Ellie looked at Liz. She looked surprised. “Right now?” Liz asked.
“Yes, right now,” said Mrs. Sienna. “Take your lunch. You can go straight to the cafeteria afterward.”
Uh-oh, thought Ellie. What’s up? She watched Liz get her lunch from her backpack. Then she walked out of the classroom.
Ten long minutes later the lunch bell rang. Ellie jumped out of her seat, got out her lunch bag, and headed for the door. Ellie wanted to talk to Marion and Amy. She caught up to them in the hallway.
“Guys,” she said, “is everything okay with Liz?”
Marion and Amy kept on walking. Ellie thought they hadn’t heard her.
“Guys?” Ellie tried again.
Marion stopped and turned to Ellie. “Oh! Are you speaking to us, superstar?”
Ellie froze in her tracks. Usually, she loved being called a superstar. But not the way Marion had said it. That way sounded more like a bad word.
Ellie didn’t know what to say. She felt her cheeks getting hot. She wasn’t sure what from. Anger? Embarrassment? Ellie looked at Amy, who only looked at the ground.
Ellie opened her mouth. She wanted to say something back, but nothing came out. She closed it, turned, and stomped away.
During lunchtime rehearsal in the auditorium, Ellie was surrounded by her new friends from the play, but all she could think of was her old ones.
Suddenly, Ellie didn’t feel like talking about the play.
Were Marion and Amy jealous of her? And what was up with Liz?
An Ellie Sometimes Forgets
Outside, after school, Ellie didn’t wait for Marion or Amy, and Liz was nowhere to be seen.
Where is she? Ellie wondered, walking home alone. How could she abandon me at a time like this? Ellie wanted to ask Liz about Marion and Amy. After all, Ellie was the star of the play. She got to wear a glittery costume. She had lots of new friends. They must be jealous. Ellie was sure that’s why Marion had said what she did.
When Ellie got home, she went to her room. Her Miss Ladybug costume was hanging on the closet door. It really is so beautiful! Ellie thought. Maybe trying it on will cheer me up.
For a couple of minutes it worked. Ellie looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. She twirled and posed. She said some of her lines. She sang one of her songs. This is what I’ll look like up on stage! she thought.
Then the feeling faded. Ellie remembered that awful way Marion’s voice sounded. She remembered the look on Amy’s face. Quickly, she changed into her regular clothes. She flopped onto her bed. Suddenly, Ellie didn’t feel excited about the play at all.
Just then the phone rang. Nana Gloria called up from downstairs: “Ellie! It’s for you! It’s Liz.”
Finally! Ellie thought. A friendly voice! She flew down the stairs and ran to the phone. “Liz! Where have you been?” Ellie asked, out of breath. “I looked for you after school!”
Ellie waited for Liz to answer in her usual easygoing way, but there was just silence at the other end.
“Liz? Liz!” Ellie said.
“I’m here, Ellie,” Liz replied. Her voice was quiet and sounded . . . different . . . like she wasn’t smiling.
“Where were you at school today?” Ellie asked. She decided to skip to the important stuff. “You won’t believe how mean Marion and Amy were to me today! They barely talked to me or looked at me. And then Marion called me ‘superstar’! I think they are jealous of the whole play thing. I mean—”
“Ellie!” Liz shouted. Ellie stopped talking. “Did you forget anything today?” Liz asked her.
Forget anything? Ellie thought. She ran through things in her mind. She had her homework and reading book. She’d gone to play rehearsal. Oh! She still needed to try new hairstyles for the play. Plus she wanted to ask her mom if she could wear lipstick. . . .
“It’s Monday!” said Liz, hinting. “Our day? After school? At The Critter Club? You forgot to meet me at the barn after school, Ellie. I took care of everything all by myself!”
Ellie gasped. The bunnies! How had she forgotten?
She heard Liz sigh at the other end. “This play—it’s all you can think about!” Liz said. “It’s bad enough that you forgot about the bunnies, but what about your best friend?”
