Close to Famous (23 page)

He headed toward her, but Garland stood tough.

Macon was typing something on his phone. Then he held it out where Duke couldn't see and started filming.

I took a big breath. “Okay,” I said, “in case you've never made frosting before, here's what you've got to know. See how this butter is good and creamy? That's the secret to good frosting. Now I'm going to add the confectioners' sugar and beat it until it's fluffy.” I did that and Mama brought over Pearly, who was shaking and crying.

“I haven't had a cupcake in a long time,” Duke said.

“I made cupcakes,” Val insisted.

“Shut up.”

Perseverance Wilson and Garland came behind Duke like they were going to jump him, but he turned around and grabbed Babcock from Amy's arms. “Don't try anything funny.”

Val screamed, “You give him to me!”

Babcock was crying and reaching for his mother. A shout rose up in my throat, but that's where it stayed. Duke shook his head and said, “We're just having a good time here, aren't we, little guy?”

“Dada.”

That got to Duke. “That's right,” he whispered. “I'm your dada.”

I didn't think my heart could beat this hard and stay in my chest. “Okay, I'm beating the vanilla in.” Mama lifted Pearly up so she could see. “I'm adding chopped chocolate and beating it until it's shiny. Watch this.”

I beat it for another two minutes, which seems like four days when an escaped convict is watching you.

I put the frosting in the bowl on the table and got another bowl. “I'm going to make vanilla frosting now, and we're going to color some of it blue.”

“I know who that's for,” Duke said, smiling at Pearly.

I made the vanilla frosting fast, put some in a cup, and got out the blue food coloring. “We only need a drop. There. You mix it up.”

Pearly grinned and stirred it.

“It's pretty.” She tasted it. “Taste it, Daddy.”

Duke tasted it. “You know what day it is?”

“Tuesday,” Amy said.

“It's my birthday.” Duke said it like the saddest man who ever walked.

Pearly took a cupcake and put blue frosting on it and sprinkles. “Happy birthday, Daddy.”

“You not going to sing to me?” he asked her.

Pearly's little lip was shaking as she began, “Happy birthday to you . . .” She couldn't keep it up. But then Mama sang out a happy birthday that shook the walls.

“I heard you on the radio,” Duke said.

“Not yet,” Mama told him.

Macon motioned to the window with his eyes. Angry Wayne was outside. He winked at me and then he was gone.

Duke ate the cupcake, and Babcock watched him. He ate four more with M&M's on top.

“I'm going now,” he said.

“We're not going with you,” Val told him.

“I'm going alone.” He handed Babcock to Val. “I'm sorry. I'm real sorry.” He ran out the back door. Pearly ran up the stairs crying.

“I got all of it,” Macon whispered, and put his phone down.

I heard a noise outside, sounds of a fight, then shouting.
“I'm making a citizen's arrest!”

We all ran out. Wayne had Duke on the ground, and Garland ran over to help hold him down. Amy ran over, too. We heard a siren.

The sheriff's car roared up. He put Duke in handcuffs and led him away. Duke looked back at us sadly as Val started crying.

Barry and Larry ran over. “Awesome, Pop. Awesome!”

Angry Wayne brushed himself off and put his hand on each of their shoulders. “A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.”

“YOU DON'T KNOW the power of a cupcake until your life depends on it.”

I said this to a reporter from the
West Virginia Star
. She looked at me like I was crazy, but plenty of people in town understood.

I'm not sure things would have gone so well if I'd been making muffins when Duke showed up. I'm not saying muffins, cookies, and pies don't have their place. But there's something about a cupcake that gets inside of people and helps them be the best they can be. I'd found my voice in the baking world.

My cupcakes were now officially famous in Culpepper. Angry Wayne put a blackboard sign out front of his restaurant:

People were sitting outside eating cupcakes, griping about the world.

“We're getting a sight too fancy 'round here,” Clay complained as Mama hung the plaid curtains she'd made in Wayne's window.

I had a new Bake and Take that carried thirty-six cupcakes. I made them big and proud, and Angry Wayne sold every one as I stood by the counter and people came up to say hey.

