Nikki Shannon Smith - The Scrumptious Life of Azaleah Lane

Im eight years old and in the third grade. My life is amazing. I live in Washington, D.C., with my family: Mama, Daddy, Nia, and Tiana. Washington, D.C., is our nations capital and the coolest place to grow up.

Mama has her very own restaurant here called Avec Amour. That means with love in French. She named it that because she adds love to everything she does.

My daddy is a lawyer. He sues bad guys for a living. The bad guys are big businesses that do things that hurt other people. But my daddy makes them pay. He makes sure theyre held responsible.

Tiana is my baby sister. Shes four years old and pretty cutemost of the time. I like her a lot, even though she comes in my room too much. I also have an older sister named Nia. Shes in middle school and is always in her room. Always.

Mamas sistermy Auntie Samtakes care of us when Mama and Daddy are busy. I love Auntie Sam. Shes never too tired to play, and she likes to do art. She also likes adventuresmy favorite!

Aside from my family, there are three main things you should know about me.

1. Im curious not nosy. (Despite what Nia says.)
2. Im good at solving mysteriesvery good.
3. I live in the White House!

OK not the real White House. (The president of the United States lives there.) But my house is big and white, plus it has a great big living room and a nice backyard. Its just as good as the real White House, if you ask me!

Its hard to believe this amazing life all belongs to me, Azaleah Lane!

Usually when I went to Mamas restaurant, Avec Amour, I sat at a table with my sisters and waited for a yummy treat. But today was different. Today we were waiting for Auntie Sam. She was coming to pick us up. We were going to her house for the weekend. I couldnt wait!

I stood at the front window and peeked between the fancy letters painted on the glass. My little sister, Tiana, stood next to me. Her nose was squished against the window. The glass steamed up every time she breathed.

Our big sister, Nia, was at a table studying her lines for her next show. Daddy called Nia a triple threat because she could sing and dance and act. Nia was always in a show, and she was always studying her lines.

There she is! yelled Tiana. She jumped up and down.

I spotted Auntie Sam walking down the sidewalk and ran to open the door. As soon as she walked in, Tiana wrapped herself around Auntie Sams leg.

Tiana was holding her leg so tight that Auntie Sam couldnt even walk. She just laughed about it. Thats how Auntie Sam was. She almost never got mad.

Hi, Auntie Sam! I said.

Hi, Azaleah, said Auntie Sam. She bent down and kissed my forehead.

Mama hurried out of the kitchen and grabbed the suitcase next to the door. She set it next to Auntie Sam. Mama was so busy rushing around that she forgot to say hello to her own little sister.

Tiana, give Auntie Sam her leg back, said Mama. Azaleah, go get your backpack. Nia, time to go.

Nia looked up from her script. Auntie Sam! I didnt realize you were here.

Sometimes my big sister didnt pay attention to anything else while she was studying. But I think Nia was just as excited as I was because she smiled and jumped up. She put her script in her backpack and joined us near the door.

Auntie Sam picked up the suitcase and winked at Nia. I dont think your mama knows Im here either, she said. Hello, Tanya.

Mama laughed. Im sorry, she said. Hello, Sammi. Im just in a hurry to finish here so we can leave.

I knew Mama was excited to get out of town. She and Daddy were going to a food-truck festival for the weekend. Mama was judging the seafood-cooking competition. Daddy was going to spend the whole time eating all kinds of food.

Auntie Sam looked at me. Well, she said, are you ready for a weekend in Foggy Bottom?

Tiana and I giggled. Foggy Bottomwhere Auntie Sam livedwas a silly name for a neighborhood.

I cant wait! I yelled.

We always did all kinds of fun things when we spent the night with my auntie. We took walks by the Potomac River and went out to eat and did arts and crafts. Plus, Auntie Sam had lots of extra movie channels on her TV.

Bon voyage, Mama, I said. That meant have a good trip in French. My teacher had taught us that.

Bon voyage, babies, said Mama. Be good for Sammi this weekend.

Nia rolled her eyes. She didnt like being called a baby.

Mama handed us a bag with her special, homemade cookies inside. They were big, fat cookies with lots of chocolate chips. She used her own secret to make them. Then she kissed us each on the cheek.

Lets go, said Auntie Sam. This is going to be a great weekend!

I skipped all the way to Auntie Sams car. Auntie Sam put our suitcase in the trunk. Then she buckled Tiana into her car seat. I hopped into the back seat too.

On the way to Auntie Sams house we stopped to get a pizza. At home, we usually had leftovers from Avec Amour for dinner. Auntie Sam didnt cook much, though. She always said Mama was the chef, and she was the artist.

Auntie Sam was an interior decorator. She made peoples houses pretty inside. She had even decorated my room for me!

At the pizza place, Auntie Sam let us pick the toppings. My sisters and I agreed on Canadian bacon, sausage, pepperoni, and pineapple. Auntie Sam even got us strawberry soda. Mama and Daddy never bought soda. I could already tell this was going to be the best weekend ever.

Auntie Sam got a tiny, flat pizza for herself. I figured she probably wanted her own kind of pizza. She was very picky and didnt like pineapple. She also loved something we didnt: anchovies. Yuck!

When the pizza was ready, we drove to Auntie Sams apartment. She lived in a big, fancy building called Watergate Apartments. The building was shaped like half of a circle and had lots of floors. It also had a shopping center and a nail salon.

The best part was that you could go all the way up to the roof and look down at Washington, D.C. You could even see the river!

As soon as we walked into the apartment, Auntie Sams dog, Woofer, started jumping all over us. She had to hold the pizza way up high so he wouldnt try to steal it.

Lets get this party started! said Auntie Sam. We can pick a movie and eat in the living room.

Nia ran over to the shelf where Auntie Sam kept her TV remote. She turned on the TV and started checking all the movie channels.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is about to start! yelled Nia. She clapped her hands together and grinned. Thats the next show were putting on at school! I get to be Truly !

Your mama told me, said Auntie Sam. Congratulations. Its one of my favorite movies.

Truly Scrumptious isnt the lead, explained Nia. But its the part I wanted.

Nia pushed a button on the remote. Auntie Sam handed me a blanket to spread out on the floor. We always had a picnic dinner at her house because her table was only big enough for two people.