* * *
—
Sally and I spend the whole afternoon trying on a thousand outfits, and nothing! We move on to the little makeup Aunt Jeanie allows us to wear. Then Sally stops and stares at my hair.
“What?” I ask.
“Those braids,” Sally says. “They’ve got to come out.” She starts for my head, but I catch her arm and pull away before she can put her hand on my braids.
“Uh-uh! Are you crazy?” I insist. “I have had my hair in braids for years. I don’t know how my hair is going to look without them.”
“Exactly!” Sally exclaims. “It’s time for a change. Now, let me at ’em!”
Man! I let Sally help me and now she’s gone crazy. I take a deep breath and cover my face as she starts taking out my braids.
“Are you going to help me?” Sally asks. “This could take all night, and we don’t have that kind of time.” Unwillingly I help, and Sally and I unravel my braids one by one. Although I am unconvinced, Sally helps me wash my hair and put all these products in it. After a couple of hours and a shampoo and conditioning, she fixes my hair into a style. It actually looks so…so pretty. Oddly I feel…authentic…like this is the real me, the way God intended me to look. It’s me, but the new me.
“I can’t believe it,” I say, mesmerized by my new do. I look like I should be the model on a box of some natural hair product. “My hair looks so…nice. Thank you.” I give my cousin a big hug.
“See, your real hair isn’t bad after all.” Sally smiles, then suddenly gets an idea. “Ooooh, wait!” she exclaims. “I think I know what you should wear!” She digs deep into the back of her walk-in closet. I hear a long zip, like she’s unwrapping something. Please let it be something that doesn’t have glitter, rhinestones, ruffles, or feathers. She emerges from the closet door lined with lights and holds up a beautiful blue summer dress. It’s something you’d see in a fashion magazine. Wow! “I’ve been waiting to grow into this, but I think it might fit you better, since you are taller and, well, have more lady parts than me.” Is she referring to my boobies? I don’t think I’ve ever worn a long summer dress before, but I might be able to rock this one.
* * *
—
Later we arrive at the party—well, the “dance.” Uncle Larry tells us to be ready to go no later than ten o’clock. “Same spot. No later than ten,” he repeats. We agree and head in to find Tina and Melissa.
The gym is beautiful now, with decorations, party favors, and silver balloons everywhere. The music is loud, and we spot Tina on the dance floor doing what she obviously loves. Melissa trots over to us in a dress that’s fit for a bridesmaid.
“You guys look great! Love the hair, Kayla!” Melissa says; she looks like she wants to touch it but quickly changes her mind. “My mother made me wear my sister’s old bridesmaid dress. Sucks, but, hey, thanks to double Dutch the stupid dress fits!”
“You’re looking great,” Sally says, “but that dress?”
I elbow Sally. “Melissa, you look beautiful!” I cover.
“Thanks! Well, I’m going to go dance. My guy is waiting.” Melissa does a few pop-locks, then laughs and moonwalks away like a schoolgirl to the same boy who doused her with confetti in arts and crafts. Go, Melissa! I discreetly look around for Charlie but don’t see him. Maybe he’s too cool for camp dances. I bet he’s not going to show up. Suddenly I feel disappointed that I got all dressed up and took my braids out for what might be nothing.
* * *
—
As if things couldn’t get uglier, the Bouncing Belles head toward us like they have something to say. After I wave off the cloud of suffocating perfume, I cross my arms, preparing for war.
“Second place. Not bad,” Ivy says.
“Yes, and it’s not over,” I say. “If we don’t take you in New York, my girls from Brooklyn will.”
“Yeah, we’re scared,” Brie remarks sarcastically.
“Why don’t you guys give it a rest?” Sally asks. “It’s getting old. Can’t we at least enjoy ourselves without you trying to ruin everything?”
“Whatever. Permission granted,” Ivy disses. “Let’s go, girls. Party over here just took a dive.”
