Let's Rock! by Sheryl Berk Page A

giant white marshmallow suit made its way past her. Three boys trailed behind it, in beige jumpsuits, wearing backpacks.
    â€œI could be wrong, but I think it’s
Ghostbusters
,” Rochelle said.
    â€œOoh, I love that movie!” Anya added. “
Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!
”
    Scarlett surveyed the backstage area. There were a lot of salutes to Hollywood—both old and new. She spotted a teen duet between “Scarlett O’Hara” and “Rhett Butler,” a group dance to a
Harry Potter
theme, and a Shirley Temple Junior Solo.
    â€œWhat’s with the giant lollipop?” Rochelle asked her. “And all those curls?”
    â€œâ€˜On the Good Ship Lollipop,’” Scarlett explained. “We have some serious competition here.”
    Toni looked just as concerned, especially when she saw Justine and City Feet take their places in the wings.
    â€œWhat is
that
?” Liberty asked, noticing the stagehands decorating the ceiling with giant gold rings. The girls were each dressed in a simple gray cloak.
    â€œ
Lord of the Rings
,” Toni said, and sighed.
    Liberty studied the drab costumes and made a face. “Don’t they have any mirrors at Stinky Feet Studios?”
    â€œYou know Justine always has a trick up her sleeve,” Scarlett said.
    As the music thundered over the speakers, the girls burst onstage. Mandy reached up as a pair of gold rings floated down from the ceiling. She whipped off her cape to reveal a gold sequin leotard.
    â€œShe’s going to do a gymnastics routine on the rings,” Anya marveled. “Wow. This is like Cirque du Soleil!”
    Gracie pushed through the Divas to get a better look. “I can do that,” she said. “My gymnastics teacher taught me how.”
    â€œNow you tell us?” Liberty complained.
    While Mandy twirled high above the stage, the rest of the girls de-cloaked to reveal gold-fringed skirts and halter tops. They raced around the stage doing an impressive acro routine of leaps, splits, and jumps. Regan and Addison performed a series of one-handed cartwheels while Phoebe showed off her
fouettés
.
    â€œI lost count. How many turns was that?” Bria asked.
    â€œA gazillion.” Rochelle sighed. “They are really kicking our butts.”
    At the end of the dance, the judges gave them a standing ovation. The team strolled offstage past the Divas.
    â€œTop that!” Addison boasted. “If we were inthe Olympics, that would have been a gold medal.”
    Rochelle elbowed Liberty. “You want to answer that one, or should I?”
    â€œBe my guest,” Liberty said, fuming. “I’m too disgusted.”
    Rochelle cleared her throat. “If you think your Lord of the Losers number is going to even come close to touching us, you’re sadly mistaken.”
    â€œWe’ll see.” Phoebe grinned. She looked at Bria’s Charlie Chaplin costume. “Too bad that other team seems to have the same idea as you.” She pointed to the wings where a group of boys were waiting to go on. They were dressed in black suits, hats, canes, and mustaches.
    â€œOh no!” Scarlett exclaimed. “It’s the Little Tramp!”
    â€œIt’s actually five of them.” Bria gulped. “An army of Charlies!”
    â€œLet’s not panic.” Scarlett tried to calm them down. “Our routine is really amazing.”
    â€œPerforming a jazz routine called ‘Funny YouShould Mention It,’ please welcome the Oh Boy! Dance Studio from Omaha, Nebraska.”
    The five Chaplins lined up onstage and launched into a slapstick comedy jazz routine. One of them even sat on a judge’s lap!
    â€œOh, this is just awful!” Bria cried.
    â€œNo, it’s really good,” Gracie said. “These guys are so funny!”
    The number ended with one of the boys getting hit in the face with a whipped-cream pie.
    Gracie burst out laughing. “I