The Shortest Boss In The Room 3a4748

Black Odyssey Media LLC Publishing Division 3501 Gus Thomasson Rd. #87-2002 Mesquite, TX 75187

THE SHORTEST BOSS IN THE ROOM. Copyright © 2021 by Black Odyssey Media LLC Copyright © 2021 by Zanaiah Williams Illustrated by Navi’ Robins

Content Editors: Niko Michelle, Shawanda Williams Copy Editor: Alanna Boutin All rights reserved. Published by Black Odyssey Media LLC Printed in the United States of America

Interior Formatting: Qamber Designs

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021907069

Zanaiah Williams, author.

Title: The Shortest Boss in the Room Series: Boss Magic Description: First Edition. | Dallas, TX: Black Odyssey Media LLC, 2021 ISBN: 978-1735443126 (trade paperback) | ISBN: 978-1735443133 (ebook) Subjects: Juvenile Fiction | Business | Engineering | Children’s Literature | Friendships | Chapter Books | Middle Grade | Children’s Values Books

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Dedicated to all of the young bosses in the universe. ~ Zanaiah Williams ~

Chapter 1

“Piper, I need you to get to creating, young lady.” Mrs. Scott, our art teacher, pushed her sliding glasses back up and eyed one of the most popular students at A. J. Stanly Elementary. “I’m not in the mood. Besides, this activity is boring.” I gasped, and my eyeballs nearly jumped out of my head. I stopped drawing, along with a few others, just in time to witness Piper serve Mrs. Scott the look. Piper could take down some of the most vicious bullies with her red-haired ponytail, cinnamon freckles, and Grinch-like green eyes, including Wes Bevins —the biggest bully on earth! Piper once made Wes cry crocodile tears in the hallway in front of everyone. She never even said a word. So if her look could cure bullying, someone whose classroom always smelled like fresh-baked banana nut muffins or sweet potato pie didn’t stand a chance. Mrs. Scott’s forehead wrinkled as she walked over to Piper. I’m sure once she invaded Piper’s personal space, she could smell the sweet and sour combination of apple and watermelon Jolly Rancher candies swirling in the air. I sure did. “Piper, you know the rule. Once we are in our creative circle, everyone must participate.” I remained frozen as if Mrs. Scott were speaking to me. Piper didn’t flinch or even blink, for that matter. She continued to stare in Mrs. Scott’s direction, obviously not worried one bit at how her behavior could land her in trouble. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was definitely off with my bestie. What did she mean she wasn’t in the mood for art? She lived for it! Piper loved Mrs. Scott’s class, and Mrs. Scott loved Piper and her unique talents. It was Piper’s creative brilliance that landed our classroom in the best dressed Hall of Door Fame contest last month. Thanks to her, we earned a pajama-jam pizza party. Not to mention the bragging rights of the entire fourth-grade pod, making us officially the walking billboards for #PopArt!

I scanned the room and waited along with the rest of the class to see what would happen next. I didn’t want to see Piper in time-out. I had to save my best friend —fast! Before the words could crawl out of my throat, “ARCKK-AAAHHHCHOOOSSS!” I unleashed a flame-spitting dragon sneeze. The kind that sounds like a cough and a sneeze rolled into one. My hands flew to my face in record time. “Bless you, Zaria!” Hailey called out from the other side of the room. “Thank you,” I replied. I was so sure that it was going to be a snot-flying mess. My breathing returned to normal once I saw that my hands were still nice and dry. Even my allergies were irritated by Piper. “Piper! Please draw something like Mrs. Scott asked. Why are you being so difficult today?” That I-am-beyond-annoyed voice belonged to my other best friend, Cassidy Simpson, the third member of our Three Wayz squad. I could see that Cassidy was really into whatever she was creating. She never looked up from her paper. Her new braided hairstyle had a few ropes of turquoise and rose pink, which were neatly wrapped in an updo bun. Out of the sprinkle of brown-skinned girls in our entire school, it was my fashion geek BFF who always made it a point to “flex in her complexion” any chance given, from her versatile hairstyles to her multicolored nails. And although Cassidy was a tad shorter than Piper and me, she carried a lot of spirit for a girl who stood four foot five in those Chuck Taylors that she wore faithfully. She practically owned every color in the Converse collection to coordinate with her glam and glitzy outfits. Today, she wore the rose gold pair, which matched the shirt underneath her denim overalls. “Yeah, Piper. Why are you acting brand new? Follow the rules. Period.” That remark came from McKenzie Patel, who always claimed a spot at the front of the class to accommodate the space needed for her wheelchair. She was the coolest kid on wheels and had my vote of confidence any day of the week, especially after watching her beat Jamal Evans in a basketball free-throw competition. Talk about R-E-S-P-E-C-T, as my mother would say. Jamal was so

embarrassed that he tried to pay me twenty dollars in weekly installments to keep quiet about it. Needless to say, McKenzie sometimes refers to herself as McJordan, especially at recess. Emotions were rising, and it seemed everybody had something to say. While Piper was very much present, there was this distant look in her eyes. Her blue mechanical pencil remained untouched on her desk. “Settle down, class. We’re okay. In fact, let’s break for a moment. I have a couple of announcements to make, and I need every eye and ear in my direction.” Mrs. Scott half-smiled at Piper before waddling into the center of the circle. She took a breather and then placed her right hand over her big round belly where her son, Gage, was growing. “Drumroll, please . . . ” I regretted my silence, but I perked up when, one by one, we started drumming our fists on our desks in anticipation. The noise grew louder and louder. Mrs. Scott waved a familiar hand gesture, and we immediately got quiet. “Next week starts our Acrylic Artistry Tour!” The room erupted all over again. I was so excited I could barely keep my legs still. I loved using my hands, and this tour showed a lot of promise. Art class was my second favorite to science, only because we made volcanoes and did a lot of experimenting. Cassidy and I glanced over at Piper to see if she was as excited as we were. I was surprised to see her pencil upright and between her fingers. She was sketching the floral pattern in Mrs. Scott’s dress. “We will be learning some of the most common ways to create using acrylic paint,” Mrs. Scott continued. “And I’m going to document the entire experience for our school’s yearbook and share it on our school’s Facebook page.” I bounced in my chair and threw my hands in the air, sending my glasses flying to the floor. I hurried to grab them, but I wasn’t fast enough. I cringed at the sight of my lens cracking under Mrs. Scott’s left foot. “Oh, goodness, Zaria. I am so sorry. I didn’t even see them. Let me grab a baggie.” She walked to her desk.

I slowly picked up my broken glasses and plopped back down into my seat. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. I could literally hear my mom in my head. Mrs. Scott returned with a small plastic bag. “Thank goodness the frame is still intact.” Tell that to the Queen, who might find it hard to believe how I broke my third pair of glasses in one week. Mrs. Scott resumed with her announcements, leaving me to my own problems. “Okay, class, we have one more major note to discuss.” Mrs. Scott held a sheet of paper in the air. “Add this to the list of things that you cannot use for your sketches. We only have a limited supply, and we need it to last the entire tour. Any questions?” I didn’t have any. There was a good possibility that Mama would take me out of this world once I got home. No need to worry about a tour I may not live to see.

Chapter 2

“Hey, Zaria, wait up.” Ian ran to catch up with Cassidy and me as we walked to Mr. Jean’s class. Ian wasn’t a part of the Three Wayz, but he was like my boy best friend. We had a lot in common, and I was a big fan of his teacher impersonations. He could be corny most of the time, but at least he was honest. There was this one time when he went into deep thought after one of our debates. Then he blurted out the corniest thing I had ever heard. It was something about me “being here before” and being an “old soul.” “Man, what’s up with hyper Piper today? She was really trippin’ earlier.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Your guess is as good as mine,” I replied, turning my upper lip. Ian tugged at the straps of his Avengers backpack. “She’s lucky Mrs. Scott didn’t send her to the principal’s office.” “Or call her parents,” Cassidy added. “Hold up a minute. Where is Piper anyway? The three of you always walk to class together.” Ian was right. Cassidy and I had waited for Piper to gather her things when the bell rang to leave Mrs. Scott’s class, but she said she’d catch up to us. “She can’t be that far,” I said. I scanned the hallway full of squeaking tennis shoes, scattered conversations, and future track athletes, all trying to get to their next class. Without my glasses, it would be hard to spot Piper in the maze of moving bodies. “Let’s wait by the water fountain on Hall B. We can’t miss her there.” “Great idea, but no can do. I’ll be grounded for life if I get another tardy this

month. I’ll catch y’all later.” Ian rushed off before I could reply. Before we arrived at Hall B, Wes Bevins barreled past us, colliding into my left shoulder. I crashed into Cassidy, who stopped me from hitting the floor. “Watch it, Bevins!” Piper yelled from somewhere. I looked around for her, but she was nowhere in sight. “Cassidy, do you see her?” “I don’t. Do you?” I pointed to my face. “Really? , my glasses perished under Mrs. Scott’s heel.” “Wow, Zaria. Is your eyesight really that bad?” I shook my head. “I’m blind as a bat. It’s like I’m looking from inside a tornado.” Cassidy’s mouth hung open in shock. “Everyone moving around us are like blobs of color. I can barely see you, and you’re standing right beside me.” “Wait! There she is.” Cassidy pointed in the other direction. I barely spotted Piper’s yellow outfit. “Hey, we’re over here.” I waved to get her attention, but she strolled past us like she and I suddenly shared the same vision problem. “Wow! She’s ghosting us.” “Are you surprised? You saw how she acted in Mrs. Scott’s class.” “She was a little rude, but . . . Maybe she’s just having a bad day.” Cassidy paused and looked at me with her wide, light brown eyes. “A little rude? No, Zaria. That was a lot of rude, and you know it. Don’t make excuses for her.” I shook my head. “Come on. We don’t have much time to get to the other side of the building before the bell rings,” I reminded her, picking up my pace. The more we walked and talked, the more confused I felt. Cassidy and I were simply speculating. Trying our best to solve this conundrum, I said, “I really don’t get it. Everything was so cool last week.”

“I hadn’t talked to Piper since last weekend when she came over to my house, and even then, she seemed pretty stressed out.” My eyebrows met in the middle. “Stressed out! From what?” I was definitely missing some details. Cassidy stopped in front of the lockers by Mr. Jean’s door. She looked around nervously as students were forced to walk around us. “Pinky swear that you won’t repeat a word of this.” Cassidy held out her right pinky finger. I quickly wrapped my right pinky around hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze —our Three Wayz pact. “We were discussing our test scores for Mrs. Rainey’s class, and out of absolutely nowhere, Piper blurts out that she’s going to drop out of school,” Cassidy revealed. My eyes doubled in size. “What! She wants to drop out of the fourth grade? And do what with her life?” I grilled. Cassidy’s face practically melted. “Heck if I know,” she said bluntly. I placed my hands on my temples and attempted to massage the spots like Mama does sometimes. “This is making my pressure rise,” I itted. Cassidy’s face twisted in confusion. “Your what?” “My head pressure.” Cassidy stared at me for a long minute. As if she was trying to decide whether to continue with the story or render first aid. “So what else happened?” I asked, breaking her daze. “Well, uuuhhh . . . oh yeah!” she ed. “You know how all moms have that creepy superpower hearing?”

My head bounced in agreement. Cassidy couldn’t spit it out fast enough. “My mom was literally on the other side of the house, with her headphones in her ears, and she still overheard Piper’s comment. As soon as Piper left to go home, she said I needed a break from her. Something about her attitude being contagious and not wanting me to catch it.” I gasped in disbelief. Someone had cloned my bestie. “That’s not the real Piper,” I declared. Cassidy shrugged. “She sure looks like the real Piper to me.” She reached into her pocket and whipped out her bubblegum lip balm. “Sooooo, I guess that means you aren’t her friend now?” Cassidy raised a finger. “I did not say that. I said I’m taking a break. Big difference.” I paused to let it all sink in. “I have an idea. I’ll write her a note during class.” “Your eyes, ?” Cassidy reminded me right before we entered Mr. Jean’s room. Not even a second later, the bell sounded. Ian, Piper, Cassidy, and I always occupied the four desks in the middle of the classroom, but this time, Piper sat in the far back of the class, away from us all. “So much for the plan,” I mumbled. I plopped down in my seat, feeling defeated.

