By the next day, word had spread around town, and through the next town too: The Sparkle Spa was getting an awesome new home! So many girls stopped by to say congratulations and share in the excitement that the salon was close to hitting its maximum occupancy limit about eight different times.
“One out for one in!” Lily kept yelling. She had asked Aly and Brooke if she could be the “number monitor,” making sure they didn’t break any rules, since Caleb wasn’t around to do security. Aly and Brooke were really happy to give her that job, because they sure didn’t want it!
The whole soccer team stopped by to say how happy they were that their letters made a difference, and three of them even stayed for manicures. Most of the second- and third-grade Munchkins—and a few Flying Monkeys from the recent performance of The Wizard of Oz—came too. Two kindergartners even came in and asked if they could have their toes polished in a rainbow sparkle pedicure, just like the soccer team. It was chaos, but happy chaos.
“Just wanted to say how excited I am for you girls,” Mom’s regular customer Mrs. Bass said as she poked her head in from True Colors. “I think you should consider a bookshelf in the new space. I’d be happy to fill it for you.”
“That’s actually a pretty good idea,” Aly said. Mrs. Bass was always giving away books that her kids had outgrown. Aly and Brooke had about five or six books each from her, including one Aly really liked called Matilda by Roald Dahl.
Brooke nodded and then yelled, “Thanks, Mrs. Bass!”
“What else are you going to do in the new space?” Zorah asked. Sophie was giving her a We the Purple manicure.
Aly and Brooke didn’t have a chance to answer, though, because just then Suzy Davis walked through the door.
“I’m really, really happy for you guys,” Suzy said, flopping onto a beanbag chair, not sounding happy at all.
“Are you okay, Suzy?” Charlotte asked. Aly was surprised, since Charlotte was the person who got along with Suzy the very least. But Suzy did look pretty bummed.
“I’m glad that the Sparkle Spa is getting a new space,” she said. “But my mom told me that Aly and Brooke’s mom said that I can’t have Suzy’s Spectacular Makeup. It’s because of how I messed up when I worked at the Sparkle Spa a few months ago.”
Suzy was actually quiet for a few minutes. Then she added, “You guys forgave me, I don’t know why your mom won’t.”
Aly and Brooke looked at each other. It’s true that Suzy had tried to steal their clients and the soccer team’s celebration party. But in the end, it had all turned out fine, and Aly and Brooke had forgiven her. Aly hadn’t realized that the client and party stealing was the exact reason for Mom not wanting to have Suzy’s Spectacular Makeup.
Aly sent Brooke a message: Should we try to fix this?
Yes, Brooke answered.
Later that afternoon, when both the Sparkle Spa and True Colors were closed, Mom and Joan were cleaning up their salon and Aly and Brooke were cleaning up theirs.
“So what are we going to do?” Brooke asked Aly. “About Suzy, I mean.”
“Let’s make a list,” Aly said. Lists almost always helped Aly organize her thoughts. And Brooke almost always had great ideas.
Aly grabbed a marker and a piece of paper of the grayish color of Clouder Than Words nail polish.
First she wrote:
Reasons Suzy Should Be Allowed to Have Suzy’s Spectacular Makeup
Then the girls brainstormed.
1) For three days, she marched in front of True Colors with her Sparkle Spa signs, which shows that Suzy is supportive and dedicated.
2) The idea about sharing space was hers from the start, so Suzy is smart.
3) Suzy’s makeup booth at the school carnival helped the girls tie the boys, which means Suzy is a good team player.
4) People like Suzy’s Spectacular Makeup, so she knows what makes a successful business.
5) Even though she sometimes says mean things, Suzy is usually telling the truth, and telling the truth is good (even if being mean isn’t).
Aly read over the list. “Should we delete the last one?” she asked.
Brooke pushed up her glasses and nodded. “Yes,” she said. “Maybe that’s the best idea.”
Aly crossed out number five and folded the list. Then she and Brooke walked into True Colors.
“Mom, Joan,” Aly said after she flattened out the piece of paper. “We’re so excited about the new Sparkle Spa.”
“Yes, we are,” Brooke added. “More excited than we’ve ever been about anything ever in our lives, I think.”
Aly smiled. She’d been a little nervous, but Brooke with all her chatter made her feel calmer. Aly cleared her throat. “So we’re excited about the new Sparkle Spa, but Suzy’s really sad about not being able to open her makeup business. I know you may not believe us, but we want to help her.”
Aly saw Joan raise her eyebrows at Mom, who was silent for a few moments. Finally she spoke. “Joan was just telling me how much Suzy has grown over these last months.”
Hmmmm, Aly thought, Joan was talking to Mom about Suzy? Was Joan fighting for Suzy too?
“Well,” Brooke said, “I don’t know about that. I don’t think she’s any taller than she was before. But Aly and I came up with a bunch of reasons we think she would be a good choice to be part of the new True Colors space.”
“Here,” Aly said, handing Mom the list.
Mom pressed her lips together as she slowly read it.
“Okay, girls,” she said. “Since you and Joan are so in favor of this, I’ll include Suzy’s Spectacular Makeup in the new space under two conditions: One, this is a one-month trial period. If Suzy doesn’t behave perfectly for thirty days, she’s out. And two, she gets a corner of the Sparkle Spa, not her own separate space. What do you think?”
The sisters looked at each other.
“Okay,” Aly and Brooke said together. “It’s a deal.”
“Mom, can we talk to Sawyer about how to fix the space?” Aly added.
“That sounds like a perfect plan,” Mom said.
Aly wasn’t sure if she would use the word “perfect,” but she was pretty sure Suzy would agree to the plan. And the biggest surprise to Aly was that she really hoped Suzy would say yes. She had kind of gotten used to her and wouldn’t mind having her around. Even if Suzy did say practically a million times that the Sparkle Spa smelled like a dog.
But how would Aly break the news about Suzy to Charlotte and Lily? Would they still want to be a part of the new Sparkle Spa?