Read Online Mia's Recipe for Disaster by Coco Simon - Free Book Online Page B

happened to me personally. I had about three hours left to finish the dress before I had to head to Angelo Ricco’s party with the Cupcake Club.
    â€œMia, you have to eat breakfast,” Mom insistedwhen she heard the sound of my sewing machine going.
    â€œCan’t eat. Have to finish,” I told her.
    â€œMia,” Mom said sternly, and I sighed and went downstairs. After a bowl of granola and a glass of OJ, I was back at work.
    Finally, I finished the last seam. I carefully cut my thread and slid the dress out of the machine. I hung it on a hanger and put the cape over it.
    â€œNot bad,” I said, admiring my own work. I could see a few places where thread was hanging out, and the back zipper looked a tiny bit crooked, but I could probably fix that after the fitting.
    Then I looked at the clock. It was only eleven! I had plenty of time to get ready.
    I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I took a long, hot shower and left the conditioner on my hair for a full three minutes, just like the bottle said. I properly blow-dried my hair and even used some shine oil on it. Then I put on my pink Cupcake Club T-shirt and my favorite pair of skinny jeans.
    By the time Alexis’s mom came by in her minivan to pick me up, I was feeling like myself again. Like the old, calm, confident Mia. I would go to the party and help out the Cupcake Club. I wouldenter the contest on time—and win! And then I would talk to Chris and see if he still liked me. I had a feeling that he did.
    Mom had lent me a garment bag, so I could safely get the dress to the party. I carefully hung it up on a hook in the backseat of the minivan. Alexis, Emma, and Katie were already in the car, and our cupcakes and table decorations were stacked back in the hatch.
    â€œMia! I missed your face,” Katie said when I climbed into the seat neat to her. “You didn’t look like you with that makeup on last night.”
    Mrs. Becker turned and smiled at us. “Do you girls have everything? Are we set to go?”
    â€œCheck and check, Mom,” Alexis told her, and then we drove to the Riccos’ house.
    The Riccos lived in a ranch-style house with a big, green front lawn covered with orange and yellow leaves and dotted with jack-o’-lanterns.
    â€œIt’s like a regular pumpkin patch,” Katie remarked as we made our way to the front door.
    A woman dressed like a fortune-teller greeted us.
    â€œHi, Mrs. Ricco,” Emma said.
    â€œEmma! I’m so glad you’re here,” she said.
    Emma introduced us. “This is Alexis, Katie, and Mia,” she said. “We’ll set up the cupcake table andthen help you with whatever you need, okay?”
    â€œOh, I am so glad to see you girls,” Mrs. Ricco said, motioning for us to follow her inside. “I’ve got the rest of the food set up, but I still need to fill all the goody bags. If you wouldn’t mind helping me with that, I’d love it.”
    â€œNo problem,” Emma said. “It won’t take us too long to set up the table.”
    Mrs. Ricco led us down to the bottom floor of the house, which was one big family room. Orange and black crepe-paper streamers looped down from the ceiling, and handmade paper ghosts decorated the walls.
    She stopped in front of a small folding table in the corner. “Will this work?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s perfect,” replied Alexis. “We’ll get started right away.”
    I was still holding the garment bag. “Um, Emma said it would be okay if she tried on the dress here, later. Is there someplace I can put it?”
    â€œOh, sure,” Mrs. Ricco said. “I think it’s so fantastic that you’ve designed your own dress. I can’t wait to see it. Here, we can hang it up in the laundry room.”
    â€œThanks,” I said, following her, and soon the dress was safely hanging from a metal rack.
    Then I got to work helping my friends.