The Miraculous Makeover of Lizard Flanagan (18 page)

“Just take it easy,” Ginger said, putting her arm around Lisa's shoulders. “You know you'll get picked.”

Lisa tossed her head and kept walking, but I could see she looked nervous.

The crowd got quiet as we approached the mall. Only anxious whispers and tiny, excited squeaks escaped from a couple of girls.

“I can hardly stand it,” Ginger said. Then in a hushed voice, she added, “Let's hold hands.”

The other girls took hands.

“No way,” I said. “That's stupid.”

“Oh, come on,” Mary Ann whispered. “It's all part of the fun.”

I folded my arms over my chest. Tiffany, next to me, turned and held out her hand. I shook my head. “No offense.”

She shrugged and took Mary Ann's hand. Everyone moved in through the mall door, still holding hands. It hadn't occurred to anyone that it might be hard maneuvering through a door all connected like that, but they didn't let go of one another. They bumped the door with their butts and shoulders and passed it off to the person behind them. It was a strange thing to see, believe me.

Shoppers stopped to gawk as the mob moved through the mall.

“What's going on?” asked a woman about my grandma's age. I didn't know who she was talking to because she was standing alone.

“You wouldn't believe it if I told you,” I said to her.

We rounded a corner, and one of the girls in front squealed, “There it is! On the wall by Pearson's!”

I stood on my toes and looked over the heads in the crowd. I couldn't see the list, but in front of it stood about thirty more girls, most of them older, craning their necks, shouting out names and whooping loudly.

The girls from my class broke hands and made a dash toward the group of older girls.

“Can you see it? Can you see any names?” Ginger cried over the noise.

Some of the older girls in front walked away, their shoulders drooping in disappointment. Others grinned and hugged each other, crying out, “Congratulations!”

“I can see Lisa's name!” shrieked Ginger. “Lisa, you're on the list!”

Lisa closed her eyes and let out a huge breath. Then she nodded and smiled as if she'd known her name would be on the list all along.

“Okay, let's go home now,” I said to Mary Ann.

“I want to see who else from our class was picked,” she said.

“
Lizard Flanagan!
” Ginger screamed. “
Lizard Flanagan
is on the list! Oh, Lizard,
congratulations!
I didn't think you were interested in modeling.”

A gasp went up around me, and people started thumping me on the back. “Congratulations!” they yelled in my ear.

“Lizard's on the list?” Lisa asked, her eyes wide.

“What are you talking about?” I said.

“You made the first cut!” Ginger smiled, but I could see disappointment in her eyes, too, because she wasn't on the list.

“That's impossible,” I said. “I didn't apply.”

“Well, somebody sent in your picture and bio,” Ginger said. “And you were chosen.”

I looked at Mary Ann. “Who would do a crummy thing like that? Did you?”

“No. Honest.” She grinned. “I sent in
my
picture and bio, though.”

“What?
You
? Why didn't you tell me?”

Mary Ann continued to smile. “What would you have said if I'd told you?”

“That you were nuts.”

She laughed. “That's why I didn't tell you. But, Lizard,
you
were picked. Now, if you pass the interview, you'll be in the fashion show! Congratulations.”

That's when the whole thing sank in. The fashion show!

“No way,” I said. “I'm not even going to be in the audience.”

“But if you're chosen after the interview,” Mary Ann said, “you'll get fifty dollars for being in the show.”

“Not in this lifetime,” I said. “I don't care how much—” I stopped. “Wait a minute. What did you say?”

“Fifty dollars,” Mary Ann said, grinning. “Just what you need to pay your parents back—
and
go to the Cubs game.”

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About the Author

Carol Gorman, author of over thirty novels for young readers, is the recipient of five state children's choice book awards, as well as many other honors given by teachers and librarians. Her books have been published in five foreign countries. A former middle school, high school, and college creative writing instructor, she travels around the country, speaking about her books and teaching writing workshops. She lives in Iowa with her husband, mystery writer Ed Gorman. Visit her at
www.carolgorman.com
.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 1994 by Carol Gorman

Cover design by Mauricio Diaz

ISBN: 978-1-4532-9612-7

This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

345 Hudson Street

New York, NY 10014

www.openroadmedia.com

Also Available from Open Road Media

Lizard Flanagan, Supermodel??,

the sequel to

The Miraculous Makeover of Lizard Flanagan

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