I’m impressed.
“Lillian is here, everybody!” I announce. “And it’s time to eat. At least what’s left! Bring your creations to the big table here in the dining room.”
The girls bring the chocolate-covered bananas. The fruit stuck on the skewers really does end up looking like bouquets of fruit flowers. The marbles worked perfectly.
“I hope the dog enjoyed the meat!” Jasmine says. She glances at the empty tray on the floor.
“There’s more in the refrigerator,” I tell her. “But everyone will have to get it out of the package, not off an elegant tray.” I feel a little bummed out.
“It’s not a problem,” Jasmine says. She runs to get more bread and lunch meat. The kids don’t seem to care that it’s not on a tray. They have a great time cutting the cheese and bread and meat into shapes.
I walk back to the kitchen while they are making the sandwiches. Mom is still wiping up purple stuff.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I wanted it to be perfect. I’ll help you clean up.”
“Nonsense!” she says. “Get out those kaleidoscope fruit pizzas and wow them!”
I grin at her and take them out of the refrigerator. “Thanks, Mom!”
When I take the fruit pizzas to the table, everybody claps. I feel so proud. Sadora takes several pictures.
It’s a little hard to cut the pizzas because they are sticky and gooey, but everybody gets a slice. We eat all of the first one and all but one piece of the second one.
I wrap up that piece in plastic and put it on a shelf in the kitchen. I also place several little strawberry mice, two fruit kabobs, and two chocolate-covered bananas on a plate. And some sandwiches. And set down the huge bowl of banana pudding.
“Grab a plate and eat until you pop!” I announce to all the kids.
The bubble-gum sodas are a hit. Then I realize I forgot to fix the bologna bowls! Nobody notices. Carmelita’s peanut butter balls are yummy, and Travis’s dirt pudding is just plain gross. But really good.
Rusty and Travis come back downstairs wearing two of Sabin’s old T-shirts. They are only a little bit too big for them. They grab plates and fill them with treats.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” I tell everyone. I run to the freezer and bring out the frozen orange pie and the red Sparkle Sickles.
“More sweets!” Travis cries with glee. “Sassy, this is the best party I’ve ever been to!”
Everybody nods in agreement. They eat it all.
Kids laugh and giggle and tell stories about school and teachers. Everybody shares food and makes sure everyone gets to taste each item. Lillian laughs and jokes with everyone else. It’s like she’s a different kid from that little girl who looked so scared when she first got here.
While they are eating the pie and sucking on the Sparkle Sickles, I grab the plate I had fixed from the shelf in the kitchen. I take it upstairs and knock on Sabin’s door.
“You mad at me?” he asks.
“No. Everything is okay.” Zero is peeking from under Sabin’s bed. “I brought you some food,” I tell Sabin.
“You did?” He sits up on his bed. He looks so happy.
“Yeah. But nothing for Zero,” I say with a smile. “I think he’s full!” The dog slides back under the bed.
I reach into my Sassy Sack and pull out a whistle. I hand it to my brother.
“What’s that for?” Sabin asks.
“Dog training!” I tell him with a laugh.
“Thanks, Sassy,” Sabin says. “I’m glad your party isn’t messed up.”
“In spite of everything, I think it might be the best party ever,” I tell Sabin.
I walk back downstairs and glance at the mess in the kitchen. I will help Mom clean up every purple spot when the kids go home.
In the dining room, everybody seems to be just about finished. I help myself to a bowl of banana pudding.
Lillian sees me come back in the room. She stands up. “I have an announcement,” she says to everyone.
The crowded room gets quiet. “What’s up, Lillian?” Travis says.
“First,” she says, “I brought a gift for everyone.”
“These aren’t good-bye gifts, are they?” I ask her.
“No, I guess you can call them ‘hello’ gifts instead,” Lillian answers.
I’m a little confused.
She opens the large box that the driver had brought in. Inside are fifteen identical small fishbowls. She pulls one out.
“Because you are my friends, I made these for you. Also because my project for Miss Armstrong is about the ocean!” she adds with a giggle.
“What is it?” Travis asks.
“Well, for starters, you can eat it,” Lillian tells him. “It’s just Jell-O.”
“But it looks like a little ocean!” Misty says in amazement.
I look closely at the fishbowl Lillian gives to me. On the bottom I see blueberries. Swimming in the blue gelatin I can see gummy sharks and gummy fish. I can even see gummy flowers growing from the blueberry rocks.
Sadora snaps several photos of them.
“This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!” Rusty says. “I don’t think I want to eat it. I don’t want to mess it up!”
“Thanks, Lillian,” I say. “From all of us.”
Everybody nods in agreement.
“So what’s your announcement?” I ask. “Please don’t tell us you’re moving away.”
Lillian looks at all of us. “Well, I know that I’m sort of a mystery around here.”
“True that,” says Charles.
“I have never had the chance to make real friends before I came here,” Lillian admits. “But you guys have been so nice to me.”
“Go on,” Princess says gently.
