The Thread Between Danny and Me

Chapter 16: You're always perfect

"Are you sure you don't want to get your hair done?" my mom asked the afternoon before the dance. "If we left right now, I bet Rachael could sneak you in."

I looked in the mirror. My hair needed to be washed and ironed, but an updo?

"Nah," I said. "But can you iron it? I wanna make sure it's flat in the back."

"Of course, Princesa."

I showered, blow-dried my hair, then grabbed a towel and iron for my mom. I sat on her bed and heard the iron hiss after she pressed the steam button.

"It's too bad the hair iron I got for you doesn't work," my mom said as she ironed my hair.

"I know. It just doesn't get hot enough. Is the iron too heavy? Are you doing okay?"

"I'm okay."

I smiled.

"I wish Danny was coming here to pick you up," she said. "I want a picture of the two of you."

"Don't worry, Mama. They always do pictures at the dance when you walk in. We'll take a few."

"Good."

My mom brushed my hair against the towel. "Danny is growing into quite the young man," she said.

"All the girls at school, and apparently at the mall, want to date him. But he just brushes it off like it annoys him. I think most guys would kill to get that kind of attention. He's such a weirdo."

"I don't think Danny is interested in superficiality," my mom said as she kept ironing my hair. "He wants something...real."

"What is real?" I said, mimicking Laurence Fishburne's tone from the Matrix. "How do you define real?"

My mom chuckled. "That's a tough one, Princesa. I don't think you know what it is until you experience it. That's part of growing up. You have to figure it out for yourself. I think Danny's ahead of the curve on that one, especially for a boy."

"He's seemed...I don't know, down, lately."

"I noticed that too. So, make sure you have the most fun you can tonight, alright?"

"We will."

My mom placed the iron upright on her bedside table. "All done. Take a look."

I stood up and went to her mirror and awkwardly turned my body around to view my hair. "It's perfect, Mama. Thank you."

"Are you gonna do makeup?"

"Yeah," I said. "Just a little."

"Let me know if you need anything."

I went to give her a kiss when she jerked and put her hand on her stomach.

"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned.

"I'm okay. I felt your sibling kick. It surprised me!"

"Really?" My face glowed.

"Mmhmm. Come here. Let's see if you can feel it too. They're not strong kicks since the baby is still so small. But maybe."

I sat down on the bed and my mom directed my hand to her stomach. She pressed it onto the side. We sat on the bed still as statues. I felt a little flutter against my palm. "Was that it?" I whispered.

"That was it."

Tears stung my eyes. I leaned forward and whispered, "Hello tiny sibling. I don't know you yet, but I love you. Grow strong, okay? We'll see you in a few months."

My mom wiped tears off her face. "I love them too. It's going to be a big change."

"I know. I'll be here to help."