Sweet Valley Twins #9, Against the Rules
Where Jessica is a huge witch-with-a-b, and Elizabeth is saintlier than ever.
A cover image is available here. That girl gazing at the cake with a "For me?" look is Poor Sophia Rizzo. St. Elizabeth is on Sophia's left, arm around her shoulder. I guess the other girl is Amy. She looks bored.
Sophia is very sweet and gentle in this book. Didn't she become kind of prickly later on (like Rocky in the Bad News Ballet series? Or do I just think that because they have similar hair?)
Anyway...
The book starts right off with Jess at her judgmental worst. Jessica doesn't approve of Liz hanging out with Sophia Rizzo. She tells Liz, "If you keep hanging out with strays you're going to get bitten!" Elizabeth just laughs and says that if Sophia bites her, she hopes to catch Sophia's way with words. You see, Sophia's (supposedly) an awesome writer; she's been submitting all these funny articles for The Sixers, and Liz thinks she's just the greatest talent ever. But Jess and most of the other kids dislike Sophia because her brother is a juvenile delinquent. Also, because she wears faded clothes.
The twins (who are standing around SVMS) talk a little about the upcoming school play. Jess wants a splashy musical with lots of singing and dancing. She also wants to star! Liz is just excited that she gets to write a big article about the play for The Sixers. Suddenly Jess remembers an important Unicorn meeting and runs off to the Dairi Burger (dumping her books on Elizabeth). Liz just shakes her head and thinks about how she feels four years older than Jess, instead of four minutes. Then she goes to meet Sophia.
Liz tells Sophia about Jessica's Dairi Burger meeting. In response, Sophia sadly pulls a note out of her pocket ... it reads:
We don't need your kind in Sweet Valley. Get out and take your brother with you.
The note is signed with a "clumsily" drawn horse with a horn on its head. Liz is furious at the Unicorns, but she cheers Sophia up by reminding her that they have a news story to write. Hurray! They run off to meet Mr. Bowman, who brightens their moods even further by telling them that they get to write the school play! Well, Sophia, Liz, and four other kids (the two best English students from each grade will make up the writing committee).
Liz and Sophia are thrilled by the very thought of writing the school play. And they still get to write their news article, too; however, Sophia has no self-esteem and wants her name left off the byline. She doesn't think anyone will want to read anything written by a Rizzo (she's probably right). Liz tells Sophia to stop being afraid of people. Liz says the magic word -- friends -- and Sophia's face lights up ("Friends? I ... I guess we are!") The two girls run to Sophia's ramshackle house to read all the old plays Sophia wrote.
Since Liz is one of those secret snobs, she rudely feels all uneasy about going to Sophia's house. It's in the bad part of town (near the Patmans' canning factory) and Liz is worried that Sophia's big bad brother Tony might be there. But when she gets to the house, Liz decides that it might be ramshackle on the outside, but it's filled with love on the inside. Because there are afghans on the couch. And plants in the windows.
Liz meets Mrs. Rizzo, who walks with a limp and doesn't speak much English. She's also friendly and happy, so Liz likes her. Liz and Sophia move on to Sophia's room and read all of her old plays. The older ones are all about toads and princesses; Sophia wrote them for herself and her brother. Liz can't imagine Tony Rizzo playing dress-up and acting out plays with his sister, but Sophia tells her that he used to be Kind and Good (until his father left -- then he became a delinquent).
Sophia's more recent plays are hard-hitting, open, honest (they go there). Liz can't wait to work with her! The girls bid farewell, and Liz heads home in a happy and thoughtful mood. When she gets to her sunny Spanish-style house, she finds Jessica bubbling over with excitement. It seems that some of Ned's rich friends have invited the twins to L.A. for an upcoming weekend (to keep their daughter company). Liz and Jess chatter about how they'll get to see Beverly Hills and eat on the Sunset Strip and visit Chinatown (L.A. has a Chinatown?). Best of all, they get backstage tickets to the big musical Shout! Jess in particular is excited about that one; the show has been sold out for months ... even Lila can't get tickets!
After about five pages' worth of fun with the Wakefields (the twins dance around with Alice in the kitchen, joke with Steven, etc.) Liz finally gets to share her own good news about writing the play. Only Jess doesn't take it so well. How dare Mr. Bowman let that "ragtag" Rizzo write the big school play! There goes Jessica's starring role! My heart weeps for her. Steven chimes in, and he and Jess spend another five pages going on to Liz about what Bad News the Rizzos are. Jess tells Steven (with Liz standing about two feet away), "If she keeps spending time with the Rizzos, she'll be as much a social outcast as shabby Sophia!" Liz responds by calling the Unicorns snobs, and says that she doesn't care if they snub her.
