August (The Year of The Change Book 2) (15 page)

The minute my eyes closed, I was transported.

The road was long and dusty. Tumbleweeds rolled by and my mouth was dry in the searing heat. Gram’s house was in the distance. It wouldn't be long now and I’d be with my wonderful grandmother.

The sound of quick steps drew my attention and I looked over my shoulder. Three boys walked behind me. I recognized them from school in Oklahoma. What were they doing in Texas? I didn't like this.

Three more boys waited on a side road. They fell in behind, jostling with the first three for position. This wasn't good.

Gram’s house was still so far away. I picked up my pace just as three more guys came into view in a field to my left. The newest three ran to catch up. They looked a lot like the guys from the Midwest City mall, that time mall security got involved in one of my shopping trips. The guard had called the guys stalkers and wanted me to press charges. I think the guard was a little affected, too. Sue still cringes when the incident is brought up.

The crowd closed the gap and I increased my speed.

Gram came out on her wide porch and stepped down into her yard and waited. Her short, plump body was a welcome sight. She shook her blonde head, her mouth pinched into a straight line. The anxiety on her face made me worry even more and I glanced back. The crowd had more than doubled. I ran faster. I had to get to Gram before the boys caught up with me. I would be safe with my grandmother and no one would be able to get to me in her house, Gramps would make sure of that. The harder I ran, the slower the distance traveled. Finally, I reached Gram and threw my arms around her.

She looked up at the boys behind me and waved her arms. "Get out of here and don't come back!"

I looked over my shoulder and the whole crowd was gone.

"Oh, Gram, thank you!" I hugged her tight and didn’t want to ever let her go.

She patted my back. "You're welcome, sweetie. Come in the house and we'll have a snack. Grandpa picked strawberries this morning."

Ah, the very thought of Gramps' big sweet strawberries made my mouth water. No one had better strawberries than my grandfather.

We went into her homey kitchen and sat at her metal table with the grey Formica top. Oh, how I missed this table where I’d spent so much time telling my grandparents all my thoughts and listened to them tell their stories.

Gram handed me a strawberry so big I had to hold it with both hands.

She looked over her glass of orange juice. “Sylvia, sweetie, don’t forget your goal. Stay true until the end.” Her brows pulled together and her eyes looked sad. “You promised.”

On Target

There was a loud clatter and I sat up in bed blinking my eyes.

"Mom, why were all these cans piled up outside my door?" Tam asked as she rubbed sleep from her eyes.

"Sylvia was sleepwalking last night." Sue sounded irritated.

I scrubbed my eyes.

"Oh, that explains why she's in my bed."

I looked around. Sure enough I was sitting in Tam's bed, in her bedroom.

"
How
did I get here?"

Dad joined Sue at the door as Tam left for the bathroom. "You got up last night and wandered around this floor. I asked you what you were doing and you said you were going to Gram’s house. That's when we figured out you were sleepwalking."

"Are you sure? I don't sleepwalk."

"You did last night."

I looked around Tam's messy room, again. "Yeah, I guess I did." Now I was freaked. I really should tell Dad about my waking up in odd places.

"Better get up and get dressed. Aren't you going with Destiny to the big town of Wasilla today?" Dad grinned.

The excitement of my trip away from Talkeetna pushed the thought of sleepwalking completely out of my brain. "That's right!" I climbed from the bed and dashed up to my room to change. "Yahoo! I’m going to civilization! Yah!”

The closest place for buying clothes was seventy miles away at Wasilla, Alaska, so Destiny and I– mostly Destiny –talked Richard into taking us there to shop for school. Good thing Richard was such a good sport, or he wouldn’t have taken two teenage girls to look at clothes.

It was a long trip, of over an hour, but the scenery was beautiful and the weather was clear, so the drive was uneventful. Richard and Destiny pointed out places of interest and where people lived that Emma knew. It seemed as if their grandmother knew everyone. Somehow, that didn’t surprise me.

Compared to Midwest City, Wasilla was very small. I was expecting something bigger when the Petersons said this was the place to go. It was big enough for a Target so that’s where everyone went. I didn’t even know Target would be this far north, out in the sticks.

This Target wasn’t as big as the Super Target in Midwest City, but it would do. It wasn’t nearly as crowded, either. This surprised me since it was so close to school starting. Richard pulled up to a parking space, the closest to the front door, but he passed it by.

“Hey, you missed a place to park.” I alerted him.

He smiled as he went down another row and parked almost to the end. “Nah, I don’t park near the front.”

Huh? “Why?”

