Slowly the school hall filled up with visitors. Maisie had set out their cakes in three rows – candy pink, buttercup yellow and sludgy brown. People stopped to look but moved on quickly when they saw Angela’s cakes. Lots of them went to Tiffany’s stall instead. After half an hour, Angela had sold one cake to her dad, and Maisie and Laura had sold just three between them. Meanwhile, Tiffany’s stall had an enormous queue that never went down.
“It’s not fair!” grumbled Maisie. “Tiffany’s stealing all our customers!”
Tiffany looked over and waved a five-pound note. Right, you asked for it, this is war! thought Angela. She picked up their price tag and crossed out “30”.
“What are you doing?” asked Laura.
“Beating Tiffany,” said Angela. “Just watch.”
She climbed on to a chair and raised her voice above the noise.
“Special offer! Buy your cupcakes here: ONLY 20p!”
A girl stopped at their stall.
“Twenty?” she said. “Tiffany’s charging thirty.”
“I know – ours taste better, too,” said Angela. “How many do you want?”
The girl bought two of Maisie’s pink cupcakes. Soon their stall was doing a brisk trade. Tiffany ground her teeth. But two could play at that game. She sent Alice to find her a chair to stand on.
“Get your name on a cupcake!” she cried. “Only at Tiffany’s cake stall!”
Angela frowned. “What’s she doing now?”
“Writing people’s names in icing,” replied Laura.
“Huh, big deal! Who wants their name on a cupcake?” scoffed Angela.
“Looks like lots of people do,” replied Maisie.
Tiffany’s named cupcakes proved a winning idea. Meanwhile Angela’s stall had sold all their pink and yellow cupcakes, but that still left dozens of muddy brown cakes that no one wanted.
Laura sat down. “Face it,” she sighed. “Tiffany’s won.”
“Laura’s right,” agreed Maisie. “No one’s going to buy these. They look like blobby monsters!”
Angela stared at the rows of mud-coloured cakes. Actually they did look a bit like monsters. Her eyes lit up – maybe that was the answer!
“Wait here, I’ll be back in a minute!” she said.
Laura and Maisie looked at each other. What was Angela up to now?
Soon she was back with a bag of Gummy Shapes from the sweet stall. Angela pushed a pair of pink teeth into one of the brown cupcakes. She added a gummy nose and two goggly eyes, then held it up.
“Wow! That looks scary!” said Laura.
“We’re not beaten yet,” said Angela, climbing back on to her chair.
“Monster cupcakes! Make a monster cake!” she yelled, holding up the one she’d made. People turned their heads and laughed. The cupcake looked exactly like a goggle-eyed monster.
Angela’s neighbour, Bertie, hurried over with his friends, Darren and Eugene.
“I’ll have one!” he said. “Can we make our own?”
“Help yourself,” said Angela.
“Great,” said Darren. “My monster’s having three eyes.”
“Mine’s got fangs!” said Eugene.
The monster faces attracted crowds of eager children.
“That’s the last one,” said Laura, serving a little girl.
Maisie grinned at Angela. “Your mud pies were a big hit after all!” she said.
When the fair drew to an end, they counted their money.
“Almost twenty pounds!” said Laura.
Looking up, they saw Tiffany marching towards them. She had red cheeks and a furious scowl.
“Oh, hello Tiffany,” smiled Angela. “I’m afraid you’re a bit too late.”
“Yes, did you want a monster face?” asked Laura.
Angela giggled. “It’s okay,” she said. “I think Tiffany’s got her own!”
