Chapter 10: In Which Miranda Learns the Value of Friendship

It was nearing the end of the week, and Lizzie and I had were still getting along fabulously, despite the fact that she still had a tendency to use all the hot water. I couldn't believe I had spazzed on her earlier in the week, so Thursday afternoon, I sat her down to apologize.

"Lizzie, I am so sorry that I ever accused you of ever doing anything with Gordo, because I know you wouldn't and I am just so sorry," I babbled, twisting my fingers around the hem of my shirt.

"Miranda," said Lizzie, "It's okay. Like I said before, it was probably a natural reaction, and I would've done the same thing in your position."

I was about to answer her when the doorbell rang. I stood up and walked to the door, and when I opened it, I was greeted by a large man in an ill-fitting brown uniform.

"Package for Miss Miranda Sanchez," he said in a thick Chicago accent, waving a clipboard.

"Uh, I'm Miranda Sanchez," I said, taking the clipboard from him and signing my name on the dotted line. I gazed in surprise as two men brought a large fruit basket into the house.

"Where do you want this?" asked one of the men.

"On the counter?" I suggested.

The men set the basket heavily on the counter and left. As the main deliveryman nodded and left, I shut the door and cried, "LIZZIE!"

But I didn't need to say anything, because Lizzie was already there, staring at the basket.

"I've never seen so much fruit in one place before..." she murmured.

"I wonder who it's from?" I mused, plucking the card from between the folds of cellophane.

I unfolded the card and read it aloud:

"Dear Miss Miranda Sanchez,

On behalf of all of us at Star Talent Agency, we would like to thank you for auditioning for our singing group. Unfortunately, you were not one of the chosen girls, but thank you for your time and please accept this fruit basket as a token of some sort."

I turned to Lizzie.

"I didn't get in," I whispered, "All that for nothing."

Lizzie merely stared at me, as if she was unsure as to what to say. Finally, she swallowed and said; "If you want, we could go by the Agency and throw fruit at the building?"

Despite my anguish, I burst out laughing as Lizzie shrugged. It felt good that even in times of despair, I had a friend that I could count on. I was laughing so hard that I almost missed something very important.

"Hey, Miranda, there's something on the back of that letter..." said Lizzie.

I turned the letter over. On the back was a handwritten message. Looking at Lizzie I shrugged and then began to read it aloud.

"Dear Miranda,

I am sorry that you were not chosen to be in the singing group, but we felt you were a little too young. However, I was impressed by your audition, so I sent a tape of you to the Young Choral Stars Company. I hope you will hear from them.

Sincerely,

Kristen Jamison, head of Public Relations"

I nearly dropped the letter in my hands.

"Lizzie!" I gasped, "That's who the scholarship was from!"

Lizzie's eyes were wide, and a smile broke out across her face.

"I always knew you could do it, Miranda," she said, smiling.

Just then, there was another knock on the door. I ran to the door and threw it open, and there stood Gordo. Without warning I grabbed him and kissed him. After a few moments, I pulled away, leaving a slightly breathless Gordo in the doorframe. I ran to the telephone to call my mom, and I heard Lizzie explaining to Gordo what had happened.

After I told my mom, I came back into the kitchen to see Lizzie and Gordo unwrapping the fruit basket. Squishing between them, I reached in and pulled out a bunch of grapes. We then began to pick through the grapes, laughing if someone encountered a sour one.

With my boyfriend on my right, and my best friend at my left, I didn't think it could get any better than this moment in my life.


End