The Perfect Couple

11

As soon as I'd showered and gotten into jeans and a T-shirt, Kim and I left for the mall. She was thrilled that Marcus was going to help me and eager to do her share. As we started the long walk, she flashed a shopping list a yard long.

"These are things we just have to get." When we got back to my house three hours later I felt As if we'd been gone for three days. I'd never known there were little hideaway boutiques that sold nothing but underwear or makeup or miniskirts. There were, though and Kim dragged me from one to another till I was on the point of collapse. It was only when I told her I didn't dare charge another item that she decided we could get by with what we'd already bought.

Back in my own room, I dropped my packages on the floor and flopped on the bed. "I'm beat," I groaned. "I wouldn't be this tired if I'd run a marathon."

"Well, you've just been on a shopping marathon," Kim said very seriously. "But it's only your first one. You'll get used to it. Now, sit at the dressing table. I'm going to give you your perm."

"You are not! People in intensive care don't get perms."

"All right," she relented. "We'll do the perm tomorrow and the makeup, too. All you have to do now is watch me while I show you how to walk and talk and laugh when you're with a boy. Cute clothes and makeup won't mean a thing if you and Marcus go on acting like friends instead of a couple."

What she said made sense, so I hauled myself to a sitting position and with two pillows at my aching back I concentrated on her every move. I'd never dreamed that there was so much to walking. I'd thought you just put one foot after the other until you got where you wanted to go. I'd also thought I knew how to breathe and to talk and laugh and to look up at someone who was taller than me.

Not so. It seemed I knew nothing at all about those everyday things and Kim was still instructing me when my folks got home.

" I guess we'd better knock it off for now," Kim said, "but we'll really get to work tomorrow morning. You don't have to go anywhere, do you?

"Mom and Dad are going down to San Jose to see Aunt Bella, but I'll get out of it. I do have a lot of homework to do."

We laughed, then she glanced fondly at my closet and the dressing table where all the makeup we'd bought was laid out, along with the perm box.

"Oh, Kelly, I'm just dying to see the new you!" she cried.

"So am I." Suddenly bursting with self-confidence," I declared, "you know, what, Kim? I'm going to go to the Christmas Ball with Alan. You just wait and see!" The Christmas Ball was the big winter event at Bayside High they even chose a special couple to be the sweethearts of the dance. I didn't care who the couple turned out to be, but all at once I was determined that Alan was going to be my date.

Kim gave me a doubtful look. "Making up your mind that Alan is going to take you to the Christmas Ball isn't exactly like deciding you're going to make the soccer team," she observed.

That had been my big ambition when school started. I'd made the team with ease and I refused to admit that this was any different.

"Making up your mind that a boy is going to take you to a dance is exactly like deciding you're going to make the team," I insisted. "All you need is determination and know-how and I already have plenty of determination. Alan is going to take me to the Christmas Ball. You can bet on it!"