wheelchair proudly showed off her papier-mâché sculpture.
âItâs my Peekapoo puppy, Scooty,â she said. âIsnât it lifelike?â
The judges looked closely, admiring how she had etched tiny lines to represent fur in the plaster. âQuite detailed,â said one of the judges, a gray-haired gentleman with a mustache. âI can see how much work you put into it.â The woman beamed.
When they arrived at Lexiâs painting, the judges stared long and hard for several minutes.
âWhat do you call it?â one judge asked her.
âSweet Sensation,â Lexi replied proudly.
âI see,â he answered.
Lexi gulped. He wasnât smiling. None of the judges were. In fact, the one with short black hair and an earring in her nose looked bored.
âIâve seen so many still lifes today.â She yawned. âYouâve seen one, youâve seen them all.â
âItâs a cupcakeâitâs very different from a bowl of apples,â Lexi tried to explain. âAnd if you look over there, my friends and I did all the cupcakes for the art show with a mini painting on them. Because cupcakes are truly art.â
The other female judge with bright red hair turned to see where Lexi was pointing. âOh, my! Isnât that interesting!â
All three judges made their way to the cupcake table. âHave one? Or two or three!â Kylie said, offering them each a treat. âThis was all Lexiâs idea. Amazing, huh?â
The redheaded judge took a bite. âHeavens! So many colors!â
âI know! Cool, isnât it?â Kylie said, offering her a second. âItâs a rainbow tie-dye cupcake.â
âSpectacular use of primary shades,â the gentleman added, licking frosting off his upper lip.
âItâs rad,â the third judge decreed.
âIs rad badâ¦or good?â Delaney whispered to Kylie.
âI donât know. But I think weâre about to find out.â The judges huddled and began to debate the entries.
âThey hated it.â Lexi sighed, joining her fellow PLCers. âI think I put one of them to sleep.â
âCome on, Lex. Donât give up yet!â Kylie said, squeezing her friendâs hand. âYou did an amazing job. Letâs wait and see what they say.â
After much deliberation, the judges handed an envelope to a woman in a pink suit at the back of the room. The lady smiled and stepped up to the microphone.
âHello, everyone,â she said cheerfully. âMy name is Meghan Wilkie, and I am the president of the New Fairfield Amateur Art Society. Welcome to our fifth annual spring show.â The crowd applaudedâall except for Lexi, who was biting her nails.
âI am so pleased to see such a wonderful turnout this morning, and such a wide array of artwork. Everything from paintings, sculptures, and videos to art of the edible variety.â She motioned to the cupcake table.
âDid she just call our cupcakes art?â Jenna whispered.
âSo now, without any further ado, I would like to announce third place. It goes to Neal Dutta for his amazing recyclable art installation entitled âScrap Heap!ââ
The crowd cheered as Sadie watched the artist come up and claim his white ribbon. âThat junk won? That is nuts!â she said.
âShhh!â Lexi hushed her. She was now pacing the floor. âI canât take the suspense!â
âIn second place, we have âPears on a Platterâ by Charity Jackson. Congratulations!â A teenage girl with wavy brown hair stepped up to receive her red ribbon.
âOh, no! Another still life won? Iâll never win now!â Lexi said, burying her head in Kylieâs shoulder.
âAnd finally, Iâm proud to bestow first place on a most unusual artistic display,â Mrs. Wilkie continued. âThe judges were unanimous that this one deserved the top prize