Sweet Valley Kids #48 Lila's April Fool.
Lila’s April Fool.
Apologies for lack of cover photo. It's hot here today and I can't seem to get my camera to focus.
Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Cinderella
It’s recess. Jessica and Elizabeth joke that if you got graded for recess, Jess would get a better grade than Liz for once. Then we get the usual same but different crap.
Lila, Ellen and Amy join the twins. Ellen asks what they are going to play and Lila announces ‘Cinderella’. Because Lila likes to be boss, and the rest of the girls just let her.
Amy wants to be Cinderella. Jess and Li think this is hilarious. Because Amy now has short hair and everyone knows Cinderella has long hair.
Mrs. Otis stops by to tell Amy there is nothing wrong with her hair. The illustration shows Mrs. Otis also has short hair.
Everyone argues over whether Princesses have short or long hair, even Mrs. Otis. Teachers are just as bad as parents in Sweet Valley. Elizabeth points out that Ellen has chin length hair and therefore can’t be a princess either. This book was published in 1994, so I’m pretty sure these girls know who Princess Diana is.
Mrs. Otis convinces the girls that what you look like isn’t important; it’s what’s inside that counts. Sorry Amy, looks like Mrs. Otis thinks your hair is crap too.
Mrs. Otis leaves and Amy thinks she has won and can now be Cinderella. But, Lila doesn’t care what Mrs. Otis says. Cinderella has to have beautiful hair so piss off Amy.
Amy hopes Lila turns into a pumpkin and runs off crying.
Chapter 2: Party!
Elizabeth begins to follow Amy, but Jessica convinces her that it’s more fun to stay and play. Damn, no shoulder squeeze.
The girls start describing what ball gowns they are wearing to the Prince’s ball. Lila announces that she is having a fancy party. On Saturday. April Fool’s Day. Lila is inviting the whole class. There will be clowns, and pony rides and it will be ‘really fantastic’.
There will also be a jumping castle and swimming in the pool too. I want to go to this party! Minus the clown.
The girls are excited about dressing up. Except for Elizabeth, she doesn’t like wearing fancy clothes much. Because she’s not like Jessica. Ok, ghosty, we get it.
Back in class, Mrs. Otis informs the girls that she is thinking of dying her hair red. Like Caroline’s. Elizabeth is in shock. Caroline Pearce has bright red hair, ew. That’s Elizabeth’s opinion, not mine. I once dyed my hair red.
Elizabeth thinks Mrs. Otis is perfect the way she is. Mrs. Otis wants to look more glamorous. She can’t grow her hair long, so she’ll dye it.
Methinks Mrs. Otis is trying to teach these girls a lesson.
Chapter 3: Something’s Wrong.
Jessica and Elizabeth go to Lila’s after school. While having a snack, Jessica starts to mention the Party! in front of Nica, the housekeeper. Lila quickly cuts her off and drags the twins up to her room.
Lila adds more details to the Party! A cookout, and a cotton candy machine. When I was pregnant with my icon I had cravings for cotton candy. I couldn’t find any in the stores. One morning, when taking the boys to school, I found a bag of the pink, sugary stuff hanging form the door handle. I have lovely friends.
Lila boasts that her parents give her whatever she wants. No matter what.
Jessica heads downstairs for more cookies. She asks Nica if there will be cookies at the Party! Nica has no idea what Jessica is talking about. Ooooh.
Chapter 4: The Truth.
Jessica runs back to Lila’s room. She knows Lila isn’t having a party.
Lila is all, Am so! Jess asks why Nica doesn’t know about it.
Lila admits she hasn’t asked for permission yet. But, she always gets what she asks for; she knows there will be a party. Uh huh.
At dinner that night, the twins are complaining about what a big faker Lila is. They tell Mrs. Wakefield about Lila’s party.
Mrs. Wakefield calls Mr. Fowler on the phone to find out whether there will be a party, or not.
Mr. Fowler hasn’t heard about any party. Well, der! Lila hasn’t asked permission yet!
Chapter 5: Mr. Fowlers Plan.
The twins are waiting for their Mother to get off the phone. Jessica is half hoping that Mr. Fowler has cancelled the party, to teach Lila a lesson about bragging. What party? I know Jess is supposed to be dense, but come on! I accidently typed Fowler as Fooler, sounds about right to me.