I’d always thought that was some primal guy thing, to be on the hunt for the best parking spot.

Destiny rolled her eyes. “Richard parks farther away so he gets the exercise.” She obviously didn’t agree with her big brother.

“Yes, I get the exercise,” he huffed, “and it leaves a space for someone who’s weak and isn’t able to walk very far.”

“I never thought about it that way.” Hmmm, I could sure use the exercise— especially since Saturday’s swim to the island made me realize just how out of shape I really was.

Inside the generic chain store, Richard headed for the men’s department while Destiny and I went in search of the perfect tops and reasonable jeans. They each had a cell phone so we could call the other when done shopping. No doubt about it, Richard would call first, since he was a guy.

Destiny and I hit the racks with precision. There wouldn’t be one hanger left un-jostled. About thirty minutes into the search, I’d found four pairs of jeans and six tops that just might do. Destiny found six pair of jeans and twelve tops. It would be nice if I was shorter so I could find more clothes that fit me right.

We took our full cart to the ladies dressing rooms. With my little pile of selections in my cubicle, I closed and locked the door. It wouldn’t take me long to try on everything to find out nothing looked good on me. Even so, I would choose the lesser of the evils and be happy I found something. Destiny was next door so we talked through the wall as we tried on our first outfit.

“Hey, Destiny, what kinds of clothes do the girls wear here?” I buttoned the silky pink blouse I was trying on.

“Pretty much the same as everywhere else, just warmer.”

"Yeah, just a
lot
warmer." I mumbled to myself.

With a clunk of the door I knew Destiny had left her dressing room. I hurried to join her so we could tell each other what we thought of the other’s outfit. Of course, hers would be adorable on her. All I could hope for was that it fit.

When I opened my door, Destiny had her back to me. The purple outfit was perfect on her. Oh, how I wished I could look that good in my clothes. She didn't move, so I walked around in front of her. She looked a little bewildered.

“What’s wrong?” I put my hand on her shoulder.

"I'm not sure." She blinked a few times before she pointed.

A crowd of six guys watched us. They waved and smiled and seemed to appreciate what we were wearing.

They were affected.

I turned my back on them. “What do you think of this outfit?” I had trouble drawing her attention off the small group. Weird event number six coming up.

When she did look at me, it was from every angle. “Yes, that outfit will do very nicely for you.”

The six guys agreed with her.

“A scarf and sparkly belt would punch it up.”

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. “I like your outfit, too. The blouse looks so soft.”

She stroked the sleeve as she glanced over her shoulder. The six guys eagerly agreed. I hadn’t thought the affects would be apparent so quickly. We hadn't been in the store very long. At least, it didn’t seem all that long. Then again, time does cease to exist while shopping.

There was a small, older woman with a Target vest who stood behind the counter and nervously watched the men as she guarded her station. Her hand on the phone didn’t move. She looked unsure. She probably thought she should bring the manager out of his office. I had a feeling she would flee at the first sign of a male stampede, so I didn't worry too much about her getting hurt. Now Destiny, on the other hand, would welcome the advance, not knowing what danger she was in. The look on my friend’s face confirmed my suspicion. A big smile replaced her bewildered look. This smile was the type she reserves for cute boys.

It didn’t take much urging to get Destiny to return to her dressing room. She was all for changing into her next outfit. The fear of the six guys still being there had me cowering in my little cubicle.

Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea
.
Why don’t I think these things through better?
I hadn’t been out shopping since June, when there’d only been one small incident with an evening stocker that I bumped into. Embarrassing, it was, but nothing like this. I hadn’t considered that this store was smaller and The Change had grown from an annoying Chihuahua to an overzealous Jack Russell Terrier.

I should ask Destiny to call Richard. But she wouldn't want to for fear her brother would ruin her fun. I could beg, I guess. My next outfit slid on easily despite my shaking hands.

“This is going to be fun! I’ve never modeled in public before.”

“Destiny.” I had trouble catching my breath. “I don’t think this is such a good idea.” GAWK! Sue’s voice just came out of my mouth!

If only my friend knew the problems that could develop, she wouldn’t have been so eager.

“Don’t be silly, it’ll be fun.” Her door opened.

“Wait—”

Her door clanged shut. Sigh. I couldn’t leave her out there alone, so I breathed deep and stepped out.

The crowd had grown to ten, including an old geezer without teeth. The group commented right away that they liked the outfits. Destiny really got into all this attention. She turned around so they could get a full look.

“You don’t think it makes me look fat do you?” She asked the crowd.