Chapter 3

My vision wasn’t the most reliable, but it looked like Piper purposely kept her head down to avoid making eye with us. As if we were the source of her stress. “Piper, class has started. Please make your way to your assigned seat.” Mr. Jean turned his back and started scribbling on the whiteboard. When he turned back around to begin teaching the class, he saw that Piper had not moved. “Piper, did you—” “It’s not like I have any say-so anyway,” Piper interrupted him. “You are the adult, and that’s all that matters. Adults do whatever they want to do. They never care about our feelings.” Yep. If I wasn’t sure before, I am a million percent sure now. Something is up— first, Mrs. Scott’s class, and now, Mr. Jean’s class. My classmates were in shock, and murmurs echoed around the room. Cassidy slumped down in her seat and placed her hands over her face. Talk about being embarrassed. I wanted to vanish. Piper finally flopped down next to me and put her head on the desk. Except for the tick-tock of Mr. Jean’s clock, the classroom was silent as we watched him walk over to Piper. It seemed like he walked in slow motion, just like in the movies. I distracted myself from possibly witnessing my best friend in the whole world get into trouble. I stared at the wall maps, timelines, and famous quotes from people that Mr. Jean said helped shape our society. When I heard Mr. Jean talking calmly, I listened to see if I would find out anything. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Piper.” Mr. Jean must have known something was up too because he took it easy on her.

“It may not seem like it, but your presence and contribution in this class are just as important as mine. If not for you and the rest of your peers, I wouldn’t be able to teach. Now, can you please help me out by taking out your textbook so we can all begin?” “I guess,” Piper mumbled as she wiped away tears with her shirt. Mr. Jean lightly touched her shoulder. “Thank you, Piper. Today, you have helped me show the class how to work through differences.” “If you say so,” she whispered and fumbled through her backpack. I watched her every move. As she slowly pulled out her Earth & Science book, I whipped my head around and almost fell out of my desk when I saw it. “Is there a problem, Zaria?” Mr. Jean asked. There was, but I couldn’t tell our teacher that. My hair swept my shoulders as I shook my head. “No, sir.” So many questions popped into my head with every ing second, and I needed answers. From the looks of it, my bestie was a smart-mouthed thief. The paper that Mrs. Scott held in the air and banned us from touching was in Piper’s backpack. Now I knew what was taking Piper so long to leave art class. She was plotting her getaway. I waved my hand to try to get Piper’s attention, but she ignored me. Mr. Jean had started teaching class, but I couldn’t focus on anything he was saying. I kept thinking about that paper. As soon as the bell rang and the other students packed up to leave, I approached Piper. “Piper, I saw Mrs. Scott’s paper in your bag. Please tell me what’s going on,” I pleaded.

Cassidy raised her wild and furry eyebrows and pointed to Piper as she snuck quietly behind her, walking backward. “Drama queen,” Cassidy mouthed to me as she threw up the peace sign. I frowned and shook my head. Cassidy was usually the peacemaker, but clearly, she didn’t want to get involved. I tried again to get Piper to talk to me. I was determined to get it out of her. “I don’t have to tell you anything, Zaria,” Piper snapped. “You’re not the boss of me.” Her ponytail bounced with every word, and her colorful sneakers tapped loudly against the floor. “So leave me alone already. I’m sure your mom doesn’t want you talking to me either.” “But you’re my best friend, Piper. And I want to know what’s going on. Maybe I can help.” Piper stood to leave. “You can help by minding your own business.” “What happened at Cassidy’s last weekend?” “Don’t worry about it,” she said and walked toward the door. “Are you just going to throw away our rules for Three Wayz? No secrets, ? We all agreed.” I slung my backpack over my right shoulder and followed her out into the hallway. She turned around and tilted her head backward. “Forget the stupid rules. It can be the Two Wayz for all I care.” “The rules are not stupid. They have kept us together as best friends.” She headed in the direction of the carpool lanes, and I was right behind her. “We can help if you talk to us.” “I don’t need anyone else who is just going to leave me.” I stopped in my tracks. “What are you talking about? You’re the one that’s leaving me!” “Just leave me alone, okay.”

“Piper—” “I mean it, Zaria. Back off!” “Fine, but you need to return the paper. That’s stealing!” Piper stopped walking and looked back at me with those piercing eyes. “And if I don’t, what are you gonna do? Snitch?” She rolled her eyes and stormed off in the opposite direction.

Chapter 4

I replayed the conversation with Piper in my head at least a million times. How could she say forget the rules when she was the one who created them? We had established a real sisterhood with true friendship. Some even labeled Three Wayz as #SquadGoals. So it made no sense for Piper to throw it all away suddenly. Was she really that stressed out? And what did she mean when she said she didn’t need “anyone else leaving her”? The weight of Cassidy’s words from earlier felt heavy on my mind. Maybe she was right. What if Piper’s strange behavior had something to do with her recent move? We all hated the idea at first because we were so used to seeing each other whenever we wanted. Piper had lived a few houses down from mine, and Cassidy lived on the next street. It was awful to think about not being able to walk to Piper’s house anymore, but our moms said they’d drive us on the weekends for sleepovers every now and then. The first weekend without her was the worst. Cassidy and I were miserable. We missed Piper a lot and spent that Saturday talking about all the things we used to do. It really felt like the end of the Three Wayz, but when we got to school that Monday, we met in the cafeteria like we always did. The entire day was pretty ordinary. We realized that even though we didn’t live in the same neighborhood anymore, the Three Wayz bond was unbreakable. The second weekend into Piper’s move, she stayed over with me. We binged a few Netflix shows, made videos of us cooking with Mama, snacked on Takis, and drank Capri Sun while we laughed our butts off at FunnyBones—the comedy app for kids. The third weekend, Piper visited Cassidy, and clearly, it didn’t go so well. I needed to investigate. I could not allow the Three Wayz to go down without a fight. I called Piper as soon as I got home. She wouldn’t come to the phone, and it made me feel even worse. When I went to bed, I tossed and turned all night.

Every sheep I counted had Piper’s face on it. I popped my eyes open and decided to watch a few YouTube videos on my phone, hoping that would lull me to sleep. Brittany Braxton was my favorite YouTuber of all time. She hosts ChitChat with BrittBrax. She’s so motivating and always signs off by looking right into the camera and saying, “Hey, you, your dreams can come true. All you have to do is follow through.” Fortunately, BrittBrax’s latest adventure worked like a charm, and I fell asleep about halfway through. I thought I would sleep through breakfast but instead, I woke up early, thinking about Piper again. I watched the sunlight slowly fill my room as it climbed higher into the sky. I studied my lavender walls, covered in STEM posters and handmade vision boards. My room was pretty quiet, but the house started to awaken. Music and the muffled words from my dad, Leo the Hero Carter, filled the air as he talked to my little brother, Zion. In between the clatter of dishes and skillets, Zion’s laughter bounced around like a firefly at night. It reminded me of the mornings I spent in the kitchen with Mama—nothing but laughter and good times. I yawned and stretched, which woke Zaddy, my adorable pet Shih Tzu, and the best gift ever from my parents. He had been sleeping in his spot at the foot of the bed. His collar jingled as he stood to shake the sleep off. I watched his thick coat of white and gray fur vibrate over his little body. Zaddy had deep chocolate patches around his eyes that made me love him a little more every time he looked at me. It was like he had special powers in his little furry face. That power helped me find my happy place no matter what was going on. He whimpered in my direction, and I knew he was ready to go out. But I wasn’t prepared to leave my bed yet. My thoughts drifted back to Piper. If she wanted out of the Three Wayz like she said, why didn’t she say anything before? She never had a hard time telling us how she felt about anything. I shook my head to push the sad feelings away. Zaddy curled up beside me, rested his head on my stomach, and licked my arm. It was as if he could sense something was bothering me, and he wanted to make it better the same way I wanted to for Piper. I rubbed his head and decided that I wouldn’t spend my weekend feeling down and out. There was a lot more to life than my friendship

drama. “Zaria, Queen, breakfast is ready,” Daddy yelled through the house. He rarely fixed anything but a smoothie in the mornings, and with all the noise he and Zion made in the kitchen, I was anxious to see what they were up to. Zaddy hopped off the bed and raced me to the door. I swung my door open, and instantly my stomach began to growl. It smelled so delicious on the other side. I made a mad dash for the kitchen and crashed into Mama on my way there. The basket of laundry she had in her hands flew everywhere. “Slow it down, Zaria. The house isn’t on fire.” “Sorry, Mama. I didn’t see you,” I said, quickly picking up all the towels and placing them back inside the basket. Mama still had on her gray pj’s that matched Daddy’s and her “Queen of this Castle” bonnet. “I don’t think there is much you can see moving that fast.” A curious look crossed her face. My heart skipped a few beats. I knew what that look meant. It packed more of a punch than Piper’s. Now would probably be a good time to tell her about my glasses, but I want one last meal before she kills me. Mama placed the laundry basket in the hall, and we headed to the kitchen. “I see you fell asleep watching BrittBrax again,” she said. My eyes lit up at the mention of my idol. “Yes, Mama. This week, BrittBrax tried building her own obstacle course in her backyard. She used a big tire like what Daddy has on his truck, a lot of rope, laundry baskets, a basketball, her bike, and a swing set.” “That sounds exciting. How did it turn out?” “It was good, and a few of her friends ed her.” My lovely mom is one of the coolest moms in the world. She was the perfect person to talk to about this thing with Piper, but once we made it into the kitchen, I knew the conversation would have to wait. Zion and Daddy were behind the island with the same matching aprons and

dimpled smiles. My brother was the shorter version of my dad and was really cute when he wasn’t getting on my nerves. Instead of running to Mommy like usual, Zion pulled out two chairs and motioned for us to sit down. His snaggletoothed grin meant he was up to something. “For my queens!” he said with a bow. “Thank you, Young King,” Mama replied. I sat beside Mama and caught her winking at Zion for doing such a great job. I gave him a wink too. “Good morning, Zaria. How did you sleep?” Daddy asked. “I tossed and turned a little bit but fell asleep after watching YouTube.” My stomach growled over my voice. “Sounds like you brought your appetite with you.” Daddy chuckled and did a little dance in front of Mama. “Queen Carter, are you ready, love?” Mama matched his dance moves right in her seat, snapping to the old-school tunes—as Daddy called it, streaming from the wireless speaker. “I stay ready, baby. You know that.” Mama’s smile seemed to lift her entire face. She looked so happy when Daddy showered her with affection. “Yes, but are you ready for this?” Daddy pulled a plate from behind his back and placed it in front of Mama. “And what about this?” he asked as he did a twist and set a plate in front of me. Zion had the biggest smile on his face. “I helped Daddy cook all the food,” he bragged. “You sure did, son!” Daddy gave Zion a high-five before turning back to Mama and me. “Since the two of you are my favorite ladies, Zion and I wanted to do something special for you. We are dedicating today to you.” Daddy looked at Zion. “So, Zion . . .” Zion puffed out his little chest and said, “Welcome to Carter Cafeteria. Breakfast is served!” His brown eyes lit up like stars in the sky.

“Yummy.” I licked my lips, ready to eat. “Nah, Zaria. I know you missed a stop on your way in here this morning. Please handle that,” Daddy teased, although I knew he was as serious as a heart attack. I hopped up from the island and skipped to the bathroom. I washed my hands, threw some water on my face, and dried it with a hand towel. I had three reasons to hurry back. I couldn’t wait to gobble up those eggs, turkey bacon, and pancakes. After Daddy said grace, I noticed that only me and Mama had plates. “Daddy, why aren’t you and Zion eating?” “We ate earlier so that it could be all about you and Mama Queen.” “Just making sure because breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” I added. “Yes, it is, baby. Now, finish up because we have something else in store for the two of you.” There was more? I ate as quickly as I could, and I think Mama did too. We handed Zion our plates, and he gave them to Daddy to wash. “Thank you so much for breakfast, Daddy. It was za-licious!” “Well, if you enjoyed the surprise breakfast, you are really going to enjoy the next surprise.” Zaddy whined and interrupted Daddy. “Sorry, buddy.” I leaned over until I was at eye level with him. “I forgot to feed you.” He playfully barked while I ran my fingers through his hair. “It looks like we weren’t the only hungry monsters around here,” Mama said as Zaddy rolled over for her to give him his morning love rub. “I can’t tell you what the surprise is until you feed him,” Daddy said. “Yessir,” I replied. “I am on it.” I gave Daddy a salute.

I fed Zaddy and made it back in record time. “Zaria, you have been such an excellent student and a great big sister. Your mother and I are so proud of you.” I smiled—kind of. My parents might think differently if they knew about my glasses. “Thank you, Daddy.” Mama squeezed me in a tight side hug. “That’s very true, Zaria. Your father and I couldn’t have asked for a better version of you. You’re the best.” Daddy focused on Mama. “My Queen, I have watched you juggle motherhood, children, and a thriving business with expert precision. I know it isn’t as easy as you make it look. I can’t imagine what all goes into your day.” “Aw, Leo—” Daddy playfully threw his hands into the air. Mama laughed and made a zipper motion across her lips. “If you’re ready to hear the surprise, let me hear you say, ‘Oh yeah!’” “Oh yeah!” We sang in unison. “Today, Zion and I are treating you both to a well-deserved spa day.” I wasn’t as excited as Mama because I didn’t know what a spa day meant. I figured it had to be good because she clasped her hands together and squealed. “A spa day sounds like the pamper-me-break I need. Thank you, Leo.” Mama stretched her arms out and hugged Daddy tightly across his neck. “What do you think, Zaria?” Daddy asked. “I think it’s awesome, but what’s a spa day?” Mama and Daddy laughed. “Trust me, you are going to love it,” Mama said. “I’ll be ready in an hour.”

