Free Bad News Nails by Jill Santopolo Page A

to run the Sparkle Spa, which led to the girls deciding to create officialjob titles and business cards for themselves and their friends who had helped.
    She and Brooke were now co–chief executive officers. As CEOs, they were in charge of pretty much everything in the spa: the Color of the Week, special occasion manicures, the jewelry-making station, and customer service. Most important was the fund-raising jar, which held the money their customers donated for manicures and pedicures. When the jar filled up, Aly and Brooke would pick a worthy charity or cause and donate the money there.
    â€œIt’s a good thing Mom bought us little purses to match our shoes,” Brooke said. “We can keep the cards in there.”
    Mom really did think of everything. Aly wanted to be just like her when she grew up—smart and organized and successful.
    â€œThree,” Aly said, “I’m excited for the auction!”As part of the gala, the attendees could “sell” things to help raise money for Businesswomen Unite, and Mom had offered to auction an internship at True Colors to anyone interested in learning how to run a small business. Aly thought that was really nice of her mom, teaching someone else how to be a business owner. She felt pretty lucky that Mom had taught her and Brooke for free.
    â€œI hope the True Colors intern is as cool as Joan,” Brooke said.
    Aly had filed Brooke’s toenails and now was painting them with a layer of clear polish so Under Watermelon would stick better.
    â€œMe too,” Aly said. “But that’ll be hard. Joan’s the coolest grown-up we know.”
    Just as Aly painted Brooke’s big toe pink, Jenica Posner poked her head into the spa. Jenica was a sixth grader at their school, captain of the AudenElementary girls’ soccer team, and the Sparkle Spa’s first—and best—customer.
    â€œOh, good!” she said. “You’re here! Charlotte said the Sparkle Spa was closed today, so I didn’t know if you’d be around.”
    â€œIs your nana getting her nails done at True Colors?” Brooke asked from the pedicure chair.
    Jenica nodded. “Anyway, I came to ask what you guys thought about having a spa party for the soccer team. We only have one more game this season—the state finals—and since it’s such a big deal that we got that far, I thought we should celebrate.”
    â€œWe could totally do that,” Aly said. “What did you have in mind to make it different from your weekly pedicures?”
    Jenica shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’m sure you guys will think of something cool. You did invent the rainbow sparkle pedicure after all.”
    Brooke smiled—she was actually the one who had invented the pedicure, and for some reason, all the players on the team believed it had given them extra luck for their games this season. They’d been coming in every Tuesday afternoon to get their rainbow sparkle power refreshed ever since the salon opened. “We’ll come up with something fantabulous,” she told Jenica.
    â€œWhen do you want to have the party?” Aly asked. Part of being in charge of their business meant organizing all of the practical things, like dates and times of special events.
    â€œWell, the state finals are a week from tomorrow,” Jenica said, leaning against the door frame, “so how about the day after? Next Sunday?”
    Aly got up and looked at the wall calendar Charlotte had made. She had been named COO—chief operating officer—of the Sparkle Spa to make everything runsmoothly on the days they were open, but she had to check her plans with Aly and Brooke first. There was nothing scheduled on the calendar yet for next Sunday.
    â€œYou got it,” Aly said. “What time?”
    Jenica tightened her ponytail. “How about eleven to one? And we’ll order some pizza too.”
    â€œSounds great to me,”