Recipe for Trouble by Sheryl Berk Page A

fourth-grade book report! She raised her hand. “Mr. Higgins, I really can’t play this part,” she pleaded.
    â€œOf course you can,” he replied. “You did an excellent job the other day, and I have no doubt you will make a great Juliet.” That made Lexi feel a tiny bit better…until she saw Jeremy’s face. He looked as scared as she did.
    Juliette came over to her desk to offer more encouragement. “Lexi, no one read Juliet the way you did. You totally get her, and I think doing this play will be really good for you. It will help you come out of your shell.”
    Lexi sighed. She didn’t want to come out of her shell. She liked it just fine in there. In fact, she wanted to crawl back in right now, like a turtle, and stay tucked away till the play was over.

Lexi tried to forget about the entire day as she piped strawberry frosting into delicate swirls on a cupcake. A client wanted three dozen that looked like tutus for a ballet recital, and they had only a few hours after school to bake and decorate them.
    â€œDon’t talk about it,” Kylie whispered to Jenna.
    â€œTalk about what?” asked Jenna, popping another tray filled with white chocolate chip batter into the oven.
    â€œYou know what ,” whispered Sadie.
    â€œOh, you mean the play!” Jenna blurted out. The frosting in Lexi’s hand squirted up and out of the top of the bag.
    â€œHmm, my mom’s not going to be happy with pink polka dots on the ceiling, but I think it’s pretty.” Kylie tried to lighten the mood.
    â€œSorry,” Lexi sighed. “I’m just freaking out over this whole play thing. I can’t play Juliet. I’ll forget my lines. Or throw up. Or pass out. Or fall off the balcony.”
    â€œWell, I’m on scenery, so I’ll make sure I build you a nice cushy tree to break your fall,” joked Jenna.
    â€œI mean it, guys, I can’t do this!” Lexi cried.
    â€œLex, you say that every time we give you a new cupcake to decorate for an order, and you wow us,” said Kylie. “Do I have to remind you about the hedgehog cupcakes?”
    Sadie nodded. “The toasted oats and coconut for the spiky fur was pure genius.”
    â€œYou said you couldn’t do that either, and you did,” Kylie insisted. “You can do this too. We’ll be right there, cheering you on.”
    â€œThanks,” said Lexi, picking up her pastry bag again. “But my mind’s made up. I’m going to tell Juliette tomorrow that I won’t do it. Let her give the role to Meredith or someone else.”
    â€œYou want someone else kissing Jeremy?” Jenna gasped.
    â€œNo. But what choice do I have? Sadie, what about you?”
    Sadie looked up. “What about me?”
    â€œYou’re Lady Capulet. Can’t you just switch parts with me?”
    Sadie shook her head. “I’m nervous enough having to memorize all those lines with my dyslexia,” she said. “Juliet has twice as many. Sorry, Lexi. No can do!”
    â€¢ • •
    That night, Lexi’s Aunt Dee called to find out how the first few weeks of school and the cupcake club were going.
    â€œOkay, I guess,” Lexi replied.
    â€œOkay? Just okay? Not fantabulous?”
    Lexi smiled. She loved how Dee always put two words together to make her own new word, like fantabulous (fantastic and fabulous), splendiful (splendid and wonderful), and gramazing (great and amazing). Shakespeare had nothing on her! Aunt Dee was an original, and people were drawn to her, as Lexi’s mom said, “like bees to honey.” Lexi wished the same was true for her. Why couldn’t she have more confidence and charm? A certain “somethin’-somethin’,” her aunt called it. Lexi pictured it as a magical neon sign that sat over your head and flashed, “I’m special! Everyone loves me!” But she was pretty sure if there was any sign over