by JoJo Siwa
“You found it! Good girl,” JoJo exclaimed. BowBow leapt into JoJo’s lap, licking her cheek as JoJo cuddled her close. “Ew!” said JoJo, when BowBow went for her mouth. “No more kisses!” BowBow let out a bark and jumped from her lap, bounding for the door, where she paused and looked back at JoJo, her head tilted to one side. That was a sign that she wanted to go outside and play some more. “Okay, okay,” JoJo said, pulling herself to her feet. “You’re right! It’s a beautiful day—let’s get some fresh air and clear our heads.”
No matter what the situation, BowBow always knew how to put things in perspective.
That evening, over dinner, JoJo filled her family in on what she had learned about the block party.
“It’s going to be so cool!” she explained breathlessly. “There will be snow cones and an ice cream truck, plus a million other food options, face painting by Kyra, portraits by Grace, a dance lesson by Miley, and . . .” JoJo paused to take a breath. “A bouncy house, tons of games, balloon animals . . . what am I forgetting?”
“A performance by JoJo Siwa?” JoJo’s brother, Jayden, said after a moment. “Don’t forget that!”
“Oh, yeah, of course!” JoJo laughed. “Which reminds me . . . Mom, Kyra wants to be in charge of planning everything for my performance, but I said I thought you could call her mom and talk everything through . . .”
“Already on it,” her mom replied. “I spoke to Kyra’s mom this afternoon, and we talked about everything that needs to be done. Aside from the flyers, which I think she’s depending on Kyra to create, it’s all under control.”
“Great.” JoJo breathed a sigh of relief. She believed Kyra when she said she was super organized, but JoJo had been performing for a while—big shows, small shows, and everything in between. She knew by now that it involved way too much work for one person to do by herself! JoJo was glad her mom was going to help.
As JoJo’s dad and Jayden began clearing the dishes from the dinner table, JoJo went into the kitchen with her mom to help load the dishwasher. They had a routine: Her mom would rinse and hand the dishes to JoJo, who would load them into the dishwasher. And BowBow supervised, cleaning up any stray crumbs.
“So it sounds like you’ve made two new friends this week,” Mrs. Siwa said as she handed a glass to JoJo. “The Three Musketeers are expanding!”
JoJo filled her mom in on how she had bumped into Grace the day before while on her way over to Miley’s house. “She’s super sweet,” she said. “A little shy, but once she opens up, she’s really fun and funny. I’m so glad I met her!”
“And how about Kyra?” Mrs. Siwa asked. “Her mom mentioned they are relatively new to town. Was this her first time meeting Miley and Jacob as well?”
JoJo explained how Kyra had moved to the town a few months ago but still didn’t know many people. “Our get-together was actually a little awkward today. Kyra was pretty tense, like she was trying really hard.” JoJo frowned as she tried to think of the right way to describe how Kyra had acted. She handed a salad plate back to her mom because it still had a blob of lettuce stuck to it. “This needs another rinse. But Kyra seems really cool too. I think she was just nervous and wanted everyone to like her, so she couldn’t relax.”
“It can be hard to be the new kid,” her mom agreed. “I’m glad you’re so open-minded when you meet people and remember things like that,” she added as she handed another salad plate to JoJo. “And it’s nice to have different kinds of friends.”
“Oh, for sure,” JoJo agreed. “Not everyone is as outgoing as I am or as Miley is. Jacob isn’t exactly outgoing, but he’s super confident and chill. It’s cool to have friends with different personalities. We go together like all the different ingredients in a salad,” she added thoughtfully. “Speaking of which . . . Mom, pay attention!” she said in a pretend stern voice. “This one has a chunk of tomato on it!”
“Just seeing if you’re on top of your job,” her mom joked as she took the plate back.
JoJo rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue, and her mom swatted her arm playfully. She loved this time with her mom—they had some of their best talks while doing the dishes together!
