Free Cinderella Smith by Stephanie Barden

because I knew it bothered the Rosemarys, I started tap dancing right in front of them, and Erin joined right in.
    â€œHey! Tap dancing!” Abby and Hannah ran over to us in their pumpkin costumes. “Can we do it too?”
    â€œSure!” I yelled. “The more the merrier!” And we all tapped together. The Rosemarys just looked at us for a couple seconds and then race-walked away as fast as they could, because they hate to run.

Chapter 14
Wedges
    M y mom drove us over to Erin’s the next morning. The house was all full of people delivering things and decorating. My mom went to find Erin’s mom, and we stood out of the way on the stairs. I felt a little like Victoria from It’s Me or the Dog , pretending to be invisible and watching closely.
    â€œWhich ones are your stepsisters?” I asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” said Erin.
    My mom appeared with Mrs. Devlin. She gave us each a hug. “Today’s the big day.”
    â€œYep,” said Erin. They hugged each other again.
    â€œJay will be here any minute with his daughters,” said Mrs. Devlin. “I know it’s a bit silly, but I’m going up to my bedroom to get ready and hide.”
    â€œAre you scared?” I asked.
    â€œA little nervous,” said Mrs. Devlin, “but that’s not why I’m hiding.”
    â€œI’ll get the girls all ready before I leave,” said my mom.
    â€œThank you for everything,” said Mrs. Devlin.
    â€œOf course,” said my mom. “We’re so happy for you.”
    Mrs. Devlin smiled. “After you’re ready, girls, why don’t you find Anna and Julia and introduce yourselves.” A car door slammed. “That’s them now.”
    Erin’s eyes got really big, and she grabbed my hand.
    â€œI’ll see you soon!” Mrs. Devlin raced up the stairs.
    We followed her and went into Erin’s room. My mom helped us into our dresses and French braided our hair. Noises came from the room next door.
    â€œYou two look lovely,” said my mom. She took lots of pictures of us and then gave us hugs. “Be good. Have fun. I’ll see you later tonight.”
    â€œWhat should we do?” asked Erin.
    The room next door was quiet. “I guess go find them,” I said.
    Erin covered her mouth with her hands, and her eyes got all big again.
    â€œAs long as we’re upstairs,” I said, “maybe we should see how much luggage they have.”
    Erin nodded.
    We tiptoed out of Erin’s room and peeked into the room next door. It looked like an explosion had gone off, with books and clothes and bags everywhere.
    â€œOh dear,” I whispered, “with a capital O and D .”

    Erin just stared.
    We slipped into the room for a closer look.
    â€œWicked stepsisters are messy,” said Erin.
    We sat down on one of the beds, but first had to push some things out of the way.
    I opened up the WICKED STEPSISTERS NOTEBOOK to the POSSIBLY WICKED page and erased Maybe lots of luggage. I turned to the FOR-SURE WICKED page and wrote : Lots of luggage; lots of clothes; messy.
    Erin sighed.
    â€œLet’s go find them and get more information,” I said.
    The kitchen was crazy-busy. No one noticed when we came in and climbed onto the stools at the counter. Someone was rearranging the refrigerator to make room for the food that was being delivered. Someone was unpacking glasses from a box, and someone else was washing them. Flowers were being arranged in vases, and tablecloths were being ironed.
    â€œI hope the one who’s yelling about how full the refrigerator is isn’t one of them,” I said.
    â€œMe too,” said Erin.
    â€œOr the one who keeps telling people where things go,” I said. “She seems pretty bossy.”
    â€œYeah,” said Erin.
    â€œEveryone’s busy in here,” I said. “Whoever your stepsisters are, they’re working hard.”
    â€œExcept those