“Child's gifted,” Clay said.

“Heard you saved the day,” Betty added.

I shook my head. “We all worked together.”

All of Culpepper was celebrating, except for Pearly and Val. Pearly was so quiet as they got into their car to leave. Babcock was in his car seat shaking his spoons.

“I've got a present for you,” I told Pearly. “A special baker's present. I'm going to name a cupcake after you.”

“
You are
?”

“Pearly's True Blue Cupcakes.”

“True blue,” she said.

“You are definitely that.” I hugged her hard.

Val got in the car and drove off.

Miss Charleena was practicing her neigh. She was leaving for Hollywood soon, and I was scared she wouldn't come back.

“You don't have to worry about that. I'll always come back home.”

“It's going to be more exciting where you're going.”

“Yes, but I belong here.”

I understood that. I belong here, too. Knowing you belong is like putting frosting on a cupcake. It totally seals the deal.

“I learned something about your new school, Foster.”

I tried to look positive.

“I called over there and told them about how we've been working together. . ..”

“You turned me in?”

“I talked to the principal.”

“She hates me!”

“Sorry, to burst your bubble, darlin'. But after the way you handled yourself with Duke, she respects you.”

“It won't last.”

“My, you're a joy to be with today.”

I sat there.

“She said they have a reading teacher, Mrs. Vick, who specializes in what you need. She's coming to your mama's concert, and you can meet her.”

Mama was giving a concert to support Helping Hands.

“I don't want to meet her at the concert.” I took chocolate cherry brownies out of the oven. “I want you to keep teaching me.”

Miss Charleena folded her arms, “Foster, I'm not a teacher and I'm sure not a specialist in reading. I've taken you as far as I know. It's time for the A team to come in. But you've made wonderful progress over the summer.” She handed me a piece of her pretty blue paper with the words,
The honor of your presence is requested at the graduation of Miss Foster McFee of Culpepper, West Virginia. Foster will be receiving her reading diploma with honors.

I couldn't read it all, so Miss Charleena had to help me, but once I got the concept, you could have knocked me over.

“I didn't know there'd be a graduation.”

“Oh, yes.”

“I didn't know there'd be a diploma!”

She nodded.

“And . . .” I could hardly say it. “With
honors
?” I had to double-check.

She grinned. “Make sure to wear your white dress.”

I was standing in Miss Charleena's hall in my white dress. I never thought I'd wear it again. People were seated in the living room—Mama, Macon, Kitty, Lester, Amy, Garland, and Perseverance Wilson. Miss Charleena, who was dressed in a blue suit with her hair pulled back, made her big entrance and said in her acting voice, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are here to celebrate a remarkable achievement.”

That was my cue to come out and walk over to her, but I couldn't come out right away because I was crying. Miss Charleena walked back to the hall where I was and didn't say a thing about my tears because she was crying a little, too.

“You ready?” she asked me.

“Yes, ma'am.”

“I am so proud to know you, darlin'.”

We walked out together, student and teacher, although close to everybody in that room had been my teacher.

Mama was crying, and Kitty was grinning. Lester shouted, “All right, all right!” Macon stood on a chair for his own reasons and clapped till his face turned red. Garland and Amy did the wave.

Miss Charleena handed me a diploma for reading. “Foster Akilah McFee, you have graduated with honors in reading achievement over the summer. The sky is the limit for you now.”

And with those words she wiped LIMITED off my mind and heart forever.

“Speech, speech,” Macon cried, but I didn't want to make a speech. I just stood there as the bad memories flew away.

I put my diploma on the bed, opened the Las Vegas pillowcase, and took out Daddy's letters. I tried to see his face, but I couldn't quite do it. I tried to hear his voice, but it was a faraway memory. I opened the thickest envelope. It was a birthday letter Daddy had sent me. I unfolded the letter, smoothed it out on the bed.

“Dear Foster,” I said out loud. It's much easier to read a book than someone's printing, but slowly I saw the pattern. I couldn't get all of it, but that didn't matter.