“This is the way to live!” Janelle exclaimed to Christy a short time later. The poolside waitress was serving them iced teas they had ordered from their lounge chairs. “I’ve never been to a resort like this in my life. I just decided I could very easily be a rich person. It suits me, don’t you think?”
Brittany was in the pool with her arms propped up on the side. She playfully flung a handful of water on them. “Hey, you rich and famous wannabes, are you coming in or not?” she yelled.
“I’m ready,” Christy said. “Coming, Janelle?”
Janelle stretched like a spoiled cat and in her best movie-star voice said, “Oh, I suppose, darling. If I must.”
The two girls slowly lowered themselves into the pool at the shallow end. Christy hated that shivering sensation that sliced through her every time she got her stomach wet. She quickly ducked the rest of her body underwater and swam leisurely, with Janelle dog-paddling beside her. Brittany kept challenging them to swim laps with her, as if it would be fun to start some kind of competitive race. Christy turned down all the offers, saying she was happy going at her own slow pace.
Marti came out to the pool and settled in a lounge chair shaded by an umbrella. She waved at the girls and then motioned for the poolside attendant to come take her order for something to drink. Christy thought her aunt looked as if she were enjoying this as much as they were. She knew Marti would also enjoy the planned shopping trip that afternoon. What Christy was really looking forward to was the promised hot air balloon ride. Maybe tomorrow.
Brittany pulled herself out of the pool at the deep end after swimming several laps by herself. “I think your aunt’s trying to tell us she’s ready to go shopping,” Brittany said. “Mind if I go in first and take a quick shower?”
“Go ahead. We’ll be there in a few minutes,” Christy said. “The key is in my bag under my chair.”
Christy and Janelle got out of the pool and patted themselves dry with the thick hotel beach towels.
“Were you trying to tell us it’s time to go shopping?” Christy asked Aunt Marti.
Aunt Marti, who sat only a few feet away, ignored Christy’s question and seemed to be studying Brittany’s skeleton-like frame as she walked away from them.
“I think your friend is far too thin,” Marti said. “I’ve never seen hip bones stick out like that on a teenager. It doesn’t look right. And where’s her rear end? She hardly has enough bottom to hold her bathing suit on.”
Christy didn’t know how much she wanted to confide in her aunt, but Janelle jumped right in. “We know. She’s got some strange problems with food. She’s always on a diet, and then she overeats and makes herself throw up.”
“I’ve read about girls like her,” Marti said in her direct manner. “She needs professional help to overcome this problem. Eating disorders are very common and also very dangerous. Thank goodness that’s something Christy hasn’t struggled with! You’ve always had a healthy appetite, dear.”
Christy couldn’t tell if her comment was a put-down or a compliment.
“Well,” Janelle said, “I’d feel awful if anything bad happened to her. Like if she got really sick or something. What should we do?”
“Leave it to me. I’ll handle this,” Marti stated.
For some reason, Christy felt a knot forming in her stomach at her aunt’s words. Marti was a well-meaning woman, but she had messed up things for Christy more than once. How would she handle Brittany?
About an hour later, after quick showers and an even quicker scramble to dress, Marti steered them through the streets of Palm Springs as if she were in her hometown. She took the girls to several small boutiques, where they received plenty of personal attention.
Marti talked Christy into getting a short, black dress that Brittany said she had seen in one of her fashion magazines that month. Janelle said it made Christy look at least seventeen.
Oh, great! Christy thought as she surveyed herself in the mirror. The last thing I need is another dress that makes me look older! What will Dad say?
But Marti insisted, and in the end they left the boutique with the dress, some fun, strappy black shoes to match, and a pair of dangly earrings that Christy thought were way too expensive, even if they were a custom design.
Christy and Janelle slid into the backseat of the car, and Janelle said softly, “Now you have something to wear to homecoming when we go on our double date with Rick and Greg. I figured out a way to get the guys to go with us. I’ll tell you about it later.”