Things only get worse for Jessica after her dad comes home. Mr. Wakefield admits that he made a mistake -- only one twin is invited to L.A.! Even though Liz makes it clear that she doesn't mind missing the trip, her dad thinks that she's just being saintly. So he insists on "drawing straws" (meaning that Steven writes a number on a piece of paper and makes the twins guess it). Naturally Jessica loses. She throws a big fit. Despite her dramatics (and Liz's insistence that she doesn't mind staying home) Ned stands firm ... Liz will go to L.A. and Jessica will stay home. As awful as Jessica is in this book, I have to say that I can sympathize with her here. If someone offered me a trip, then said "never mind" and offered it to someone who didn't even want it ... I'd be pretty upset, too.
But don't feel too bad for Jess. In the next scene, we find out that Liz committed the great horror of inviting Sophia to the Wakefield home at the same time that Jess invited Lila. Sure enough, Sophia and Lila arrive at just the same moment. Sophia says hello to Lila, who just stares coolly at her. Jess comes downstairs and "covers" by greeting Sophia as if she expected her, then adding, "Thanks for coming by to pick up those old clothes. It's always a great feeling to help those less fortunate than ourselves. See ya!" before running off with Lila. Jess is a Bitca.
The next morning, the twins are getting ready for school, both of them in pretty good spirits. Jessica wants to borrow one of Liz's shirts because it goes with her new "painter" pants (wtf?). Liz says no but she helps Jess pick a shirt of her own. Liz makes Jess promise to be nice to Sophia, and Jess agrees (though she's obviously not sincere). At school, Caroline and Bruce and some other kids crowd around Liz, wanting to know about the play. Bruce rather hilariously says, "C'mon Liz -- how about a major role for Bruce the hunk?" Liz makes a comeback about Bruce doing the lights (since he loves the spotlight) and Bruce is left standing in the hallway while all the other kids laugh at Liz's cleverness.
Lunchtime rolls around; Liz, as usual, sits with Amy and Julie and Brooke. They talk about how much they want a REAL play that MEANS something. Not mindless fluff like The Sound of Music! Liz tells her friends how real and raw Sophia's writing is. They look around for Sophia, but they can't find her. They decide to hold a picnic outside sometime later that week, and they invite Sophia. Later, on the way to the committee meeting, Liz hands her the invitation. Sophia feels all happy and accepted. Before they go into the meeting, she tells Elizabeth how much her support means and says "I don't care if nobody else likes my plays. I'm just glad my friend Elizabeth does." Even though she's talking about St. Liz, I have to say that I thought this exchange was kind of sweet. Sue me.
At the meeting, Liz and Sophia meet the rest of their committee. Mary Giaccio-Robinson-Wallace, the kind Unicorn, is there, representing seventh grade. Liz doesn't worry about her. She's a little worried about the other seventh-grader, Peter Jeffries, who's a friend of Bruce (Liz thinks Peter will be as obnoxious as Bruce). The other two kids are eighth-graders named Lisa and Northrop, a.k.a. "Nort the Nerd." Liz doesn't know them very well. Anyway, the meeting starts and most of the group doubt their playwriting abilities ... until Liz reveals their secret weapon. This, of course, being Sophia. Liz has Sophia read out loud one of her dramatic scenes, and the other kids are so blown away, they can't even speak! Sophia stunned them to silence! Nort finally breaks the silence, all "WOW!" and the group starts chattering away, fully confident now that (with Sophia at the head) they can write a real, open and honest play.
Liz and Sophia walk home, both on cloud nine. Unfortunately, Liz's joy is short-lived. When she gets home, she finds a stocked refrigerator -- which means that, surely, something must be wrong with Steven. And there is ... he has a black eye! Liz asks him what happened. Jessica's there, too -- she answers for Steven, all "Ask your good friend's brother!" Yes, that's right, Steven had a run-in with Tony Rizzo. Lizzie's mortified but she remains loyal to Sophia. Liz asks Steven why Tony picked him to hit. Steven explains how some kids at SVH were accusing Tony of stealing a film projector, calling him Hot Fingers; and how at first, Steven was right there with them, saying that they should check Tony's books for burn marks. But then Steven allegedly said that they shouldn't judge Tony without a fair trial (he must have read Blubber) -- and then came the punch, or in Steven's words 'pow, knockout city.' Liz is all, "Oh Steven, I'm sorry!" Steven shoots back, "YOU'RE sorry! I'm never going to listen to you again!" With this, Lizzie is left on her own to feel sad and miserable.
