Take the Stage

by JoJo Siwa

  “They were really good!” Grace agreed.

  “What about you?” Miley asked Grace. “What are you amazing at?

  Grace’s cheeks turned red. “I—I don’t think I’m really great at anything,” she said finally.

  “I do not believe that for one second!” JoJo declared. “Everyone is really good at something! What do you like to do?”

  “Well . . .” Grace looked at the friendly faces around the table. JoJo smiled encouragingly. “I—I like art. Painting and drawing and stuff. And I guess I’m okay at it . . .”

  “That’s so cool!” JoJo exclaimed.

  “Definitely!” Miley nodded.

  “Now I know who to ask for help with my art projects next year,” Jacob added.

  Grace flushed with happiness. “For sure,” she told Jacob.

  “You can pay her in brownies!” JoJo quipped, and everyone laughed. “But joking aside, that is an amazing talent to have! We just need to figure out how to put it to good use at the block party . . .”

  “Speaking of which,” Miley said, waving her own cake pop for emphasis. “This girl from school, Kyra, just texted me to say that her mom is the head of the block party committee, so she invited us over tomorrow to talk about what we kids can do.”

  “Great!” JoJo exclaimed. “I don’t think I’ve heard you mention Kyra before, have I?”

  “She just started at our school at the end of last year,” Jacob explained.

  Miley, whose mouth was full of cake pop, nodded. “She wasn’t in our homeroom, so we don’t know her very well yet.”

  “So after tomorrow, you’ll know three people at your new school!” JoJo said to Grace. “And maybe Kyra will have a great idea of how to put your art skills to good use at the block party.”

  “Oh, do you think it’s okay if I come too?” Grace asked.

  “Sure, it’s okay!” Miley smiled. “Kyra said to invite my friends. And you’re my friend, so that means you’re invited!”

  JoJo took a sip of her lemonade and looked around the kitchen table at her friends. Miley and Jacob were the two best friends a girl could ever ask for. JoJo loved that they embraced making new friends as much as she did. And she was really glad she’d bumped into Grace. She had a feeling this was the beginning of a wonderful new friendship.

  CHAPTER 3

  The next day, JoJo, Miley, Jacob, and Grace met up in front of Miley’s house.

  “Kyra’s house is that green one on the corner,” Miley said, pointing to a home down the block that was set back from the street, a winding driveway leading up to it.

  “I think you might have some competition for BowBow’s second favorite person,” JoJo teased Miley as they walked. BowBow had been so excited to see Grace that she had jumped up and down until Grace scooped her up to give her a kiss hello. She was now carrying the little Yorkie the rest of the way to Kyra’s house.

  “Oh, I’m sure she was just excited to see me because I’m new to the group,” Grace said quickly. She looked at Miley to see if Miley was upset, but Miley was grinning.

  “Luckily, I don’t mind sharing,” Miley told Grace. “And if you do officially replace me in BowBow’s heart, you can make it up to me by lending me that adorable unicorn necklace you’re wearing. I love it!”

  “Deal!” Grace agreed happily. The necklace was a silver, sparkly unicorn with a rainbow horn. It was her favorite, but she was always happy to share with a friend. Having a friend to share with in her new town made her shiver with happiness.

  “You guys do realize that I’m actually BowBow’s second favorite person, right?” Jacob broke in. “I’ve asked her not to be obvious about it, but she thinks I’m the best human after JoJo.”

  “If that’s true, it’s probably because she associates you with food!” JoJo replied without missing a beat.

  Jacob clutched his chest as if he had been wounded, and JoJo, Grace, and Miley cracked up.

  Miley rang Kyra’s doorbell, and a moment later the door swung open. A girl with long, dark hair stood there, a smile lighting her features. Her brown eyes swept the group, and JoJo thought she saw her frown slightly when they landed on Grace and BowBow.

  I hope it’s okay that I brought BowBow along, JoJo thought. I forgot to ask if she was allergic!

  But as Miley made quick introductions, the frown JoJo had noticed disappeared, and Kyra smiled warmly and invited everyone inside, explaining that they would be meeting on the back porch.

