by Betsy Haynes
"I do now!" said Beth.
After Shawnie signed for Beth's shoes, the girls hurried to the juniors department to find a new outfit for Shawnie.
"Red," Shawnie declared. "It's got to be red."
"Okay!" Beth shouted. "One red outfit, coming up!" Dancing through the racks of clothes, she pulled out a red satin prom dress trimmed in shimmering sequins. Laughing, she held it up to Shawnie. "How about this one?"
Shawnie blinked in surprise and then laughed back. "No, no. That's too casual. Put it back." Then Shawnie raced ahead of Beth to the sportswear department and held up a tomato-red ski parka with matching bibs. "What do you think of this?"
Both girls were laughing like crazy, pulling one red outfit after another off the racks and holding them up in front of Shawnie.
"Uh-oh," said Beth, looking around the department. "I think the clerks are looking at us funny."
Shawnie nodded. "Right. I guess I'd better get serious about finding a dress."
In five minutes, Shawnie had collected five dresses to try on. And in another ten, she had chosen her favorite to wear with Beth on the show.
"All right, Beth!" Shawnie exclaimed. "Now we will be color-coordinated!"
Shawnie signed for her dress, and the girls headed out of the juniors department giggling. The only department between Juniors and the mall entrance was the china and fine gifts department.
"Oooh, Beth," cried Shawnie, "wouldn't this look terrific sitting on the table in front of us?"
Beth gasped. Sitting on a little display table on top of a lacy tablecloth was a beautiful ceramic teapot, surrounded by six fragile cups and saucers.
"These would give us the perfect touch of elegance!" Shawnie said, her eyes still glued to the display.
"They sure would," agreed Beth. "But we can't afford them, too."
Shawnie thought a minute. "There's just got to be a way we could buy these. Wait, I know! What if you bought the teapot and I bought the cups and saucers?"
"I don't know," Beth said doubtfully.
"After the show is over," said Shawnie, "we could put them away and give them to our moms for Christmas! Moms love this kind of stuff."
Beth considered that. "Well, I guess they would be good Christmas gifts," she admitted.
"They sure would," Shawnie said.
Beth began to smile. "Boy, this would look so great sitting in front of us on the table."
"You've got it." Shawnie looked at Beth. "What do you say?"
"I say," Beth said with a grin, "CHARGE IT!"
CHAPTER 5
"What's that?" asked Jana.
It was Friday morning before school. Students were milling around the locker area, talking and getting ready to go to their first classes. Jana and Beth stood in front of Beth's open locker.
"What's what?" asked Beth.
Jana pointed to the Tanninger's packages sitting at the bottom of Beth's locker. "What's in the packages?"
"It's my new outfit for the show," said Beth. "We're taping today after school. Want to see?"
"Are you kidding?" said Jana, grinning. "Of course!"
Beth smiled and rolled her eyes dramatically. "It's incredible, wonderful, gorgeous! What more can I say?" She reached into the bag, pulled out the dress, and held it up next to her.
"Wow!" said Jana. "You're right. It is incredible!"
"And wonderful and gorgeous, right?" Beth prodded, grinning.
"And more," Jana replied.
Beth took her new shoes out of the box and held them up next to the dress. "Are they perfect, or what?"
"They're awesome!" exclaimed Jana. "Beth, you're going to look wonderful on TV!"
Beth sighed and smiled. "I sure hope so." She couldn't help noticing that several of the girls walking down the hall slowed down to stare at her and her new dress.
They're so envious! Beth thought. I really am lucky to have the chance to be on TV, and to have a great new dress to wear.
Jana saw the tag dangling from the dress and scooped it up in her hand. She turned it over and read the price.
"Wow!" She looked up at Beth, astonished. "Are your parents buying this for you?"
"Nope," said Beth. "I'm buying it for me. Shawnie bought it with her credit card, and I'm paying her back."
Jana looked astonished. "She has her own credit card?"
Beth nodded. "Isn't she lucky?"
Jana looked at Beth with concern. "How are you going to get the money to pay her back?"
