our Principal Breaks a Spell!
Our Principal’s Wacky Wishes!
Our Principal Is a Spider!
The Adventures of Allie and Amy
By Stephanie Calmenson and Joanna Cole
Book 1: The Best Friend Plan
Book 2: Rockin’ Rockets
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN QUIX
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
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First Aladdin QUIX paperback edition January 2021
Text copyright © 1998 by Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
Illustrations copyright © 2021 by James Burks
The text of this book was originally published in slightly different form as Get Well, Gators! (1998).
Also available in an Aladdin QUIX hardcover edition.
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Designed by Heather Palisi
The illustrations for this book were rendered digitally.
Library of Congress Control Number 2020943554
ISBN 978-1-5344-5257-2 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-5344-5256-5 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-5344-5258-9 (eBook)
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