Christy forced a weak smile. Homecoming? Double dates? Who said I even wanted to go out with Rick? When am I going to start standing up for what I truly think and feel and stop letting everybody else make decisions for me? Like this dress. I don’t even like it. Why did I let my aunt buy it?
The next place they went was the Desert Fashion Plaza. The minute they entered Saks, Christy knew they were about to see some serious money being spent. Marti reminded her of a tropical bird that had suddenly been transported to its native banana tree. Watching Marti coo and strut between the racks of clothes, Christy could just picture her aunt pulling out her credit cards and fanning them like a peacock’s tail.
This time I’m going to decide for myself, Christy vowed.
All three of the girls entered the large, elegant dressing area. The saleswoman had already hung their choices on the outside of three individual rooms, and now she stood ready to serve them in any way she could.
Christy was the first to call out from her dressing room. “I think this shirt is a little too big on me.”
“What size is it?” the saleswoman asked. “I’ll bring you another one.”
“Step out, dear. Let’s see the whole outfit.” Aunt Marti smiled when she saw Christy. “Oh, yes, I like those bright colors on you very much. Very striking.”
Christy looked in the full-length mirror. Several months earlier she would have eaten up every word her aunt said, along with all the glamour and excitement that accompanied such a trip as this. But this time she forced herself to see the outfit clearly, from her own point of view. She didn’t like it. Time to practice standing up for herself. No, no, no, no.
“I don’t know,” she said cautiously to her aunt. “I’m not a bold, striking type of person. I think I like the peach better.”
“Let’s see,” Janelle said, stepping out in a long rayon dress. She made a face at Christy that only confirmed Christy’s opinion of how she looked in this outfit. “I think I need a bigger size on this dress,” Janelle said to the saleswoman. “It’s too tight under the arms.”
The saleswoman checked the tag and then left. Marti paused for a minute, tapping her index finger along the side of her mouth. “I suppose you’re right, Christy. You wear peach very nicely, especially that deep salmon shade.”
Christy held up a light peach shirt. “This is the peach I mean. Light peach. Pastel. What do you think?”
Marti blinked her eyes as if her feelings were hurt, but then her expression softened, and with a chuckle, she said, “I think it obviously doesn’t matter what I think. You’ve made up your own mind. And that’s very commendable, Christina. Did you match it with your color swatches?”
Christy ducked back into the dressing room and rummaged through all the junk in her purse, trying to find her color packet. The packet came from a color consultant Marti had taken Christy to last summer. The consultant had evaluated Christy’s natural coloring and provided her with a collection of color swatches. The consultant had instructed Christy to never wear a color that wasn’t in her packet. Now if only she could find the packet in her messy purse!
Her hand circled around a small plastic prescription bottle, and she suddenly froze. Brittany’s diet pills! I have to get rid of these! But not here. Not in front of Marti, especially now that she’s noticed that Brittany has a problem. She’ll think I’m trying out Brittany’s crazy diet techniques. As soon as we get back to the hotel, I’m getting rid of these. And I’m not giving them back to Brit
tany. I’m going to throw them away.
“Absolutely adorable,” Christy overheard her aunt say to her friends outside the dressing room. The color swatches forgotten, Christy hurried to take off the outfit. She was eager to get back to the hotel.
“Now, listen,” Marti said to Janelle and Brittany. “I’d like to buy each of you one new outfit, so choose whatever you like. It’ll be my treat.”
“Really?” Janelle squeaked. “That’s so nice of you! I can’t believe it.”
“You don’t have to,” Brittany said. “My dad gave me his Visa card in case I wanted to buy anything.”
“Well, let me buy it for you, dear. I’d like to do that. Do you like the outfit you have on?”
“Pretty much,” Brittany answered. “I was thinking of getting it.”
“That settles it; I’ll get it for you,” Marti offered. “It looks nice on you, although the shorts are a bit baggy in the back, don’t you think?”
Oh no! Christy squeezed her eyes shut in the privacy of her dressing room. Here comes my aunt’s subtle way of dealing with Brittany’s weight problem.
