Maeve on the Red Carpet Read Online Free Page B

compliment that Ms. Pink recognized exactly who I was pretending to be.
    “I’m looking for inspiration,” I explained, carefully wrapping the soft magenta boa back on one of the pink mannequins. “I’m starting the New York Film Academy Camp tomorrow, and I can’t think of any good movieideas! I thought I’d try to get in touch with the Audrey in me.”
    “I see,” Ms. Pink replied. She stood behind me and admired her own reflection. I admired her reflection too! She was, as usual, a burst of colorful pink rosiness—right to her hair, which was dyed bright pink. What I loved most about Ms. Pink was her motto—
surround yourself with what you love
. Guess what Ms. Pink loved? Obviously …
pink
. Oh, and her dog, the beauteous pink poodle and Marty’s sweetheart, La Fanny.
    “My brother, Sam, left to visit my grandpa this morning, so I thought it would be easy for me to come up with an idea at my house … but now that I
finally
have some peace and quiet …”
    “Let me guess … the peace and quiet made it
harder
to think?” It was like Ms. Pink could read my mind.
    “
So
much harder,” I confessed. “It’s so frustrating! I really want to impress Artemia Aaron tomorrow. Oh, this is horrible. I think I have ack-
tour
’s block.”
    Ms. Pink daintily adjusted her pink wool beret in the mirror and smiled. “I have an idea.” She ran into the back room for a second and came back with both hands hidden behind her back.
    “What is it?” I asked Razzberry, my voice shaking a little with excitement.
    “Think pink!” Ms. Pink exclaimed and held up a sparkling pink tiara. “This is my own little treasure. I’ve had it forever, but haven’t had the heart to sell it. I couldn’t imagine
just anyone
taking it home.”
    “Oh it’s beautiful!” I gasped. “I couldn’t possibly … Thank you!”
    Ms. Pink’s smile got even wider. “I thought it could be your thinking cap.”
    I tucked the tiara into my red curls, loving how it made my hair sparkle. If Hollywood wasn’t my destiny, maybe royalty was! “I love it,” I breathed. “It’ll definitely help me think of some good ideas!”
    “
Beeeeeep! Beeeeeep!”
    Ms. Pink and I jumped at the sound of the loud horn. “Oh no!” I moaned. My mom was parked outside, and I could see Mom frantically leaning out the window and yelling something to me.
    “What?” I shouted.
    “You’re LATE!” Mom yelled and tapped her watch. I glanced at my cell phone and saw that I’d missed four calls! All from Mom.
    “Yikes! Matt!” I forgot about my math and science tutor. Total disaster city. I promised Mom I would remember this time. I snatched my backpack from the floor and threw on my coat. “Thanks for the, um,
thinking cap
, Ms. Pink!” I cried as I sprinted out of the store.
    “You’re welcome!” she called after me. “Let me know how it works out.”
    The icy air bit my nose the moment I stepped outside. Thank goodness Mom was parked right in front. “Brrrr!” I said as I snuggled into the front seat of the car.
    “Maeve Kaplan-Taylor …” (I knew it was bad when Mom used my first AND last name.) “You have a lessonin … well … five MINUTES AGO. Where have you been? You were supposed to come straight home after school.”
    “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I sorta kinda accidentally forgot.”
    Mom shook her head as we sped down Beacon Street. “Forgot? How could you forget? I’ve been calling you for the past twenty minutes! Why didn’t you pick up your cell phone?”
    “I sorta kinda accidentally put it on silent …”
    “Silent?” Mom rolled her eyes. “Honestly, what’s the point of getting your daughter a cell phone if she doesn’t pick it up?”
    I reached into my pocket, pulled out my little pink cell phone, and waved it in the air. “Because … it matches perfectly with my
new pink tiara
!” I shook my ringlets at Mom so she’d notice my newest accessory.
    “Pink tiara …” Mom’s frown slowly turned into a half-smile.