A whole hour? Mama was never ready on time. It would be more like two hours, maybe three. I didn’t think I could wait that long, but I guess I didn’t have a choice.

Chapter 5

I waited for a little over an hour for Mama to get dressed, only to find out that spa was another name for a nail salon. I’m not complaining. I loved coming here. Mama had been bringing me about every two weeks since I was four years old. Sometimes, Cassidy and Piper tagged along, but usually, it was only Mama and me. I always had the same reaction every time I entered the nail salon. It was so big and beautiful, something you’d see in a palace. It looked like some of Mama’s decorating work. When I get older, I’d love to own this place or a place exactly like it, but for little girls to come and have mani/pedi birthday parties and even sleepovers. I’d have Mama decorate it and plan all the events. “Hey, Little Miss Zaria.” Ché’s voice interrupted my daydreaming. “Your usual drink?” I nodded. All of the employees were friendly, but Ché was the only technician that had ever worked on my nails. She gets me and my wild designs and has even helped me talk Mama into letting me try bright colors. “One apple juice,” Ché said and handed me my beverage. “What color today?” “Turquoise with purple polka dots.” Ché and I looked over at Mama for her approval. “Cute and creative,” Mama said with a smile. Ché grabbed my hand, and our feet scurried against the white and gray marble floors to Ché’s station before Mama could change her mind. “That was almost close, huh?” Ché said. “Very.” I giggled and looked back at Mama, who was occupied with picking out her color.

Ché and I made small talk while she decorated my nails. When I was younger, it took a while for me to open up to her. Not because I didn’t love our conversations, but because it took time to understand how to communicate with her. Mama told me that Ché was bilingual and because English isn’t her primary language, it makes it more difficult to understand her sometimes, mostly because she speaks both languages at the same time. And it was actually pretty cool. Ché does that to me a lot. We’d both laugh, and then she’d apologize and repeat her statement slowly in English. I’ve gotten used to it, though. “’Member what I say manicure means?” Ché quizzed me as she always did since learning of my dreams to be a nail tech one day. If she wasn’t giving me pop quizzes, she taught me how to say words in Mandarin. “Yes, ma’am. It means care of hands.” Ché pinched my cheek. “’Member to always take care of hands.” She waved her hands around. “Always. Good hands, good confidence.” “Got it.” “You want your toes to match hands?” “Yes, ma’am.” “Chair number two, by Mom.” Ché followed me over to the pedicure station. Mama was already seated in one of the white high-back chairs that looked like a king’s throne. I rolled up the bottom of my blue leggings, got comfy, and stuck my feet inside the bubbly foot bath. Mama studied my fingers, and I was worried she would make Ché change the design. “Your nails turned out cute,” Mama said. “Thank you.” I smiled wide, happy that she approved. I looked at Mama’s nails. She really needed to add color like me. She always gets the same thing—a French manicure, which is basically regular nails with white tips. One day, Ché and I will convince her to add a little more pizzazz. It was time she started flexin’ in her complexion.

Ché winked at me. “You other friends, they not come this time? What’s the name again? Piper and Cassidy, right?” I nodded. Ché was always so good at ing names. But I hate she brought up Piper’s name. I hadn’t thought much about her since I’d walked in. I stared at the gold wall like it was a movie screen and replayed the drama in my mind. “You’re pretty quiet today. Is something wrong?” Mama asked. Not only did she have superpower hearing, but she could read minds too. “What makes the bubbles?” I only asked because I didn’t want to talk about what was really bothering me. “There are holes in the sides of the tub that blow streams of air into the water. That force makes the bubbles.” “Did you and Gran-Gran ever do this?” “No, baby. We never got the chance.” I didn’t mean to make Mama sad by asking about Gran-Gran. Daddy told me she had to go into a long sleep in this life to move to her forever life. I missed her. And she made the best cakes and cookies. Before she went to sleep, she even left me with a special book to write my thoughts in. Maybe that’s what I can do with Piper. Write about it. “I know you miss her, Zaria. I do too. But I also know something else is bothering you, right?” I shrugged. Mama knew me better than I knew myself. “Can I talk to you about something?” Mama closed the magazine she was reading. “Anything in the world.” I moved the plush gold pillow that said “Happy” from behind me and turned my body toward my mom. “Piper and I got into an argument at school yesterday.” “Oh no!” Ché said. “My daughters sometimes have friend problems. I tell them

space, then talk.” “Is that what had you up all night?” Mama asked. “Yes, ma’am.” “Well, what was the argument about?” “Piper was acting strange. She was rude to Mrs. Scott and Mr. Jean. She even ignored me when I tried talking to her. When she did talk, she told me to leave her alone.” “What do you think you should do?” “I’m not sure. She won’t speak to me.” “I’m confident that you and Piper will figure this one out.” “How, if she won’t tell me what’s wrong?” Mama thought for a minute before speaking. “Has she had trouble sharing things before?” “No, ma’am.” “So maybe this thing is tough for her to talk about. So difficult that she can’t even tell you. Can you imagine that? Dealing with something so painful that you can’t talk about it? Not even to me?” I thought about Mama’s question. “You always told me I could tell you anything.” “That’s true. So, when were you going to tell me about your glasses?” My whole body jerked, and Ché chuckled. “I knew something looked different about you, Little Miss Zaria,” she said and started massaging my feet. “How did you know?” I asked Mama. “Mrs. Scott called me.” Mama had known the entire time. “The panic that came over you this morning was worth my silence.”

“This isn’t funny, Mama.” “You’re correct. Withholding something like this is not funny at all, Zaria.” “I was waiting on a good time to tell you because I knew I’d be in trouble.” “So, you were finding it hard to talk to me about it? And in the process, you lied to me by not telling me what happened, and that doesn’t sound like you.” I was slowly starting to understand what Mama was trying to tell me. “Maybe Piper is afraid too. She’s doing things she wouldn’t normally do because of her fear.” “It’s possible, don’t you think?” “Yes, ma’am.” “I know you want to help Piper, but perhaps you can give her a little time like Ché suggests and like I gave you.” “Okay, Mama. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” “Apology accepted, and it better not.” I sank into deep thought and watched the bubbles grow around my feet. Maybe Piper just needs a little time, and things will go back to the way they were. The Three Wayz weren’t breaking up. Not now. Not ever.

Chapter 6

Daddy was preparing dinner for us when we got home. He was famous in our neighborhood for his barbeque. All sorts of people would stop by when they saw the smoke rising from our backyard. We met tons of neighbors that way, and they always tried to get Daddy to tell them what he put into his secret sauce. He wouldn’t even tell Mama or me. “Welcome back. How did you ladies enjoy your outing?” Daddy was wearing his “Grill Master” apron from last Father’s Day. He wore it proudly every time he grilled. “It was so much fun. I can’t wait to go back.” I hugged him and showed off my newly painted fingers and toes. He kissed me on the forehead. “I didn’t get a chance to walk Zaddy, so go ahead and do that. Dinner will be ready soon,” he said. I called for my furry best friend. He hopped around in the air, wagging his tail back and forth. I clipped his leash onto his collar and headed out the door. The street was pretty empty for a Saturday afternoon, and I was glad for that. Too many cars made Zaddy nervous. If a vehicle honked or drove by too loud, his leash would slip right out of my hands. I would have to catch him and carry him back home. Good thing the park was only seven houses down from mine. Zaddy stopped in front of Piper’s old house and started sniffing the ground around the bushes. Piper’s mom would have decorated for fall by now, but the place looked bare. The argument with Piper was still bothering me, and I needed to talk to the peacemaker of the Three Wayz. I tugged on Zaddy’s leash a little. “Come on, let’s walk to Cassidy’s.” We jogged through the dirt path beside the park that led to Cassidy’s street. I wasn’t sure if her mom would allow her to have company so early in the

afternoon. She had to do chores on Saturdays. She wasn’t even allowed to sleep in. Not on holidays either. I hustled up the stairs to Cassidy’s porch, took a deep breath, and rang the doorbell. The door made a whiny noise when Cassidy’s mom opened it. “Good afternoon, Zaria. You know Cassidy can’t have any company until later this afternoon.” Cassidy’s mother was a beautiful lady. She was tall and reminded me of Princess Tiana. “I know, Mrs. Simpson, and I am really sorry. I need a few minutes. Please?” I gave her sad puppy eyes, a trick I learned from Zaddy when he’d want to play, but I couldn’t because I had homework. It worked because Mrs. Simpson called Cassidy to the door. “Only a few minutes,” she said before disappearing into the house. Cassidy ed me on the steps. “What happened with Piper yesterday? Did you get a chance to talk to her?” she asked. Zaddy got comfortable in between Cassidy’s feet. “I tried, but she told me to leave her alone,” I said. “Same here.” I threw my hands in the air. “You could have told me she said that.” I accidentally dropped Zaddy’s leash, but he stayed put. “I know, but I thought you would have better luck.” “Well, I didn’t. And she definitely stole that paper from Mrs. Scott.” Cassidy scrunched her face. “What? I heard you ask her about it before I left, but no way she did that,” she said as she shook her head in disbelief. “I didn’t think she would have done anything like that either. I told her to return it.”

Cassidy made duck lips as she stared at the street. “Do you think she will?” “I don’t know, Cassidy, but it’s the right thing to do.” “Goodness, Zaria, you could have told Mrs. Scott.” “She’s our best friend. I don’t want her to get into trouble. Piper made a mistake, and my dad always told me that mistakes could be fixed. I would want a chance to fix it, and Piper deserves a chance too.” Cassidy shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah, but you never would have smarted off to an adult or stolen anything.” “Neither would she, Cassidy.” I paused for a second. “We can’t give up on her. As her friends, we have to help her and encourage her to do the right thing. Unless you don’t want to be her friend anymore?” “Calm down. You’re overreacting!” Cassidy waved her hands through the air. “I’m not saying we should not be her friends. I’m always the one that tries to patch things up, but Piper has been really sensitive, and I don’t know what to do.” “She’s awfully angry with me, and I don’t know if she’s going to return the paper to Mrs. Scott.” “If she doesn’t, are you going to tell on her?” “I don’t know. Should I?” Cassidy shrugged her shoulders again. “Piper isn’t a thief. She’ll give the paper back,” I said. Mrs. Simpson opened the door. “Break time is over.” “Thank you, Mrs. Simpson, for letting me talk to Cassidy.” “No problem, Zaria. Tell your parents I said hi.” “I will. Daddy’s cooking on the grill.”

“Your father makes the best barbeque in town. I told Queen he should start his own restaurant.” I smiled. “That’s a great idea. And my mom can design it and plan events there.” “Spoken by a child with entrepreneurial genes.” Cassidy and I eyed each other. “Mom, we don’t know what that means.” “An entrepreneur is someone who starts their own business. Like what your mom has done with her event-planning company.” “Oh. I understand now,” I said. “My dad can be his own boss like my mom is her own boss.” Mrs. Simpson winked at me. “Exactly!” “Thank you again for allowing me to see Cassidy.” I was even more excited to get home. Not only for the delicious food but also to tell Daddy how to become a BOSS!

Chapter 7

Daddy had dinner ready when I got back from walking Zaddy. He even had candles lit. Zion was our waiter again. “Daddy,” I said as I licked his famous sauce off my fingers, “you should be an entrepreneur.” Mama and Daddy laughed. “What makes you say that, Zaria?” “It was Mrs. Simpson’s idea. She said you had the best barbeque and that I had entrepreneur . . . something. I forgot the other word she used, but I think you should be one like Mama.” Daddy laughed and wiped his hands on his napkin. “You know all those trucks I have? And you know how sometimes people call me to ask me questions about work?” I nodded my head to show him that I understood. “That happens because I am an entrepreneur, baby girl. I own my very own trucking company. So, the people that call me, they call me because I’m their boss.” “Ooooh. Well, can you be more than one?” “What do you mean?” “Like, can you own more than one business?” “Absolutely!” “Well, I think you should have a barbeque business too.” “That’s not a bad idea. If I decide to do that, I’ll be sure to name a menu item after you for giving me such a great idea.”