“It’s the smallest size they have,” Brittany answered. “I like them baggy. They make me look thinner.”
“Honey, you are about as thin as a person can possibly get. How much do you weigh, dear?”
Brittany didn’t answer right away. “I don’t know. I haven’t weighed myself lately.”
“In my opinion, dear, you could stand to put on a few pounds. Start eating some good, healthy pasta and bread at every meal.”
Christy slowly opened the door to see Brittany’s reaction to Marti’s words. Marti had turned abruptly away from Brittany and was evaluating Janelle’s outfit. “Now with your dark hair, dear, you shouldn’t wear such a deep shade right next to your face. What about that mint green sweater I suggested? Ah, here it is. Janelle, this would be a gorgeous shade on you, don’t you think?”
The rest of the afternoon and the evening continued the same way, with Marti in control. When they got back to the hotel, Marti stayed in their room, directing each of them on what to wear to dinner. Marti insisted that Christy wear her new black dress. Even though the other girls and Bob made all kinds of flattering comments during the night, Christy still didn’t feel like herself. She felt like Marti was trying to make her into someone else, and she didn’t know how that “someone else” should sit or speak or smile.
Bob was acquainted with the owners of the Mexican restaurant they went to and asked the waiter if “Joaquin” was running the show that night.
Soon a tall, handsome, dark-haired man appeared at the table, and Bob rose to greet him with a hearty handshake. “How’ve you been, Roberto?” the man asked. “And Marti, you become more beautiful every time I see you!”
Marti held out her hand, and Joaquin kissed it, then raised his head to view the three girls. “And who do we have here? You have been holding out on me, Roberto!”
“Joaquin, I’d like you to meet my one and only niece, Christina, and her friends, Janelle and Brittany.”
Joaquin shook Brittany’s hand. “Beautiful hair,” he said. “Like the golden sunshine on the desert sand.”
As he shook Janelle’s hand he said, “Your smile could light the darkest night.”
Then, turning to Christy, he smiled and said, “Christina, Christina.” The Rs rolled off his tongue with great flair. “You have eyes like rare gems. Never have I seen eyes like yours. One look into those eyes, and a man is taken captive forever.”
Christy turned away, feeling herself blush from her neck up.
“Such innocence,” Joaquin said to Bob. “It is beautiful on a woman.”
Changing his tone and addressing everyone at the table, he said, “Listen, my friends, tonight you must try the crab enchiladas. They are the best.”
“That sound good to everybody?” Bob asked.
“I’ll just have half of a chicken tostada with the guacamole on the side,” Marti said. Then she added, “Brittany, you be sure to order enough, dear. Order anything you like.”
All three girls and Bob ordered the crab enchiladas. Christy thought they were delicious. They were mild, for Mexican food, and covered with cheese. She knew it must be the influence of growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm, but that was just the way she liked her Mexican food. After eating her entire dinner, Christy felt so full she didn’t think she could stand up.
The waiter came to clear their plates and said, “Your dinner is on the house tonight, sir. Would you care for anything else?”
“Girls?” Bob asked.
“I couldn’t eat another bite!” Janelle said.
The others agreed.
“I guess that’s it,” Bob said. “Tell Joaquin thanks for us. The crab enchiladas were terrific. And here, this is for you.” Bob handed the waiter a fifty-dollar bill.
“Thank you, sir!” the waiter said, his eyes wide with surprise. “Thank you very much!”
“Robert,” Marti scolded in a low voice, “don’t you think you overtipped him a bit?”
“That’s the smallest I had. Besides, the dinner was free.” He turned to Christy and her wide-eyed friends. “So how about it, girls? You ready for a movie?”
“As long as you don’t buy us any popcorn,” Janelle said. “I’m so full.”
“How about you, Brittany?” Marti asked pointedly. “Did you get enough to eat?”
“Yes, I did. Thank you.” Christy thought Brittany sounded like a robot answering Marti’s obvious questions. She wondered if she sounded that cold and rude when she answered her aunt during the times when Marti bugged her.