No, the non existing party hasn’t been cancelled. Mr. Fooler is very upset that Lila would tell everyone about a party before asking permission. So he wants to teach her a lesson. He is going to tell her she can’t have a party. Then he is going to give her a surprise party on the beach.
He doesn’t want her to be completely miserable. Head, meet desk. Yep. The best way to teach your kids they can’t always get what they want is to say no, then give it to them anyway. That’s how I’m raising my kids. Thanks for teaching me how to be a parent Mr. Fooler. FFS.
The twins are excited, what a great April Fool’s joke to pull on Lila. They can’t tell Lila, but they can tell the rest of the class.
Chapter 6: Lila’s Circus.
At recess the next day, Lila is still bragging about her party. Only now it seems to have turned into a circus. With a lion tamer, magician, and a carousel. Cool.
Elizabeth can’t believe all the bull that Lila is spinning. As soon as the other kids leave, she asks Lila if her father said yes yet. He hasn’t, but Lila isn’t worried. She always gets what she wants!
Back in class, Mrs. Otis informs the girls that she made an appointment to get her hair done. On Thursday. When I finish typing this, I am going to go watch Fried Green Tomatoes. I can’t get Kathy Bates out of my head;”Mrs. Otis is dead?”
Elizabeth notices that Lila is starting to look a bit worried. Hmmm.
Chapter 7: A Shared Secret
For the next two days, Lila brags about her party. She still hasn’t asked permission. It’s Thursday; does she think her father can pull a party out of his arse? Give the man time to plan and organize girl!
Lila has been worrying about the party. She pretends to feel sick so people will start wondering if she will cancel her party.
It works!
Jessica spills the beans the other kids. Instead of being pissed that Lila has been lying to them, the class is thrilled that Lila is going to be made to look the Fool.
They tell Lila they are really excited about the party and can hardly wait. This makes Lila worry even more. What if her Father says no? She confesses to Jessica and asks how she can get out of it. Jessica reminds Lila that Mr. Fooler always says yes.
Chapter 8: Mrs. Otis’s Joke.
Friday morning and Mrs. Otis walks in the class room with Red Hair. The class is shocked! Even though they knew she was getting it dyed. It must look pretty awful, because Ellen, Lila and Jessica finally admit that it’s what’s inside that counts. A lesson they will soon forget. Sorry Robin Wilson.
It’s ok. Mrs. Otis didn’t really dye her hair. It’s a wig! Mrs. Otis reveals her unchanged dark hair. In the illustration, Mrs. Otis has blonde hair. Ha ha, it was just an early April Fool’s joke.
This inspires Lila to say there will be no party. It was just an April Fool’s joke. Mrs. Otis thinks that was a horrible joke to play on her friends. Lila doesn’t care, she got the last laugh.
Once again, the class isn’t pissed at Lila. They think it’s funny that she’s going to have a party after all. My head hurts from hitting the desk so many times.
Chapter 9: To The Beach.
Saturday morning looms and the twins are talking abut Lila’s party. Elizabeth thinks Lila is lucky that Mr. Fooler is giving her a party even though he is mad at her. So do I.
Mr. Wakefield drives the twins to Lila’s house. Lila is sad not to be having a party, so the twins invite her to join them at the beach.
They arrive at the beach to and the whole class waiting for them. Everyone yells ‘surprise’ and Mr. Fooler gives Lila a hug. Aaaw. Can’t fool me George, you’re still a crappy parent.
Chapter 10: April Fool.
Mr. Fooler tells Lila it’s not the amount of money you spend on a party that matters, it’s having your friends around you that counts. Hey, turns out I was wrong about the lesson Mr. Fooler wanted to teach Lila. So instead of the fancy party she bragged about, Lila gets a normal party.
No Emma, you can’t have a slice of chocolate cake. Here, have a packet of biscuits instead.
Every one has fun at the party. Amy even gets to be Cinderella. So alls well that ends well.
On the last page we get a lead in to number 49 Jessica’s Mermaid.
Ok, I’m off to watch Fried Green Tomatoes now. Bye.