I’m glad they leave, because I am really getting tired of their mess too. But one thing is for sure: Sally’s confidence to speak up for herself is amazing now. I guess we both learned a little something from each other. She’s tougher, and I’m standing here embracing my inner Beyoncé and JLo in a dress I thought I’d never wear, and I love it! And best of all, I feel pretty, even if a boy doesn’t tell me to my face.
“Let’s go dance!” I say to Sally as I yank her toward Tina and Melissa on the dance floor.
We dance to one song after another till we’re practically sweaty. Suddenly I see Tina pointing her index finger like a blinking light. I think she’s telling me to turn around, and I do. It’s Charlie! My heart skips a beat.
“Can I have this dance?” he asks. He’s so gentlemanly, and he’s dressed like a gentleman, not like the bad boys on the corner asking me if they can do things that I know I am way too young to even think about. But not Charlie.
“Sure.” I bashfully giggle.
* * *
—
After a few songs, Charlie takes my hand and leads me outside. Fresh air, thank goodness. We walk around near the garden pond that I’ve passed by a hundred times, but tonight it feels fairy-tale romantic. Even the bugs seem to have disappeared.
“So how long will you be in Charlotte?” Charlie asks, still holding my hand.
“Until the end of the summer,” I say, almost disappointed. “I guess that’s another two weeks.”
“Where are you from?” he asks. And then, “Don’t tell me. New York?” Okay, he’s good.
“I live in Brooklyn! How’d you know?” I ask.
“That’s where my mom lives. For now, at least,” Charlie answers. “Sometimes I go there in the summer, but luckily I stayed here this time.” He smiles at me, and I blush at his flirtation. “You remind me of some of my stepbrother’s girlfriends.” Okay, I’m shocked—he goes to Brooklyn for the summer sometimes? What?
“Girls from New York are funny,” Charlie continues. “They act all rough and tough on the outside, but I know it’s just a front.”
“Really?” I ask. Is he judging me? “Why do you say that?”
“Because you’re really just girls on the inside.” Charlie smiles. Just girls? What the heck is that supposed to mean? “I think it’s cool, though. You guys aren’t easily impressed, and it makes guys step up their game. It’s a challenge, and I like that.” Did he just say he likes me without saying it? I just smile, knowing Charlie fully understands me.
“So your parents are divorced?” I ask as politely as possible.
“Yeah,” he says. “Been that way for as long as I can remember. It’s cool, I guess. My dad remarried, so now I have two moms. And my mom…well, she’s another story. She was married, then divorced again, but my stepbrother is still my brother, you know what I’m saying?” I nod politely. “Well, I don’t mind the traveling. It’s fun.”
I think about my parents and how devastated I would be if they broke up. Charlie was a baby when his parents split, so he doesn’t know anything different. I hang my head for a moment. I can’t help but feel sad about my parents. A tear falls on my dress.
“Are you okay?” he asks. Oh no! I’m crying!
“It’s nothing,” I say. I don’t want to bring him the drama.
“Want to go back inside?” Charlie asks, worried. I pull myself together and straighten up.
“I’m fine, but thanks,” I say. “My parents are going through something, and I just want things to work out.”
“They will.” He’s so confident. “You’ll see.” I can’t believe I’m here with the boy who’s been on
my mind since I got here and I’m crying over what’s possibly going on at home, but I can’t help it. I miss my mom and dad, together, like a family, like the way things should be. I mean, how can Charlie be so sure that everything is going to be okay? I can’t see how. I can’t be okay with whatever happens. I don’t want to grow up without a dad. And my little brother shouldn’t have to either. Charlie seems like he did fine without his real mom. Maybe he sees something in being a part of two families that I don’t see. Or maybe Charlie’s as magical as he seems. I realize I’ve never met a boy like him before, and I am so happy I did. He makes me feel so secure. So sure. I feel his hands on my face, wiping my tears.
