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Really Rosie
A ly Tanner was up to her elbows in suds. Her sister, Brooke, had tipped some extra soap into the pedicure basin, and now there were way more bubbles than usual covering Annie Wuâs feet.
Brooke looked over from the pedicure she was giving to Annieâs stepsister, Jayden Smith. âOh no! I think I might have overdone it with the bubbles!â she said, laughing. âSorry, Aly.â
Aly smiled at her sister. A few too many bubbles never hurt anyone.
âCan you overdo it for me too?â Jayden asked. She was a first grader and visited the Sparkle Spa pretty often.
Aly pulled one of her hands out of the water and leaned over to add more soap to Jaydenâs basin. Soon Brooke had bubbles up to her elbows as well.
âHey!â Brooke said as the lather kept growing.
Jayden started laughing. Annie, too.
âI know this might not be the best business plan,â Brooke said to Aly, âbecause itâll mean we need to buy more soap solution. But if it makes our customers laugh, maybe we should always add extra bubbles.â
Aly laughed at the idea of the Sparkle Spa covered in bubbles. âLetâs see how much it would cost, Brookester,â she said.
Aly and Brooke were the coâchief executive officers of the Sparkle Spaâthey were in charge ofthe salon and everything that happened in it. That included bubble purchasing.
âDid you girls choose colors yet?â Charlotte asked Annie and Jayden.
Charlotte was a fifth grader, like Aly, and one of Alyâs two best friends. She was also the chief operating officer of the Sparkle Spa and made sure the spa ran smoothly and was organized.
âI did,â Annie and Jayden said at the same time, holding up their nail polish bottles. Annieâs was a bright red called Really Rosie, and Jadyenâs was a dark blue called Good Knight.
Charlotte looked at her clipboard and at the girls sitting in the jewelry-making area. âHannahâs missing,â she said to Aly.
âI forgot to tell you,â Aly answered. âHannah had to cancel her appointment. Her phone was taken away in music class, and she needed to wait at school untilone of her parents could come to get it back.â
âOh no,â Sophie said. She was Brookeâs best friend and the only other third grader who worked at the Sparkle Spa. She was a manicuristâa really good oneâand was in the middle of a sparkly Lemon Aid manicure on a fourth grader named Eliza.
As Aly lifted Annieâs feet out of the warm water, she looked around the Sparkle Spa and smiled. When she and Brooke had started the salon at the beginning of the school year, they had no idea how awesome it was going to be, with so many kids coming by to get their nails done, and then staying because it was fun to hang out.
Before Aly could open the Really Rosie polish, there was a knock against the door frame that led from True Colors, Aly and Brookeâs momâs nail salon, into the Sparkle Spa in the back room.
âHello?â a manâs voice said.
Aly turned around quickly. Brooke turned too, and when she saw who it was, she jumped up. âIsaac!â she screeched, and ran over to him.
Isaac was a local photographer whoâd taken pictures of Sparkle Spa events. Heâd been visiting True Colors a lot recently because he was dating Joan, Aly and Brookeâs favorite manicurist and their momâs best friend.
âHi, Isaac,â Aly said. âDoes Mom need us?â
Isaac cleared his throat. âActually,â he said, â I need your help.â Then he noticed the Sparkle Spa customers and employees. âEveryoneâs help, if you wouldnât mind.â
Aly turned to Annie. âCould you hold on a sec?â she asked, walking over to Brooke and Isaac. Isaac rubbed his hand over the stubble on his chin, like he was nervous about something. âWhatâs going on?â she asked.
Isaac kept