Beth shrugged. "I'll just get some extra baby-sitting jobs and add what I make to my allowance. I'll get the dress paid for by the end of the month. Well, maybe a little after."
"Those are going to have to be some super-long baby-sitting jobs," said Jana, shaking her head.
"I know," Beth admitted. "But I just had to get a new outfit. Nothing I had was right."
"Whoa!" a chorus of voices sounded behind them. Beth turned to find Melanie, Christie, and Katie standing wide-eyed, staring at her dress.
"Where did you get that beautiful dress!" Melanie cried.
Beth smiled and explained her deal with Shawnie.
"Of course Shawnie has her own charge card!" Melanie said, throwing up her hands. "I should have known that!"
"Oh, Beth," Christie said. "It's really terrific. You'll look gorgeous in it."
"Thanks, guys," Beth said.
"So what do your parents think about your using Shawnie's credit card?" Katie asked.
Beth lowered her eyes. "Well, to tell you the truth, my parents don't exactly know about my deal with Shawnie. They think I'm borrowing the dress from her."
Jana frowned. "Won't they be angry when they find out?"
Beth sighed. "If I can get the outfit paid for pretty soon, I'll just explain to them that I earned it."
"I hope you'll be able to pay for it as easily as you think you will," Jana said.
"It'll be okay," Beth reassured her. "So I'll have to work for a while to pay for it. It's worth it!"
Melanie glanced down at Beth's locker again. "What else is in there?" she asked.
"Wait till you see this!" Beth declared. She took the teapot out of its box and held it up for the girls to admire. "We're going to have this on the coffee table in front of us! Isn't it wonderful?"
"It's just the right touch," Christie said, nodding.
"Shawnie got some teacups that match," Beth added.
"Are you going to pay Shawnie for the teapot, too?" Katie asked her.
"Sure," answered Beth. "Then I'm going to save it and give it to my mom for Christmas."
"Great idea," said Melanie.
"Well, we can't wait to see the show," offered Jana.
"I know," Beth said excitedly. "Why don't you guys come over tomorrow and watch it with me? Come at nine o'clock, and I'll make pancakes before the show."
"Sounds great to me," said Katie, and the others said they would be there, too.
Beth watched the clock all day. She tried to concentrate on classwork, but all she could think of was the taping of The Wakeman Bulletin Board after school. Every time she looked at the clock on the classroom wall, expecting twenty minutes to have gone by, she discovered that only a couple of minutes had passed. The day dragged on endlessly.
At last the dismissal bell rang. Her heart racing, Beth ran to her locker and picked up her new outfit and the teapot. She rushed into the girls' room to get ready for the taping of the show.
The bathroom was empty. Beth took her makeup case out of her book bag with trembling hands. She didn't usually use a lot of makeup, but she knew that the bright lights would make her face look washed out if she didn't apply some color and highlights.
First Beth applied the foundation, smoothing it over her face and blending the edges into her hairline. Then she put some eyeshadow on her lids and darkened her lashes with mascara. After that came blush and lip gloss. Finally a dusting of powder took the shine from her nose and chin.
She pulled the dress out of the bag and slipped it on over
her head. With a pounding heart, she zipped up the back and straightened the fabric so that it hung smoothly. Next, she put on the shoes and the earrings that matched the dress so perfectly.
Beth stood in front of the mirror and looked at her reflection. It was perfect. The absolutely right outfit for her television debut. Her heart was really racing now. This is ridiculous, Beth thought. I've acted in lots of plays. This is a taped show. Why does it feel like such a big deal?
Then she remembered the thousands of people who might tune in to see her on TV. The show was a big deal!
She took a deep breath, and gazed at herself in the mirror. "You look terrific. You know your lines. And you're going to be just as good as they are," she whispered to her reflection as she thought about the women she had been watching on TV and whose techniques she had been studying. "Not only that, someday you might be one of them." Beth smiled at herself and started to leave the rest room. Then she stopped, turned around, and gave herself a big grin. "Break a leg!" she shouted, and then raced out the door.