At breakfast the next morning, Liz nervously waits to see how her parents respond to Steven's black eye. He doesn't come down to breakfast so she's safe for the time being. Jessica's all smug and annoying in this scene ("Just wait til they find out!"). Liz's day goes a little better at school -- she, Amy, Brooke, Julie and Sophia have their secret lunchtime picnic. I kind of liked this scene; their food sounded good (sandwiches, pickles, potato salad, etc.) and I like the thought of sneaking away from school to have a picnic. One of the girls comments that it feels like a birthday party. Liz is shocked and stunned to find out that Sophia has never had a birthday party. She also finds out that Sophia's birthday is (conveniently) coming up the day after their play, and she vows to throw Sophia the biggest, best birthday party ever.
She goes to tell Sophia after school. But first Jessica has to be a bitca again. Jess comes running over to the Liz in the hallway all "Guess what Mom and Dad said!" Liz kindly but firmly tells her that she doesn't care -- she wants to talk to Sophia first, she and Jess can talk later at home. Jessica's Pacific Ocean eyes flash as she wonders how Liz dares to choose "that disgusting creature" over her very own flesh and blood. Jess rants and raves about how Liz will break Ned and Alice's hearts. Then Sophia herself comes walking along; she smiles tentatively at Jessica, who ignores her except to say loudly to Liz, "As long as you're hanging around Hot Fingers's sister, you might as well tell her to try putting on a play with no one in it!" Sophia's all "Huh? What did she mean?" and Liz just says, "Never mind. Let's go to your house and I'll tell you about the big birthday bash I'm going to throw for you!"
They go to Sophia's. Sophia likes the idea of a birthday party, but she wants to keep it small. They talk a little about other things, including Tony, and how he used to be happy and good until his papa left. Then -- as if on cue -- they hear somebody at the door. It's Tony ... he's home early! Suddenly Liz is in a big hurry to get out of there. She does have to meet Tony before she leaves. He sullenly shakes her hand, and Liz thinks angry thoughts about how the hand she's shaking is the same hand that hit her brother. Liz scurries out and dramatically runs away from the Rizzos', not slowing down until she's closer to her own safe neighborhood. Once she's safe on her own street, Liz wonders, saint-like, if everyone's wrong about Tony, if there's really a heart of gold underneath his rough exterior.
Liz gets to her house and finds bad news. Ned and Alice want to have a conference with her. They heard about Steven's black eye. They fear for Liz's safety now, and they forbid her to socialize with Sophia outside of school. Liz tries to protest that Sophia is her own person, but Ned and Alice have their minds made up. Liz cries and thinks sadly that she'll have to cancel Sophia's birthday party.
Later, Jessica goes into Liz's room to hear what happened. Liz fills her in and Jessica claims that she "tried to help." She also insults the Rizzos some more, but Liz is too weary to argue. Once again, she decides that it's too hard to stay mad at Jessica. They talk about Liz's upcoming trip to L.A.; Jess is now somewhat resigned to staying home, but she insists that Liz get her an autograph, etc. Jessica reveals that the big trip day also happens to be Sophia's birthday. Liz feels even worse -- she doesn't even want to go on that trip! Liz practically begs Alice to let Jessica go instead. It doesn't work. So she turns to Steven, and he saves the day by suggesting "the old switcheroo." Now we all know that normally, Liz is much too good to consider such nasty tricks. But as she thinks about it, she realizes that it's an ideal solution. Her parents will also be out of town that weekend, at least for that Saturday (on some boat) so they won't know the difference. Ned's rich friends won't know the difference. Jess can go on her trip, and Sophia will get her party. It's perfect!
Liz runs the idea past Jessica, who is all for the switch. But Jessica wonders why Liz would want to give up a perfectly good weekend in L.A. Liz says that she'll be too burned out by the play the day before; Jess doesn't like hearing this, and she goes on and on about how much she hates Sophia ... and how the Unicorns are going to make sure no one auditions for the play. Liz is like, "Don't you dare!" and Jessica's like "Just you wait and see!"
In school the next day, the twins are leaving class and joking around. Jessica mentions a Unicorn meeting, and Liz says that she hopes they don't get stiff necks from turning their noses up at people. Lila comes over and says "I heard that, Elizabeth Wakefield -- for your information, we only turn our noses up at people who are second rate. It's just that all the first-rate people are already Unicorns." Jessica gives her twin a hug and adds, "Except for one!" They seem to be in pretty good moods as they head to their next class ... but then trouble strikes. Or rather, it's Sophia who strikes -- well, crashes into Lila and Jessica. Sophia's running up to Liz in the hallway, all excited about something, when she runs right into Lila and Jess, knocking all their books and papers to the floor. Uh-oh.