I smiled. I liked that idea. I was even more excited, knowing that my name would be on the menu. “I have an idea.” “What’s that, Zaria?” “You can name your secret sauce after me. It can be called Zaucy Zaria’s or Zaria’s Zauce. Like sauce, but with a Z.” My parents loved the idea. Zion did too. He smiled with a mouth full of food. “Keep coming up with those brilliant ideas, Zaria, and you will be well on your way to becoming an entrepreneur yourself,” Daddy said. We talked about all sorts of ideas over dinner. When we finished, Daddy and Zion cleaned the kitchen while Mama and I got comfortable on the couch with our throw blankets to watch our favorite show. The theme music to Shark Tank blared through the surround sound. I loved watching it in the family room. The reclining seats and the big-screen TV mounted over the fireplace gave us a theater experience. The only thing missing was the buttery popcorn, the sugary fountain drinks, and candy. We had just eaten, though, so it was okay. I was stuffed and feeling a little sleepy. I lay my head on Mama’s lap as the first contestant stepped into the tank. “Mama, we should get a rug like that.” “The pitching rug would add a little color to this room, huh?” “The pitching rug?” Daddy asked. “You’re such an amateur Shark watcher,” Mama joked with him. “That’s what I call it. The contestants stand on it and pitch their ideas to the judges.” Daddy nodded. We had our daddy-daughter movie night every week, but he and I never sat down and watched Shark Tank together. It was usually Mama and me, but I’m glad that Daddy was ing us tonight. “You should watch it more; it’s a great show,” I said. “I just might. I’m sure I could learn a thing or two.”

I smiled at Daddy and looked back at the TV as I held my breath when the first entrepreneur pitched her idea—some kind of popcorn invention. I don’t really know. Zion had already fallen asleep, and I wasn’t too far behind. While the commercials aired, I thought about how much I ired each participant for having the courage to appear before millions with a dream. I don’t think I’d be brave enough to do it. I opened my eyes when I heard the show’s theme music. The show was back on. The Sharks asked a few questions, and a couple of them whispered to one another. The whispering always made me extra nervous, but it was a good sign. It meant they were going to partner up and make an offer to the contestant. At least that’s what I hope happened. However, the sandman got me before I was able to see the end.

Chapter 8

I was confused by my blurry, unfamiliar surroundings. I could see enough to know that the people scattered near me were people I’d never seen before. They seemed to be around the same age as me, if not a few years older. They looked as nervous as I felt. I didn’t know why I was nervous. I just knew by the tingling in my stomach and my sweaty palms that I was scared. It was the same reaction every time I’d have to take a spelling test in school. “Excuse me, ma’am.” I stopped a lady ing by. She was talking into the microphone of her headset. “Where am I?” She laughed. “Nerves getting to you, huh? It’s okay. It happens to most of the contestants.” “Contestants?” “Take a deep breath. I’ll get you some water,” she said and pointed to the wall behind me. The letters were big enough to see without my glasses, but I didn’t think I was reading them right. Somehow, I knew to reach for my glasses. They were hanging on a purple beaded chain around my neck. “That’s odd,” I whispered to myself. In all my years of wearing glasses, I never had a chain clipped to the arms. I shrugged—one way to keep up with them, I guess. I slid the glasses on my face, and the letters became clear. “No way! This can’t be happening.” “Here you go. Drink up and relax.” I guzzled the small bottle of water and continued to stare at the letters, wondering how I got here.

“You’re pitching next.” I choked on my water. “Pitching what? Is this a joke? How did I get here?” The headset lady lightly patted my back. “You might be the most nervous contestant of all. You got here by filling out an online application for Shark Tank Junior.” “I don’t doing that.” She laughed and walked away. Another person with a headset approached me. This time a guy. His name tag identified him as a Shark Tank Junior producer. “Are you Zaria Carter?” I nodded. “Great. Follow me.” He walked away so fast that I had to run to keep up with him. I was nearly out of breath. “Where are we going?” “You’re up. Good luck.” He disappeared, and I was left alone, standing in a hallway facing double doors. “I’m really on Shark Tank Junior,” I squealed. The producer returned. “On in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.” The double doors slowly opened. The entrance theme music was mind-rattling. I bit the inside of my left cheek. Suddenly the introduction boomed from the speakers mounted along the walls. Strobe lights swarmed me like bees. “First into the junior tank is a sight for sore eyes . . . or less than perfect ones. A device that allows you never to turn a blind eye to anything ever again.” I floated until my feet rested on the famous area rug that every hopeful dreamed of standing on. Then I looked into the six junior judges’ faces. I knew a lot about them and how they got started, thanks to BrittBrax. She featured each of them on her channel to inspire the younger generation never to allow age to stop them

from chasing their dreams. Morgan sat in the first chair. When he was thirteen, he founded a social networking app that he later sold for over four million dollars. I don’t know what that looks like on paper or in the bank, even, but it sure sounds like a lot of money. Next to Morgan was Bethany. At sixteen, she started an online consignment shop and evolved to a chain of youth clothing stores that also sold backpacks and lunch bags. Now, at nineteen, word has it that she’s worth millions of dollars. Devin was in the third chair. He was my favorite. He started his own clothing company at fifteen and was now one of the wealthiest teen designers in the world. Beside Devin was my favorite of the girls, Lauren. She signed her first record deal when she was thirteen. She topped country music charts week after week. Lauren reinvested in herself and has been unstoppable ever since. Second to last was Bobby, the quiet, bestselling author. At the age of fifteen, Bobby wrote a nonfiction novel about the connection people have with their pets. It was adapted to a documentary on Netflix. I begged my parents for a dog after that. Finally, Kyle, also known as “Little Magnificent,” was the shortest Shark. He got the name “Little” because, at eighteen, he was only five foot four. “Magnificent” came because he’s full of magnificent ideas. He later developed tutoring software and opened a chain of tutoring centers with an arcade feel. I’ve never visited any of his tutoring centers, but BrittBrax has, and all of the games are fun but educational. He loves to invest in business ventures that promote higher learning. Now was my time to shine, and I had to make not only myself proud but also my parents too. “Hello, Sharks. I am nine-year-old Zaria Carter, and—” “I’m her handsome four-year-old brother, Zion!” I did a double take. Where on earth did he come from?

“I’m seeking fifty thousand dollars in exchange for ten percent of my business.” The Junior Sharks started scribbling on their notepads. “Shark Juniors, I am sure you’ve all been in a position where you’ve misplaced something important that you use on a daily, like your keys or glasses. If you’re anything like me, it happens often. Well, I’m here to make life a little bit easier with my new device iZight!” “iZight? I adore the name!” Devin sat back and crossed his legs. He wore glasses and always matched his frames’ color to his bow ties. He was the perfect model for my pitch. “Devin, your glasses always color coordinate with your bow tie. Imagine having an important business meeting. You’re dressed and ready to go, but then you realize you’re missing your glasses. I mean, sure, you can always grab another pair, but that wouldn’t be the signature ‘Devin look.’ If your outfit isn’t right, your business mind won’t be either. Time is ticking, and now you’re running late. You search all over the house and even question your dog . . .” The Sharks laughed. “The dog didn’t eat them, just like he never ate your homework . . .” They all laughed again. The more they laughed, the more energy I put into my pitch. “You search under your bed and in your closet. Now, you’re really late. So late that you may lose this business opportunity. You happened to walk past the mirror and catch your reflection. What do you know? The glasses were on top of your head all along. All of that wasted time could’ve been avoided with iZight.” Zion walked the basket filled with samples over to each Shark. “I’d like to show you how it works. Some of these have a chain, and some of them have a lanyard. Each one has a small tracker inside. You can clip it to any item, but I have already attached the lanyard or chain on a pair of sunglasses for demonstration purposes. You can put them on your face, on your head, or let them hang around your neck. Only one is programmed. If it beeps, then that means you are the lucky winner.” “And what do we win?” “I’m glad you asked, Little Magnificent. The winner wins the chance to partner with me!” I pointed to the custom-designed T-shirt that I was wearing, “The

Shortest Boss in the Room.” “Whoa!” Morgan stood up and applauded me. “I love your enthusiasm, Zaria!” He was much taller than he appeared on TV. I closed out my pitch with a demonstration. Everything I was doing on my phone could be seen on the projector screen. “So it’s really -friendly. You go to the iZight app, click on ‘Find my stuff.’ You can label any item: glasses, car keys, headphones, whatever you need help keeping up with. Select the missing item, and an alert that says, ‘Over here,’ will sound off. When you locate the item, you simply silence the alert.” I pressed the button, and Lauren jumped up from her seat. “I won!” “Yes, Lauren, you’d definitely win by seeing this through with me. So what do you say?” I flashed the biggest selfie smile. “This was an excellent pitch: so much energy and confidence—one of the best I’ve seen. Job well done,” Morgan said. “What was the name of the app again?” Bobby asked. “iZight. The letter i represents the word ‘eye.’ Zight represents the word ‘sight’ but is spelled with a Z like my name.” “Very creative.” Lauren smiled and winked at me. “This is an amazing concept. How did you come up with this idea?” Bethany asked. “Well, after losing my glasses more times than I can count, I had to come up with a solution.” “Excellent! A responsible and business savvy approach!” Little Magnificent said. “The iZight chains come in various colors and material, right?” asked Devin.

“That’s correct. I want my customers to have options. To be able to mix and match just like you, Devin.” “Sales,” Morgan said bluntly. “How many of these have you sold?” I was quick on my feet. “I don’t have any sales on the books yet, which is why I really need your experience and partnership. These are all prototypes, and at this stage, I am looking for the capital too—” “No sales data, no deal. I’m out.” My eyes bucked when Bobby dropped his notepad on the table in front of him. I lost one Shark, but I was not going to give up. “Thank you for your time, Bobby,” I said with a smile, and my head held high. “How do you plan to market this?” another Shark quizzed. I swallowed what felt like a large rock in my throat. Then all of a sudden, the lights dimmed, and the projector lit up. I was as surprised as the Sharks when BrittBrax popped on the screen. OMG! I screamed on the inside. “Hi, guys. It’s BrittBrax coming to you with the ChitChat. I lose my sunglasses all the time. I know you Sharks value a dollar, and I’m ashamed to it that I’ve wasted countless dollars replacing my shades. That was until I stumbled across iZight. Luckily, I didn’t turn a blind eye to it. Pun intended. iZight has been a lifesaver! It’s easy to use and so very stylish. I back this product one hundred percent, and so should you.” My legs wiggled with excitement. BrittBrax loved my product! “Wow!” Morgan was on his feet, clapping again. “You got an endorsement from YouTube sensation Brittany Braxton! Do you know how amazing that is?” “Wait a minute,” Bobby said. “You didn’t tell me you had celebrity backing. I’m back in!” “No, no, Bobby. You cannot do that. You dropped out, so stay gone,” Lauren said. “Zaria, unlike Bobby over here, I see your vision. And although you have not launched iZight to generate any real data, we can change that. I am in love with your energy, your pitch delivery, and the overall product. I believe I can

help you, especially in my area of expertise. Your product is versatile, Zaria. These chains can work on purse straps. I’d love to partner with you and invest in iZight. We need this product in the market!” OMG, again and again! Lauren really wants to work with me. “Lauren takes on too many projects. When will she have time, Zaria? Your product is good, but it needs the magnificence of Little Magnificent. I’m your guy!” I had to remind myself to breathe. “Oh gosh, Kyle. This product is better than magnificent. You’re wasting your time. Listen to me, Zaria.” Bethany slid to the edge of her chair. “I’m the girl for this. Think about how this will sell in my stores. To piggyback off Lauren and her idea with the purses, we can incorporate the same idea for my backpack line. Some parents would save money that is usually lost to missing backpacks and lunch bags. iZight is the answer.” Devin sat back in his chair, rubbing his hands together. “I have an offer,” he said. “Before you say anything else, Devin, let me add a word.” Morgan paused. My heart pounded with the scary shark music playing in the background. “Let me tell you. I loved everything about your presentation. The only reason I’m going to drop out is that this is not my area of expertise, and I feel as though my fellow Sharks will be able to take this to the next level. You can’t go wrong with any one of them.” One and a half Sharks out. Half because I wasn’t sure if Bobby was in or out. “Thank you, Morgan,” I said. I looked back at Devin, waiting to hear what else he had to say. “Because of how I rock my glasses, I feel like adding the chain and lanyard as an automatic option will be the best way to introduce this product. Think of how headphones are automatically included with cell phones. I feel like you have something special here, and I want to come on board and partner with you.” “You know, Devin is somewhat right,” Bethany added.

“What do you mean ‘somewhat right’? I’m confident I can help her brand take off.” “You are half perfect for this, but if we team up, the three of us will be a total unstoppable package.” Devin rubbed his hands together. “I like your thinking, Bethany.” “Don’t leave me out,” Lauren said. Bethany leaned over to Devin and Lauren, and they started whispering. I hated this part, but it was a good sign. I only wish I could hear what was being said. “Don’t exclude me,” Little Magnificent spoke up. “I’m not willing to partner up because I don’t need to. I can grow this business in record time!” I looked over at Zion, who had found himself a comfy spot on the rug. He couldn’t help me because he was too busy coloring. I was on my own now. “Okay, Zaria, here are the offers . . .” I felt something wet on my face. I was sweating pretty hard. The more I wiped, the wetter my face became. I jumped up to find Zaddy standing over me with his tongue wagging. “Oh no, Zaddy! You ruined my business meeting with the Sharks!”

