Mia's Baker's Dozen by Coco Simon Read Free Book Online Page A

And I know from science class that owls are predators. They eat cute little chipmunks and mice.
    â€œMia, I think you might need some extra help in this class,” she said softly, in English. She wasn’t mean or angry at all. It seemed like she really wanted to help me. She started to write on a piece of paper. “I know some excellent tutors. Please give this to your parents and tell them to call me if they have any questions.”
    â€œThank you, Señora,” I said quietly, and then I walked back to my seat. I couldn’t keep my secret any longer now. I’d have to give my parents the note. But I didn’t have to give it to them right away.
    I’ll give it to them, I told myself, w hen the time is right! Because they’re all too happy now for me to spoil it.

CHAPTER 9
    Sydney Needs My Help. Really?
    O kay, so I tec h nically couldn’t give my parents the note that night because my dad was in Manhattan and my mom was working late. It was just me and Eddie and Dan, and Eddie is technically my ste p parent, not my parent. So I left the note in my Spanish book.
    We had a Cupcake Club meeting at Katie’s house the next day after school. Katie’s mom was there. Mrs. Brown has curly brown hair and Katie’s smile, and she’s really nice. She’s the one who taught Katie how to make cupcakes.
    â€œCome on in, girls, I’ve got it all set up for you,” Mrs. Brown said as we went into the kitchen. Katie’s kitchen is small, but it’s got everything you need to make cupcakes in it. Her mom has everykitchen gadget you’ve ever heard of—and some you haven’t heard of.
    We quickly got to work making a test batch of Ava’s snowy cupcakes. Katie and I made the chocolate batter, and Emma and Alexis worked on the extra frosting.
    â€œI want to get it extra fluffy,” Emma said as they put the ingredients in the mixer bowl. “So it looks like snow.”
    â€œGreat idea,” I said. I opened up my bag. “Good news! My mom found the silver cupcake liners for us.”
    â€œShe’s so nice,” Katie said, smiling at me, and I figured that whatever was bothering her wasn’t anymore. Maybe she was just uncomfortable around people she didn’t know, and that’s why she was quiet when Ava was visiting.
    As we baked the cupcakes we talked about school and stuff, and then Katie asked me, “So how did you do on that Spanish test?”
    I frowned. “I can’t bear to say it.” Instead, I used the wooden spoon in my hand to draw an F in the bowl of batter.
    â€œYou failed? No way!” Katie cried. “But you studied so hard.”
    â€œI know,” I said. “Señora says I need a tutor.”
    â€œWill your parents get you one?” Emma asked.
    I bit my lower lip. “Well, they kind of don’t know yet. I’m waiting for the right moment to tell them.”
    â€œThat must be so hard,” Katie said sympathetically.
    â€œYou should tell them soon,” said Alexis, always the practical one. “They’re going to find out eventually. And the sooner you get some help in Spanish, the better. You’ve put this off long enough. I thought maybe if you studied a little harder, you’d be okay, but things are obviously getting worse instead of better.”
    â€œJust talk to your mom, Mia,” Katie said. “I’m sure once you tell her everything, it will be all right.”
    â€œI know, I know!” I said crossly. “Can we please talk about cupcakes instead of school?”
    Nobody said anything for a while after that, and I felt kind of bad for losing it. But soon we were back in our groove again, and I was decorating our first test cupcake.
    â€œIt’s perfect!” Alexis said, and I had to admit it looked pretty good. The silver liner was really pretty, the icing was nice and fluffy, and the sparkles looked good on top of the