DIONA “DIO” MAGAZ:
“It’s such a hard choice.” Kiki sat on my bed, watching me modeling another outfit for my date with Sparky.
“Are jeans too casual?” I shoved my hands in my pockets. Posed. “Does it make me look cool or lame?”
“Any outfit is great on you.” Four fingers on her lips. She picked option one: a green sundress. “I think this one’s my favorite.”
“If you say so,” I told her, “I better not be the only one wearing a dress.”
Kiki smirked. “That might be a good thing.”
She sat me in front of a mirror, and braided my hair, and attached a necklace around my neck, and said to me, “You’re gonna blow them away.”
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9J3LsIUvq
Downstairs. Me in my green sundress and necklace and braid. Kiki in her T-shirt and miniskirt. We stood side by side and I said to Mother, “Kiki and I are gonna hang out at the mall.” (a lie).
Mother was on the phone. She said, “pardon me” to whoever she was talking to, and turned to Kiki and me, “Be back by five.”
Kiki grinned.
✰ ✰ ✰
Was I nervous? A little, I guess. But at the same time, I knew how this was gonna play out. I’ll arrive at the golf club and introduce myself. Someone will bring a cheap snack. Sparky’s friends will be annoying, and I’ll have to pretend they’re funny. They’ll ask me to play, and I’ll tell them no. (Golf is boring). Hopefully, Sparky will tell me how pretty I was. Maybe he’ll even try to hold my hand or something.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffXoh0RsNu
They stood on the Green, waving me over, and I ran up to meet them.
Three people: Sparky, and two teenagers I did not recognize. Tom and Louise. Each held a golf club over their shoulder. I was the only one wearing a dress. I introduced myself, and they complimented my dress, and basically, the whole thing went the way I expected.
Was it boring? A little. Oh, but I had to love it. Any other girl would die to be in my place. So, I laughed at his friends’ jokes, and watched them play golf. I bit into some dry cake, listened to Sparky talk about how he had four—four! —sports cars, how he totaled one in a street race, and I told them this is why people say being a teenager is the best part of life.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PILhCdigI
Two events worth mentioning.
The first: Sparky pulled me away from his friends and led me to the trunk of a large tree. He said I looked gorgeous (as expected) and held both of my hands.
“You and I,” he said, “We’re doing this again. I know this restaurant you’ll love.”
How sweet. He wanted to know me so bad, he pretended he already did.
I nodded too quickly. Then scrunched up my nose. “I mean, yeah, why not?”
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89lMSxlWuZ
The second: Sparky’s father was at the golf club at the same time, playing with several men. When he saw me, his eyes widened, and every time I tried to look at him, he’d turn away.
There was something about his expression. He looked at me the way people look at storm clouds, broken glass on the sidewalk, an unexpected problem.
People didn’t look at me that way. People looked at me and smiled. Or complimented. Or twisted their face into something like jealousy.
I tried to keep my voice light. “Hey look! Your Dad’s here, too!”
“Yeah.” He said, “He meets people here a lot.”
Louise squinted her eyes. “He keeps looking over at us.”
Sparky shrugged. “Huh. Weird.”
I tried to laugh with them, but it kinda died in my chest. I kept looking back toward him.
Tom’s voice, bright like bronze: “Did I ever tell you about how my dad almost capsized his yacht?”
And then we were all saying goodbye, and I risked one more look at Mr. Sparks. Ugh, his expression. What was his problem?
When Sparky asked when he could see me again, I pretended to think for a long time. Pushed Mr. Sparks from my mind. “How about next week?”
ns216.73.216.190da2
and then Add to home screen.