Chapter 9

OMG! That was the most fantastic dream. It couldn’t end now. I needed to know if I would have chosen to work with Little Magnificent or if I would have decided to develop a Four Wayz with Devin, Lauren, and Bethany. I ignored Zaddy’s whimpering request to go outside. Instead, I lay back against my pillow and squeezed my eyes shut. I can do this. I replayed the dream in my head. There I was again on the pitching rug. I was face-to-face with the judges. Zion wasn’t there this time, but Zaddy was. He ran from judge to judge, sniffing around at their feet. Maybe he was trying to help by sniffing out my partner. “What’s it gonna be?” Morgan asked. I inhaled and prepared to select a partner when . . . “Ugh, Zaddy! Not again. I love you, but I’m so mad at you right now.” I lay still, hoping the third time was the charm, but it was more like three strikes, and I was out. My legs paddled around underneath my blanket like I was treading water. When my blanket flew to the floor, Zaddy jumped down and started rolling around in it. I watched him and smiled. That’s when the journal Gran-Gran gave me caught my eye, and an idea hit me like a dodgeball during recess. I felt terrible that I’d allowed it to sit and collect dust for so long. I hopped over Zaddy and rushed to my desk, where I clicked the table lamp, flipped the book open, and read what Gran-Gran had written inside:

“I love you too, Gran-Gran,” I said, picking up one of my sparkly glittered ink pens. I knew exactly what I wanted to accomplish. I began to write myself a letter, titling it “Note To Self.” Once that was completed, I started on my goals. In Mrs. Scott’s art class, I learned that you always want to list what you want to achieve with your creativity when creating art. My first goal was to develop an iZight gadget similar to my dream so people will have a backup plan if they lose something. Next, Mrs. Scott always said to list supplies and gather them, so you won’t become distracted by things you don’t have when creating. How could I make this gadget? I drummed the pencil against my desk, trying to think of what I would need to pull this off. I opened my drawer and made an even bigger mess. There was a bunch of junk that made me question why I still had it. Old hair barrettes, erasers, crayons, gummy bears, and even letters Cassidy, Piper, and I ed back and forth in class. “One day, I’m going to clean this thing out.” I dumped all the contents out and found a couple of valuable items. I now had my tablet to record the video, blue and white yarn that I got from Gran-Gran when she was trying to teach me how to crochet a baby blanket for Zion, a pair of scissors, and Zaddy’s training clicker. And the best find of all . . . an old pair of glasses from kindergarten. I definitely needed these for more than one reason. They were way smaller than my other glasses, but it was better than nothing. And it was required to demonstrate iZight. Building my product didn’t take much work. I cut a piece of yarn and tied it tightly to the arms of my glasses. It fit perfectly around my neck. And since I couldn’t add the tracker or develop an actual app just yet, Zaddy’s clicker was a great substitute. Zaddy whined again. “Okay, buddy, give me one second, and I am going to take you outside,” I promised. He wagged his tail and whimpered some more. Finally, the test. Mrs. Scott taught us always to complete a draft or sample first.

That way, you can work out any unexpected kinks before presenting your creation to the world. “Okay, now for my promo video!” I propped up my tablet and hit record but immediately paused it. What should I say? I grabbed my journal and wrote out my spiel. I even came up with a name to call my fans. Beyoncé has the Beyhive, Rihanna has the Navy, Taylor Swift has the Swifties, and now, Zaria Carter has the Zans. You know, fan but with a Z. My hands trembled a little. I don’t know why. It’s not like anyone would see this video. I was only experimenting. “Here goes,” I said, satisfied with what I had written. I pressed record again. I smiled so wide I could see every last tooth. “Hi, Zans!” I said, looking directly into the camera. “Zaria Carter here bringing you the latest product review, which happens to be my own.” I bounced in my chair and clapped my hands. Zaddy even got excited and barked a few times. I thought about editing it out, but just like I used Devin in my dream, I decided to use Zaddy in my marketing campaign. “My product is so amazing that even my dog gets excited about it.” I removed the yarn and glasses from around my neck and held them to the camera. “Everyone can relate to losing or misplacing something very important, right?” I paused. “Well, me too,” I said as if my Zans had answered my question. “With iZight, everything will be all right!” I made a drum sound on my desk and a mental note to edit in the spelling one letter at a time. “My new product is designed to benefit everyone. Missing something?” I shrugged and turned my neck like I was looking around my room. “All you do is open the iZight app on your phone, press the name of the preprogrammed missing item, and . . .” I grabbed Zaddy’s clicker and clicked away, which made him bark. He was expecting a treat, and once my product gets discovered, I’ll have enough money to buy him all the goodies in the world. I gasped as I reached for my glasses on top of my head. “What do you know, Zans? My glasses have been with me all this time.” I slipped my glasses on my face and finished the video. “The iZight chains have built-in trackers that make finding any item stress-free.” I ed what Bethany said, and I used that too. “Ladies, those purses that hold so much important information . . .” I

winked into the camera. “Interested? Comment on my video, and a representative will be in touch. ZC g off . . . and , iZight will make it all right!” I stopped the video. Now, all I needed to do was play it back, edit it, and add some special effects. I couldn’t wait to show the Three Wayz. Maybe this will get Piper talking. Differences aside, Piper and Cassidy could be my representatives. It couldn’t be any more complicated than being a class representative or a member of our Student Council, which we all took very seriously. Zaddy’s paws hit my lap. “I’m sorry, Zaddy. I forgot. Please give me five more minutes. I promise.” I rubbed his head, and that seemed to settle him a bit. Before I hit play, Zion barged into my room. “Zariaaaaaaa!” “What do you want, Zion?” “I’m bored. Can you play with me?” “You’re supposed to knock before you enter closed doors!” I reminded. “And I can’t play right now. I’m working.” Zion stuck his tongue out at me. “Go back to your blanket fort. I said I’m working!” “You don’t have a job!” He giggled and started jumping on my bed. That really got Zaddy going. “What’s with all the noise in here?” Mama appeared out of thin air. When Zion saw Mama, he plopped down on the bed and tried to act innocent. “Zaddy is going crazy because Zion won’t stop jumping on my bed.” Mama gave Zion “the look.” “Have you taken him outside yet?”

“No, ma’am.” “Don’t you think you need to do that, Miss Lady?” “Yes, ma’am.” “Mama, Zaria told me to get out because she has a job!” Zion blurted. “Well, Zaria’s job right this moment is to see to her responsibilities. How would you feel if you had to wait hours to use the bathroom,” she asked, her eyes directly on me. “I understand. I’ll take him out now.” “And when you’re done, both of you wash up for breakfast,” Mama said before disappearing. At least the video was recorded. Everything else would have to wait. “Let’s go, Zaddy!”

Chapter 10

Because I was in a rush to get back to my tablet, Zaddy took an extralong time to potty. I tugged on his leash for the umpteenth time. He finally followed me back into the house. I unhooked his leash and hung it in the laundry room. I tried to make a mad dash to my room, but my dad stopped me. “Whoooaaa! You competing in the Olympics?” “No, sir.” “Well, you sure flew past me like you are.” “I’m sorry. Good morning, Daddy.” I slumped my shoulders and dragged my feet across the hardwood floors until I was close enough to lean in and hug him. “You ready for breakfast?” “No, sir. I’ll eat cereal or something later.” “Did you at least feed Zaddy and give him fresh water?” I snapped my fingers and spun on my heels. Poor Zaddy. I’ve been neglecting his needs all morning. “Everything okay, Zaria? You forgot about your responsibilities with Zaddy, and you’re turning down breakfast. Unlike you.” I smiled. “I’m working on a new project in my room, and I want to finish it. That’s all.” “All right. Don’t work too hard. Maybe about another hour. Then you need to come back downstairs to eat.”

“Yes, sir.” Finally, away from everyone and back in my room, I shut the door, flung off my shoes, and threw my jacket across my bed. I happily skipped back to my desk to finish what I’d started. “OH MY GOD!” I shrieked in panic. A colorful banner flashed across my screen with the words VIDEO ED. I banged on the delete button, hoping to erase it. “How did this happen?” I instantly heard familiar giggles nearby. I stormed to my bed and yanked back the cover. “ZION!” I yelled his name so loud that he jumped and hid his face in his hands. “What did you do?” “I only pressed a button,” he said, uncovering his face and completing a frontward flip off my bed and onto the floor. “Uggghhhhh! What button? Show me!” I was so mad. “Show me the button!” I demanded. He pouted and started in the direction of the door. “I’m telling Mama you’re being mean again,” he whined. I could not let that happen. I softened my voice. “Baby brother, I’m so sorry. I’ll be nicer. Please don’t tell Mama. Just show me what you did,” I said as politely as I could. Zion spun in circles on his knees until he made it to my desk. He looked around and shrugged. “I don’t know.” “Ugggghhhhh! Figures. Stay out of my room, you little RAT! You’re always doing too much.” “I’m tellinggggg . . .”

At this point, I didn’t care. I was over it. When the door pushed open, I already knew it was going to be bad for me. “What’s going on in here? Zion said you were yelling at him.” “Not really. I only raised my voice a little.” “Do you have any kids?” I frowned. “No, ma’am.” “So, you have no right raising your voice at Zion or anyone. That is not how we raised you. You are to speak respectfully to everyone you encounter, correct?” “Yes, ma’am.” “What has Zion done that was so bad that you felt a need to yell at him?” I swallowed hard. I thought about the nail salon conversation again. Hopefully, I’d get a for telling the truth. “I made a video for fun, and when I took Zaddy out, Zion started messing around on my computer and accidentally ed it.” Mama put both her hands on her hips. “What kind of video?” “It wasn’t a bad video.” “What . . . kind . . . of . . . video, Zaria Chanel Carter?” “I had a dream that I was a contestant on Shark Tank Junior, and I woke up and kind of put the plan in motion.” Mama’s hands were squeezing her hips tighter, and that look that she gives had grown stronger. She was demanding answers without moving her mouth to ask for them. “I invented a product to help me keep up with my glasses. The Junior Sharks thought it was a great idea, and I thought so too. When I woke up, I planned it out in the journal Gran-Gran gave me and . . .”

Mama held up a finger. “Where is this so-called product? Let me have it.” She held out her hand, and I gave it to her. After she examined it, she asked, “What is this, Zaria?” “Well, the necklace part will have trackers, and an app will be included with it. Just press a button, and it locates the missing item.” “And this video? What was it ed to?” “FunnyBones,” I itted and dropped my head. Mama shook her head. “Play it.” She watched the entire video without any reaction. I dropped my head even further into my chest. I’m dead. “You know how your father and I feel ing technology irresponsibly, right?” “Yes, ma’am.” “And you broke our internet rule and ed a video we hadn’t approved of to a social media website I’ve never heard of.” “I’m sorry, Mama. It was fresh on my brain, and I wasn’t thinking about the rules.” “Well, that’s okay. Hand it over, young lady.” I reluctantly gave Mama my tablet. “Can you please figure out how to delete the video before anyone sees it? I was just goofing around.” Mama started scrolling through my tablet. “The video cannot be deleted for at least seventy-two hours, Zaria.” My mouth dropped open. “With this FunnyBones app, it’s automatically made viewable. FunnyBones now owns the video, and the only way to have it taken down is to pay a fee, which

can only be done after the video has been up for seventy-two hours. We trusted you, Zaria.” Mama was so disappointed in me. I wasn’t the one who ed it, but I was being punished. Where was the justice? “And by the way, when your father and I decide to return your tablet, there will be no more FunnyBones.” “Yes, ma’am.” Could my days get any worse? Friday was bad. Saturday was the break that I needed, and now I’m in trouble on Sunday. I wondered what Monday would bring.

Chapter 11

The second I walked into art class, it felt like a frog had hopped into my throat. Principal Edwards stood at the front of the class with Mrs. Scott. Their faces shared the same expression. Cassidy and I eyed each other, and our faces shared the same expression. There was trouble in the Scottmosphere. Principal Edwards rarely came into our classroom, and when he did, it was only to pop his head in to greet us. I couldn’t help but think his presence had something to do with Piper and the stolen paper. I looked around, and she was nowhere in sight. There went her perfect attendance streak. Usually, when the bell rang, Mrs. Scott would have to tell us to settle down before giving three students a chance to share their weekend adventures with the class. But because Principal Edwards stood front and center like some classroom security guard, everyone kept quiet. “Good morning, class. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.” Mrs. Scott’s voice was full of cheer. Okay, so maybe we weren’t in trouble after all. “Principal Edwards is ing us this morning to discuss a situation that happened on Friday.” On second thought, we were definitely in trouble. Cassidy looked at me with wide eyes and her bushy scattered eyebrows. I thought about raising my hand and asking for a to the restroom, but my arms and legs wouldn’t budge. McKenzie looked like she wanted to make a roll for it, but her motor wheelchair was still in the shop. She told me her “days of living in the fast lane” were cut short for a while. She was back in her manual wheelchair, and unluckily for her, stuck with the rest of us. My stomach rumbled like I hadn’t eaten a bowl of oatmeal. Friday is when Piper stole that paper, plus she’s missing from school today, so what if she had gotten suspended, or worse—expelled.

