Free Baby Cakes by Sheryl Berk & Carrie Berk Page A

I’m not ready!” Delaney cried.
    â€œWell, they apparently are.” Her mom tried to smile. “Dad’s going to take me to the hospital, and Sophie’s mom will bring you there after the performance.”
    Delaney’s head was spinning. “Wait! No! I’m going with you!”
    Her mother took her hand. “Honey, I’ll be fine. You know better than I do that the show must go on. Wilbur can’t walk out.”
    â€œBut, Mommy…” Delaney’s eyes filled with tears. “You’ll miss it.”
    â€œI’ll record the whole thing so she can watch it later,” Sophie’s dad volunteered.
    â€œAnd I’ll take good care of Mommy.” Delaney’s dad winked. “Trust me, I’ve been through this before. You were four weeks early yourself. Impatience must run in the Noonan family.”
    â€œOh!” Mrs. Noonan groaned again. “I think we should get going… now !”
    Ms. Kutchen clapped her hands and summoned everyone’s attention. “Please, everybody, take your seats, and, actors, take your places.”
    Delaney couldn’t move. She watched helplessly as her dad and mom made their way out of the auditorium. Her mom was hunched over and panting. She looked like she was in so much pain! Delaney just wanted to run after her!
    â€œLaney, everyone’s waiting for you,” Kylie said, tapping her friend gently on the shoulder.
    Delaney spun around. “I can’t. I can’t do it. How am I supposed to go up there and sing and dance when my mom is on her way to the hospital?”
    â€œWithout you, there’s no show,” Lexi reminded her.
    Kylie nodded. “You have to be strong. I know you’re scared, but we’re right here for you.”
    â€œAnd where there’s a Wilbur, there’s a way,” Jenna joked, trying to cheer her up.
    The girls escorted Delaney up the steps of the stage and behind the curtain where her classmates were all waiting. Sophie looked frantic.
    â€œI thought you were going to leave,” she said. “How can I be Charlotte if you’re not Wilbur?”
    â€œI’ll stay, I guess,” Delaney said quietly. Although it was the last thing in the world she felt like doing.
    â€œThank goodness!” Ms. Kutchen said, dotting her forehead with a handkerchief. “Show business is so much more complicated than teaching literature!”
    She took Delaney by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. “We’re counting on you, Delaney,” Ms. Kutchen said, giving her a pep talk. “Please don’t let me—I mean, us—down.”
    â€œI hope you don’t mind…I brought someone backstage to say hello.” Delaney looked up and saw Ms. Roveen in the wings. Milly was holding her hand and pulling them in Delaney’s direction.
    â€œDee-lay-nee is a piggy!” The little girl giggled. “Oink! Oink!”
    Delaney took a deep breath and tried to put on a brave face. “Hi, Milly! Are you watching the show?”
    â€œWe are,” Ms. Roveen said. “We’re loving it, and we’re hoping to see the rest.”
    Milly’s head bobbed up and down. “More! More piggy show!” She giggled.
    Delaney kneeled down so she could be snout to nose with Milly.
    â€œOkay, Princess Milly, I’ll do it for you,” she said. “You go back to your seat with Mommy, okay?”
    Milly nodded, and Delaney watched as she and Ms. Roveen settled back into their seats.
    â€œThe show will now resume,” Ms. Kutchen announced over the loudspeaker. Then she added, “I hope… Cue the curtain!”
    It was time for the big county-fair scene. Wilbur had to hold his head high and dance around his pen as the entire cast sang, “Oh, gee, what do you see? Zuckerman’s Famous Pig!” Delaney closed her eyes and tried to focus. She thought about how proud her parents would be, and how much Milly