But I’ve been such a small nothing for so long. Peanut, as Morgan and Simon call me.

“Maybe I’m bigger. I’ve grown a little.”

“Let’s try Bikini Island.”

I frown. “Isn’t that store super pricey?”

“Not when there’s a sidewalk sale.”

“Okay.” We make our way over to the glass elevator in the centre of the mall and, as we step on, the cool girls suddenly appear, giggling as they squeeze in. Batting their eyelashes and waving their glossy, pointed nails, they grip bags of their fashion finds. Tara, Francesca, Brenna, and Su-Ling surround us in a forest of long legs and hair. Unbelievably beautiful. Their giggles and cherry-lip, lemony-hair smell fill the air.

Su-Ling nods and gives me a small smile.

She noticed me! I smile back.

“Can’t wait for the party tomorrow night,” Francesca says to Morgan. “Who else is coming?”

“Oh, it will be a surprise,” Morgan answers, loud and braggy.

I squint at her and she winks back.

Francesca laughs. The others join in. I can’t believe it. Everybody wants to be them or at least close to them. Morgan’s done it. Got us set for high school.

That’s if Diesel and I find a way to survive the summer.

Luanne stirs.

“Shhh, shh. There, there,” I say.

The ride ends and as soon as the doors swish open, the girls push past us with little hand waves.

Quiet again, but too late. Luanne squawks awake.

Oh, great. She’s crying. Waking up early has put her in a mood.

We move quickly toward the store at the end of the passage where two inflated green palm trees stand on either side of the door. Bikini Island calls us.

15

Monday, June 28:

With Strings Attached

By the time we reach those palm trees, Luanne’s shrieking parts the crowds around us. “What do we do?” Morgan asks.

“Give her something.” I fumble in my bag and hand her my keys.

She jangles them a few times and then flings them into the store. I run to pick them up.

“Aww!” A girl with spiky black hair and a rhinestone nose stud steps from behind the counter to talk to Luanne. “Whatsa matter, baby?”

Luanne loves sparkly, and she stops mid-sob to stare at that nose.

“Can she have a candy?” The girl is already unwrapping a bright green sucker. She holds it out. Too bad if I say no.

Luanne bobs up and down in her stroller, reaching for the candy. Will she choke on it? If I take it away now, she may work herself up too much. Which can’t be good for her heart.

Or our shopping. Luanne quiets down, so that settles it.

“Can you help us?” Morgan asks the salesgirl. “We’re looking for something extra, extra, extra small.”

I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t really know my size.”

The girl taps her nose above the rhinestone. “Let’s measure you.”

She whips out a tape measure from her pocket and wraps it around my hips. She clicks her tongue and shakes her head.