“Good morning, class.” Principal Edwards jammed his hands into his pants pockets and got right down to business. “An item went missing from this classroom on Friday. Does anyone happen to know what I’m referring to?” Shaking heads and nos swirled within the four walls. “Well, I’m afraid if no one returns the item, we will have no choice but to cancel the Acrylic Artistry Tour,” Principal Edwards added. The class groaned. “But that’s not fair,” Ian challenged. He crossed his arms and slouched in his chair. “Why is the whole class being punished for something we didn’t do?” “Tell me about it,” I mumbled, thinking back on how I was recently punished for something Zion did. “There’s one way to settle this. If the student wants to come forward and it to taking the paper, the tour resumes. If not, unfortunately, the activities will have to be canceled. At A. J. Stanly, we encourage honesty. So if any of you know who took the paper, I encourage you to speak up.” Cassidy cleared her throat and glanced my way. I almost fainted when she raised her hand. She was going to rat Piper out—and in front of the entire class. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Cassidy was going to snitch! “Yes, Cassidy,” Mrs. Scott said. “What’s going to happen to the student who stole the paper?” Mrs. Scott smiled. “That’s a great question.” She removed her glasses and placed them on top of her head. “Stealing is a serious offense so that individual will have to face the consequences.” She paused, and her face softened. “I know you all are really looking forward to the tour. So Principal Edwards and I have agreed to give the student a chance to correct their mistake by returning it before the end of the day.” Cassidy raised her hand again. I became stiff as a board. “Yes, Cassidy.”

“If someone returns the paper tomorrow, will the tour be back on?” Mrs. Scott looked over at Principal Edwards for an answer. I crossed my fingers, and the entire class started begging. “Pleaeeaasssseee!” I ed in. He held a hand up, and we got quiet. “Only if the paper is returned by 2:45 p.m. today,” he said finally. Principal Edwards walked over to the door and then turned back around to address us. “Stealing will not be tolerated. So do make special note that if anything like this happens again, the guilty party will face charges.” His eyes landed on each one of us and then back at Mrs. Scott before his exit. “Okay, everyone, I have a doctor’s appointment I have to get to,” Mrs. Scott said. “So I’m going to walk you over to Mr. Howard’s, who you’ll sit with until your next period. So please grab your backpacks and quietly line up.” Mrs. Scott waddled around her desk. She grabbed her bottle of water and her purse. Everyone began lining up. “Whoever has Mrs. Scott’s paper needs to give it back. She’s always nice to us, and it’s not cool to steal from the nicest teacher in the whole school,” Ian said. “Yeah, who steals from a pregnant lady!” McKenzie added. Mrs. Scott thanked them for their and reminded us to move quietly. I was silent, but Cassidy wasn’t. She walked alongside me and whispered, “You need to tell Mrs. Scott, Zaria.” “Piper is our friend, and I don’t want her to be in trouble,” I shot back. She bucked her eyes and tilted her head to the side. “But you’re okay with the class getting into trouble?” “Nooooo. I hope I can convince her to do the right thing.” “You’ve already tried that, and it didn’t work, ? Piper needs to own up to her mess. How much of a friend is she if she allows us to all go down for something she did? You heard Principal Edwards. We only have today to handle this, and since Piper isn’t here, we’re counting on you!” Cassidy walked away from me and stood beside Ian, who was near the front of the line.

Great! So now the pressure was on me. I was stuck between protecting Piper and doing the right thing. McKenzie rolled up beside me while I was in deep thought. “Zaria, will you please push me to Mr. Howard’s class?” “Sure.” I slung my backpack on both of my shoulders, and McKenzie and I headed to our next destination.

Chapter 12

“How was school?” Mama asked as soon as I got into the car. “Horrible.” I flipped my hood over my head and fastened my seat belt. Mama glanced at me through the rearview mirror before pulling out of the carpool lane. “Horrible? What happened?” “I’d rather not talk about it.” “Honey, if it has you this upset, we need to talk about it. Now, what’s going on?” I sighed and threw my hands up in the air. “Life!” Mama chuckled a little. “Zaria, you’re nine. How bad can life be right now?” “Stressful!” I had thought long and hard about my new request and figured I might as well go for it. “Can I transfer to another school?” “Absolutely not! What’s going on? You love school. You love this school.” “Not anymore,” I confessed. “It’s just one bad day, Zaria. We all have them. Besides, if you take the rest of the week off, you’ll miss the Artistry Tour you’ve been looking forward to.” I hesitated. “It was canceled.” “Cancelled?” Mama sounded like a broken record. Principal Edwards came over the intercom at exactly 2:46 p.m. and informed us during the afternoon announcements. Everyone was upset, especially Cassidy. She didn’t even say bye to me. And as tough as Wes Bevins always bragged on being, I even caught him crying.

“Part of it is my fault. I should have said something. Now, everyone is upset. Cassidy probably isn’t my friend anymore either.” Mama’s car came to a stop. I thought we were already at Zion’s school, but she had pulled over and into a nearby parking lot. She turned all the way around to look at me. “Zaria, I really need for you to tell me what happened today.” Like Wes, I started to cry. “Piper stole something from Mrs. Scott’s class, and now the tour is canceled because of it,” I itted. “Are you positive? That doesn’t sound like something Piper would do.” I nodded as tears poured from my eyes. “I saw the paper in her backpack, Mama. I told her to return it, but she wouldn’t listen.” Mama handed me a Kleenex from the glove box. “How is any of this your fault, baby?” “Because Mrs. Scott and Principal Edwards gave the responsible student a chance to return the paper or for any witnesses to speak up, and I didn’t say anything.” “Well, why didn’t Piper do the right thing and return it?” “She wasn’t at school today.” Worry lines grew in Mama’s forehead. “Wait a minute. Piper wasn’t at school?” I shook my head. “I was the only person who could’ve saved the tour, but I chose not to because I didn’t want Piper to get into trouble.” Mama faced forward and drove off. “None of this is your fault, Zaria. So we’re going to fix this. I’ll get in touch with

Piper’s mom and see what’s going on.” I felt a sense of relief knowing Mama had my back on this one. Before I knew it, my tears had dried up, and I could finally breathe again until I heard the car speaker say, “Calling Piper’s Mom.” “Hey, Queen!” “Good afternoon, Lisa! I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time. It’s Zaria and I, calling from the car.” “Oh, hey, there, Zaria! And it’s the perfect time to talk. I’ve actually been meaning to call you about what’s been going on with Piper.” My heart raced, and my armpits started to tingle. “Zaria mentioned she was absent today, and we were concerned. Is she feeling okay?” “Well . . . no. Piper hasn’t really been herself since Julius and I separated. It’s been really tough on us all. But that doesn’t excuse any of her behavior as of late.” “So you’re aware of their friendship drama?” “I’m afraid I am. Piper has been acting out at home, and sadly, it’s spilling into her school and social life. I didn’t realize how much of an impact this was having on her until I received an email today from Mrs. Scott explaining that the art tour had been canceled due to someone stealing something from her classroom. When I questioned Piper about it, she itted that she’d taken it.” My eyes grew as big as frisbees. “Lisa, I hate that you’re going through this.” “It’s a challenge I hope to get through soon enough. The three of us started seeing a family therapist today. That was the reason for her absence.” “Therapy is a great help. And you know what else is?”

“What’s that?” “Frappuccinos on me!” “Hey, I’m not turning that down!” “Can you and Piper meet us in an hour?” “You betcha! And thanks again, Queen. I know I’ll always have a friend in you.” “I wouldn’t have it any other way. We’ll see you ladies soon.” When we made it to Starbucks, I couldn’t wait to place my order. I knew exactly what I wanted. Mama and I walked over to a table and waited for Piper and Mrs. Anderson. A few minutes later, it felt like the air had been vacuumed from my body when I laid eyes on my bestie. Piper ran over and hugged me. “I’m so sorry, Zaria, for being mean to you. I’ll figure out a way to make it up.” I smiled and squeezed her tightly. “You definitely owe me big time!” I said. “I’ve been through some things.” “I’ll do whatever it takes,” Piper said. “Anything?” “You name it!” “Let’s go order our drinks, ladies!” Mama said. Piper grabbed my hand, and we hurried to the front to place our order with a barista. We returned to our own table, and I caught Piper up on everything. She even shared what the experience was like for her meeting with a therapist for the first time. It felt great seeing her back to herself. And I felt even better with all of that pressure off of me. Gran-Gran had answered my prayers. Finally, I had my friend back. Now all I needed to work on was earning back my tablet.

Chapter 13

I felt a lot better about being at school. I was excited to tell Cassidy that Piper and I made up and that she would it to taking the paper and beg Principal Edwards and Mrs. Scott to reconsider the tour so that the class wouldn’t suffer behind her bad judgment. I expected Piper not to be at the locker because she was supposed to be in Principal Edward’s office, but it was unlike Cassidy not to be standing there snapping a few selfies before the bell rang. I thought maybe she was running late, so I waited. I rechecked my watch and decided to get moving before I was tardy. When I walked into class, I spotted Cassidy right away. She was wearing her favorite hot pink “Girls Have Superpowers” shirt and was already working on the journal assignment. I shook my head. “What’s up? Why weren’t you at the locker?” Cassidy only shrugged. I reached into my bag and pulled out my composition notebook. “I have some good news,” I said in a low voice. “Cool for you.” She refused to make eye with me. “Are you okay? You’re acting strange.” “That makes two of us.” Yep! She’s mad. “Are you mad about the tour?” Seconds later, Principal Edwards walked in with the librarian. He whispered something to Mrs. Scott, and her cheerful smile faded. “Good morning, class,” Mrs. Scott addressed us.

Faint greetings circled the classroom. Everyone except for me was still upset about the tour cancellation. However, I knew what Piper planned to do, and it was only a matter of time before the tour was back in effect—I hoped. “I have some business to take care of in the office, so Ms. Jiles is going to sit with you until I return. Now would be a great time to finish your homework for your other classes if you haven’t done so. Or you can read a book.” She left, and Ms. Jiles sat in Mrs. Scott’s chair. I leaned over and lightly tapped Cassidy on her shoulder. “I bet I know what that’s about,” I said. “Cool for you.” “Really?” I said through clenched teeth. She shrugged her shoulders again. I know Cassidy, and she was as curious as the rest of the class. “It’s about Piper,” I whispered. I had Cassidy’s full attention now. No more “Cool for yous.” She sat all the way up in her chair and stared at me with questions bubbling in her eyes. “What’s going on?” she whispered all ears. “Piper is going to apologize and it to stealing the paper. She and her mom are also going to ask if we can still go on the tour.” Cassidy’s mouth dropped open. “How do you know?” “Wellllll, I told my mom about the tour being canceled and Piper missing from school, and she called Mrs. Anderson. The four of us met up and had girl chat.” “Wow! Is she in trouble? Do you think the tour will be back on?” Cassidy sure had a lot of questions now for someone who didn’t want to talk to me. “Slow down.”

Cassidy giggled. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do know that our friend is going to do the right thing.” “I sure hope so.” I began to sketch some ideas for iZight. I was so focused that I totally missed Ms. Jiles and Mrs. Scott swap places. “All right, class. I have some great news!” Mrs. Scott announced. I dropped my pencil and crossed my fingers. Please, let the tour be back on. Please, let the tour be back on. “The art paper has been returned, and I’m happy to report that the Acrylic Artistry Tour is back on.” The class cheered in excitement. I bounced extra hard but ed to catch my glasses. I was still rocking the ones from kindergarten until my new pair was ready. The excitement lasted all period and carried into the hallway once the bell rang to switch classes. “Hey. Wait up!” Cassidy and I turned to Piper’s voice. “I didn’t think you were staying today,” I said. “Good thing Principal Edwards didn’t suspend me. He said if it happens again, he would. But we have nothing to worry about. Trust me. I love school, and I love you two!” Piper leaned in and hugged Cassidy and me tight. “I’m sorry about my attitude, guys. The separation of my parents really got to me. But it’s getting better. I hope you still want to be my friend, Cassidy.” “Of course, I do,” Cassidy said and gave Piper a fist bump. “And I’m sorry, Zaria. I know I was acting a little shady toward you for defending Piper so much and—” “Apology accepted! It’s all behind us now, Cass Cass!” I said. We each locked

pinky fingers and started walking. “We’re going to have a blast on the tour!” Cassidy beamed. “Y’all are going to have a blast. I can’t go on the tour. That’s my punishment for taking the paper,” Piper said. “What?” I exclaimed. “It’s okay,” Piper said behind a smile. “It’s fair. They needed to punish me somehow. Instead of everyone missing the tour, it’ll only be me.” I blinked back a few tears. “I understand, I guess, but I still don’t like it. It will be so weird not having you with us.” Cassidy nodded. “Look, don’t feel bad for me. I did the crime, so I have to do the time. Anywayyyy, enough about me. Let’s talk about Miss Superstar over here.” Piper nudged me. “What are you talking about?” I literally had no clue. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know your FunnyBones video has been blowing up,” Cassidy added. “What!” I shrieked. “My parents took my tablet, but they’re supposed to be removing the video from the website.” “They can’t! It crashed the internet,” Piper informed me. My mouth hung open. Cassidy pulled out her phone and went straight to my video. “Over one million views, Zaria!” I tripped over my own feet, and this time, I bumped into Wes. “Watch it, Bevins!” Piper was back, and so was her look. “She bumped into me,” he said and continued down the hall.

