Bad News Nails by Jill Santopolo Page B

Aly said. Then she took a sparkle pen and wrote in Soccer Spa Party from the ten o’clock to two o’clock slots so they would have time for setup and cleanup too.
    â€œHey.” Jenica looked around. “How come you’re closed today if you guys are here?”
    â€œWe’re going to a fiesta tonight!” Brooke answered. “And we have to make ourselves fancy!”
    â€œA gala,” Aly told Jenica. “She means a gala. It’s for women who run businesses.”
    â€œAnd we get to wear sparkly dresses and stay out past our regular bedtimes because that’s what happenswhen you run a business,” Brooke said, pushing her glasses up on her nose.
    Jenica looked impressed. “That’s really awesome,” she said.
    Aly smiled. If anyone had told her at the beginning of the school year that the coolest sixth grader at Auden Elementary would think she was doing something awesome right now, she never would have believed it. But because of the Sparkle Spa, tons of people at school she’d never talked to before came up to her all the time, telling her how great her business was and asking if they could come by. Everyone, that is, except for Suzy Davis. Aly shook her head to get Suzy Davis out of her brain.
    â€œThanks,” Aly said to Jenica.
    â€œYeah, thanks,” Brooke said. “Aly, are you going to finish my pedicure? My big toe is the only one polished, and he feels lonely.”
    Jenica and Aly laughed. “On my way,” Aly said.
    â€œSee you on Tuesday for our rainbow sparkles,” Jenica told the girls. “And have fun tonight.”
    She left the Sparkle Spa, and Aly got back to work on Brooke’s toes.
    â€œDo you think we will have fun tonight?” Brooke asked.
    Aly thought about it. “With fancy dresses and sparkly nails and staying out late, I think it might be our best night ever.”
    Brooke smiled. “Me too!”

two
Grayce Under Pressure
    A few hours later the girls were all ready. Their nails were polished, and they were both wearing their sparkly dresses and gold sandals. Aly had braided beads into Brooke’s hair, and Brooke had made Aly a beaded ribbon that she’d worn as a headband.
    â€œI think we look beautiful,” Brooke told Aly.
    Aly had to agree.
    â€œYes, you do,” Mrs. Tanner said as she and Joan entered the Sparkle Spa. “Beautiful and sparkly.” Mom looked like she was going to cry.
    â€œAnd so do you and Joan,” Brooke added.
    Wow! Aly thought. Aly hardly recognized her mother. She was wearing a Midnight Blues dress, and her hair was sleek and smooth around her long, dangly earrings.
    Joan’s shiny dress was the color of Red Hot Pepper nail polish. They each had Grayce Under Pressure on their nails, a new color Mom had ordered that was dark gray with a little bit of a shimmer.
    â€œWho’s ready to go to a fancy-pants party?” Joan asked.
    â€œMe!” Brooke raised her hand.
    â€œThen let’s go!” Mom said. “I heard the food is going to be delicious.”
    Everyone carefully piled into Mom’s car. She drove to Francie’s, the nicest—and biggest—restaurant in their town. It was so big that at least seven True Colors regulars had gotten married there, includingMiss Lulu, who had had twelve bridesmaids!
    When they reached the restaurant, a man wearing a tuxedo greeted Mom’s car. He opened the doors for them and helped them out onto a long red carpet that led to the entrance to the restaurant.
    â€œI feel like a movie star!” Brooke whispered to Aly.
    Aly did too, but she also felt a little bit nervous. She’d never been to a party like this before. Even though she was the big sister, she grabbed Brooke’s hand. Aly always felt better when she and Brooke stuck together like a team.
    The girls walked into the restaurant with Mom and Joan behind them. First, Aly saw a woman in a long silver dress playing the