Ellie felt a terrible sinking feeling in her stomach, but Liz wasn’t done. “And in case you care, my painting won first place in the art contest. That’s why the principal wanted to see me. It’s going on to the state competition. You’re not the only one who has exciting stuff happening, Ellie. Even if you’ve been acting like it!”
Liz hung up the phone before Ellie could answer. It was just as well, because, for once, Ellie didn’t know what to say.
A Secret Movie Star
Ellie felt a lump rising in her throat. She wanted to get out of the house. She didn’t feel like telling her family why she was upset.
“I’m going for a bike ride!” she called into the kitchen.
“Okay!” Nana Gloria replied as the screen door slammed. In seconds, Ellie was riding away down the street.
At first she had no destination in mind. Then, suddenly, she wanted to visit the bunnies. She steered her bike toward Ms. Sullivan’s place.
Ten minutes later Ellie was in the barn. Fluffy was in her lap. Frosty was sniffing her shoe. Or is that one Floppy? Ellie wondered. The third bunny was poking his head into her jacket pocket.
“I’m really sorry, bunnies,” she whispered to them. “I’m sorry I forgot you today.” Tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn’t hold it in. Ellie petted Fluffy as she cried and cried.
“Ellie?” came a voice at the door. Ellie turned. Ms. Sullivan was peeking into the barn.
“What’s the matter?” She came over and wrapped an arm around Ellie. “Is everything okay?”
Ellie wiped her eyes on a sleeve. “Yes, Ms. Sullivan,” she sniffed. “It’s just—” The sobs came again and Ellie couldn’t speak.
“Come on, dear,” said Ms. Sullivan. “Come in the house with me.”
Ellie nodded. Together they put the bunnies back in the hutch. Then they walked across Ms. Sullivan’s wide backyard and went in the back door of her gigantic gingerbread house.
As Ellie sat down in Ms. Sullivan’s kitchen, Rufus came running in. He jumped up, resting his head and front paws on Ellie’s knee. Ellie petted him while Ms. Sullivan got her some milk and cookies. By the time she set them on the table, Ellie had stopped crying.
Ellie explained about the play. She told Ms. Sullivan what Marion and Liz had said. She described the look on Amy’s face.
“I guess I have been really focused on the play,” said Ellie. “It just . . . it means a lot to me. Can’t they see that?”
Ms. Sullivan smiled kindly. Then she got a twinkle in her eye. “Ellie, I have something to show you,” she said. “Wait here a minute.”
Ms. Sullivan left the room. Rufus stretched out under the table, waiting for cookie crumbs. When Ms. Sullivan returned, she had a photo in her hand. She handed it to Ellie.
Strangely, the woman in the photo looked familiar to Ellie, but where had Ellie seen her before?
“As you know,” said Ms. Sullivan. “I haven’t always lived in Santa Vista. Before I moved here, I lived in Hollywood.”
Hollywood, California, thought Ellie, where movies are made. “Movies! That’s it!” cried Ellie. “Have I seen this woman in a movie? In an older movie like the ones Nana Gloria likes to watch?”
Ms. Sullivan nodded. “Yes. That woman was a famous actress. Her screen name was Ruby Fairchild.”
“Yeah! Ruby Fairchild!” said Ellie, looking again at the photo. “She was in The Lost Sheep. We watched it the other night!” Ellie looked up at Ms. Sullivan. “Why do you have her picture?” Ellie gasped. “Did you know her in Hollywood?”
Ms. Sullivan laughed. “You could say that, Ellie,” she said. “You see, Ruby Fairchild is . . . me!”
Ellie stared at Ms. Sullivan. Then she stared at the photo. “That’s you!” she
cried. “She does look like you!”
“Well, a much younger me,” Ms. Sullivan said with a smile.
Ellie was amazed. She listened as Ms. Sullivan told her about her life in Hollywood. It sounded like Ellie’s idea of heaven! The movie stars! The fancy parties! The awards! Signing autographs for crowds of cheering fans!