CHAPTER 5
JoJo was busy over the next few days practicing for her performance at the block party. She and Miley got together to work on possible routines. JoJo still wasn’t sure which song she wanted to perform—“Kid in a Candy Store” or “Boomerang”—so they worked on new routines for both songs. It was a lot of work, but JoJo loved every minute of it. She’d been dancing since she was really little, and she’d known even back then that she wanted to be a pop star. She was living her dream now, and that took a lot of hard work and practice, but for JoJo, it was all worth it.
In between working, JoJo and Miley discussed the meeting at Kyra’s house. Like JoJo, Miley had sensed that Kyra had been a bit on edge. The two friends agreed that what Kyra probably needed was to spend more time with them so she could relax and get to know everyone. That’s when JoJo had another amazing idea—she would invite everyone over later that week to watch the two routines she and Miley had worked up. They could all hang out and help her decide which song to perform!
“I can’t believe the block party is in one week,” JoJo was saying between gulps of water. She put her glittery turquoise water bottle down and fanned her face with her hands. It was Saturday afternoon, and she had just finished performing her two new routines for Miley, Jacob, Grace, and Kyra.
“I can’t believe how amazing your two routines are,” Kyra said, her eyes wide. “I mean, JoJo . . . just, wow! I don’t know how you’ll ever choose which one to perform!”
“Seriously.” Grace nodded. “They are so good! I love both songs, and the new routines are just so fantastic!”
JoJo beamed and held up her hand to high-five Miley. “Props to my BFF for the amazing routines!” she exclaimed. “I told you guys she was the best.”
“Aw, thanks, girl.” Miley grinned back. “It definitely helps to be choreographing for someone who’s crazy enough to learn two new routines in one week!”
JoJo led everyone down to the basement, which was one of her favorite places to hang out when she had friends over. With arcade games, a giant-screen TV, and a Ping-Pong table, there was plenty of stuff to do.
“Believe it or not, this used to be my dance studio when I was little,” JoJo told Grace and Kyra, pointing to a section of the finished basement that had a wall of mirrors. “Before my brother and dad converted it into their man cave, I used to come down here every single day to practice!”
“That’s why she’s so good,” Miley added. She and Jacob had known JoJo for years, even back before the basement had a man cave. “Practice makes perfect!”
Just then, Jayden came downstairs. He said hello to Miley and Jacob and greeted Grace and Kyra warmly after JoJo introduced them.
“Mom wants to know if everyone wants to stay for dinner—she said we could order pizza.”
“Oooh, I’m in!” Miley exclaimed.
“I’d love to—I’ll text my mom and ask if I can stay,” Kyra replied, her eyes shining with excitement, fingers flying over her phone screen.
“Me too,” Grace added, pulling her phone out of her bag. JoJo couldn’t help but notice her adorable unicorn phone case.
“I already know I have to be home for dinner,” Jacob grumbled. “My mom told me before I left.”
“Maybe you’re having pizza at home?” Miley asked hopefully.
“I doubt it. My grandparents are coming over, which means we’ll probably be having meat loaf.” Jacob sighed dramatically.
“Tough break, man,” Jayden said sympathetically as he made his way back upstairs. “JoJo, just let Mom know the final head count when it’s all figured out,” he called over his shoulder.
“What if this was my last chance to eat pizza before B-Day?” Jacob asked sadly. “B-Day” was how Jacob had begun referring to the day he was getting his braces put on, just less than a week away.
“You can eat pizza with braces,” Grace assured him.
“Whew! I hope it tastes the same. Who wants to play Ping-Pong?” Jacob asked, grabbing a paddle. “Maybe pounding away at the little plastic ball will make me feel better!”
“I’ll play!” Kyra and Grace exclaimed at the exact same time.
“You go ahead,” Grace said quickly. “I’ll play whoever wins.”
As Kyra and Jacob played, Grace and Miley cheered from the couch while JoJo ran upstairs to talk to her mom. Kyra was really good; she was scoring point after point as the girls clapped.
JoJo came bounding back down the stairs a few minutes later, a huge grin on her face. “Time-out?” she said, and signaled to Kyra and Jacob. They both put their paddles down.
“I just asked my mom if you guys could sleep over tonight too, and she said okay!” JoJo bounced up and down on her toes in excitement. “So this can be a pizza party slash sleepover slash best night ever!” she exclaimed. “Oh, sorry, Jacob,” she added. “Sad face for you!”