“I meant to tell you,” Charlie says as he lifts my chin. “You…your hair, you look beautiful.” I smile, trying to contain my heart, which beats faster and faster. I look down again, and again he lifts my chin like he is going to…Oh my gosh! Is he leaning toward me…? Is he going to kiss me? Time stops. Oh my…Wow! Oh wow! What feels like an eternity of complete shock, like joy on Christmas morning, like trying to calm the wild butterflies in my stomach, is the moment I have my first kiss. Boom! Boom! Boom! We both jump back. Are those fireworks? I can’t tell if it is my mind flipping out over the kiss or if I really am seeing fireworks. It’s both! Besides my heart throbbing out of control, the camp is putting on a fireworks show.
Charlie and I look back at each other and lean in to continue the kiss—until we hear laughter. A moment later, Sally, Tina, and Melissa fall from behind a tree. Melissa and Tina laugh hysterically, while Sally isn’t too happy as she dusts off her dress. Charlie just shakes his head. I think my face is still frozen. I am still floating on cloud nine…another concept I never understood until now. It’s really nice up here. He grabs my hand and pulls me all the way back into the gym and we dance, and dance, and dance!
I wake up the next morning in a haze. I try to get up but fall back and stare out the window at the pretty blue Carolina sky, daydreaming about Charlie. I’m not sure, but I think Cameron might have come into the room to talk to me. If he did, I don’t remember a word he said. He could’ve grown six inches taller and sprouted a mustache for all I know. I wonder if I ate. I don’t think we had anything to eat at the dance. We were busy having too much fun. Then it hits me.
I’ll be going home soon, and I wonder if we’ll be in the double Dutch competition in New York. We’re eligible, but does that mean there’s another competition we have to win? I don’t know. But then I think of the kiss again, and that we all danced until the dance was over. Charlie is much sillier than the serious boy I first met. He gave me his phone number even though my parents won’t let me have a phone yet. That’s just not cool. As I stare at the old house phone on the wall, I want to call him right now.Then I remember my mom saying that when a boy really likes a girl, she doesn’t have to be so eager. That he’ll find a way to her. Ugh! But being patient is so hard, and I’m going to miss Charlie so much! I wonder if I’ll see him again before I leave Charlotte. I sure hope so.
I can vaguely hear my uncle and aunt outside talking loudly about patio furniture. The pool is almost done, and now they’re decorating and fussing over colors, pillows, umbrellas, and other stuff. Their arguing sounds nothing like my mom and dad’s arguments, so there’s nothing to cry about. The chattering begins to take a backseat to more daydreaming of Charlie until…Sally busts open the bedroom door.
“We gotta go!” urges Sally. “Get up, Kayla! Let’s go!”
“What?” I’m so groggy. “Where are we going?” I’m trying to shake off this country sleep coma. I don’t even know if I’m awake or dreaming.
“Come on! Get up! The competition people are at the camp!” Sally yells from her room.
“What competition people?” I still haven’t shaken off the sleep. She pops into the doorway with her hands on her hips.
“The double Dutch competition!” Sally says. “Did you lose your mind last night?” Maybe. “Well, you better get Charlie off your brain ’cause we have business down at the camp now!” What’s gotten into her? Did I create a monster?
“Charlie who?” Aunt Jeanie says from down the hall. Well, this is embarrassing. She comes into view behind Sally.
“No one!” I shout as I jump out of bed.
“Charlie Davis?” Aunt Jeanie asks again. “That’s cute. He used to be Sally’s little crush.” I quickly look at Sally. I knew it! Why didn’t she tell me?
“Ma!” Sally leaves in a huff, embarrassed. Aunt Jeanie thinks it’s funny. And mothers wonder why we don’t like telling them anything.
“Charlie and Sally went to the same elementary school, and she used to talk about him all the time. How cute he was and how all the girls tripped over themselves for him.” She goes on. “And I guess he’s got you under his spell too, huh? This is too cute.” Aunt Jeanie has no idea the can of worms she just opened up, even if she thinks it’s so “cute.” Sally’s not acting like her crush is fully over. “Well, come on, lady, have some lunch before you two head out.”
