When We Were Wildflowers

Chapter 30 - Changing Seasons

Mom pulls her SUV out of the Sunset Acres Retirement Village parking lot and eyes us worriedly in the rear view mirror. "So how was it?"

I'm resting my head on Poppy's shoulder and scrolling Instagram, absolutely exhausted from a full days work. "That's enough adulting for today. I don't want to ever see another dirty dish again."

"Come on, it wasn't that bad." Poppy sighs and stares out the window at turquoise October sky and citrine sun. "People all over the work do dirty jobs like that—and worse—everyday, but, yeah, my feet are really sore."

"We must have washed ten-thousand slimy dishes, Mom, and I even found somebody's missing dentures on one of the plates," I whine. "Then there was the time I emptied the trash can and the bag ripped. All the half-eaten food came spilling out and most of it was the leftover seafood special. I will never look at scallops the same way again."

"But I helped you clean it up." Poppy's positive attitude is a splash water extinguishing my smoldering disgust. She nudges me in the side with her pokey elbow and I squirm with laughter. "We got to see the rooftop terrace, and that part was fun."

"Yeah, if you like trespassing." I snicker in tones too low for Mom to hear, suddenly forgetting to be grumpy as I turn my attention to our epic bucket list. "Now, we need to scratch something else off, like shopping for some sexy dresses to wear to the dance next weekend."

Furrowed eyebrows appear from behind Mom's designer sunglasses. "Are you sure you're allowed to attend a high school dance? You're only in eighth grade."

"Mom, stop." I sigh dramatically. "Teddy and his friend Chase already got the tickets and no one there will even know we're middle schoolers because we're going to blend right in. Can you take us to the mall tomorrow so we can go shopping? Shelia paid us in cash."

Before my mom can answer, Poppy interrupts. "Why go to the mall when we can go thrifting? Let's save some money and buy vintage dresses, then maybe we can afford to book a limo for the dance."

"Yaass!!" I can see it now, Poppy, Teddy, Chase and I lounging luxuriously in the backseat of a stretch limousine, sipping Big Red soda out of champagne glasses, eating Twizzlers with our pinky fingers in the air, and blasting our favorite songs. "Let's get a limo!"

Of course, my mother is shaking her head and spoiling our fun just like she spoiled my life. "I don't know about that. What's wrong with buying some nice, new dresses and Teddy driving you all to the restaurant and the dance? A limo is expensive. Why not save that for prom when—"

 Mom catches sight of our matching set of frowns in the mirror, and the faint wrinkles between her eyebrows relax. Even she knows there won't be another chance. 

"You know what? Take the limo to the homecoming dance. My treat."

"Really, Mom?!" Forgetting my grudge, I slide to the edge of the seat and throw my arms around her so forcefully the car swerves in our lane. "Thank you so much!"

"Watch it! You're going to cause an accident," she warns with a chuckle and slows down for a stop light. "Just promise me you will behave yourselves and act like the dignified young ladies you are."

With this comment, Poppy and I lock eyes and a wicked spark of mischief electrifies us both, painting Poppy's mellow, brown eyes a undignified, midnight black and twisting my lips into a diabolical grin.

"We promise."

When our car reaches Poppy's house, and she waves to me from the front porch, my once sparkling anticipation dulls with the regret of unkept promises, missed adventurous and unspoken secrets. Our time together is limited to two short weeks and it's impossible to squeeze years of teenage experiences into the remaining days, which are growing shorter and cooler as summer yields to autumn.