“Ugh, this is not my day,” Jacob said, groaning. He picked up his paddle and made a funny face at Kyra. “Ready to finish killing me?”
“I am! Don’t think I’m going to go easy on you because of the meat loaf,” Kyra teased. And sure enough, she went on to beat him.
Jacob put his paddle down on the table. “I know when to accept defeat,” he said solemnly. “All hail Kyra, the queen of Ping-Pong.”
“Just call me Queen for short.” Kyra giggled.
“We’ll see about that!” Grace said, laughing. She jumped up and grabbed Jacob’s paddle. “We have a table at my house too, so I’m not terrible. I challenge you for your crown!” she joked, smiling at Kyra.
“Oooh . . . this is getting serious!” JoJo crowed. “It’s on!”
Miley, Jacob, and Grace were all smiling and laughing, but Kyra’s face clouded over. She put her paddle down.
“I don’t really feel like playing anymore,” she announced flatly.
“Oh, I was only joking!” Grace said, a stricken look on her face. “I’m actually terrible at Ping-Pong. My five-year-old brother is better than me—”
“No, it’s not that,” Kyra interrupted. “I just don’t feel like playing anymore. Besides, I think I heard my phone ding. It must be my mom texting me back.”
Everyone waited while Kyra checked her phone. There was tension in the air all of a sudden, when just moments before everyone had been laughing and having a great time.
“I don’t believe this,” Kyra mumbled as she stared at her phone. “Be right back. I have to go call my mom,” she said, and she ran upstairs.
Just then, Grace’s phone dinged. “My mom said I can stay for pizza,” she told JoJo softly. “Should I ask about sleeping over or not . . . ?”
JoJo could tell Grace’s feelings were hurt by the way Kyra had just rejected her, and she felt terrible about it. She also had no idea what had just happened. But she wanted to fix it. “Of course you should ask her!” she said.
“Absolutely,” Miley added, nodding.
“She said okay,” Grace said a moment later. “Thanks so much . . . I—I hope Kyra won’t mind . . .”
“You hope Kyra won’t mind what?” Kyra asked as she appeared at the bottom of the steps, her hands on her hips.
“Oh, nothing,” Grace replied. Her cheeks turned red, and she lowered her head, allowing her hair to cover her face.
“My mom said I can’t stay,” Kyra told JoJo. “She said I have to go home and work on stuff for the block party.” She sighed angrily. “She said I have other commitments,” she added, using air quotes.
“Is there anything we can help you with?” Grace asked.
“I told you, I can do it all myself!” Kyra snapped. Then she softened her tone as she turned to JoJo. “I’m just so sorry I can’t stay.”
“Hey, no big deal,” JoJo said, thinking to herself that it was probably for the best that Kyra couldn’t stay that night. “Maybe we can do it another time,” she added, catching the disappointed look on Kyra’s face.
“Really?” Kyra said, looking hopeful. “That would be great! Maybe after the block party instead of tonight? Does that work for everyone?” She looked around the room.
“Oh, well . . .” JoJo cleared her throat. “Miley and Grace are still staying over, since they’re free tonight,” she explained. “I meant, maybe you can join us the next time.”
“Oh, I see,” Kyra said, her voice flat again. “Well, I guess I should just go, then. I’ll text you guys about our next meeting for the block party planning. Have a fun sleepover.”
With that, she grabbed her bag and flew up the stairs, leaving JoJo, Grace, Miley, and Jacob watching her in bewilderment. What had just happened?
CHAPTER 6
“You’re not going to believe this, but I think I’m hungry again!” Grace exclaimed.
“Oh, I believe it,” JoJo replied. “All that dancing works up an appetite—you should see me put away ice cream after a long day of dancing!”
“Speaking of which . . . ,” Miley said, waggling her eyebrows. “Is the Siwa freezer as well stocked as usual?”
“You know it!” JoJo exclaimed.