“Then let’s go, shall we, Robert?”
When they arrived at the theater they found the film was sold out, and the next showing was at 10:10. After much debate they finally agreed to go back to the hotel and go to bed. They would all meet in the lobby for brunch in the morning, if any of them felt like eating by then.
The girls lounged in their room, watching TV and feeling bloated and lazy.
Brittany went into the bathroom, and Janelle jumped up to turn down the TV.
“Listen,” she whispered to Christy. “She’s doing it again. She’s throwing up.”
“I can’t say at this moment that I don’t feel like throwing up myself,” Christy said.
“I know, but she did it this afternoon too. When we came back from the pool. She didn’t think I heard her, but I did.”
“She told me she wasn’t doing that anymore,” Christy said.
“She told you a lot of other things, too,” Janelle said, looking very serious. “This isn’t good. I think we should try to help her. After all the things your aunt said at the pool, I’m really worried.”
“I know, but what can we do?” Christy said softly.
“We could try talking to her about it,” Janelle suggested.
Right then the bathroom door opened, and Brittany came back into the room. She realized the two girls had taken their eyes off the TV and were focusing on her. Janelle turned off the TV and looked over at Christy and then back at Brittany.
“What?” Brittany asked. “What’s wrong?”
Christy didn’t know what to say. Janelle was the gutsy one. Christy hoped Janelle would start this difficult conversation.
“Brit, well, it’s like this,” Janelle said. “We know you’ve been trying to lose weight and everything, and you’ve lost a lot of weight already. Really fast, too.”
Brittany stood perfectly still. Her face was expressionless.
“And, well, we’re worried because it’s not good for you to throw up a lot, and we know that you have been.”
Brittany’s face softened. “I know. I don’t want to throw up. I’m not trying to. It’s just that I’ve had this terrible stomachache all day. I didn’t want to tell anyone because I didn’t want to ruin the shopping trip and everything for the rest of you. I think my stomach just couldn’t handle those heavy enchiladas tonight.”
“Why didn’t you say someth
ing?” Christy asked. “Are you feeling better now?”
“Not really. My stomach is still upset.”
“Can we do anything to help you?” Janelle asked, her face showing her sincere concern. “Do you want Christy to check with her uncle and see if he has anything you could take for your upset stomach?”
“No,” Brittany said, sitting on the edge of the bed. She folded her arms across her middle and let out a little groan. “I think I’ll just go to the drugstore and get some antacid tablets. I know that would help. When I was out jogging this morning I went past a drugstore about a block from here.”
“I’ll get my uncle to take you,” Christy said, reaching for the phone. “What’s their room number?”
“No! Please!” Brittany insisted. “I don’t want to bother them. They’re probably already asleep, and after all the things your aunt was saying to me today, the last thing I want to do is get on her bad side. I’ll run to the drugstore by myself.”
“You can’t go by yourself,” Janelle protested.
“I did this morning.”
“That was different. It was daylight then. Muggers and weirdos don’t work when the sun’s up,” Janelle said. “We’ll go with you.”
“I don’t think we should,” Christy said.
“It’s only a block away,” Brittany said. “Maybe less.”
“We left our room last night, and nobody knew it,” Janelle reasoned. “I think Brittany’s right. We shouldn’t bother your aunt and uncle for something minor like a little roll of antacids.”
“I don’t know, you guys,” Christy said. “I don’t feel right about it.”
“Look, Christy,” Janelle said, pulling her thick, wavy, black hair back in a scrunchie. “The weekend is only half over. The last thing we want to do is get your aunt upset at us for waking her up and disrupting her beauty sleep. Besides, if you were the one with the upset stomach, Brittany would go to the drugstore with you. Wouldn’t you, Brit?”
“Oh, definitely. We’ll only be gone for five minutes. They’ll never know. You don’t have to come with us, Christy.”
Christy Miller Collection, Vol 1 Page 24