Free Sugar and Spice by Sheryl Berk

“sparkling.” When she reached the far right corner of the stage, Mr. Jim nodded at her and she stepped off.
    â€œThank you , Lexi,” he said. The judges applauded and jotted down notes.
    â€œYou did it, girl!” Harleigh cheered as Lexi made her way backstage again.
    â€œYour turn,” Lexi said, hugging her. “Go get ’em!”
    â€œHi, y’all,” Harleigh said brightly. “I am the gymnastics queen! With my flips and twists, I love to soar. My dream is to win a gold medal at the Olympics and make my parents and my country proud. I have faith that I can change the world, and I will do my best to help those in need. My guilty pleasure is making homemade pumpkin pie with my granny—it’s the best! From Atlanta, Georgia, I am Harleigh Park.”
    â€œThat was so good!” Lexi congratulated her after her runway walk. “You’re so relaxed and real. I wish I could be more like you.”
    â€œYou were perfect,” Harleigh told her.
    â€œPerfectly awful,” said an icy voice behind them.
    Lexi steeled her nerves and ignored Meredith’s snarky comment.
    â€œThat’s right,” Harleigh whispered. “Don’t you listen to anything she says. You’re way better than her.”
    â€œOh, we’ll see who’s better,” Meredith smirked. “My talent routine is up next.”

“Now that ’s a costume,” Ava remarked as Meredith stepped onstage. She was dressed in a black-velvet catsuit covered in gold stars. The lights dimmed, and the stars lit up and flashed to the beat of the music.
    â€œYou must be my lucky star!” Meredith sang the Madonna hit as she tap-danced across the stage while simultaneously twirling a pair of batons in the air.
    â€œA totally electrified costume,” Herbie marveled. Jenna shot him a nasty look.
    â€œI’m not saying she should win or anything—just that from a technological standpoint, it’s nifty,” he added.
    â€œHer singing and dancing isn’t nifty,” Delaney groaned, holding her ears. “It’s awful. Lexi is way better than her.”
    But the judges didn’t seem to mind. They were mesmerized by Meredith’s impressive backdrop—a black sky that flashed the words “STAR” in neon lights. In the center of the stage was a giant silver crescent moon.
    â€œWhat do you suppose that thing does?” Sadie asked. It was a split second before she had the answer. The moon suddenly floated up in the air as Meredith performed below it.
    â€œAmazing,” Herbie gushed. “Hydraulics as well.”
    â€œIt’s all flash and no substance,” Kylie insisted. “Typical Meredith.” But she watched the judges’ faces and saw how easily impressed they were. As much as she hated to admit it, Meredith was stiff competition.
    At the end of the song, Meredith bowed and tossed her baton high in the air. It flew up, up, up, right over the moon, but as it came down, it just missed her grasp. The audience watched in horror as it landed with a thud right on one of the judge’s heads.
    â€œOh! My head! My head!” the judge cried.
    â€œDo we have a doctor in the house?” Mr. Jim announced in a panic over the microphone. “Our judge, Kat Grabel, needs a doctor!”
    Lexi’s mom raced from her seat. “I’m a doctor,” she said, examining the judge, a former Miss Georgia. There was a huge goose egg on her forehead.
    â€œHow many fingers am I holding up?” Dr. Poole asked her.
    Kat squinted. “Two? Maybe four? I don’t know, y’all!”
    â€œLet’s get some ice on that bump,” Dr. Poole said. “I think you’ll be okay.”
    Kat looked at Meredith’s backdrop. “But I’m seeing stars!” she moaned.
    â€œThat’s the set—not your eyes,” Dr. Poole assured her.
    Meredith looked terrified—not that she had hurt Kat, but