The girls hurried to the kitchen, where Jessalynn Siwa was putting together the coffeepot for the morning. “Let me guess.” JoJo’s mom grinned as she looked at JoJo and her friends. “Based on the music we heard blasting upstairs and the fact that you all have red faces at ten at night, I’m betting you girls just finished a dance party and worked up an appetite. Am I right?”
“Yep,” JoJo replied as she pulled pints of ice cream out of the freezer and placed them on the counter. “Ice cream sundae time!”
Mrs. Siwa pulled bowls down from the cabinet and placed sundae toppings on the counter next to the ice cream containers. “So, what else have you girls been up to tonight?” she asked as she collected spoons and an ice cream scooper from a drawer near the sink.
“Grace drew my portrait,” JoJo said excitedly. “Actually, she drew me and BowBow. Hang on, I’ll go get it so you can see it.” With that, JoJo dashed out of the room and ran up to her bedroom.
“Here you go—careful not to get ice cream on it!” JoJo said a few moments later as she handed the portrait to her mom.
“Wow, Grace, you are really talented!” Jessalynn exclaimed as she turned on another light in the kitchen to get an even better look at the drawing. “This is wonderful—you captured JoJo’s smile perfectly—and look at how cute BowBow looks! How long have you been drawing?”
Grace blushed happily at the compliments and carefully placed her spoon on the edge of her bowl. “I’ve always loved art, and my big sister, Megan, is a really good artist. She taught me to draw portraits. She’s going to go to art school in Rhode Island this fall.”
“I didn’t know you had a sister,” JoJo said between bites of cookies and cream. “I know you mentioned you had a little brother, but I didn’t realize you had a sister too.”
“Yeah, she’s the best.” Grace’s face lit up. “She’s already in Rhode Island—she spent the summer there, working and getting ready to start college,” she explained. She picked up her spoon and began swirling it around in her ice cream. “I miss her a lot.”
“I bet she misses you too,” Jessalynn said, smiling kindly at Grace.
A few minutes later the girls finished up their sundaes, and Jessalynn announced she was going to head up to bed. “Have a great rest of the night,” she said, kissing JoJo and BowBow goodnight. “And try to get some sleep—maybe no more dance parties tonight, okay?”
A short while later, the girls and BowBow were all settled on the floor of JoJo’s bedroom. JoJo had a trundle bed, which was a bed with another mattress hidden underneath that could be pulled out when she had a guest. She usually used that when Miley slept over. But since she had two guests tonight, they had decided that all three of them would sleep on the floor. JoJo had piled pillows from her bed—luckily, she had a ton of them, becau
se she loved throw pillows—all over the floor, and their sleeping bags were rolled out on top of a pile of thick comforters that were stacked one on top of the other.
“I feel like the princess and the pea,” JoJo joked as she wiggled around on top of her sleeping bag. “So many layers!”
The girls weren’t quite ready to go to sleep yet, so they were on top of their sleeping bags instead of in them. JoJo had music playing but kept the volume low so they wouldn’t disturb her parents. She figured Jayden was probably still awake, so she wasn’t worried about bothering him.
“Okay, I have to ask you,” Miley said to Grace. “Are unicorns your favorite thing?” She gestured to the unicorn pajamas Grace had changed into for bed. “I know you had a unicorn shirt on the day I met you, and then that necklace I totally want to borrow . . . and, come to think of it, you’ve had something unicorn on every time I’ve seen you!”
“Yeah, I love unicorns,” Grace replied, blushing slightly. Even though she was so much less shy than she had been when they first met, JoJo had noticed that Grace still got a little uncomfortable sometimes when attention was focused on her. “Do you guys . . . um . . .” She looked down and began absently tracing circles on her sleeping bag. “Do you guys think unicorns are dumb or babyish?” she asked finally.
“What?!” JoJo and Miley said at the same time.
“Okay, you first,” JoJo said, nodding at Miley.
“Not. At. All!” Miley said. “Unicorns are awesome! And it’s great that they are your passion! Everyone needs something like that! Mine is glitter, by the way.” She held out her hands and wiggled her fingers, showing off her glittery blue manicure.
“What she said!” JoJo said firmly. “I happen to agree that unicorns are amazing, and it’s great that you love them and like to wear one every day—you do you, Grace!”