Lulu in LA LA Land (18 page)

Well, you guys did say something about making popcorn and plopping onto the comfy screening room couch to watch the Oscars, right?

LULU

Popcorn balls. We're making salted caramel popcorn balls.

PETAL

Hate to pull the plug, amigos, but we need to motor into the monster of all L.A. traffic to get to the Dolby Theater.

SOPHIA

So that Mr. Harrison can pick up his Oscar.

LINC

(soft, witty twang)

Well, ladies, popcorn balls could get me to skip out on getting any old Academy Awards. But I have a date with this drop-dead gorgeous lady here, and I won't cancel.

Fiona's laugh tinkles like delicate crystal bells.

Linc takes his wife's arm as they blow dramatic kisses to all. The girls blow huge, goofy kisses back. Linc and Fiona disappear into the car.

Lulu pops up, linking one arm through her sister's and the other through Sophia's. Lulu leads them up the grand steps into the Harrison home.

LULU

And now, the winner is…

(dramatic pause)

Lulu Harrison!

SOPHIA

(pulls her arm free to clap)

Oh, yes!

(slight British accent)

It was a brilliant birthday! A party that entertained guests from all over the world!

ALEXIS

You had an awesome birthday, right?

LULU

THE best. But right now I wanna make one more birthday wish. Well, not exactly a wish. More like that extra candle you blow out for good luck.

Alexis screams.

ALEXIS

OMG! That gross animal should have his mouth glued SHUT.

Lulu and Sophia stare at the pug gobbling a hot, chunky pile on the driveway.

LULU

Not even Watson chowing his barf is gonna let me forget this wish. Ready?

ALEXIS and SOPHIA

YES!

LULU

Here it is: I want to write scripts that you, Lex, and Dad can act in, and Fiona and I can direct.

ALEXIS

That's incredible, Lulu! You don't even like movies.

LULU

Well, it just has to be the right script!

Camera zooms in on the three girls laughing and then slowly fades out.

THE END

You
really
want to know: Did Linc Harrison win the Academy Award for Best Actor? Right? Before I reveal, I want to tell you things that are more important than an eight-and-a-half-pound golden statue.

ME

Today I did things I've never done. I wore a whoop-de-do dress (it made me feel like a grown-up), tried tofu (it tastes like a squishy worm), and played football (how are you supposed to catch a ball that has pointy sides?!). Trying new things with my family made me feel, well, part of my family.

MY FAMILY

It's not every day that you teach your parents something. Who knows whether it will stick, but just the thought that they may have learned from Alexis and me, THEIR KIDS, is incredible. It says lots about Linc and Fiona Harrison. We showed them that family is important. And perhaps, maybe it wouldn't kill Mom to be a smidge more flexible and spontaneous. And it wouldn't sink Dad's career if he paid more real attention to what's happening in his daughters' lives. Hey, they're not going to remember these lessons every day, but even once in a while would be
muy
bueno
.

I see my sister differently now. I used to think she was perfect because she looked perfect. But I figured out that she's like me in so many ways, especially that she wants Mom and Dad to notice her too. Having them at this party meant as much to her as it did to me. Our teaming up made her stronger, braver, and, well,
mucho
more creative.

REAL, NEW LULU

Here's what being eleven in my family is like. Next weekend:

1.
Sophia, Jenna, and I are having a picnic on my new patchwork blanket. All the food will be homemade, including the salsa from my garden. My cilantro plants are thriving like crazy!

2.
I agreed to go shopping with Alexis again because she agreed not to yank open the dressing room curtain. She's buying me a new swimsuit for my birthday.

3.
Elana and I are baking a four-layer chocolate cake for me to serve at Dad's congratulations party because…HE WON BEST ACTOR!!

And, in case you're wondering,
Silver
Water
won Best Picture. When she accepted her award, Mom thanked her “two lucky charms.” She insists, however, that the congratulations party is just for Dad. Well, don't worry! Alexis and I are going to cook something up to surprise Mom. We just hope whatever we do doesn't get us sent off to a Swiss boarding school without snow boots!

Greatest admiration and thank you to my dear friend Ashley Palmer without whom there would not be
Lulu
.

Elisabeth Wolf is a bit Lulu. She lives in Los Angeles where she grows fruits, vegetables, and native flowers. She bakes her children's birthday cakes and eats spicy Mexican food. Each year for
her
birthday, she asks her children, Philip and Emmeline, to give her the same present, “Turn off lights to help save the earth.” But make NO mistake: she loves a good shopping trip and pedicure.
Lulu
in
LA
LA
Land
is her first book.