“OMG!” I held Cassidy’s phone and stared at the number of likes and shares. My video had really gone viral. “So, like I said, Miss Superstar, you’ve been holding out on us,” Cassidy said as I ed the phone back to her. “Oh no. Trust me. I was only kidding around when I made that,” I explained. “Zion accidentally ed it, and my parents were livid.” “Well, after they see how much people like it, they won’t be mad anymore,” Piper said. “Uuuhhhh, it doesn’t quite work like that in my house,” I said, wondering what planet Piper thought we were suddenly on. Cassidy ran ahead of us and blocked the entrance to Mr. Jean’s class. “I have one question. Can we take a selfie to the day we made up?” Piper and I jumped on her sides and locked arms. “The Three Wayz for Life!” we said in unison. SNAP!

Chapter 14

“Zaria, you busy?” Mama peeked her head into my room. “No, ma’am. Not really. Just thinking.” She walked in and sat on my bed. “About?” Zaddy and I both sat up. My television was on, but I wasn’t paying it any mind. “I don’t only want to be a student anymore.” “I thought things were better at school. Your grades are good, and you’ve made up with your friends, right?” “School is going great. The Three Wayz is stronger than ever, but I want more in life,” I acknowledged. She chuckled. “And exactly what more are you wanting out of life, baby girl?” “Glad you asked!” I smiled. “I know that my education is my number one priority, but I feel like I should be doing more with my time.” “That’s a very mature statement. What more is it that you want to do?” I propped my elbows up on a pillow. “Everything, Mama. Just like you!” I fell back and laughed when Zaddy licked my cheek. “Can you be more specific?” Mama asked. “I know I broke a couple of rules with my video. But, Mama, it went viral! And now, I’m more inspired than ever to finish what I started. Just like Gran-Gran would always say. I want to follow my dream of creating my iZight product.” “There’s nothing wrong with following your dreams, Zaria. There’s also nothing wrong with creating and marketing your brand. But you have to be a responsible businessperson. That means consulting with Dad and me on everything, proper

research, an action plan, strong work ethic, and most importantly, leadership!” I listened really hard to everything Mama was telling me. “I’m ready, Mama!” I said finally. “I know I have what it takes to make iZight a success. And besides, I need to strike while the iron is hot!” Mama buckled over in laughter. Tears rolled from the corners of her eyes. I didn’t know what was so funny but seeing her this happy made me laugh along with her. “Strike while the iron is hot, Zaria? I guess my mama was right. You really are an old soul.” She laughed a little more. “Gran-Gran wrote it in the special book she gave me. I’ve been writing in it daily. It’s like Gran-Gran is near me, cheering me on.” “Your Gran-Gran always had a way of making everyone feel like they could move mountains if they believed they could. She empowered you like she did me. And that power, baby girl, is your true magic.” I nodded in belief. “I’ll show you what I’ve been working on.” I pushed the pillows aside and retrieved the journal from my desk. “See,” I said as I flipped the book open to the front cover and handed it to Mama. Mama’s fingers rested on Gran-Gran’s words. She kept them there for a few minutes longer before finally turning the page. “You’re serious about iZight, huh?” “Yes, Mama. It makes me feel good knowing that I can make life a little easier for the young and the old. Even those with old-timers, like what Gran-Gran had, so it won’t be so bad when they misplace things.” Mama chuckled again. “It’s Alzheimer’s, Zaria. And I definitely think you’re on to something with iZight.” Mama continued to study the pages. “These sketches are excellent.” She flipped page after page and had positive input. “I’ll tell you what. I have a very special client that I’m doing an event for. You can assist me because you must learn how to follow like a boss before you can

lead like a boss! So you can shadow me, and I’ll give you some pointers.” “I’d love to!” Mama had owned her event-planning company since I can , and this is the first time she had ever asked me to help her plan an event. “How much does it pay?” I hadn’t done a lot of research yet, but if I didn’t have an investor on board, I would have to raise the money somehow. And since Mama and Daddy had their own companies already, I could work for them. “Pro bono,” Mama said. I got super excited and rubbed my hands together. That sounded like a fancy word for a whole lot of money. “How much money is that?” I asked. “Look it up,” she said. “Meanwhile, let’s address the purple elephant in the room. I’m going to reinstate your tablet and internet privileges, but it is only to conduct research for now. No videos.” “Yes, ma’am. And what type of event is it?” “It’s a party for a girl your age. The first thing I want you to do is research the type of snacks and music your age group likes. I’ll have a list of other responsibilities for you later today.” “I won’t let you down, boss! I’ll get started right after I research ‘pro bono.’” Mama stood from my bed and laughed herself out of my room.

Chapter 15

Lately, everyone needed my help, including my uncle, Hawatha. The doorbell sounded, and although I wasn’t allowed to answer the door, I bolted out of my room, rushed down the stairs, and slid across the foyer in my emoji socks. I waited off to the side for Mama to open the door. I was excited to see my uncle and his goodie bag of surprises. He always brought Zion and me the best gifts. Zaddy even benefited from Uncle Hawatha’s visits. I was a bit curious to know why Uncle Hawatha needed help from a nine-yearold brain. He’s an engineer, which, I assume, is the reason why he’s as intelligent as he is. He knows a little something about everything. “Yo yo yo,” Uncle Hawatha said, and he leaned over to hug Mama. “How’s it going, big little brother?” Mama asked. She always called him “big” because he was so tall and “little” because he was younger than her by a few months. Technically, he wasn’t her biological brother as Zion was mine. Mama and Uncle Hawatha became pals in elementary school and, from there, built a lasting bond . . . just like Piper, Cassidy, and me. “There she is,” Uncle Hawatha said and pulled a T-shirt from behind his back. “This is for you, Li’l Bit.” He’s called me that since I can . He said it’s because I’m so short next to him. That was until he met Cassidy. Now, every time he sees her, he calls her Tiny Bit. I unrolled the shirt and read it. “Boss in Training.” I chuckled. “I love it! My favorite color too. Thank you.” “Where’s Big L and Young Z?” he asked, referring to my dad and brother. I’ve never heard him call any of us by our actual names, except for my mom. That included Piper. He nicknamed her Other Bit.

“Leo is out taking care of business. He took Zion with him. It’s only us girls.” Mama hopped to the side right in time. Uncle Hawatha almost ran over her toes with the tote on wheels he rolled in. I eyed the tote and wondered what was in it. I hoped for more gifts, but I didn’t want to seem greedy or ungrateful. I was happy with my motivating T-shirt and couldn’t wait to wear it. “What’s all this?” Curiosity wouldn’t allow my lips to stay connected. “You’ll see,” Uncle Hawatha said before asking Mama where he could set up. “I already cleared a working space off at the dining room table,” she replied. Uncle Hawatha headed in that direction, and I followed. I propped my body up against the wall and watched him bunch his neatly twisted hanging dreads together and wrap them with a hair tie. Then he transferred the contents from the tote onto the dining room table. “That’s a lot of tiny pieces,” I said. “Yep. This is why I need help.” My eyes swelled with fear. I inched closer to the table. “I don’t know anything about this stuff.” “It’s a cakewalk,” he said and tucked one of his falling dreads back into the place from where it escaped. “It doesn’t look like a cakewalk.” Uncle Hawatha laughed and then handed me a pack of index cards and a marker. “There are six components. We are going to organize them into six separate piles. The index cards will serve as the labels.” “Got it,” I said and started counting. “One, two, three, four, five, six.” I tapped the cards against the table to line them up evenly. “I have six.” Uncle Hawatha gave me two thumbs-up. “Cool. Let’s go ahead and label the

cards. You write.” “What will they say,” I asked. “I’ll call it out and spell it as I one of each piece to you. You organize, and I’ll build.” He gave me a mean side-eye. “How’s your handwriting? I hope it isn’t chicken scratch.” I laughed. “No, Uncle Hawatha. I have nice handwriting.” “Cool. Make sure you put each piece in the correct pile.” “Got it.” “It’s important that you don’t mix up the pieces.” “You can trust me. I got it.” “I hope I can trust your handwriting.” “How about I give you a sample?” “Cool. Let’s do it. If it’s bad, you’re fired.” “You can’t fire me if I’m not getting paid.” “I am paying you.” I gasped with excitement. “Really?” “Yep! Queen said you like to be paid pro bono.” He smacked his hand on the table multiple times like he was making a beat to go along with his laughter. I stomped my foot on the rug. “Uncle Hawatha, that is not funny.” Several of his dreads wiggled free when he buckled over with laughter. “I’m sorry, Li’l Bit. I had to. Forgive me.” He held his fist out for a bump. He was too cool and fun for me to hold a grudge. “Forgiven,” I said and tapped my fist against his.

“All right. All these pieces spread across the table are called hardware. Each hardware has its own name. Take the Three Wayz, for example. Three Wayz is the group name, but it’s made up of Li’l Bit, Tiny Bit, and Other Bit.” I nodded my understanding and wrote the foreign names as he called them out to me. We spent about an hour separating the pieces into piles. Mama even helped a little before she started dinner. Once finished, the piles looked like stacked up trash in a landfill. “What are we making?” I finally asked. “GPS chips for a freelance client,” Uncle Hawatha said as he switched from holding tweezers to typing on his laptop to test what he had built. “Wow! This is exactly what I need for my invention.” “Oh yeah?” “Yep. Do you want to hear about it?” “Your mom filled me in on some of it.” He got quiet when he picked up a magnifying glass and studied his work. I filled him in on every detail for every plan I had. He still had the magnifying glass to his eye when he looked at me. The frustration of these trackers not being for me disappeared because I couldn’t help but laugh. “You look like a minion.” “Cool. That’s the look I was going for.” I sighed. “What’s that for?” he asked. “I wish these were for me.” “Don’t start with the huffing and puffing and long face, Li’l Bit. Your time will come sooner than you think. Be patient. Your ideas are amazing, but you don’t want to dive into them without planning or testing. I know it’s not what you want

to hear, but don’t give up. Make sure this is something you really want. Being a business owner comes with great reward, but it’s tough and requires a tremendous amount of time and dedication.” Uncle Hawatha rubbed his fingers against the edges of his hair. “You see this? You don’t want to be short and gray,” he said, poking fun of my height and pointing out his two strands of gray hair. “What age were you when you knew what you wanted to be?” I asked. “I was young. I always knew I wanted to build stuff. I used to take apart radios and put them back together. I’ve always had an interest in learning how things were made and how each part worked.” Uncle Hawatha turned back to the keyboard and clicked away. I propped my elbows on the table and rested my chin in the palms of my hands. “You want to build one?” he asked. “Gain a little experience?” He smiled and wiggled both of his eyebrows. My face lit up. I jumped from my chair and rushed over to the other side of the table. He walked me through each step, and just as he said, it wasn’t as hard as it looked. He explained every piece and what it does so I’d have a better understanding. I built, with his assistance, of course, and he typed. “Not bad, huh?” he asked when we finished the last chip. “Nope. That was actually pretty fun.” “Cool. Now, clean up time.” We both let out a groan. Mine turned into cheers when he handed me a crisp twenty-dollar bill and the leftover hardware. “Practice makes perfect,” Uncle Hawatha said. “I’ll check in soon and see how much progress you’ve made, and just maybe, we can talk about the future of iZight.” I’m not sure, but I think I fainted. I’ll count this as one step closer to my dream coming true.