“My parents have been really successful in the business world. They told me they wanted me to have all the nicest things that money can buy.”
“Can your folks adopt me?” Rusty asks with a grin. “Then they can buy me nice stuff, too!”
“Money can’t buy friends,” Lillian replies quietly. “And it can’t buy a hug from your mom when she’s far away.”
Rusty has no reply to that.
“So where does the limo come from?” Travis asks. “We have been dying to know.”
“It’s supposed to keep me safe. But all it does is make me sad.”
“But it’s so sleek and cool!” Ricky says.
“And lonely,” Lillian adds. “I would much rather be on a smelly old school bus than be by myself in a fancy car. There is nobody to talk to.”
“I’ll trade places with you any day!” Travis shouts.
Lillian smiles. “Well, that’s part of what I want to tell everybody. Mom and Dad have sold most of their companies and will be working from home from now on. They see how happy I am here. So we are going to stay! We are moving to a regular house, right here in town.”
“Awesome,” I say.
Lillian looks joyous. “My mom will tuck me in each night. No more nannies. No more butlers and maids. And I get to ride the school bus, starting on Monday!”
Everybody cheers.
“That’s great news!” I tell Lillian. “No more limo?”
“I have one last ride in it,” she says. “And that’s tonight. So they sent the big car. The stretch limo.”
Misty looks out the window. “Whoa! It takes up your whole driveway, Sassy!”
“How come they sent such a big car?” Jasmine asks.
Lillian takes a deep breath. “Because I have permission to offer everybody a ride home in the limousine!”
I can hear gasps. Then whoops. Then the roar of cheers.
“For real?” Princess whispers.
“If you give the driver your address, he’ll enter it into the car’s GPS system,” Lillian explains.
“But my mom is coming to pick me up!” Princess says.
“Let’s call all the parents and see if we can get permission,” Sadora suggests. “We’ve still got an hour.”
Betwee
n cell phones and our house phone, everybody’s mom or dad gets called within fifteen minutes. Every single kid gets permission to ride home in the limo!
We troop outside for more pictures. In front of the limo. Next to the limo. Inside the limo. With the uniformed driver. The boys pose with shades on. The girls strike a glamour pose. I make sure Sadora takes a photo of me with my shiny Sassy Sack slung across my chest.
Sadora takes like a zillion pictures.
“Thanks, Big Sis,” I tell her. “Your pictures are going to make a dynamite slide show for my project.”
“It was fun, Sassy,” she says. “When everything turned purple, I rolled!”
“I bet the other kids wish they had a cool sister like you.”
She gives me a big smile. “Let me know if you need help making the slide show.” She goes back into the house.
The driver enters everyone’s address into his machine.
“Wait a minute!” I wail. “I live here! I don’t get to ride!”
Lillian laughs. “How about if we take everybody home, then bring you back here? You will be the very last one to get out. Except for me.”
“Super!”
It is almost time to go. Everyone hurries to slide into the soft leather seats of the limo. Each person carefully clutches his or her fishbowl from Lillian.
Soft lights decorate the inside of the limo. Softer music plays through speakers.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell the kids.
I run back into the house. Mom has purple spots on both cheeks. She is looking up at the ceiling and shaking her head. Sadora snaps a picture of her.
“Mom,” I say quietly.
“Yes, Sassy.”
I run to her and give her a hug. “Thank you for the party. It was the best day of my life.”
She squeezes me tightly. “Run along, now,” she says. “We’ll finish getting all the purple off tomorrow. Have fun with your friends.”
I hurry out the door and into the evening. Ready for my very first ride in a stretch limousine.
A note from Sassy: I want to share my yummy recipes with you. None of these requires the oven. Three need a microwave. One needs a blender — don’t forget the top! You don’t want to make your kitchen purple like in the story! Always work with an adult in preparing these recipes, and make sure to wash up before handling food! Be creative and add your own ingredients. Have fun!
Ingredients
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup red fruit punch
1 cup applesauce
½ cup crushed pineapple
¼ cup sugar
1 package Popsicle sticks
Directions
1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Pour into ice cube trays. (A tray with fun shapes is even better!)
3. Place in freezer.
4. Add Popsicle sticks after one hour.
5. Remove when frozen and enjoy!
Ingredients
6 medium bananas
1 package Popsicle sticks
1 container chocolate ice cream topping
1 container multicolor candy sprinkles
1 bag crushed walnuts (or granola)