“I had a great career,” said Ms. Sullivan, “but when I stopped making movies, I was ready for a quieter life. That’s when I moved to Santa Vista.” Ms. Sullivan sighed. “I thought if people here knew me as Ruby Fairchild, I’d never be left alone. So I hid who I was and kept to myself. I didn’t go out much, and I even lost touch with most of my old friends. A lot of days I was all alone in this giant house,” she smiled, “until I got Rufus.” She looked down at the big puppy under the table.
“Woof!” Rufus replied. His tail thumped against a chair leg.
“Then Rufus went missing, and you girls helped me find him,” Ms. Sullivan went on. “Before The Critter Club, I hadn’t made new friends in years!”
Ms. Sullivan put her arm around Ellie. “It’s important to be kind to your friends. Keep them close. And here’s a piece of advice, from one actress to another.” Ellie grinned. Ruby Fairchild was calling her an actress? “Good friends will be there for you, but it can’t always be about you.”
Ellie finished her milk and cookies. Then Ms. Sullivan showed her more of her Hollywood stuff—old movie posters, scripts, and photos.
“Nana Gloria would flip to see all this!” Ellie said. “But don’t you worry. Your secret will be safe with me, Ruby Fairchild—Ms. Sullivan, I mean.”
Making Things Right
Ellie rode home on her bike, thinking the whole way. She felt a lot better, thanks to Ms. Sullivan. She still dreamed of being a star, but she realized something important. Being a star would mean very little without friends.
“Dinner in fifteen minutes, Ellie!” Ellie’s mom called as she came in the front door.
“Okay!” replied Ellie, running upstairs. She had just enough time. She needed to get some things down on paper.
In her room Ellie sat down at her desk. She took out three sheets of her special stationery. She chose a pretty red pen and began to write a note to Liz.
Ellie wrote a similar note to Marion and another to Amy. She selected a special sticker to seal each envelope. Next she wrote her friends’ names on the front of each envelope.
Feeling hopeful, Ellie tucked the notes into her backpack. Then she headed downstairs for dinner.
The next morning Ellie got to school a little early and left the notes on her friends’ desks. Then she sat down at her own desk and took out a book.
Ellie pretended to read it, but really she was peeking over the top. When Liz came in, Ellie watched her go to her desk. She saw the note and opened it. She was reading it!
Oh, what’s she thinking? Ellie wondered.
She didn’t have to wonder very long. Liz looked over at Ellie. Slowly, a warm smile spread across Liz’s face. Ellie smiled back.
Mrs. Sienna was starting class, but Ellie watched Marion and Amy read their notes, too. Amy smiled and gave Ellie a thumbs-up. Marion looked over and mouthed some words to Ellie.
“I’m sorry, too,” she was saying.
Ellie nodded and smiled. She let out a happy sigh. It was like a weight had been lifted off of her.
The morning sped by. At lunchtime Ellie met up with her friends in the hallway.
“Can you forgive me?” she asked them.
“Of course, Ellie!” said Liz. The girls wrapped Ellie in a big group hug.
“We’re like sisters,” said Amy.
Marion nodded. “Even sisters argue sometimes, but they always make up.”
Ellie beamed. “Well, then, I have a favor to ask,” she said. She looked at Liz. “Can I come over after school? I’d love to see your prizewinning painting. I’m so proud of you, Liz!” “Oh yes!” cried Marion. “You have to see it! She got a blue first-place ribbon and everything!”
Liz laughed. “Yes, of course. You can definitely come over and see it.”
“I can’t wait!” Ellie cried. “Oh! I almost forgot to tell you guys! I had an idea. It’s about the bunnies. I think I know how to get people to adopt them!”
Bravo, Ellie!
The Santa Vista Elementary School auditorium was packed. It was Friday night—the night of the big play, Miss Ladybug Saves Spring.
The show sped by, number by number, and before long the play was almost over! Ellie and her cast mates had performed their roles perfectly. Now the red velvet curtain opened one last time—for the big finale! Flower dancers twirled around. Butterflies fluttered on tiptoe. Inchworms inched in time to the music. Dancing raindrops swung their legs up and down.
