Free Frosting and Friendship by Lisa Schroeder Page B

the bears.”
    I close my eyes and wish for forgiveness. “Abigail, I’m sorry. It’s just, my mom won two tickets and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”
    â€œBears, Lily. Big, hungry bears.” She sighs. “Tickets? Like, concert tickets?”
    I feel my chest tighten. “No.”
    â€œWhat kind of tickets, then?”
    I open my eyes and pace the floor. “My mom won them on the radio. Isn’t that cool? They were giving tickets away for a special class, and she won. She just left my room to get ready. You know, she really didn’t give me a choice. I have to go.”
    â€œWhat kind of class?”
    Obviously, she is not going to let me off the hook.“Have you ever watched Chef Smiley on TV?”
    It’s silent for a few seconds. Finally, she says, “You’re kidding, right?”
    â€œHe’s in Portland this week, and the radio show is sponsoring a class for some of its listeners. Doesn’t that sound amazing?”
    I cross my fingers and hope she agrees with me. “Wow,” she says. “I guess you really do want to be a baker, don’t you?”
    I shake my head and plop down on my bed. She doesn’t get it. “I don’t want to be a baker. But I do want to be a better baker than I am now, which is a terrible one. What’s wrong with wanting to learn how to bake?”
    â€œNothing, Lily, if you have all the time in the world. But you don’t! Those auditions are coming up fast, and it seems like you don’t even care.”
    â€œI do care. Honest.”
    â€œThen tell your mom you want to stay home and practice. Maybe she can find a friend to go with her.”
    I take a deep breath and try not to get upset that she’s making this so difficult. “We can practice tomorrow night. You guys don’t have lessons, so thatshould work, right? Look, I have to go. Can you call Zola and ask if we can change practice to tomorrow?”
    â€œLily.”
    â€œAbigail, please? If it were you, I’d understand. I’d want you to go and have a good time. It’s one night. That’s all. Okay?”
    She pauses before she replies in a softer voice. “Okay. I’ll call her. Will you be at school tomorrow?”
    â€œYes. We’ll probably get home late, but my mom won’t let me stay home. I’ll see you then, okay?”
    â€œBye.”
    I hang up and rush to my closet, trying to figure out what a person should wear to meet a well-known pastry chef. I decide on a simple black jersey knit dress. I wear my new polka-dot sneakers, too, for luck. I really hope a little bit of Chef Smiley’s baking skills can rub off on me.
    *  *  *
    A few hours later, we’re seated in a classroom at the Western Culinary Institute. On the way over, Mom explained it’s a school where people learn how to become chefs. The classroom has a counter coveredwith kitchen tools and ingredients. Behind the counter, along the wall, are a stove, a sink, and a refrigerator. It looks like a small kitchen in a home, but is set up so people can sit and watch what’s happening in the kitchen.
    I was hoping it’d be more of a hands-on class, where we’d all get to bake something, but that would probably be really hard to do.
    When Chef Smiley comes out, wearing his white chef shirt, he says, “Good evening, friends. I’m so glad you’re here to bake with me!” Everyone applauds.
    â€œTonight you’re in for a real treat. Literally.” He rubs his belly and laughs. “We are going to make strawberry-lime cupcakes. But as you’ll see, these aren’t your normal cupcakes. They have a tasty surprise in each one.”
    Mom and I look at each other and smile, and I admit, I’m excited. Maybe I can learn how to make fabulous cupcakes like Isabel.
    Chef Smiley continues. “Before I get started, I want you to reach under your chairs. Taped to one of them