  “I’m a really big fan of yours,” Kyra said, falling into step beside JoJo as the group walked through the house. “It’s so exciting to meet you! I saw the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards the last two years and loved your outfits!”

  “Aw, thank you! It’s really nice to meet you too!” JoJo replied. “I realized I probably should have asked in advance if it was okay to bring my dog,” she added. “I can run her home if it’s a problem . . .”

  “Oh, it’s no problem at all,” Kyra assured her as they stepped onto the enclosed porch. “I love dogs! So, she’s yours and not Grace’s?”

  “Yep, BowBow is mine,” JoJo replied. “She just really loves Grace, so Grace carried her here,” she explained as she settled into a chair.

  Kyra sat down in the chair next to JoJo’s. Jacob, Miley, and Grace were already seated. JoJo could tell that Kyra was nervous, and JoJo wanted to do everything she could to put her at ease. She knew it could be hard encountering four relatively new kids all at once.

  “Are those cookies I see?” JoJo asked, pointing to a plate full of yellow-frosted stars and hearts on the table.

  Kyra nodded eagerly. “Yes, we have cookies. My mom made them. And we have other stuff inside too, if you don’t like cookies. Ice cream? Chips?”

  “Who doesn’t love cookies?” Jacob asked, helping himself to two.

  Kyra looked at JoJo and Miley. “Are cookies okay with you too? I can get you something else . . .”

  “Cookies are perfect,” JoJo replied. “I just ate lunch, though. But I knew Jacob would be all over them.”

  “So, Grace,” Kyra said a moment later. “I don’t think I recognize you from school.”

  “Oh, I just moved here,” Grace explained.

  “How do you know everyone already?” Kyra asked.

  “Well . . . my good luck, I guess,” Grace replied. “I bumped into JoJo yesterday when she was on her way to Miley’s house, and she invited me to tag along. I just met everyone yesterday.”

  “Oh, so you’re new too?” Kyra asked, her voice a little flat.

  “Yeah, I’m even newer than you,” Grace said. She smiled warmly at Kyra, but Kyra’s face clouded over.

  “I forgot the drinks,” she said a moment later, frowning. “Is seltzer okay with everyone?”

  Before anyone could answer, Kyra rose up out of her chair and headed into the kitchen.

  “I’ll go help her carry everything,” Miley said a moment later, after exchanging a look with JoJo.

  The girls returned a few minutes later, Kyra’s mom right behind them.

  “Hi, kids,” Mrs. Gregory said, smiling warmly at the group. “I just wanted to welcome you all here and say thank you for helping out with the block party. Kyra and I really appreciate it!”

  “We’re happy to help,” JoJo said, returning the smile.

  “Yeah,” Miley echoed. “And thank you for the cookies!”

  Grace and Jacob murmured thanks as well, and Mrs. Gregory waved a hand. “It was nothing. Please enjoy! Kyra, I’ll be in my office if you need me. Have fun,” she called over her shoulder as she walked back into the house.

  “I might have to get this cookie recipe from your mom,” Jacob told Kyra as he stuffed the rest of his first cookie into his mouth.

  “For sure!”

  As everyone around the table cracked open their cans of sparkling water, JoJo asked Kyra about the block party. She was still trying to put Kyra at ease, and she thought that getting her to talk about the block party—the reason she had invited them all over
—might help her loosen up a little bit.

  Kyra explained that the block party was going to span three whole blocks in their neighborhood, and they were expecting people from all over town to attend. Her mom was the head of the planning committee and had asked her to be in charge of the entertainment, except for the evening movie, which was already being taken care of by some volunteers from the high school. “And that’s where you guys come in,” Kyra said. “JoJo, I was kind of hoping you might want to perform . . . ? I know it’s a lot to ask, but you have so many local fans, and a performance from you would be the highlight of the whole day!”

  “Well, great minds think alike! Because I was going to tell you that I would love to perform!” JoJo replied. “And Miley is going to help me choreograph a new dance number for the performance.”

  “That sounds amazing!” Kyra cheered. “And, Miley, that’s so cool that you’re a choreographer!”

  “And she’s so good at it!” JoJo said, smiling proudly at her best friend.