Chapter 16

“Hey, girlie, what are you up to?” I closed my journal and tossed it over to the side so I could give Mama my attention. “Just reading back over some goals and trying to create a plan using what I’ve learned since working with you and Uncle Hawatha.” The broad smile that spread across Mama’s face made me feel that she was proud of my efforts. “I’m very pleased to hear that. It lets me know that you’re going to be successful in whatever you do. Keep perfecting your ion, and it will all work out.” I believe that. My parents had never been wrong about anything in all of my short years. Plus, they used every experience in life as a teaching moment, so I’m confident I’ll excel in anything I do. I’m ready for everyone to love my product and to cheer me on as the Junior Sharks did in my dream. “By the way, Hawatha told me you were a big help to him. How was the experience for you?” “Super fun. It’s the exact vision I have for iZight. Plus, I’ve already built a few trackers with the material he left with me. They aren’t programmed, though. That’s the hard part.” Mama eyed my desk. “I see. It’s a mess over there.” Mama was a stickler for cleanliness. “Keep working at it, Zaria, and your day will come.” Although I nodded, deep down inside, I was frustrated because everyone kept telling me to keep working on it or wait until I’m older. That’s going to take forever. “One day, I guess.” “All right, kiddo, I know you’re working on something, but you and Zaddy scoot on over and make room for me. We need to go over the details for the event one more time.”

“Again?” “Yes, ma’am, again,” Mama said and climbed into my bed with her work stuff. “I told you this was a tedious process. This is what happens when you’re in charge. You go over it multiple times to ensure everything is as perfect as can be. You want your clients to keep coming back for more. If a client refers you based on how well you worked for them, that’s a major bonus. Word of mouth is a great way to grow business.” Mama flipped open the red binder that held every detail of the event and settled on the first tab. I groaned. “We have to start over from the very beginning?” “We do. Starting with goals and objectives,” she said and then popped a mint into her mouth. My mouth dropped open for several reasons. First, anytime Mama planned to spend a long time on something, she constantly munched on chocolate mints. She had a bag full in her hand. In fact, she had extra, which meant some for me and probably a lot of hours. Second, we’ve been over every detail of this party since Mama asked me to help her with it, so why do we have to start over from the beginning every time? “I guess this is pro bono too?” I asked. Mama was so tickled when I ran downstairs to inform her that I had looked up the word and how I wouldn’t receive any money for services rendered. Then she reminded me, as she often does, that everything isn’t always about money. Mama laughed. “Not really. Sometimes the experience is more beneficial than the monetary gain. Having the ability to put a smile on someone’s face is a reward in itself. You’ll see what I mean during the event. Right now, your specific task is to read the information from the binder to me. I want to ensure what’s written aligns digitally and that everything is in place. We want to avoid all unnecessary surprises.” “This sounds like it’s going to take forever,” I said. I slid the binder from Mama to me. “What do you think I meant when I said we needed to go over every detail?”

“I don’t know exactly, but I thought it was going to be something quick.” “You have a lot to learn, daughter. It costs to be the boss.” Mama winked at me and then gave Zaddy a little attention using her best baby voice. “Isn’t that right, Zaddy? Tell her. It takes dedication and a lot of work.” Zaddy soaked up all the love. He even rolled over for a belly rub. “You’re cute and all, sir, but Zaria and I have work to do.” Mama unwrapped her second chocolate mint. “Ready, Zaria?” Not really, but I nodded anyway. “Read off the goals and objectives to me. Next, we’ll go over the venue and a few tasks and guest relations.” “Goals and objectives: To the product launch, awareness, and to assist with garnering preorders.” Other than this part, it’s been fun working with Mama. She and I made a great team, and I’ve been learning a lot. Mama told me several times that she was impressed with the work I’d done when she’d asked me to do it. I couldn’t wait for us to work on more projects, especially when it’s my turn to become an entrepreneur and launch my products. More than one. Even more than two. I don’t plan to stop with just iZight. “What is the final number of confirmed attendees?” Mama asked. I scanned the binder. “Fifty-four.” That didn’t seem like very many. When I have my launch party, everyone is invited. I would mail out pink and purple invitations to the entire world. Dream big, no matter what age. “Fifty-four,” Mama slowly repeated and typed. “Great. I’ve already called Ariel Groves Event Space to confirm the booking and the arrival of staff to set up in the morning.” “Can I help with setup?” I asked. The only thing I’ve ever decorated was my bedroom, with my mother’s help, of course. “No, honey. Not this time. But definitely the next one.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, even though I was disappointed. “Run down the food list for me, please.” I got hungry reading off all fourteen menu items. I flipped to the next tab. “What about the budget? Do you need me to read that to you?” “Actually, we are well within the budget, thank goodness. That is an important aspect to look out for when planning. You never want to go back to your client and ask for more money. That is not a good look.” “So, you’re saying we saved them some money?” “We sure did,” Mama said. About two hours later and multiple chewed mints, we were finally done. “Thank you for helping me, Zaria. I couldn’t have done this without your input.” Mama leaned over and kissed my cheek. She tapped her nails against my journal. “I’m sure Gran-Gran is extremely proud of you.” “Strike while the iron is hot, right?” I asked and playfully batted my eyes. Mama chuckled. “Absolutely, baby.”

Chapter 17

My heart pumped extra hard in my chest as Mama and I walked from her car to the building. I loved what we created, and I hoped our client loved it just as much. I couldn’t wait to meet her. I didn’t know much about her other than her being a young boss like I dreamed of becoming. No one could ever replace Cassidy and Piper, but I hoped whoever this person was, she’d want to be friends. I’m sure there was so much that I could learn from her about starting and running a business at a young age. I wondered if Mama was nervous. She didn’t talk much. She was focused ahead as her high heels clicked against the pavement. Her ivory dress that wrapped around her waist flowed with the wind. My dress was similar to Mama’s. I wanted to wear purple and pink, like the décor, but Mama insisted we wear a neutral color, so we’d stand out as the hosts and didn’t clash with the event colors. “We’re approaching,” Mama said into her watch like she was a member of the FBI. She stopped right before opening the doors and knelt in front of me. “Make sure you work the room. Smile and thank the guests for coming.” “Why do I need to do that?” I asked. “I won’t know anyone here.” “It’s good business practice.” “Congratulations, Zaria!” Yells came from every direction. I jumped back, startled, but calmed down when I recognized every face within the crowd, even McKenzie. My birthday isn’t until August 17th. “What’s going on?” I looked at Mama for answers. “Well, you know how you thought you were helping me plan an event for a girl your age?” I nodded.

“You are the girl, Zaria.” Mama clapped. “Look around and take it all in, little boss lady.” Boss? The crowd moved to the side to reveal a pink aisle runner that led to Zion and Daddy. Both were dressed in matching suits, bow ties, and glasses. That’s weird. Neither of them wore glasses. I stopped in front of Zion. He held a small case. “These are for you,” he said and pushed the case out for me to take. I opened it and gasped. Looking back at me was my very own iZight product attached to a brand-new pair of glasses. “How did . . .” I couldn’t finish my sentence. I was overcome with emotion. How did I become so lucky? My parents were simply amazing. Daddy removed a handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped my tears. “Zaria, your mother and I want you to know how proud we are of you. You’re a straightA student, well behaved, . . .” Daddy spun in a circle before adding, “and super innovative. When your mother and I saw how well received the mock version of iZight was, we had to get it out there.” I hugged him so tight that I could’ve cracked a rib. “You are officially the entrepreneur that you wanted to be—and inspired me to be,” Daddy said. “Your mother and I can’t take all the credit. We had some help.” “Thank your uncle for volunteering to build the first batch pro bono.” I turned around to Mama’s voice, and Uncle Hawatha was standing beside her. “How does it feel now knowing that you helped me build your own product?” he asked. My mouth popped open but then closed back like a ventriloquist controlled me. I had no words. That explains why we didn’t go over the budget. “Sorry for tricking you, Li’l Bit,” Uncle Hawatha added. “Queen made me do it.” Mama playfully hit him. “I did no such thing.” Words finally came out after I gasped. “The whole time you pretended.”

Uncle Hawatha shrugged his shoulders and then pointed to Mama. “She made me,” he said again. “But at least now, you have an idea of how to make it.” “Thank you,” I said through more sobs mixed with a bit of laughter. “There’s more,” Uncle Hawatha said and pointed toward my dad. When Daddy moved to the side, Piper and Cassidy popped up. “OMG!” I screeched. “We have to capture this moment,” Cassidy said and pulled out her cell phone. Even though my parents hired a professional photographer, we took a zillion pictures on Cassidy’s phone, and I couldn’t wait to see how they turned out. “Let us show you everything!” Piper jumped up and down and grabbed my hand. “Your parents let me design your logo.” Piper twirled her finger in the curls of her usual bouncy ponytail. “As you can see, the logo is simple. Just the letter Z. Notice the diagonal line is made of a chain like your product, which also shows it cannot be broken. I was inspired by our friendship and my parents’ marriage.” Piper pointed across the room to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. They were holding hands, which was a great sign. I think. “And I created the color scheme,” Cassidy said before snapping a picture of the table. “And I helped move everything in.” I turned around to the voice I only heard in the hallways of A. J. Stanly Elementary. Shock wrinkles rippled across my forehead. “Wes Bevins helped?” I asked. “I had a little something to do with that,” Piper joked. “I helped too,” Ian added. “Oh wow!” I was so happy. The tour started with the round table that was the focal point of the room. A

purple light shined on the medium-sized ice sculpture in the middle of the table that spelled out “iZight.” In front of the ice sculpture was an upright frame that held my imitation utility patent certificate. And at the bottom of it were my parents’ signatures. I’d researched plenty about the meaning of trade secrets and the importance of trademarks and patents. Now I finally had my own! I walked around the table and looked into the five small glass display cases. Five iZight designs with preorder forms were filled with names. A cell phone and tablet with the iZight app already ed for customers to test stood next to the display cases. “We took the liberty of leaving the specific naming of each chain and lanyard to you, except for one,” Mama said. “This one here, we named Three Wayz. It combines your favorite color, Piper’s favorite color, and Cassidy’s.” My glasses were foggy and wet. This time, Zion offered me his little handkerchief. “Thank you, Zion, for everything. I was so mad at you for ing that video, but if you hadn’t, none of this would be happening.” I gave him the biggest hug. “I’m so proud of you, Zaria,” Mrs. Scott said as she rocked little Gage, her new baby. It was his first public appearance, and it happened to be at my event. “I can’t wait to start using iZight. I preordered three, and I plan to order more.” “Zaria, Mrs. Scott was your first customer,” Mama said. Someone pinch me. This has to be a dream, just like when I was a contestant on Shark Tank Junior. “Thank you so much for doing business with me, Mrs. Scott. I’m sure iZight will exceed your expectations.” Mama and Daddy eyed each other and smiled. I hope this is what Mama meant when she told me to “work the room.” And I did exactly that until I got the biggest surprise of all. “We have a bonus for you,” Daddy said. I don’t know how much more I can take.

“Look!” he said and pointed to the backdrop made of curtains. The curtains moved, and my peers erupted in cheers. OMG! OMG! OMG! No way! My knees buckled, and the closer BrittBrax got to me, my body quivered. “Hey, Zaria.” OMG! She knows my name. I had no words. I stared into her face like she was an alien. “This is an awesome idea, and you are an awesome young lady. I wanted to document this for my channel. You are inspiring so many young people to follow their dreams, and I’m so proud of you. When your mom reached out, no way could I miss it.” I looked at Mama. I didn’t have to ask. She already knew my question. “Perks of being an event planner. I know people.” She winked at me. When Mama pinched my cheek, I knew this was all real and not a dream. Eventually, I returned to my body and had a conversation with BrittBrax. Before she left the event, she preordered one hundred chains and lanyards as giveaways, spoke to Mama about featuring me on her show in person, promised that we’d keep in touch, and even gave me her personal cell phone number. Perks of being a BOSS! “One good picture of you for your website,” Mama said. I have a website?! The photographer held up the camera and said, “Say ‘cheese.’” Cheese wasn’t appropriate for this moment. “BOSS MAGIC!” I said and flashed my best selfie smile a second before the camera captured the most incredible moment ever!

The End

From the Author

Thanks to everyone who helped me bring the first book in my Boss Magic series to life. We would not be here without you. You rock! And for those who have ed us on this journey, let’s keep in touch. Follow me on social media using @iambossmagic, and don’t forget to drop a note for Zaddy and me.

Discussion Questions

Who was your favorite character? Why?

What emotions did you feel reading Gran-Gran’s words to Zaria?

Do you have something or someone symbolic in your life that makes you feel like you can conquer anything in the world? If so, who or what would it be?

If you were Zaria, how would you have handled the stolen art paper situation? Would you have tried to convince Piper to return it, or would you have told the teacher or principal?

Do you think Piper received a fair punishment for stealing the art paper?

Do you think Zaria will be successful with attending school and growing a business?

What are some ideas you have to become an entrepreneur? What goals are you taking to turn your dreams into reality?

If Piper were as mean to you as she was to her friends and teachers, how do you think you would handle it?

If you had access to an iZight lanyard and/or chain, what items would you attach them to?

As a new boss in training, spend this time writing out all of your ideas. Ask a parent or sibling to provide magazines so that you can cut and paste pictures from them onto your vision board.

Coming Soon