Free You're Invited by Jen Malone

Sadie, and putting on a pretend smile like some sort of fake friend.
    â€œNow let’s get down to business.” Sadie scrubs the tears from her face with the back of her hand.
    â€œWhat did you say you were going to write, Lauren? Business stuff?” Vi asks.
    I fumble through the mess on the floor and find a notebook and my lucky test-taking pen. The least I can do is help them get this started the right way. I really want to write Business Stuff at the top, but that’s super unprofessional. Even if I’m not an official part of the business, I want to make it look the best I can for my friends. After an hour, we have something like a plan written out.
    Party-Planning Business
    Company Owners: Sadie Pleffer,
    Violet Alberhasky, Rebecca Elldridge
    â€œNo one calls me Violet,” Vi says as I read the page out loud.
    â€œThis is a business plan,” I inform her. “You have to use your full name.”
    â€œNo,” she says as she lunges for my pen.
    â€œOkay, fine!” I cross out the -olet from her name.
    Goal: To plan parties for kids (or anyone who wants to hire us).
    â€œExcept sixth-grade boys. They’re way too immature,” Becca says.
    â€œI’m not writing that down,” I say as I tap the notebook with my slim black pen.
    Benefits for Customers: We handle all the planning, book the venue, get the cake and food, book entertainment, buy party favors, send out invitations, and clean up afterward.
    â€œCan’t we hire someone to clean up?” Becca asks. “Picking up all those chips from the porch of the Poinsettia Plantation was a nightmare.”
    â€œNot if we want to keep the money we make,” Sadie says.
    Tasks: Will be split evenly among all business owners. If someone can’t get something done, she needs to tell the others right away.
    Cost: Depends on the party. Simple parties will cost less than extravagant parties. Cost will include cake, party favors, food, etc., and that part will be paid up front because we don’t have any money.
    â€œWhatever, Miss Moneybags.” Vi elbows me.
    â€œI’m not a part of this, remember? And besides, that’s for college.”
    Transportation: Bike.
    â€œWhat if something’s really far away?” Vi asks.
    Becca shoots me an innocent grin. “I think Lauren should drive us in that golf cart.”
    â€œFor the ninetieth time, I’m not in the business. And I can’t drive the cart with anyone else in it. You know that.” Becca’s only begged me at least once a week since January to take her somewhere in the golf cart.
    â€œMymom is way too busy to drive us anywhere,” Sadie says as she pushes dirt around the floor with her finger.
    â€œAnd my dad works all the time,” Vi says.
    I throw my arms up. “Okay, fine. If you’re really desperate—and I mean really, intensely desperate—I can guilt Zach into driving you somewhere. But you might regret it. Remember how much he complained just taking us to the Plantation House? And he’s a really awful driver.”
    Advertising: Get parents to make copies of flyers and put them up everywhere. Order free business cards online.
    Officers:
    â€œI nominate Sades for President,” Vi says.
    â€œSeconded,” Becca says.
    â€œSince Becs got that party with Mrs. Campbell, maybe she should be in charge of booking parties and advertising?” Vi tightens her ponytail and looks like she wants to say something else. “But, um . . . what does that leave for me?”
    I study the paper in front of me. “A treasurer. You need someone to take care of the money. And probably someone to take notes at any business meetings.”
    â€œI know someone who’d be perfect for that,” Becca says in a singsong voice. She flutters her eyelashes at me and that guilty feeling pinches my stomach again.
    â€œNo, already. Not me. It has to be Vi.” I add another line to the