Sweet Victory by Sheryl Berk

eloquently than I could,” her principal replied. “Besides, you organized this entire bake sale. I think Blakely should understand how important it is.”
    â€œGo ahead, chica .” Jenna gave her a little shove. “You can do it.”
    A few minutes later, as the crowds started pouring in, Sadie followed Principal Fontina into her office. She watched as the principal flipped a switch and a loud chime sounded.
    â€œGood morning, girls and boys and parents. May I have your attention, please?”
    She handed Sadie the microphone. “It’s all yours.”
    Sadie took a deep breath. “Hi, um, this is Sadie Harris. I wanted to tell you about a really important fund-raiser going on today and tomorrow. It’s to benefit the American Cancer Society. I never knew anyone who had cancer before, but then someone really important to me got it. I hope you will buy a cupcake, or three or four, or a dozen from Peace, Love, and Cupcakes. We’re baking to beat cancer!”
    She handed the mic back to Principal Fontana. “Was that okay?”
    â€œMore than okay. It was wonderful.”
    The rest of the morning, the PLC girls took turns selling cupcakes in between their classes. Sadie had a second-period study hall, so she manned the second shift.
    â€œThe custodial staff would like five dozen, please,” Mr. Mullivan said. He handed Sadie three hundred dollars. “We all chipped in. Please take this and tell Coach we’re rooting for her.”
    When it was Lexi’s turn to sell, the entire Blakely hip-hop squad—led by resident mean girl Meredith Mitchell—stopped by. “We want ten dozen,” she said. “I don’t really like cupcakes, but my daddy gave me this check to treat all the girls.”
    Lexi stared at the number written on it. “Does this say one thousand, five hundred dollars? Really? That’s so nice of you, Meredith!”
    Meredith smirked, “Well, of course it is.” She noticed a photographer with a press pass snapping pictures. “Oh, here, get my good side!” she said, posing for the camera. “And make sure you spell my name right.” Then she handed the boxes to her posse—Abby, Bella, and Emily—to carry as they trailed behind her.
    During lunch, Jenna and Kylie were in charge. “We better sell a lot of cupcakes,” Jenna complained. “It’s chicken nugget day in the cafeteria, and I hate to miss my nuggets.”
    Ms. Shottland, Kylie’s fourth-grade teacher, waved to them. She was leading an entire army of Blakely teachers, administrators, and aides down the hall.
    â€œWe came to buy cupcakes,” she said smiling. “How many can you spare?”
    â€œAre you kidding?” Kylie said. “As many you want!”
    â€œHow about we’ll each take a dozen—and I think this should cover it.” She handed Kylie an envelope, filled with cash and checks.
    â€œThat’s five thousand dollars—we all chipped in,” another one of her teachers, Ms. Levenharz, said.
    â€œOMG, that’s más que suficiente !” Jenna replied, counting the bills.
    Dozens of students poured out of the cafeteria next, clutching cash and checks from their parents. A reporter from the New Fairfield Daily News was also there, diligently taking notes and interviewing students and teachers. “I’m going to write a story for tomorrow’s paper,” she told the girls. “Let’s spread the word and get you even more customers.”
    â€œI can’t believe this,” Kylie said, handing out cupcake after cupcake. “I wonder if we’ll make even more money than we planned.”
    Sadie could barely make it through the crowd to reach them. “This is amazing,” she said. “I wish Coach Walsh could see how much support she has here at Blakely.”
    Herbie snuck up behind them. “Then I think you should go visit her and tell her.