The Real Me (9 page)

Erwina smiled. "Good idea."

Erwina tried on several dresses, running in and out of the dressing room to model for me.

I looked half heartedly at a few gowns.

"Aren't you going to try any on?" Erwina spun around in front of a three way mirror, seeing how a blue strapless with a wide ruffle along the hem looked on her from all directions.

"No," I said. "Um, I'm kind of tired … and hungry." I couldn't tell Erwina that I was afraid that trying on dresses now would somehow jinx any possibility that I would need one for the prom. I wouldn't need anything special if all I was going to do was supervise the serving of punch and cookies.

"Let's eat, then," Erwina said. "I haven't found anything I can't live without yet anyway."

After lunch Erwina and I window shopped until it was time to catch the bus home. I stared out the window most of the way back to Waterside, clutching my shopping bag. Would I really have the nerve to reveal so much of the new me? Could I carry out my plan without being seriously embarrassed?

In a week I would find out.

Chapter
Nine

In order to take my mind off Erwina's party and the decision I'd have to make, I plunged into preparations for the prom. I baked, decorated, and froze dozens of cookies. I made up a sample batch of the foamy punch and insisted that Walt and Erwina taste it. Only after they declared that it was delicious was I convinced that I'd use the recipe on prom night.

After extracting permission from Dad to use the garden cart if I first helped with spring cleanup in the yard, I began converting it into a chariot. Once it was cleaned and scrubbed, decorating it seemed almost easy. Working in the garage, with occasional help from George, Carl and Phil, Walt and I covered the body of the cart with sea green crepe paper, wrapped the handles and wheels with alternating strips of blue, green, and turquoise streamers, and draped strips of the same color combination across the front.

Walt made two giant plywood seahorses. The only problem was how to harness them to the cart so they wouldn't fall over, but would still look as though they were pulling a chariot.

Finally it was decided that the seahorses could be nailed to two crossed boards placed in front of the cart, connected by reins made of streamers. The boards would be covered with sheets of blue crepe paper to hide them and create the illusion of water.

Walt painted the seahorses and he and I cut strips of streamers, folded them into loops and glued them on to each side of the seahorses for scales. We finished just before noon on the morning of Erwina's party.

Walt stepped back to admire our work. "It looks pretty good, if I do say so myself."

"Yes," I agreed. "I--"

Just then Dad, in an old T shirt and cut off shorts, hopped down the back steps, leapt into the chariot, and shouted, "Tally ho!"

"Oh, Daddy." I sighed. "'Tally ho is for fox-hunting."

He cracked an imaginary whip. "Charge?"

"Cavalry," said Walt.

"I know," said Dad. "Glub, glub!"

Walt laughed politely.

I moaned.

"What's this for, anyway?" Dad stepped out of the chariot and patted one of the seahorses.

"You know very well, Daddy." I grinned and shook my finger at him. "It's where we're going to take pictures of the king and queen of the prom."

"Yikes!" Walt exclaimed. "We need to come up with something for their crowns."

"Uh, oh," said Dad. "I don't know anything about crown making." He tiptoed to the back of the garage and got a pair of shears. "I'll just do something easy--like trimming the hedge." He trotted away.

"We need something special." Walt rubbed his chin. "Not just plain cardboard."

"But what?" I asked. "What can we use that's nautical? Sand? Seaweed? Doh! I know! Shells! We can glue them onto the crowns."

Walt slapped his forehead. "Of course!"

"I've got lots of shells," I said. "I'll go through them tomorrow and see if I have enough. If not, I'll get more at the beach."

"Good thinking. I knew working with you was a great idea." Walt took my hands in his and pulled me toward him.

The heel of my sandal caught in a crack in the garage floor, sending me right into Walt's arms.

Flustered, Walt steadied me, then dropped his hands to his sides. "Well," he said, red-faced. "I, um, I guess it's time for me to go." He turned to leave, then spun around and said, "Hey, you're going to Erwina's party, aren't you? I can give you a ride."

I checked the heel of my sandal to make sure it wasn't broken. "Ride?" The heel was a bit loose, so I stomped it on the floor. It went back into place. "No, thanks. I'm going over early to help set things up."

"Oh," Walt said. "Well, if you need a ride home, I'll have the car."

"Hmm?" I shook my foot, checking the heel again. It held. "Ride home? Okay. If I need one."

"See you there," Walt said. "Save me a dance?"

"Sure." As if I was so popular I'd have to save someone a dance. Then I blushed, remembering my new self, my new blouse, and my plans for the evening. Maybe I would have to save a dance for Walt.

At two in the afternoon I started getting ready for Erwina's party. I took a long, hot shower, washed my hair, and conditioned it. I fluffed it with my fingers, wrapped myself in my pink terrycloth robe, and went to my room to let my hair dry naturally. I looked through all my nail polishes twice before choosing a shade I thought best matched my new blouse. I experimented with my lipsticks, and finally layered three of them to get a color that flattered my complexion and still coordinated with my blouse.

When my hair was completely dry, I gently ran the wide-toothed comb Helene had given me through it. My hair had a softness and shine I'd once thought impossible. I shook my hair and admired its free and easy movement.

I remembered how Kevin had said he liked my hair that first day I'd gone to school after getting it cut. I so couldn't wait for him to see me at Erwina's party!

I'd never before put in such an effort getting ready for a party. Of course, I didn't go to many. Besides, I'd never before felt it would be worth it. I'd always thought that the old Mattie would be overlooked, no matter what. But now ….

My folks were going to
New Haven
to see a play. I was anxious for them to leave. I was nervous enough about the party without having to endure any teasing from Dad. Already at supper he asked me, jokingly, if I was going to wear my pink robe.