On our way to the gym, Sally rides her bike a lot faster than usual. I can barely keep up with her.
“Wait up!” I scream. “Sally, I didn’t know!” She doesn’t answer me. I speed up and get ahead of her. She slows down as I pull my bike in front of hers. She stops.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t know you liked him,” I say. “Why didn’t you just say something?”
“I didn’t say anything because there’s nothing to say. It’s no big deal!” insists Sally. “Charlie likes you and not me and that’s it.” I don’t think that’s it. She’s hiding something.
“I just don’t want you to be mad at me,” I say sincerely. “We’ve actually become friends this summer. I mean, you’re my cousin, but you know what I mean. It’s cool being friends.” Sally just looks around. “So are we cool?” She hesitates, then:
“It’s that I really used to like him since second grade, like almost every girl in this town, and he never paid me any mind,” she admits. “Then you come around and he kisses you—right in front of me! I thought I’d be okay with it, but when I saw it happen, I guess I wasn’t.” I don’t know what to say. I just stare at her. “I guess I’m just…jealous.” Wait a minute…My cousin. Is. Jealous. Of. Me? I take a moment to think before I speak, something I’ve never done before, but she’s my cousin and I think it’s best to go easy on her feelings. I need to say the right thing or else things could get ugly between us again, and honestly I really don’t want that.
“Well, he is a cute boy. I think anybody would be jealous of any girl he likes,” I say.
“Yeah, that’s true, but you’re my cousin and it’s just a little…”
“Awkward?” I finish her sentence.
“Yeah, awkward,” agrees Sally.
“If you had told me in the beginning, maybe I wouldn’t have paid him any attention,” I say. “But you made it seem like you were okay with him liking me. You were the one who even pointed it out. You know what, forget it. I’ll just tell him to leave me alone.” I cringe inside because I really like Charlie, but Sally’s my cousin, and like Aunt Jeanie said when I first got here, we’re family, whether we like it or not.
“No, don’t do that!” Sally says. “I mean, admitting I was jealous would’ve sounded stupid. So I just thought I shouldn’t say anything.”
“Sally, being jealous isn’t stupid,” I say. “I mean, I’ve always been jealous of you.” Sally listens up. “The way I see it…you have everything. Your mom and dad get along, and they pay attention to you. You have an older brother who’s got your back, and you practically have everything you want. Why do you think I make fun of you and call you a princess all the time?” I look away. “I’ve never been treated like a princess.”
“I’m sorry.” She tries to console me.
“Sally, that’s nothing to apologize for. That’s just the way it is, and it’s okay.
I’m the one who has to deal with it.”
“Just like I have to deal with the fact that Charlie likes you and not me,” she sighs.
“I guess that’s just how life works, huh?” I conclude.
“Well, at least we’re better than we were when we were little.” Sally smirks a bit, and I smile back.
“Yeah, but you played with baby dolls!” I laugh.
“I was seven!” Sally laughs. “And you took all my baby dolls and threw them into the tree.”
“I wanted us to climb the tree, build a tree house or something,” I say with a smile. “I thought if I put your babies in the tree, we’d have fun climbing up there to get them, but no. You sat and cried and I got in trouble.”
“I had fifteen dolls!” Sally yells.
“And I was bored!” I yell back as I hop onto my bike. Sally follows. “But you have to admit, Baby Alive pooping on your face was pretty funny.”
“To you it was.” Sally smirks. “I had just fed her chocolate pudding too.”
As we ride to the gym, we reminisce about some of the craziest things we did when we were little. I’m just glad my cousin isn’t mad at me over a boy—the neighborhood It boy, but a boy nonetheless. We hustle to the gym to make up for lost time.
At the camp, it’s weird not to see everyone running around. It’s like a ghost town, but there are cars parked outside the gym, so we head inside with the bikes.
The divas are there, sprawled on the floor, stretching. Melissa and Tina run to our side.
“They’re talking about putting us together!” Tina starts right in.
Love Double Dutch! Page 12