“Tailee? Phone for you.” Allie called from the kitchen. When I emerged from my bedroom, she handed the phone over and walked outside onto the deck.
“Hello?” I said, hoping it was Drake.
“Ellison! Hello, darling. How are you?” My mother said, sounding very giddy.
“Uhm, good. How are you?”
“Oh, I'm just great! Your father and I just got back from bowling.”
“We never went bowling together..”
“I'm sorry, honey. I bet Allie will take you sometime. How's school going? Allie told me that you have a boyfriend. Drake, is his name?”
“No. Drake's only my tutor.”
“Oh, okay. Well, what about.. Emily.. and Amber. Are they nice?”
“Yes.”
“Not in the talkative mood right now, Ellie? I understand. What time is it over there anyway?”
“Late. But it's not a school night so it's fine. And I am talkative right now, I was just on the phone with Michaela for 2 hours. Just not talkative for you. I mean, what did you really expect? That after you basically say that you hate me, ship me off to America, and don't call or try to contact me for 3 weeks I'll be practically throwing myself at you and telling you absolutely everything?”
“What has gotten into you, Ellison? We don't hate you. And I've been busy with work. So has Dad.”
“Oh, yeah. Because office work, especially working at the HOME office, is all day, every day, with no breaks at all. And we both know why Dad hasn't called. You know what? I'm really tried. And I'll call you next time. By the way, my name isn't Ellison. It's Tailee.”
Then I hung up. My gosh, the nerve of her. I know you might think I'm over-reacting right now, but if you knew her, you would understand.
I knew that I wasn't going to be calling her again, so I wrote her a letter to let her know what was going on, and to tide her over for the next 3 years.
Mom-
I thought I would write you this letter to let you know what's going on because last time we talked on the phone and I told you I'd call you, I think we both knew that I was lying. So let me just start off by saying that my name is now Tailee Ophelia. Not Ellison Ophelia Jamaica. Not even Tailee Ophelia Jamaica. I don't want anything to do with “Jamaica” because it's the last name of you guys. And Ellison is the name of a well-behaved child. I was all for it when I was in England. But if I was a well-behaved child I wouldn't be here in America and wouldn't be writing this letter at all, would I? I only kept Ophelia because I think it's pretty, and because I have an painting of Ophelia's death on my bedroom wall. My appearance hasn't really changed except for the fact that Allie has taken me to the eye doctor and I've gotten those violet contacts that I've wanted but you've never let me get. I'm contemplating on whether or not I want a haircut. Amber is a cosmetologist and has offered to give me a full makeover so I might let her cut and dye it. I'm not really sure yet. But if I do let her do it, I will have her cut and dye into a side cut, and dye it red. Like that picture I once showed you of Leda's hair.
I've showed her the picture and she said that she would be able to do that, easy. She also told me she would be able to help me with extensions if later on, I didn't want the side cut anymore, I would have the extensions while it was growing out. I think I'm going to let her. I've also been talking to Michaela a lot. I've been bothering Allie for a while now about maybe letting Michaela come down here during the summer. Allie has also taken me shopping for new clothes, so I don't have to wear the clothes you bought for me before I left. If you don't mind, would you be able to ship my old clothes and shoes to me? Thanks.
~ Tailee Ophelia
~~~
Tailee's haircut is based off of when Leda Muir (HairLedaBear on YouTube) had a side cut.
