The Castle Brownie Contest
(part one)

A knock on the side door to the Castle brought Valerie to the door.

“Oh hi,” Valerie said to Heather. “You know, you’re family. You could just come in.”

“Seems kind of impolite,” Heather said.

Valerie held an arm out to hug her. Heather shifted the plate she was carrying into her other hand and hugged Valerie. They moved into the main Castle living room.

“You’re the second one today with a big plate of something,” Valerie said. “Tanesha just went upstairs. What are you up to?”

“There’s a bake sale after school at the Marlowe School after school today,” Heather said.

“There is?” Valerie asked. “How come I don’t know about it?”

“I think Jake set it up,” Heather shrugged. “I don’t know. Jill called and said to bring some brownies.”

“Did you make these?” Valerie’s eyebrows pinched together with worry.

“Not a chance,” Heather chuckled. “Blane made them when he came home for lunch.”

Valerie’s smile spoke her relief. Heather chuckled.

“They’re talking about putting together a brownie cookbook,” Heather said. “You should submit your recipe.”

“My super secret brownie recipe?” Valerie asked. “Not a chance.”

“Don’t let Jill hear you,” Heather moved into the Castle kitchen.  “She’s on the war path.”

“Why is the school hosting a bake sale?” Valerie followed her.

“Jill has a friend from Pete’s whose son is getting bullied at his elementary school. She thinks he’d do great at the Marlowe School but they can’t afford to go there,” Heather said. “The scholarship fund is tapped out. Jake told Jill if she raised half the money, he’d put in the rest. We’ll hold these bake sales until we get the money.”

“Why don’t I put in the other half?” Valerie asked. “I mean I’d have to ask Mike but we could do that.”

“Jill thinks it’s important to show people that the community can raise the money to help,” Heather said.

“But…?”

“Listen,” Heather said. “I’m just doing my part. Jill called and said bring brownies. Here I am.”

Valerie smiled. Heather grinned and started up to the loft. She was halfway up the stairwell when she turned.

“Aren’t you coming?” Heather asked.

“I don’t… I mean…”

“Who’s going to judge the brownies?” Heather asked. “We’re not going to do it ourselves. We don’t compete with each other.”

“Oh,” Valerie smiled. “Ok, I’ll get Mike. Delphie’s with Katy and Noelle in the back.”

“Good,” Heather said. “Sandy should be…”

Sandy came into the kitchen. She was carrying a plate of brownies.

“What’s going on?” Sandy asked.

“I thought we could have a little friendly competition,” Heather said.

“I won’t compete with my girls,” Sandy said. “Neither will you.”

“How about the winner gets money for the scholarship fund?” Valerie asked.

“See,” Heather said. “We’re raising money for charity.”

“I don’t like it,” Sandy said.

“Like what?” Tanesha asked from the top of the stairs.

“Heather wants us to compete over who has the best brownie,” Sandy said.

“No,” Heather said. “We don’t judge. They can judge and see who wins. The winner makes more money for the fund.”

“And if someone gets their feelings hurt?” Sandy asked.

“Girl,” Tanesha shook her head. “If one of us get’s our feelings hurt over someone’s opinion about our brownies then we’ve got big, big problems.”

Heather nodded. Valerie gave Sandy a cheerful nod. Sandy didn’t look less worried.

“I’ll go get everyone,” Valerie turned and went out the back door.

“Come on, Mommy,” Tanesha said. “We’ll get through it.”

Tanesha stepped aside to let Heather pass into Jill and Jacob’s loft. Sandy gave a worried glance after Valerie and followed.

 The 2012 Brownie Contest continues next Sunday with recipes…