When We Were Wildflowers

Chapter 3 - Busted

"You did what?!" My mom's nostrils flare. Her eyebrows press together and, for a second, it looks like she can breathe fire.

I take a step back. "I was exploring and I fell down in the mud."

"Is that before or after you waded in the creek? And what about the stains on your shirt?" She shakes her head in exasperation.

"Watermelon. Wild watermelon." I say weakly, not at all powerful and carefree like I was when I was with Poppy. It was silly of me to think I could just walk in the house like it was no big deal.

"Don't take another step. I need to hose you off first." Mom waves me back through the front door and out into the front yard in the fading daylight. "What were you thinking?"

I stand in humiliation on the grass with my arms out at the sides as she picks up the green garden hose and sprays me down like a dog within view of our new neighbors. Worse, my brother Teddy stands at his bedroom window gawking at me while he films us with his phone. His shoulders shake with laughter and wish I could grab the hose and spray the smug grin right off of his face.

"Turn around, Violet, so I can get the back." Mom motions for me to turn my backside toward the house and Teddy's phone.

The thought of my muddy bottom all over his social media is too much for me to stomach, so I say the words I've never dared to say before. "No."

"Excuse me?" A vein bulges in Mom's neck and I fear she may set me ablaze with her stare.

"I said no. Teddy is recording me and--" Suddenly my courage evaporates and I look at the ground. "It's just embarrassing, okay?"

"You're to blame for this. Not me. This little stunt you pulled may cost you your entire outfit, plus your new shoes. I'm just trying to help. I can't have you tracking mud over our expensive floors and making a mess out of the brand new washing machine." She drops the hose with a thud and plants her hands on her hips. "Honestly, Violet. What has gotten into you? As if I don't have enough to deal with right now."

I stare at her filled with remorse. It was a stressful day for her. "I'm sorry, Mom."

"You know what? Do it yourself." With that, Mom turns, marches onto the covered porch and dramatically slams the front door.

For a second, I want to cry. I want to chase after her uttering apologies. I want to be a good girl who doesn't say no and never gets in trouble. Then Poppy's catch phrase surfaces from my memory and frees me from some kind of metaphorical chain.

Screw it. I look up at Teddy's window and flash him a very rude gesture. He won't post the video now. Not without risking getting us both in trouble for profanity... well, implied profanity. I pick up the hose and spray my own backside, satisfied Teddy has stopped filming and moved onto something else.

* * *

"Violet, check it out." Teddy's shaking me, ruining my beauty sleep. "That cute girl from yesterday is downstairs asking for you. Mom's raging because she rang the doorbell at 7 AM and woke everyone up. Well, not me. I was working out."

"Of course, you were." I roll my eyes and throw back my covers as I rise to my feet. "She has a name, you know. She's not just some object for you to drool over, you sicko."

"I am not." Teddy arranges his messy hair in the mirror. "I'm a teenage guy. Get over yourself.

"Get over yourself." I push him out of my room, locking the door.

What is Poppy doing here?  Mom is probably putting two and two together: me coming home messy, having an attitude, and a new friend showing up out of the blue. Coincidence? I think not.  I hope she'll give her a chance.