At first, Lila reacts with calm, cool snobbery ("I might have known ... here, let me help you up, Sophia. We wouldn't want to ruin that designer gown, would we?"). Then Jessica chimes in by picking up one of Sophia's fallen papers, waving it around, and making some snarky comments about how they've been knocked down by the greatest playwright in the world. Sophia pathetically reaches for her paper, but Lila grabs it first. She sees that it's a page from Sophia's play. At this point, a crowd of kids has gathered, so Lila gives a dramatic reading. She reads Sophia's lines out loud in a mocking voice ("Mom, I couldn't tell you how I felt before ... sometimes being a kid is the toughest job of all!") While Lila goes a little overboard, pretending to faint and rolling her eyes around (?) I have to say that I'm secretly amused by her here. I might feel worse if Sophia's "great" writing didn't sound like a parody of an after-school special. Oh, and if you're wondering what Liz does to defend her friend, the answer is - nothing. She just stands there and watches. She even thinks about how she wishes Jessica would speak up and tell Lila to stop. Lizzie ... why can't YOU speak up???
Sophia runs away in tears; Liz runs after her. Sophia sobs about how the play is over before it began, and how everyone is always laughing at and making fun of her and her family. She cries that "Tony even hit a boy in school the other day!" Liz gets a dread feeling and asks what the boy's name was, but Sophia doesn't know and brushes Steven off as just another a-hole making fun. Sophia continues to cry and cry. She begs Liz to come home with her after school and says that without Liz's friendship, she'll have to give up on the play. So Liz decides then and there to defy her parents -- she's going to throw Sophia her birthday party, AND she's going to keep going over to the Rizzo house. Take that, Ned and Alice!
Liz goes, but she feels guilty, although she does have some fun moments with Sophia and Mrs. Rizzo. The day of the play audition comes. Liz is dismayed to see that the Unicorns meant business, that they did in fact tell everyone to boycott the audition. Only about ten people are there. The play committee makes the best of things -- they audition the kids who are present, and some of the writers try out, as well. Caroline Pearce gets cast as the mother in the play (good to know the gossip queen doesn't hold rumors about Sophia's family against her). Sophia herself gets cast as one of the sisters, and Liz gets cast as the other sister. Peter Jeffries (who Liz decides is not so bad) will play the brother. Nort suggests holding auditions in English class ... so they do that, too. Bruce Patman tries out and is cast as the father! (Bruce and Caroline?) Things are looking up. Eventually, even Lila and Janet admit that they'll show up on opening night to see Bruce and Peter. The only one who steadfastly refuses to have anything to do with the play is Jessica, but Liz threatens to not switch places with her for the trip, so in the end even Jessica bends.
On opening night, they have a full house. Sophia's nervous, but Liz tells her not to worry. The play starts and it's magic. Somehow the cast make lines like "sometimes being a kid is the toughest job of all" sound like gold -- and suddenly, just like that, everyone loves Sophia. She gets a standing ovation! On the ride home, the Wakefields (sort of) admit they were wrong. Liz wonders if she should go ahead and confess about the birthday party, but she doesn't want to risk her parents saying no, so she decides to keep it secret.
The next morning, Ned and Alice go off to their boat party. Jessica leaves for L.A. with Ned's rich friends and their snobby-looking daughter. Liz calls her friends over and they set up the place all nice and pretty for Sophia's birthday party. Guests start arriving ... EVERYONE's there. Bruce, Lila, and everybody! Liz knows Sophia will be thrilled. Everybody patiently awaits her arrival; Peter Jeffries suggests that they hide and yell 'Surprise!' when Sophia comes. They get into place...
But wouldn't you know it -- Ned and Alice's boat party has been rained out and moved to dry land, and they've decided to go back home and bring "Jessica" back with them to the party. They arrive home just in time for a houseful of kids to jump out and yell 'Surprise' ... at THEM! Ned and Alice are indeed surprised. Lizzie cries and begs them to understand. She says that Sophia never had a birthday party and she's just trying to be a friend. (Oh, and Jessica really, really wanted to go on the trip.) Then Sophia shows up. She's delighted by all the birthday decorations, but when she looks at Lizzie, she knows that something's wrong. Liz is all, "Sophia ... I have something to tell you." Ned and Alice finally speak up and say, "We all have something to tell you -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Yay ... Ned and Alice aren't mad! (Well, not really mad. They do let Liz know that she'll be punished for being sneaky.)
Sophia has her party and gets lots of presents. Lila gives her a purple sweater, telling her that if she's going to be a famous playwright, she should dress like someone important. Ned volunteers to drive to Sophia's house (how big of him) and bring her mom and Tony over to help celebrate. Tony doesn't come but Ned is able to talk to him and give him the name of a counselor (Ned's new name is Charles Ingalls). Mrs. Rizzo does come over, and she reveals that Alice offered her a job. Mrs. Rizzo will crochet some of her afghans of love for Alice's design firm. Those Wakefields -- they're all saints! Except for Jessica. Speaking of whom...
Jess comes home all giddy from her trip, and that's about the end of this book, except for a bit of tie-in to the next SVT adventure.
(One weird thing about this book -- new chapters don't start on new pages, if a chapter comes to an end, the next one just starts right in the middle of that page. Does that happen in any other book?)