I was waiting until the last minute to get dressed, because I didn't want to take any chances on spilling something on my new clothes. And I wanted to check out everything in the full length mirror in the hall without an audience.

"We're going now," Mom called up the stairs. "I've left the number of the theater by the phone."

I wanted them to leave rather than continue shouting up to me, so I hurried downstairs and kissed my folks goodbye.

"Have fun at the party," Dad said. "Call if you need a ride home. We should be back by eleven or so."

"I can probably get a ride home," I said, picturing myself on a long, slow drive with Kevin. "Have a good time."

As soon as my parents pulled out of the driveway I ran back up to my room. All my clothes were laid out on my bed. As I fastened and adjusted my new bra I marveled once again at what it did for me. Not that I'd ever considered myself flat-chested. Sort of average, really. But now ….

I slipped on the hot pink blouse, carefully tucking it into my new black jeans that minimized my no longer so terribly big hips. I sprayed cologne onto my throat and behind my ears.

From my jewelry box I selected a delicate gold chain with a single pearl set against a gold heart. I put it on. If the chain had been a quarter of an inch longer the pearl would have been lost in my newly improved cleavage.

I checked my reflection in the mirror, turning left, then right. I looked straight down into my blouse. I decided there wasn't too much showing. Or was there?

I ventured out into the hall to have a look in the full length mirror. Even though I knew my folks were half way to
New Haven
, I kept expecting one of them to pop out of their room.

What I saw in the mirror totally astonished me. I hadn't really taken a good look at my whole self since I'd started dieting. Where once there'd been a drab, chunky girl hunched over in an attempt to make herself look smaller, there was now a relatively slender, attractive girl--with a ton of cleavage!

I turned and looked at myself over my shoulder. Facing the mirror again, I buttoned the third button on my blouse. I considered my reflection. I was more covered up, but I certainly did not look plain. It wasn't just my clothes, not even my bra. I was different. But did I want to be? Could I handle it? How was I supposed to act? What was I supposed to do?

I unbuttoned the third button. I was supposed to flaunt myself! Wasn't that what I had decided on the shopping trip in
New Haven
? Hadn't I vowed to somehow get Kevin's attention? I brushed any doubts from my mind. I had to if I was going to show off my new self.

I would go to Erwina's party and show Nicole Sandhurst that she wasn't the only girl in Waterside who could make guys' heads swivel!

A horn sounded in the driveway. It was Erwina. I grabbed a sweater, checked my hair one more time, and ran to Erwina's car.

"Hi!" I locked the car door and pulled my sweater around my throat.

"Hi," Erwina said. "Are you cold or something?"

"Um, a little."

"I see." Erwina looked sideways at me as she backed out of the driveway. She stopped at the sidewalk and checked for traffic. "Well, I'm sure it will be plenty warm in our family room."

When we got to her house, Erwina's parents were waiting at the front door to greet us.

"Hi, Mattie," said
Mrs. Lane
. "You look lovely tonight. Let me take your sweater."

I clutched at my throat. "I, er, I think I'll keep it with me. I'm, um, a bit cold."

"How are your folks?" boomed
Mr. Lane
.

"They're fine." I tried to edge my way to the stairs that led down to the family room.

Freddie loped into the hallway. "Hey, Mattie. What happened to you? You look nice!"

"Freddie!" exclaimed
Mrs. Lane
. She looked as if she didn't know whether to faint or pinch Freddie's head off.

Mr. Lane
narrowed his eyes at Freddie. "Mattie always looks nice."

"Oh. Oh, yeah!" Freddie said, finally getting the message. "She does. I mean, you do, Mattie. That is …."

"Freddie, go back to your video game," Erwina said. "Come on, Mattie. Let's go." She rushed me down to the family room and yelled up the stairs. "And don't come down here, Freddie!"

I surveyed the family room, amazed. It looked like a tropical island. On every wall were posters of sunny beaches. A jungle of plants hung from the ceiling and sprang up in the corners. The food table stood in a model of a grass shack. "This is great! Where on earth did you find all this stuff?"

Erwina blew on her fingernails and rubbed them on her sleeve. "Thanks. I bought the posters at the discount store. The plants are ours. I just moved them all down here. I borrowed the grass shack from a travel agency." She cleared her throat. "Did you notice the palm tree?"

I turned in the direction Erwina was pointing and saw the palm tree.

"Fake," said Erwina. "And from the travel agency, too."

"But how--"

"A couple weeks ago I went job hunting and got myself a summer job at Holiday Travel. I've been so busy--I guess I forgot to tell you! When I saw the corner of the office decorated to look like
Hawaii
, it inspired me. Mrs. Gless, my soon to be boss, was very generous in lending everything to me. She was ready to change the display anyway."

"That's great!"

"The fact that Mrs. Gless plays golf with my mother and they've been friends for years helped a lot, or course."

"This looks great," I said. "You don't suppose--"

"I'm way ahead of you," Erwina said. "Mrs. Gless agreed to let us borrow the shack and the palm tree for the prom too."

"For free?"

"Well, she's hoping she'll get a little publicity."

"That can be arranged!" I spun in a circle, taking in the whole room again. "This is a great buildup for the prom. It will really help get everyone in the mood."

"I thought it fit in with the theme," Erwina said.

"This is totally great," I said. "It doesn't look as if you need my help setting up."

"I just wanted you to see it first," Erwina said. "That's why I couldn't help you with the chariot. I spent the entire day decorating."

"You know, it's starting to feel like a tropical island in here." I fanned myself. "It'll get really warm once everyone else gets here."

"You could take off that sweater."