When Beth arrived at the media center, Shawnie looked up, obviously relieved. "Oh, good. You're all ready. I changed in the bathroom across the hall." Shawnie looked terrific in her new red dress and matching shoes. She wore a gold chain with a crystal pendant around her neck. She grinned and stepped up next to Beth, putting an arm around Beth's shoulder. "Do we look great together, or what?"
"Sensational!" Beth said. "Now if I can just stop shaking . . ."
"Why be nervous?" Shawnie asked, sounding full of confidence. "We look so good that if we do mess up, no one will even notice—they'll be too busy gawking at these gorgeous women on the screen in front of them!"
Beth nodded. They did look great together, and she'd spent all last night going over the script, but she still didn't feel as calm as Shawnie sounded.
The media center had closed five minutes earlier to anyone not involved in the cable program. Mr. Levine, Jon, and a tall, lanky man with dark hair were setting up the lights.
"That must be the guy from the TV station," Beth whispered to Shawnie.
"Right," Shawnie whispered back.
Funny hurried over. "Wow, you guys look great!"
"You mean, sensational!" Shawnie said, nudging Beth and grinning.
Funny laughed. "Yeah, and that, too. But the important question is, Are you ready for the show?"
Beth nodded. She felt pretty sure she could read her lines without looking at the paper. She had practiced saying the lines over and over again. The hard part would be looking directly into the camera when she was reading, and not looking away.
"I'm nervous," Beth admitted to Funny. "But I'm ready."
"Terrific," said Funny. "I know you'll be great."
Just then Paul walked into the media center wearing a blue pin-striped suit. He was carrying a small metal cage.
"He has Robin with him," observed Beth. "His mother must have dropped the bat off."
"Oh, good," Funny said, and hurried off to talk with Paul about his segment.
"Okay," Mr. Levine called out. "It's time. Everybody ready?"
"Ready!" Beth called back.
"Ready!" said Funny.
"Ready!" echoed Shane, who had just walked in with Tim.
"You don't have to be ready," Funny told him, giggling. "Your jobs are over for this week."
"We're here for moral support," explained Tim.
"Thanks, guys," said Beth. "We need it."
"Okay, let's get going," Mr. Levine said. "Beth and Shawnie, take your places."
Beth scurried over to their chairs and took out the teapot, setting it on the table. Shawnie had already set up the teacups and saucers.
"You guys aren't planning to drink anything during this show, are you?" Funny asked, eyeing the teacups doubtfully.
"No," Beth assured her. "They're just there for looks."
"For class," Shawnie added.
"Okay, good," Funny said, smiling. "The way you've dressed up the coffee table looks nice."
Mr. Levine turned to Funny. "Is the easel set up?"
"Yes." She dragged the easel that she'd borrowed from the art department over next to the set. On it, she placed a large posterboard sign with professionally printed letters that said, THE WAKEMAN BULLETIN BOARD.
"Good." Mr. Levine looked at it approvingly. "That's great."
"Okay, Jon," Funny said, "we'll come in on this sign first thing. We'll hear a couple of seconds of theme music, and then we'll shift the camera over to our co-anchors. Beth and Shawnie, when I begin to fade out the music, that's when you start the show. Okay?"
Beth and Shawnie nodded.
This is it, thought Beth. My big moment. I'm really on TV!
The red light on Jon's camera winked on, and Funny started the music. After a few seconds, she lowered the volume on the music, and Jon shifted the camera to the set, where Beth and Shawnie were sitting. Funny turned the volume down on the tape player again, and the music faded out completely.
"Good morning," Beth said, smiling into the camera. "Welcome to our first edition of The Wakeman Bulletin Board."
"We'll be giving you important information on Wakeman activities," Shawnie said, "as well as reporting scores of your favorite sports teams and updating you on plans for school dances and performances."
"So get out your calendar," Beth said, "and be ready to write down some important dates."
A thrill ran up Beth's back. The show was going well. No. It was going better than well. It was going terrifically, and she wasn't nervous anymore. And not only that, it was fun!
Beth thought about her new outfit and how perfect it made her look. Move over, Connie Chung, she thought. Beth glanced at Shawnie while Shawnie read the sports scores for the week. Shawnie had made a lot of this success possible.
Shawnie and her wonderful charge card!