A cover image is available here. That girl gazing at the cake with a "For me?" look is Poor Sophia Rizzo. St. Elizabeth is on Sophia's left, arm around her shoulder. I guess the other girl is Amy. She looks bored.
Sophia is very sweet and gentle in this book. Didn't she become kind of prickly later on (like Rocky in the Bad News Ballet series? Or do I just think that because they have similar hair?)
Anyway...
The book starts right off with Jess at her judgmental worst. Jessica doesn't approve of Liz hanging out with Sophia Rizzo. She tells Liz, "If you keep hanging out with strays you're going to get bitten!" Elizabeth just laughs and says that if Sophia bites her, she hopes to catch Sophia's way with words. You see, Sophia's (supposedly) an awesome writer; she's been submitting all these funny articles for The Sixers, and Liz thinks she's just the greatest talent ever. But Jess and most of the other kids dislike Sophia because her brother is a juvenile delinquent. Also, because she wears faded clothes.
The twins (who are standing around SVMS) talk a little about the upcoming school play. Jess wants a splashy musical with lots of singing and dancing. She also wants to star! Liz is just excited that she gets to write a big article about the play for The Sixers. Suddenly Jess remembers an important Unicorn meeting and runs off to the Dairi Burger (dumping her books on Elizabeth). Liz just shakes her head and thinks about how she feels four years older than Jess, instead of four minutes. Then she goes to meet Sophia.
Liz tells Sophia about Jessica's Dairi Burger meeting. In response, Sophia sadly pulls a note out of her pocket ... it reads:
We don't need your kind in Sweet Valley. Get out and take your brother with you.
The note is signed with a "clumsily" drawn horse with a horn on its head. Liz is furious at the Unicorns, but she cheers Sophia up by reminding her that they have a news story to write. Hurray! They run off to meet Mr. Bowman, who brightens their moods even further by telling them that they get to write the school play! Well, Sophia, Liz, and four other kids (the two best English students from each grade will make up the writing committee).
Liz and Sophia are thrilled by the very thought of writing the school play. And they still get to write their news article, too; however, Sophia has no self-esteem and wants her name left off the byline. She doesn't think anyone will want to read anything written by a Rizzo (she's probably right). Liz tells Sophia to stop being afraid of people. Liz says the magic word -- friends -- and Sophia's face lights up ("Friends? I ... I guess we are!") The two girls run to Sophia's ramshackle house to read all the old plays Sophia wrote.
Since Liz is one of those secret snobs, she rudely feels all uneasy about going to Sophia's house. It's in the bad part of town (near the Patmans' canning factory) and Liz is worried that Sophia's big bad brother Tony might be there. But when she gets to the house, Liz decides that it might be ramshackle on the outside, but it's filled with love on the inside. Because there are afghans on the couch. And plants in the windows.
Liz meets Mrs. Rizzo, who walks with a limp and doesn't speak much English. She's also friendly and happy, so Liz likes her. Liz and Sophia move on to Sophia's room and read all of her old plays. The older ones are all about toads and princesses; Sophia wrote them for herself and her brother. Liz can't imagine Tony Rizzo playing dress-up and acting out plays with his sister, but Sophia tells her that he used to be Kind and Good (until his father left -- then he became a delinquent).
Sophia's more recent plays are hard-hitting, open, honest (they go there). Liz can't wait to work with her! The girls bid farewell, and Liz heads home in a happy and thoughtful mood. When she gets to her sunny Spanish-style house, she finds Jessica bubbling over with excitement. It seems that some of Ned's rich friends have invited the twins to L.A. for an upcoming weekend (to keep their daughter company). Liz and Jess chatter about how they'll get to see Beverly Hills and eat on the Sunset Strip and visit Chinatown (L.A. has a Chinatown?). Best of all, they get backstage tickets to the big musical Shout! Jess in particular is excited about that one; the show has been sold out for months ... even Lila can't get tickets!
After about five pages' worth of fun with the Wakefields (the twins dance around with Alice in the kitchen, joke with Steven, etc.) Liz finally gets to share her own good news about writing the play. Only Jess doesn't take it so well. How dare Mr. Bowman let that "ragtag" Rizzo write the big school play! There goes Jessica's starring role! My heart weeps for her. Steven chimes in, and he and Jess spend another five pages going on to Liz about what Bad News the Rizzos are. Jess tells Steven (with Liz standing about two feet away), "If she keeps spending time with the Rizzos, she'll be as much a social outcast as shabby Sophia!" Liz responds by calling the Unicorns snobs, and says that she doesn't care if they snub her.
