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

coconut.
    â€œLet me take a picture and I’ll send it to Ava,” I said.
    A minute later Ava texted me back.
    It’s pretty, but the coconut looks too big or something. Not like snowflakes.
    Alexis rolled her eyes. “Great. Another picky client.”
    â€œHey, she’s my friend,” I reminded her. “Besides, she kind of has a point.”
    The coconut flakes from the package did look a little big. Luckily for us, Mrs. Brown walked in just then.
    â€œThat’s beautiful!” she said.
    â€œExcept Ava doesn’t like it,” Katie said, and then explained about the coconut.
    Katie’s mom looked thoughtful. “I think I have just the thing,” she said finally.
    She opened up the small pantry closet by the back door and came back with a weird-looking device.
    â€œIt’s a veggie chopper,” she said. “Normally you could use it to chop onions into small pieces. But I bet it will work on the coconut.”
    She put a pile of coconut on a cutting board,put the chopper on top of it, and then pressed down a few times. When she picked up the chopper, the coconut underneath was very finely shredded.
    â€œThat looks a lot more like snow,” Katie remarked. “Let’s try another one.”
    So Katie iced another cupcake, and I sprinkled the coconut flakes and glittery sugar on top.
    â€œMuch better,” agreed Mrs. Brown. “I’m sure your friend will like it.”
    â€œLet’s see,” I said. I sent another photo to Ava.
    This time she was happy. Here was her reply:

    â€œShe loves it!” I reported, and we all cheered.
    â€œI think I’ve got all the details down so we can re-create this for the party,” Alexis said. “Otherwise, we’re meeting at my house on Saturday morning to do the Valentine’s cupcakes, right?”
    â€œRight,” Emma said.
    â€œMy mom said she’d help us drop them off at the bookstore,” I told them.
    Alexis shut her notebook. “Just one more thing,” she said. She gave each of us a sheet of paper. “Letme know what you think, and then I’ll get the ad up on the PTA website next week.”
    We all read Alexis’s ad:
    Need a sweet treat for your next party or event? Let us do the baking for you! Click here to contact the Cupcake Club. We can do any flavor or amount you want. And we’re having a baker’s dozen special for all new customers! Buy a dozen cupcakes and get one free!
    â€œI like the ‘sweet treat’ part,” Katie said.
    â€œIt’s really good, Alexis,” Emma said.
    I nodded. “The baker’s dozen was a great idea, Katie,” I said. “I’ll bet we’ll get lots of new business from this.”
    When the meeting was over, Eddie picked me up and brought me home. Mom was home, but she was working in her office. And at dinner she seemed really distracted. So I decided it wouldn’t be fair to give her the note while she was so busy.
    The next day was Friday, and I was glad it was the last day of the week. No tests, and we had ourleftover snowy cupcakes for Cupcake Friday.
    But then something really unexpected happened at lunch. Here’s how it went down. While I was eating lunch, Sydney Whitman actually came up to our lunch table.
    â€œMia, can I talk to you a minute?” she asked. “I need a favor.”
    â€œSure,” I said. I turned to my friends and raised my eyebrows, giving that I don’t know what she wants look. Then I followed her over to the wall.
    â€œThanks,” she said. “I got this text from Jackson Montano, and it’s in Spanish. Usually I’d ask Callie, but she’s home because she’s sick today.”
    What could I say? Should I launch into my entire “I can speak Spanish really well, but I have problems reading and writing it” explanation? Meanwhile, Queen Sydney stood in front of me with her arms crossed, waiting for me to say