charms
âWe were talking about Suzy Davisâs makeup Picture Day business and whether I was going to go. I think probably yes. Just to be nice. And you look fantastic!â
Lily sighed. âThen I guess Iâll go too.â
Charlotte twirled her hair around her fingers. âI really donât like that girl, but if you two are going, Iâm in.â
Right after eating lunch, and after theyâd pulled out their Sparkle Spa mirrors to make sure they didnât have any pizza sauce in their teeth or around their mouths or in their hair, Aly, Lily, and Charlotte headed over to the girlsâ bathroom near the cafeteria.
âLetâs get this over with,â Charlotte said, adjusting her headband.
âIt might be nice,â Aly said. âI mean, fairy dust is actually kind of cool.â
âAnd worth it now, for a dollar,â Lily added.
âI guess,â Charlotte said.
Lily pushed the door to the bathroom, but it opened only a crack.
âOuch!â
âHey, please move over so we can get in,â Lily called through the crack.
âTrying!â the person called back.
Lily pushed the door the rest of the way open. And Aly stopped right where she stood. There were so many people in the bathroom. Maybe more than there were in the Sparkle Spa the day before. Kids could barely move.
Suzy opened the door to the second stall and poked her head out. âMore people?â she asked, holding a white triangle that looked like it had glimmering fairy dust on it.
âItâs us, Suzy,â Aly said. âBut we can leave if you donât have time for us.â
âActually . . . ,â Suzy said, pushing through the crowd. âIâll be right back, everyone. Just let me through. I need to talk to them.â
Suzy stopped in front of Aly. She whispered into her ear, âIs, um, is there any way you can help? There are so many people and only one of me, and I donât have enough time to do everyone myself. People have been polite so far, but I can tell theyâre going to get mad soon.â
She continued, âI mean, Iâd be mad if it was me and I had to stand in a crowded bathroom for so long. So . . . any chance you could help? Iâll, um, Iâll give you fairy dust and shimmer lip gloss for free.â
Aly finally closed her mouth. She was in shock. But then Suzyâs question began to sink in. Aly had come to the girlsâ bathroom because she wanted to be nice. And what could be nicer than giving someone a hand when they needed one?
âOkay,â Aly whispered back.
âUm, one more thing,â Suzy said. âIs there any chance you can ask Lily and Charlotte too?â
Aly grimaced. Convincing Charlotte would be rough.
âIâll talk to them,â she said.
Suzy headed back to the second stall. And Aly explained the situation to Lily and Charlotte.
âFree fairy dusty and lip gloss?â Lily said. âOkay, Iâll help.â
Charlotte glared at Lily. âYou know I donât like her,â she hissed. âButâbut . . . I guess I can be nice and help out. Sheâd just better be grateful.â
Suzy worked her way back and handed each of the girls a container of sparkly powder, a tub of lip gloss, a packet of little foam triangles, and a bunch of Q-tips.
She quickly gave instructions. âUse the triangles to pat fairy dust on cheeks, and the Q-tips to put on the lip gloss. You can only use one per person, and then throw them away. Itâs important we donât pass germs. My dad knows, because heâs a doctor.
âOkay, everyone!â Suzy announced loudly. âYouâre all really lucky because my assistants are finally here!â
â What! â Charlotte yelped. Lily elbowed her.
Aly just shook her head.
âI need everyone to form four lines,â Suzy continued. âOne in front of me, one in front of Aly, one in