Things only get worse for Jessica after her dad comes home. Mr. Wakefield admits that he made a mistake -- only one twin is invited to L.A.! Even though Liz makes it clear that she doesn't mind missing the trip, her dad thinks that she's just being saintly. So he insists on "drawing straws" (meaning that Steven writes a number on a piece of paper and makes the twins guess it). Naturally Jessica loses. She throws a big fit. Despite her dramatics (and Liz's insistence that she doesn't mind staying home) Ned stands firm ... Liz will go to L.A. and Jessica will stay home. As awful as Jessica is in this book, I have to say that I can sympathize with her here. If someone offered me a trip, then said "never mind" and offered it to someone who didn't even want it ... I'd be pretty upset, too.
But don't feel too bad for Jess. In the next scene, we find out that Liz committed the great horror of inviting Sophia to the Wakefield home at the same time that Jess invited Lila. Sure enough, Sophia and Lila arrive at just the same moment. Sophia says hello to Lila, who just stares coolly at her. Jess comes downstairs and "covers" by greeting Sophia as if she expected her, then adding, "Thanks for coming by to pick up those old clothes. It's always a great feeling to help those less fortunate than ourselves. See ya!" before running off with Lila. Jess is a Bitca.
The next morning, the twins are getting ready for school, both of them in pretty good spirits. Jessica wants to borrow one of Liz's shirts because it goes with her new "painter" pants (wtf?). Liz says no but she helps Jess pick a shirt of her own. Liz makes Jess promise to be nice to Sophia, and Jess agrees (though she's obviously not sincere). At school, Caroline and Bruce and some other kids crowd around Liz, wanting to know about the play. Bruce rather hilariously says, "C'mon Liz -- how about a major role for Bruce the hunk?" Liz makes a comeback about Bruce doing the lights (since he loves the spotlight) and Bruce is left standing in the hallway while all the other kids laugh at Liz's cleverness.
Lunchtime rolls around; Liz, as usual, sits with Amy and Julie and Brooke. They talk about how much they want a REAL play that MEANS something. Not mindless fluff like The Sound of Music! Liz tells her friends how real and raw Sophia's writing is. They look around for Sophia, but they can't find her. They decide to hold a picnic outside sometime later that week, and they invite Sophia. Later, on the way to the committee meeting, Liz hands her the invitation. Sophia feels all happy and accepted. Before they go into the meeting, she tells Elizabeth how much her support means and says "I don't care if nobody else likes my plays. I'm just glad my friend Elizabeth does." Even though she's talking about St. Liz, I have to say that I thought this exchange was kind of sweet. Sue me.
At the meeting, Liz and Sophia meet the rest of their committee. Mary Giaccio-Robinson-Wallace, the kind Unicorn, is there, representing seventh grade. Liz doesn't worry about her. She's a little worried about the other seventh-grader, Peter Jeffries, who's a friend of Bruce (Liz thinks Peter will be as obnoxious as Bruce). The other two kids are eighth-graders named Lisa and Northrop, a.k.a. "Nort the Nerd." Liz doesn't know them very well. Anyway, the meeting starts and most of the group doubt their playwriting abilities ... until Liz reveals their secret weapon. This, of course, being Sophia. Liz has Sophia read out loud one of her dramatic scenes, and the other kids are so blown away, they can't even speak! Sophia stunned them to silence! Nort finally breaks the silence, all "WOW!" and the group starts chattering away, fully confident now that (with Sophia at the head) they can write a real, open and honest play.
Liz and Sophia walk home, both on cloud nine. Unfortunately, Liz's joy is short-lived. When she gets home, she finds a stocked refrigerator -- which means that, surely, something must be wrong with Steven. And there is ... he has a black eye! Liz asks him what happened. Jessica's there, too -- she answers for Steven, all "Ask your good friend's brother!" Yes, that's right, Steven had a run-in with Tony Rizzo. Lizzie's mortified but she remains loyal to Sophia. Liz asks Steven why Tony picked him to hit. Steven explains how some kids at SVH were accusing Tony of stealing a film projector, calling him Hot Fingers; and how at first, Steven was right there with them, saying that they should check Tony's books for burn marks. But then Steven allegedly said that they shouldn't judge Tony without a fair trial (he must have read Blubber) -- and then came the punch, or in Steven's words 'pow, knockout city.' Liz is all, "Oh Steven, I'm sorry!" Steven shoots back, "YOU'RE sorry! I'm never going to listen to you again!" With this, Lizzie is left on her own to feel sad and miserable.
At breakfast the next morning, Liz nervously waits to see how her parents respond to Steven's black eye. He doesn't come down to breakfast so she's safe for the time being. Jessica's all smug and annoying in this scene ("Just wait til they find out!"). Liz's day goes a little better at school -- she, Amy, Brooke, Julie and Sophia have their secret lunchtime picnic. I kind of liked this scene; their food sounded good (sandwiches, pickles, potato salad, etc.) and I like the thought of sneaking away from school to have a picnic. One of the girls comments that it feels like a birthday party. Liz is shocked and stunned to find out that Sophia has never had a birthday party. She also finds out that Sophia's birthday is (conveniently) coming up the day after their play, and she vows to throw Sophia the biggest, best birthday party ever.
