Chapter 3
The green drink had certainly done its job. I toweled off my hair and looked in the mirror, wiping away some of the steam on the surface so I could see a little better.
My cheeks were flushed, and my silver eyes looked wide awake, reflecting the cool white light of the LED strip above the mirror. I put on a little mascara to bring out my fair, practically invisible lashes and turned my attention to my hair. Mom would probably make me try on clothes when we were out, so I should probably go with some frizz-proof style. The wheat-colored waves were already starting to curl. If I didn’t blow dry it straight, which I almost never felt like doing, it would hang in waves around my head, eventually curling into ringlets down my back. That was on good days. Other days, especially when it was raining, it puffed up into an unruly wilderness. Still, it was better than when I’d had short hair in eighth grade, and just looked like an elf-boy. I hadn’t cut it since then. Usually, I’d pull it back into a ponytail or plait it into a couple braids so I didn’t have to deal with it. Since I was hoping to go for a run later and explore the neighborhood, I opted for braids.
I walked back to my room and picked out some jeans, hi-tops and a gray tank top. I spent some more time unpacking, putting away my book collection on the shelves by my bed and hanging up a pink speed bag in the corner of my room by the closet. Mom had given it to me when I was ten, back in my pink phase, so I could punch things in privacy. Ten had been a tough year for me, we’d been staying in Charleston and the debutante pre-teens at school had given me a rougher time than usual. I hated dresses, and I didn’t fit in with the social norms there. I would come home, crying and feeling pretty frustrated. Then she gave me the speed bag and taught me how to use it, how to get into the rhythm so that the ball seemed to barely move as I hit it again and again and again. It turned out to be very therapeutic, and that year took the place of having a close friend. I’d start hitting it, angry, but as I got into that rhythm I would start to zone out and relax, and by the end I’d always feel lighter. More free. I gave it a couple swipes now, to make sure it was at a good height.
“Siri, you ready to go?” My mom knocked at the door.
“Yeah, Mom, I’m all set.”
We locked up and hopped in the car. Mom had already explained that there weren’t really any malls nearby. Bennington was an old Vermont town with lots of covered bridges, a few big department stores, and some cute little streets with mom and pop stores. I didn’t really care, I wasn’t exactly into the whole shopping thing anyways. Clothes were just something to help me get from point A to point B without being naked. I cared about my running shoes, because I hated getting shin splints and liked good traction when I ran through the woods or did obstacle training, but that was about it.
We drove into town, and Mom did a quick loop, showing me the two colleges in town and the place she’d heard had the best pizza. Supposedly, they delivered to our town, so I figured we’d be on good terms with the delivery guys soon once Mom started working late hours again, which she always did at the start of a new job.
It was the weekend, so I saw a lot of kids my age walking around on the sidewalks. Most of them were probably from the colleges or Bennington, but I figured some of them must live in Falls Depot, too. It looked like I wouldn’t have to worry too much about fitting in with any debutantes here. Everyone seemed to be wearing jeans or simple miniskirts with leggings, plain shirts and sweaters. Even the adults seemed really laid back. Most people looked like they were ready to head out on a casual hike through the woods. We even saw some skaters rolling through a park. This was good, it reminded me of Colorado, and seemed even more low-key than when we were in NoCal. Vermont style seemed like it would suit me just fine.
A minute later, I groaned as I noticed my mom was pulling into JC Penneys. “Really, mom, again?”
“Hey, I can’t help it if this is the only big store in town.”
See, my mom had this thing for Fiestaware, right? So every new town we stayed in, she made sure to get a few pieces from the local Penneys in a new color to add to our collection. You could rely on Fiestaware for this, to roll out a new color every couple of years, so we never ran out of options. Every color we had at home reminded me of a different town. I suppose it was kind of cool. I mean, if she had to collect something, better plates than weird little baby figurines or cats.
“Don’t worry,” she said as she locked up the car. “We can check all the departments. Maybe get you a new backpack for school, new jeans?” She looked at my worn knees hopefully. “Maybe some shoes, too?”
I perked up at that last part. “Fine, I surrender. I’ll try on whatever you want if we can get me some new running shoes.”
She laughed. “Siri, you’re impossible. Fine. But we’re getting you some new sweaters, too, and a winter coat. There is no way your old one from two years ago will fit, and you can’t just wear the one you had in Tucson. There’s no way that will be warm enough in a month or two. We’ll need some gloves and hats, too.”
She picked up her pace and got a really determined, far-away look on her face as she started planning the massive new wardrobe she’d be picking out today. I sighed, and followed in her wake. This was going to be a long afternoon, but I could see there was no point in protesting. Besides, I’d had my eye on some really amazing (and expensive) new Asics, and this was the perfect time to get them. I’d seen a sporting goods store on the outskirts of town, so I figured I could talk her into heading there for the sneakers, and probably find some great snowboarding gear at pre-season prices, too.
She looked behind to make sure I was following, and I must have been smiling because she said something about being glad that I was getting into the spirit of things. Then, she saw a display of sage and slate platters and let out an excited little “whoop” as she rushed away from me. Yep, I was doomed.