  “Okay, let’s see, what else . . . ?” Kyra mumbled as she jotted notes on a piece of paper. “Jacob, what would you like to do? Any interest in handling the balloon animals?”

  Jacob grimaced slightly. “I get kind of freaked out by the sound of popping balloons,” he admitted sheepishly. “Can I do something else?”

  “Of course!” Kyra said quickly. “What would you like to do?”

  “Well, I love food—cooking it and eating it . . .” As if to prove his point, Jacob took a huge bite of his remaining cookie. “So I was going to offer to help out with refreshments. But I don’t have to—I can do something in the entertainment category.”

  “No worries—I’ll put you down for refreshments!” Kyra waved a hand. “I’ll let my mom know—I’m sure they’ll be grateful for the help.” Kyra reached for a cookie, took a small bite, and then continued speaking. “I’ll take care of everything else related to your performance, JoJo,” she decided.

  “That’s a really big job,” JoJo replied. “I mean, so much goes into planning something like that. Hiring a sound truck, getting all the equipment ready, creating a flyer advertising the performance . . . it’s a lot for one person. I was going to suggest that my mom call your mom and they could figure it out together. My mom has a lot of experience dealing with all that.”

  “That’s great.” Kyra nodded. “But I’ll still be the main organizer for it.”

  “Are you sure?” JoJo asked. “It’s really a lot for one person to do. And you have so much to be responsible for, being in charge of all the entertainment . . .”

  “I’d be happy to help out!” Grace volunteered. “I don’t have anything to do yet, and I’m really organized, so maybe I can help you.”

  “I’m super organized and won’t need help,” Kyra replied, her tone a little harsh. Then her voice softened, and she smiled. “I’m sorry—I appreciate the offer, Grace,” she said firmly. “I just know I can handle it myself. Don’t worry, JoJo,” she added. “I won’t let you down!”

  Miley jumped into the conversation and told Kyra that she was thinking of teaching a dance class at the block party. “Wouldn’t it be cool to teach kids the dance steps JoJo will be performing so they can dance along from the audience?”

  “I love that idea!” Kyra said excitedly. “Your dance class will be the hit of the block party—next to JoJo’s performance, of course!”

  Next to JoJo, Grace cleared her throat quietly. “So . . . what can I do to help?” she asked.

  Kyra looked at the piece of paper in front of her and frowned. “There’s really not much else. I think you can just show up and enjoy yourself!”

  “What about the balloon animals?” Grace asked, a crestfallen look on her face. “Don’t you need someone to do those? I could learn how and help out with that.”

  “Oh, don’t worry,” Kyra said, shrugging. “I just remembered that my mom said some kids from the high school were willing to help out, and I bet I can get them to do the balloon animals.”

  “Oh, okay,” Grace replied.

  “Um, Grace is really good at art,” JoJo said, nudging her friend gently, hoping she would speak up. JoJo could tell Grace wanted to do something at the block party; she hoped she would tell Kyra that. But Grace remained silent.

  “Yeah, Grace is a great artist, and we were trying to think of something she could do at the block party to put her talent to good use,” Jacob added.

  “Hmm, that’s a tough one . . . ,” Kyra replied, tapping her pencil on the table. “I mean, we’ll have face painting, but I was going to do that. I’ve already started researching how to do it online.”

  “I’ve got it!” Miley said suddenly, snapping her fingers. “What about if Grace draws portraits? Fairs always have those portrait stands . . . we should have one at our block party too! What do you think, Grace?”

  Grace beamed excitedly. “Drawing portraits is actually one of my favorite things to do!” she exclaimed. “And I’m pretty good at it too,” she added shyly.

  “Great idea, Miley!” JoJo cheered.

  “Yeah, great idea,” Kyra repeated. But she sounded just a little less excited than JoJo.

  CHAPTER 4

  “It sounds like the block party is going to be soooo much fun!” JoJo said to her friends as the group walked home from Kyra’s. “I think I’m most excited about the bouncy house! I’m going to be all over that!”

  “Me too!” Jacob said. Then, catching the looks Miley and JoJo were giving him, he held up his hands. “I promise not to go in after stuffing my face on pizza,” he added solemnly. “Don’t ask,” he told Grace, who had raised her eyebrows in his direction.