She goes to tell Sophia after school. But first Jessica has to be a bitca again. Jess comes running over to the Liz in the hallway all "Guess what Mom and Dad said!" Liz kindly but firmly tells her that she doesn't care -- she wants to talk to Sophia first, she and Jess can talk later at home. Jessica's Pacific Ocean eyes flash as she wonders how Liz dares to choose "that disgusting creature" over her very own flesh and blood. Jess rants and raves about how Liz will break Ned and Alice's hearts. Then Sophia herself comes walking along; she smiles tentatively at Jessica, who ignores her except to say loudly to Liz, "As long as you're hanging around Hot Fingers's sister, you might as well tell her to try putting on a play with no one in it!" Sophia's all "Huh? What did she mean?" and Liz just says, "Never mind. Let's go to your house and I'll tell you about the big birthday bash I'm going to throw for you!"
They go to Sophia's. Sophia likes the idea of a birthday party, but she wants to keep it small. They talk a little about other things, including Tony, and how he used to be happy and good until his papa left. Then -- as if on cue -- they hear somebody at the door. It's Tony ... he's home early! Suddenly Liz is in a big hurry to get out of there. She does have to meet Tony before she leaves. He sullenly shakes her hand, and Liz thinks angry thoughts about how the hand she's shaking is the same hand that hit her brother. Liz scurries out and dramatically runs away from the Rizzos', not slowing down until she's closer to her own safe neighborhood. Once she's safe on her own street, Liz wonders, saint-like, if everyone's wrong about Tony, if there's really a heart of gold underneath his rough exterior.
Liz gets to her house and finds bad news. Ned and Alice want to have a conference with her. They heard about Steven's black eye. They fear for Liz's safety now, and they forbid her to socialize with Sophia outside of school. Liz tries to protest that Sophia is her own person, but Ned and Alice have their minds made up. Liz cries and thinks sadly that she'll have to cancel Sophia's birthday party.
Later, Jessica goes into Liz's room to hear what happened. Liz fills her in and Jessica claims that she "tried to help." She also insults the Rizzos some more, but Liz is too weary to argue. Once again, she decides that it's too hard to stay mad at Jessica. They talk about Liz's upcoming trip to L.A.; Jess is now somewhat resigned to staying home, but she insists that Liz get her an autograph, etc. Jessica reveals that the big trip day also happens to be Sophia's birthday. Liz feels even worse -- she doesn't even want to go on that trip! Liz practically begs Alice to let Jessica go instead. It doesn't work. So she turns to Steven, and he saves the day by suggesting "the old switcheroo." Now we all know that normally, Liz is much too good to consider such nasty tricks. But as she thinks about it, she realizes that it's an ideal solution. Her parents will also be out of town that weekend, at least for that Saturday (on some boat) so they won't know the difference. Ned's rich friends won't know the difference. Jess can go on her trip, and Sophia will get her party. It's perfect!
Liz runs the idea past Jessica, who is all for the switch. But Jessica wonders why Liz would want to give up a perfectly good weekend in L.A. Liz says that she'll be too burned out by the play the day before; Jess doesn't like hearing this, and she goes on and on about how much she hates Sophia ... and how the Unicorns are going to make sure no one auditions for the play. Liz is like, "Don't you dare!" and Jessica's like "Just you wait and see!"
In school the next day, the twins are leaving class and joking around. Jessica mentions a Unicorn meeting, and Liz says that she hopes they don't get stiff necks from turning their noses up at people. Lila comes over and says "I heard that, Elizabeth Wakefield -- for your information, we only turn our noses up at people who are second rate. It's just that all the first-rate people are already Unicorns." Jessica gives her twin a hug and adds, "Except for one!" They seem to be in pretty good moods as they head to their next class ... but then trouble strikes. Or rather, it's Sophia who strikes -- well, crashes into Lila and Jessica. Sophia's running up to Liz in the hallway, all excited about something, when she runs right into Lila and Jess, knocking all their books and papers to the floor. Uh-oh.