“Oh, no, not at all.” They chorused.

The petite sales clerk watched us. A small tick appeared in her left eye. She definitely didn't appreciate that we were involved with the unwanted crowd that threatened her dull daily routine.

Destiny’s face barely contained her smile. She went back into her little room stuffed full of clothes for her to show off. I ducked back into my dressing room filled with guilt, not bothering to ask her about my outfit. I would never have enough guts to act like Destiny, at least not this year. Maybe I’ll gain a backbone after The Change, when it’s safe.

Argh! I’d forgotten to ask Destiny to call Richard. She was having too much fun and I doubted she would even hear me through the thin wall with all the commotion out there. My hands shook more and I almost fell as I scrambled to get the next outfit on.

When I followed her lead and came out the crowd was now fifteen, including the old geezer without teeth. Destiny and I both modeled the clothes this time and received applause. She bowed while I blushed.

Richard walked up, so I ducked into the dressing room. I didn’t want him to see me doing such a stupid thing. But I had to admit to myself, even though this was very scary, it was kind of fun in a terrifying, stupid kind of way.

It was a good thing he came when he did, because I really doubted Destiny would’ve called him. I didn't want to beg her, and possibly make my only friend in the entire state of Alaska mad at me.

Richard hadn’t looked happy. I certainly shouldn't be encouraging this bad situation, but Destiny was having so much fun. There were times when I allowed myself to be stupid over my better judgment.

Slow to change into my forth outfit made Destiny impatient. She was eager to get back to her adoring fans.

"Sylv, come on, they're waiting."

"I don't know about this Dest."

"Come on, Sylv, it’s fun."

I really didn't want to disappoint my friend. "Okay." Was it Destiny's approval or the attention I really wanted? I changed quickly while I pondered that thought.

When we came out, I could see Richard standing to the side, with a puzzled look. He was even more confused when we walked out and all the guys, in this ever expanding problem, applauded. A couple of them whistled. We modeled and he grinned before he turned and talked to someone I couldn’t see. Richard slid sideways and the person he was speaking with moved over a couple of steps to get a better view.

I froze in mid-turn.

It was Eli from the hike Destiny and I had taken a week and a half ago. He probably didn't even remember me.

He looked right at me. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I unfroze, finished my last turn, flushed and quickly ducked back into my stall. It was best I stayed there for a little while, like, forever.

Destiny returned to her dressing room amidst whistles and cheers. “I’m going to model the peasant blouse and skirt next. Why don’t you put on the skirt you found?”

There was no way I was going out in front of that group without shaving my legs first. “I’m going to pass this time, you go without me.” I shouldn’t send her out to face this terrible situation alone. I hung my head. Coward, coward, coward.

She cheerfully changed while I sat on the little bench and worked on breathing normally. Maybe I should just stay in here until the store closed.

The applause when Destiny went out amplified my guilt and jealousy. Finally, I admitted out loud — in a whisper — how bad an idea this was. And it was getting worse. This whole thing had the ring of one of my youthful daydreams where I was the center of attention and adored. Oh, how quickly it turned into a nightmare.

How am I going to get us out of this? There was no back door or window to escape from. I was trapped and the Affecteds were getting out of hand. What was worse, I’d put my friend in harm’s way. Will I never learn?

Destiny reentered the stall next to me. “Sylv, you should’ve come out. They’re really appreciating the show.”

The crowd noise sent a shiver down my spine and I swallowed hard. They sounded like they were getting rowdy. “Maybe I’ll just stay in here.”

“Don’t be silly. How often do you get a chance for this kind of attention?”

“Too often,” I mumbled as I rocked on the little bench. My breathing, once again, was out of control.

“Hurry and change, you don’t want to keep them waiting.”

“I don’t know …”

Destiny huffed. “Ah, come on, Sylv, it’s not that big a deal.”

Oh, if she only knew.

Sigh. “One more outfit, then we’re done, okay?” I had to get us out of this, but had no clue how to do it. She was silent. “Please, Destiny, I don’t feel good about this.” My voice cracked. How embarrassing.

“Okay.” Her voice pouted.

She wanted to keep going? Couldn’t she see how bad it was? Did she really not understand that I have a humongously odd problem, or how it can affect guys? Weird event number six could be the one that finally opens her eyes, or shuts them permanently. I shivered. None of my Oklahoma friends lasted to six.

By the time I changed and made myself go out, the crowd had grown so large, there were some late comers that jostled for position. I worried for the old geezer without teeth. But he was still standing in front enjoying the commotion.