experiment you can eat. That makes the math part fun.
SOPHIA
Lu, I kinda want to make up a recipe by myself.
LULU
Hey, we make up all our recipes together. I always help with the measuring equations.
Sophia picks up a pencil and doodles. She stares at the paper as she talks.
SOPHIA
Truth: Itâs for YOU! I want to make you a birthday cake. Iâm just telling you so you donât make it yourself. Itâs gonna be one of my presents, OK?
Sophia taps her pencil. Somethingâs on her mind.
SOPHIA
Iâm working really hard on the recipe. My mom promised sheâd buy the ingredients double so I can bake it one time before I bring it. Iâ¦ummmmmâ¦donât want it to be disgusting for your parents.
A thunderbolt strikes Lulu! The Spa Bash, now under Alexisâs control, doesnât seem like the kind of party for homemade anything. For weeks, however, Sophia has been helping Lulu plan the invitations, menu, decorations, and party favors.
LULU
Geez peas! Thatâs soooo sweet, but you and your mom shouldnât do all that.
Lulu walks over to the cradle where Watson sleeps and rocks itâ¦faster and faster. Watson opens an eye and growls.
LULU
Really, Soph! Elana and I were gonna maybe kinda do a cake. And, besides, seriously NO presents because you know thereâs nothing I need! We saidâ¦
(now on firmer footing)
We PROMISED when we were, what, like six years old, that weâd never give each other gifts.
Lulu runs out of âUh-oh, how-do-I-fix-thisâ energy. She even stops rocking the cradle. It swings to a stop.
SOPHIA
No, Lu. What we swore on a mini-mountain of rose petals was that weâd never BUY each other presents. We always make each other presents. Remember, last Christmas, I knitted you a scarf with all those loose stitches? And you grew me that red and white candy-striped amaryllis bulb? You felt awful because at Christmas there wasnât even a flower bud.
LULU
But that was Christmas.
SOPHIA
And this is a birthday.
LULU
All Iâm saying is: being eleven means I am an official tweenager.
SOPHIA
(quietly, now hurt and confused)
I think all youâre saying is you donât want me to make your birthday cake.
(thinks a beat)
Is it because it could come out disgusting and your parents wonât like it? Thatâs OK, Lu, I want you to have a really good party for them.
Lulu melts inside. Her stomach feels like it will never be hungry again. Thatâs always where her nervous confusion ends upâ¦in her stomach. Lulu rubs her left hand over her belly button, thinking she can somehow calm her swirling insides.
LULU
Itâs not that. I mean, itâs likeâ¦well, you know, last year they were in Africa making the Silver Water movie? I absolutely, positively, one hundred percent understood why they couldnât be with me. Year before, they wereâ¦ummm, well, they were busy that year too.
SOPHIA
My fatherâs never, ever been to my birthdayâ¦not even the first one. So, Lu, I get it. Iâll do anything to help you make this birthday great so your parents like it.
LULU
Really, youâd help me?
SOPHIA
(laughing)
Iâll swear on a mini-mountain of rose and daisy petals. Câmon outside!
Lulu leans over to hug her best buddy and sees that Sophia has been scribbling pictures of fancy-looking cakes with the words, âHappy Birthday, BFF.â
SCENE 5: Sweet and Sour
INT. CROSSWINDS SCHOOL, SCIENCE CLASSâTUESDAY
CUT!! Hey, itâs me, Lulu, and Iâve gotta break in here to tell you about school. We all have to go. I donât care who you are, where your school is, or if itâs all girls or all boys. The experience can be massively scary. Hereâs what I learned about school when I was in first grade: no matter whatâs different about you, kids are going to pick on that very thing. If youâre brainy, a little pudgy, or bad at sports (and it just so happens Iâm