Last to come onstage was Ellie—Miss Ladybug! She moved gracefully toward the front of the stage. The airy fabric of her sleeves fluttered behind her. There was something else behind her, too—a little red wagon. Miss Ladybug held its handle and pulled it along. Inside, munching on lettuce, were three gray bunnies: Floppy, Fluffy, and Frosty!
From the audience came a great big “awwww.”
Ellie slowly pulled the wagon across the stage. The audience read the sign on the wagon’s side.
Then Ellie carefully handed the wagon to someone offstage.
The finale continued, building until the whole cast was onstage. They lined up in a row. One by one, each cast member took a bow. The crowd got to its feet, clapping and cheering.
As the lead, Ellie was the last to take her bow. The spotlight fell on her. She looked out into the audience. Everyone was there! She saw her mom and dad, Toby, and Nana Gloria, cheering. Behind them, Liz, Marion, and Amy waved at Ellie. Liz even whistled!
Then, from down in the first row, a figure approached the stage. It was Ms. Sullivan! She handed up to Ellie a huge bouquet of red roses. “Bravo, Ellie!” she called out.
Ellie felt on top of the world. This was her moment. She had dreamed about it, but in her dreams, she had only seen herself.
The real moment was a million times better, and Ellie realized why. It was because her friends were there to share it with her.
Read on for a sneak peek at the next Critter Club book:
Liz Learns a Lesson
Liz sat down on the bright green grass. She closed her eyes and soaked up the late afternoon sunshine. “Can you believe it?” she said to her friends Ellie, Amy, and Marion. “Tomorrow is the last day of school!”
“Hel-lo, summer!” Ellie cried joyfully. “Hello, ice cream and swimming and flip-flops—”
“And lots and lots of Critter Club!” added Amy.
The Critter Club was an animal rescue shelter the girls started. They got the idea from their friend, Ms. Sullivan, after the girls found her lost puppy, Rufus. Amy’s mom, a veterinarian, was a huge help too. Together they had turned Ms. Sullivan’s big, empty barn into a cozy shelter for lost and lonely animals.
Thanks to The Critter Club, three abandoned bunnies had new homes. Right now the Club had no animal guests . . . except for Rufus, of course!
That was about to change.
Marion opened her notebook. “We’ve already got ten families signed up for pet-sitting!” she said.
Ellie let out a happy squeal. “Yay! Amy’s mom was right. Pet-sitting was such a great idea!”
“I think so too!” said Amy. “While families are away on summer vacation, their pets can stay here in Ms. Sullivan’s barn!”
Liz flopped backward onto the soft, warm grass. She was so happy and excited! She’d get to spend lots of time with her friends, and she was done with homework until September!
The truth was that Liz sometimes had a hard time with school work—especially math. She would definitely not miss math over vacation.
The girls talked about their other summer plans. Marion was going to a music day camp for the month of July. She had been taking piano lessons since she was five.
Amy was going to help out at her
mom’s veterinary clinic. She also planned to spend a lot of weekends with her dad in Orange Blossom. “He just got a pool in his backyard,” Amy said.
Ellie and her little brother Toby had fun plans with their grandmother, Nana Gloria. “She’s going to take us to the library and the zoo and the Santa Vista pool!” Ellie said excitedly.
Liz sat up on the grass. “Well, guess what I’m doing?” she said.
“Art?” guessed Ellie, Amy, and Marion at the same time. All four girls started laughing.
“How did you guess?” Liz said with a grin. Of course, her friends knew she loved to paint and draw. Ms. Cummings’s art room was Liz’s favorite place at school. There, she never felt like the one who didn’t “get it”—unlike in math class.
“Okay, you’re right!” Liz said. “Ms. Cummings is teaching a class in July at the Santa Vista Library!” Liz glanced at Amy. “I’ll look for you there?”
Amy giggled and nodded. “In the mystery section. I plan to read every Nancy Drew they’ve got, but first, I’ll see you all at school tomorrow—for our last day!”
The girls hopped onto their bikes and headed to their homes for dinner.
Liz took a deep, happy breath as she pedaled. The warm air blew through her wavy blond hair.
Just one more day of school, she thought. Then, let the summer begin!
All About Ellie Page 2