At first, Lila reacts with calm, cool snobbery ("I might have known ... here, let me help you up, Sophia. We wouldn't want to ruin that designer gown, would we?"). Then Jessica chimes in by picking up one of Sophia's fallen papers, waving it around, and making some snarky comments about how they've been knocked down by the greatest playwright in the world. Sophia pathetically reaches for her paper, but Lila grabs it first. She sees that it's a page from Sophia's play. At this point, a crowd of kids has gathered, so Lila gives a dramatic reading. She reads Sophia's lines out loud in a mocking voice ("Mom, I couldn't tell you how I felt before ... sometimes being a kid is the toughest job of all!") While Lila goes a little overboard, pretending to faint and rolling her eyes around (?) I have to say that I'm secretly amused by her here. I might feel worse if Sophia's "great" writing didn't sound like a parody of an after-school special. Oh, and if you're wondering what Liz does to defend her friend, the answer is - nothing. She just stands there and watches. She even thinks about how she wishes Jessica would speak up and tell Lila to stop. Lizzie ... why can't YOU speak up???
Sophia runs away in tears; Liz runs after her. Sophia sobs about how the play is over before it began, and how everyone is always laughing at and making fun of her and her family. She cries that "Tony even hit a boy in school the other day!" Liz gets a dread feeling and asks what the boy's name was, but Sophia doesn't know and brushes Steven off as just another a-hole making fun. Sophia continues to cry and cry. She begs Liz to come home with her after school and says that without Liz's friendship, she'll have to give up on the play. So Liz decides then and there to defy her parents -- she's going to throw Sophia her birthday party, AND she's going to keep going over to the Rizzo house. Take that, Ned and Alice!
Liz goes, but she feels guilty, although she does have some fun moments with Sophia and Mrs. Rizzo. The day of the play audition comes. Liz is dismayed to see that the Unicorns meant business, that they did in fact tell everyone to boycott the audition. Only about ten people are there. The play committee makes the best of things -- they audition the kids who are present, and some of the writers try out, as well. Caroline Pearce gets cast as the mother in the play (good to know the gossip queen doesn't hold rumors about Sophia's family against her). Sophia herself gets cast as one of the sisters, and Liz gets cast as the other sister. Peter Jeffries (who Liz decides is not so bad) will play the brother. Nort suggests holding auditions in English class ... so they do that, too. Bruce Patman tries out and is cast as the father! (Bruce and Caroline?) Things are looking up. Eventually, even Lila and Janet admit that they'll show up on opening night to see Bruce and Peter. The only one who steadfastly refuses to have anything to do with the play is Jessica, but Liz threatens to not switch places with her for the trip, so in the end even Jessica bends.
On opening night, they have a full house. Sophia's nervous, but Liz tells her not to worry. The play starts and it's magic. Somehow the cast make lines like "sometimes being a kid is the toughest job of all" sound like gold -- and suddenly, just like that, everyone loves Sophia. She gets a standing ovation! On the ride home, the Wakefields (sort of) admit they were wrong. Liz wonders if she should go ahead and confess about the birthday party, but she doesn't want to risk her parents saying no, so she decides to keep it secret.
The next morning, Ned and Alice go off to their boat party. Jessica leaves for L.A. with Ned's rich friends and their snobby-looking daughter. Liz calls her friends over and they set up the place all nice and pretty for Sophia's birthday party. Guests start arriving ... EVERYONE's there. Bruce, Lila, and everybody! Liz knows Sophia will be thrilled. Everybody patiently awaits her arrival; Peter Jeffries suggests that they hide and yell 'Surprise!' when Sophia comes. They get into place...
But wouldn't you know it -- Ned and Alice's boat party has been rained out and moved to dry land, and they've decided to go back home and bring "Jessica" back with them to the party. They arrive home just in time for a houseful of kids to jump out and yell 'Surprise' ... at THEM! Ned and Alice are indeed surprised. Lizzie cries and begs them to understand. She says that Sophia never had a birthday party and she's just trying to be a friend. (Oh, and Jessica really, really wanted to go on the trip.) Then Sophia shows up. She's delighted by all the birthday decorations, but when she looks at Lizzie, she knows that something's wrong. Liz is all, "Sophia ... I have something to tell you." Ned and Alice finally speak up and say, "We all have something to tell you -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Yay ... Ned and Alice aren't mad! (Well, not really mad. They do let Liz know that she'll be punished for being sneaky.)
Sophia has her party and gets lots of presents. Lila gives her a purple sweater, telling her that if she's going to be a famous playwright, she should dress like someone important. Ned volunteers to drive to Sophia's house (how big of him) and bring her mom and Tony over to help celebrate. Tony doesn't come but Ned is able to talk to him and give him the name of a counselor (Ned's new name is Charles Ingalls). Mrs. Rizzo does come over, and she reveals that Alice offered her a job. Mrs. Rizzo will crochet some of her afghans of love for Alice's design firm. Those Wakefields -- they're all saints! Except for Jessica. Speaking of whom...
Jess comes home all giddy from her trip, and that's about the end of this book, except for a bit of tie-in to the next SVT adventure.
(One weird thing about this book -- new chapters don't start on new pages, if a chapter comes to an end, the next one just starts right in the middle of that page. Does that happen in any other book?)