Directions
1. Slice bananas in half lengthwise.
2. Place on waxed paper on a plastic tray.
3. Insert a stick into one end of each banana half.
4. Place in freezer for half an hour.
5. Pour two cups chocolate topping into a deep bowl.
6. Warm bowl of chocolate topping in microwave for one minute until it is soft.
7. Place sprinkles on a flat plate.
8. Dip bananas into the warm chocolate.
9. Then roll chocolate-covered bananas in sprinkles or granola.
10. Chill until ready to serve.
Ingredients
10 to 15 fresh, large strawberries
1 package mini chocolate chips
1 package small almond chips
1 package red string licorice
small chunks of cheese (any kind)
Directions
1. For each strawberry, slice a piece from one side so it lies flat.
2. Press a mini chocolate chip into the pointed end of the strawberry for a nose.
3. Press two tiny pieces of chocolate into the berry to make the eyes.
4. Stick in two almond slivers for the ears.
5. Add red string licorice for the tail. (You might need a toothpick or fork to help make the hole for the tail.)
6. Serve with chunks of cheese so the mice can eat, too!
Ingredients
1 package skewers for fruit or meat (long, pointed skinny sticks)
Pick from any or all of the following fruits or add your own:
cantaloupe
grapes, both red and green, seedless
honeydew
kiwi
lemon juice or pineapple juice
pineapple
strawberries (small; leave whole)
Directions
1. Wash all fruit.
2. Slice cantaloupe, honeydew, and pineapple, if using. Cut fruit other than grapes and strawberries into bite-size chunks.
3. Drizzle fruit with lemon juice or pineapple juice to prevent browning.
4. Place 6 to 7 pieces of fruit on each skewer, alternating colors, shapes, and textures.
5. Be sure to leave space at each end of the skewer for easy handling.
6. Keep the fruit sticks in a resealable plastic bag or plastic container until you are ready to serve them.
Ingredients
3 cups vanilla ice cream
1 cup milk
1 cup grape juice
1 cup vanilla yogurt
2 large bananas
¼ cup sugar
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
1. Place all the ingredients in a blender.
2. Make sure the top is on tight.
3. Blend on low for one minute or until creamy.
4. Pour into clear glasses and enjoy!
Ingredients
1 cup orange-flavored yogurt
1 large container frozen nondairy whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
1 cup canned mandarin orange slices
1 9-inch graham cracker crust
Directions
1. Combine yogurt and whipped topping in a bowl and stir.
2. Drain juice from mandarin oranges.
3. Stir oranges into mixture in bowl, setting a few slices aside for decorating.
4. Spoon into pie shell.
5. Cover with more whipped topping.
6. Decorate the top with the orange slices you set aside.
7. Cover with plastic wrap and place in freezer until ready to serve.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons apricot jam
1½ teaspoons water
Pick from any or all of the following fruits or add your own:
bananas
blackberries
blueberries
kiwis
peaches
pineapples
raspberries
strawberries
1 large box graham crackers (or graham cracker crumbs)
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 pizza pan (disposable ones are sold at lots of stores)
1 cup apple jelly, melted in microwave for 20 seconds
1 large container frozen nondairy whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
Directions
1. Mix apricot jam with water in a small bowl.
2. Slice fruit and cut into flat, bite-size pieces.
3. Dab the fruit with the jam-and-water mixture; it will keep the fruit from turning brown.
4. Break graham crackers into pieces.
5. Place in a resealable bag and smash the crackers into tiny fragments using a rolling pin or your hands! (You can also buy graham cracker crumbs in a box, but it’s not as much fun!)
/>
6. Pour graham cracker crumbs into a bowl.
7. Add soft butter and cream cheese.
8. Mix the batter with your hands and spread it onto the pan; this is your crust.
9. Spread the apple jelly over your crust as the next layer, using a spatula.
10. Spread the whole container of nondairy whipped topping as your next layer.
11. Carefully place your fruit around the circle in a colorful, tasty pattern.
12. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until served.
Ingredients
2 cups milk
1 small box vanilla instant pudding
4 to 5 drops green food coloring
1 jar with a top
Directions
1. Pour milk into jar.
2. Add instant pudding.
3. Add food coloring.
4. Put the lid on the jar and shake it, shake it, shake it!
5. Pour the pudding into small bowls and enjoy!
Ingredients
1 large bottle white grape juice
4 drops red food color (or blue food color for the blue soda)
1 two-liter bottle of 7-Up (or similar product)
2 cups strawberry sherbet (or blueberry sherbet for the blue soda)
Directions
1. Add food coloring to the white grape juice.
2. Pour the juice and the soda into a large pitcher.
3. Add sherbet and serve.
Ingredients
1 cup crushed breakfast cereal (cornflakes or Frosted Flakes work well)
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup honey
2 tablespoons powdered milk or powdered sugar
Directions
1. Crush the cornflakes by placing them in a resealable bag and smashing them with a rolling pin or your hands.
2. Set the cornflakes aside for a moment.
3. Mix all the other ingredients together in a small bowl, using your hands.
4. Roll the peanut butter mixture into balls.
5. Roll each ball in the cornflakes until it is coated.
6. Place balls on a plate; cover plate with plastic.
7. Refrigerate until time to serve.
Ingredients
1 box instant chocolate pudding
OR 1 carton ready-made chocolate pudding
1 package dark chocolate cookies
1 package gummy worms
Directions
1. Make the chocolate pudding according to the directions on the box.