  As Miley and JoJo burst out laughing, Grace made a face. “I think I can use my imagination to figure out what happened,” she joked.

  “I love your idea of using the dance class to teach my routine to everyone,” JoJo said to Miley a moment later. “It will be so great to have people in the audience dancing along with me!”

  “Yeah, about that,” Jacob said, looking at Miley. “Do you really think people are going to be able to pick up a complicated dance routine like the kind JoJo performs?”

  “I was a little worried about that too,” Grace added. “I’m not the greatest dancer, and I don’t think I can dance the way JoJo does.”

  “Oh, don’t worry,” Miley assured her friends. “I’ll come up with a less complicated routine for the class so everyone can join in! I should have explained that—I definitely don’t expect everyone to be able to do what JoJo does!”

  “As long as people are willing to get up, move around, and have fun, it will be great!” JoJo added. “That’s what dancing is all about, right?”

  A few steps later, they had arrived at Miley’s house. “I have to head in,” Miley said apologetically. “I’d invite you guys in, but I promised my mom I’d come straight home after Kyra’s. I think we’re going to my aunt’s house or something.” She gave each of her friends a goodbye hug.

  “Aw, no worries,” JoJo said, returning Miley’s hug. “I was just going to ask if anyone wants to come hang out at my house for a bit . . . ?”

  “No can do,” Jacob replied. “I have to head home to go to the orthodontist. I’m getting spacers put in today!”

  JoJo nodded. “How about you, Grace? Can you come hang out for a bit?”

  “I think so!” A shy, happy smile lit up Grace’s face. “Let me call my mom and ask.”

  “Text me later,” Miley said to JoJo as she headed inside.

  “You know it!” JoJo called after her. “Say hi to your aunt for me!”

  By the time Jacob said his goodbyes and headed off in the opposite direction toward his house, Grace was off the phone with her mom. “She said it’s fine for me to go over for a bit.”

  JoJo grinned. “Great, let’s go!”

  A little while later, Grace and JoJo were seated by the pool in JoJo’s backyard, dangling their legs in the water.

  “Thanks so much for including me
today,” Grace said shyly as she swirled her feet around in the water. “I’m so glad I met you! Before yesterday, I was pretty nervous about starting at a new school. I kind of had a hard time making friends at my old school,” she confided. “And I was worried it was going to be the same thing here.”

  “Well, you have nothing to worry about,” JoJo assured her. “You already have three—no, make that four—friends in your new town!”

  Grace smiled and let out a nervous breath. “I was wondering . . . ,” she said slowly. “Do you think Kyra likes me?”

  JoJo pulled one foot out of the pool and turned so she could face her friend. “Sure. Why wouldn’t she?”

  “I don’t know.” Grace shrugged and looked at the water. “It might have been my imagination, but I felt like maybe I did something wrong to make her not like me.”

  “Of course you didn’t do anything wrong,” JoJo said gently. “I think Kyra was just a little overwhelmed by meeting so many new people. Don’t forget, she barely knew Jacob and Miley before today either.”

  “I can definitely understand that,” Grace replied. She smiled again, this time more confidently. “I’m sure you’re right. I keep forgetting that Kyra is new to this town too. She was probably feeling a little nervous about meeting everyone.”

  “Exactly,” JoJo agreed, careful to keep her voice upbeat.

  A little while later, after Grace had left, JoJo sat cross-legged on the floor of her room, playing fetch with BowBow. She tossed the palm-sized, orange bouncy ball against the wall, and it ricocheted into her closet, disappearing amid a pile of bedazzled sneakers. JoJo laughed as BowBow leapt right into the sneaker stack to retrieve it, her little butt in the air, tail wagging.

  Playtime with her pup was always JoJo’s favorite, but this time she couldn’t shake her worry. Grace’s words had been on her mind ever since their conversation, and JoJo couldn’t help but admit Grace had a point. As much as JoJo wanted to believe the best in everyone, Kyra had seemed a little . . . off that day. JoJo sighed; she just wanted everyone to be friends, but she couldn’t help wondering if Grace had been right. As if she knew JoJo was worried, BowBow bounded over and dropped the ball in front of her.