CHAPTER 6
"It went so well!" Beth burst out the instant she got home from the taping. "We didn't blow any lines, and Jon did a good job with the camera, and Paul Smoke had a great ecology segment."
"Fantastic!" Mrs. Barry said. "I'm so glad, honey. I know you worked hard on it and worried about it a lot."
"You bet. It's The Wakeman Bulletin Board today and the Today show tomorrow." Beth grinned broadly. Then she added silently, By then I should have my own credit card!
Her mother chuckled. "If you can come down off cloud nine for a moment, you had a phone call from Mrs. Martin. She wants to know if you can baby-sit tomorrow. She has to pick up her sister at the airport."
"Great," said Beth. It was the answer to a prayer. She needed baby-sitting jobs to pay Shawnie back. "I'll call her right away."
Beth flipped through the phone book and quickly found the Martins' number.
"Mrs. Martin?" said Beth. "This is Beth Barry. Mom said you called about a baby-sitting job."
"That's right," Mrs. Martin answered. "Could you come tomorrow morning and stay with Jennifer and Davy from nine until eleven or so? Even though it's Saturday, my husband has to work and can't watch them."
Oh, no, Beth thought. I can't baby-sit then. The Fabulous Five are coming over for pancakes and to watch The Wakeman Bulletin Board on TV!
"Gosh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Martin," Beth said. "I can't come tomorrow. I've already made other plans."
"Okay." Mrs. Martin sounded disappointed. "I guess I'll have to try someone else."
Beth said good-bye and hung up. She stared out the window feeling guilty. She needed to take every babysitting job that came along if she was going to get Shawnie paid back any time soon. But she couldn't miss watching her own television debut! She crossed her fingers, hoping she would get another job offer before long.
"Mmm," said Jana. "Beth, these are the most delicious pancakes I've ever had."
"They sure are," agreed Melanie. "Can someone pass the syrup?"
"Mel, how can you eat all that syrup!" Christie said, making a face. "Your pancakes are already swimming!"
Melanie looked down at her
plate. "They're not swimming. They're just treading water." She giggled. "I mean, treading syrup."
"What time is it?" asked Jana. "We can't miss your show."
"Are you kidding?" said Beth. "I've had one eye on the clock since I woke up this morning. It's exactly ten minutes to ten!"
"In ten minutes, Beth Barry—our Beth Barry—will become a TV star," declared Melanie. "I can't wait!"
Beth's mother poked her head in from the living room. "Beth, the time for your show is getting close. Dad is setting up the VCR to tape it."
Beth's five-year-old sister, Alicia, tore into the room and threw herself into Beth's arms, shrieking, "So we can watch it again and again and again and again and again and again—"
"All right, already!" Beth interrupted, laughing. She tickled Alicia until the little girl's words dissolved into a fit of giggles.
"Come on, you guys," Jana urged. "Let's get these dishes cleared so we're ready to sit down and watch the show."
The girls carried their dishes to the kitchen and hurried to the living room, where the rest of the Barry family was already sitting in front of the TV. Beth's mom and dad sat on the couch with Alicia perched on her mother's lap. Brittany sat cross-legged on the floor in front of Todd, who was sprawled out on a soft chair, and Brian, Beth's older brother, leaned against the door frame, nibbling a piece of toast. The volume was turned down so low, there was no sound coming from the TV.
"It's time," Beth said, flicking her eyes toward the mantel clock. "Turn up the sound, Jana."
Jana leaned forward and turned the volume switch. An instant later, the program began with a close-up of The Wakeman Bulletin Board sign. The theme music played in the background. Beth held her breath.
When the camera panned to Beth, there was a little gasp from everyone in the room. While Beth spoke on TV, no one made a sound. But when the camera moved to Shawnie, Brittany turned and said, "Beth, you look really great on TV!"
"Yeah," Todd said, scratching his head, "what happened?"
Beth didn't even hear Todd because her head was spinning. She did look great! In fact, she looked almost better on TV than in person! The outfit she'd bought was perfect, and she looked like a pro in it. Her practicing the script had definitely paid off, too. She looked prepared and poised—just like Connie Chung.