Aqua Escape

Chapter 5: Bonfire Disaster

Mom ended up taking us to the local mall. She parked the truck and hopped out.

I dragged myself out, my mom towing me across the parking lot. Wisps of hair were pasted to my forehead with sweat, and the sweater I was wearing was suffocating me. My clothes stuck to my skin, and I fanned myself as we stepped through the entrance, sighing with relief when a gust of cold air from the A/C fanned across my face.

The first place my mom took me to was to a cute little shop that had a lot of beachwear and such.

"You need to dress according to the weather, and it's always sunny in Florida. Take this," she mumbled, handing me a pretty sundress along with jean shorts and a tank top.

I blew the hair out of my face and took it. I felt the soft fabric of the sundress. It was a beautiful pale pink color, and not too short. The tank top was an ocean blue with dozens of different colored fish decorating it. The shorts were a little too short for my liking, though.

Mom handed me two more sundresses. One was a sunny yellow with orange flowers and the other a fuchsia color with pale pink flowers.

I went to try them all on. They all fit perfectly. When I sheepishly stepped out to show Mom how they fit, she gasped and said I looked just lovely. We bought all of them.

After we left the shop with newly acquired bags in our hands, we went to a different shop, where I ended up buying a few more tank tops, shirts, and shorts. I was a little self-conscious about the clothes I had bought. I didn't like showing too much skin.

We went to buy clothes for my mother as well. She bought Bermuda's, frilly shirts, and tank tops.

We were walking by a shoe shop, about to leave, when Mom froze, her eyes glued to the shop. "Honey, I forgot to buy you sandals! C'mon, these look absolutely gorgeous." She took me by the wrist and pulled me into the store.

She led me straight to a pair of knee-high sandals. I had to admit, they were cute. We chose those and two more pairs of sandals. They would go perfectly with my sundresses.

My mom bought herself a few pairs of sandals as well. We paid and exited the store.

When we stepped out of the mall, it was already five o'clock. We hurried to the truck. It was a fifteen-minute drive to my Aunt's house.

When we arrived, we quickly unloaded the car. "You go shower and get dressed for the bonfire. I want to do your makeup and hair," Mom gushed excitedly.

I blushed. "Okay," I said, taking a few bags and stepping inside the house.

Aunt Rosa and Uncle Jerry were seated on the couch, watching television. They glanced up and greeted me sweetly once I entered.

I hurried to Kate's room, where I had my suitcase. I rummaged through the bags of my new clothes and chose the silky fuchsia sundress and knee-high sandals. I headed for the bathroom, finding it empty.

I took a shower, and after I stepped out and got dressed, my long hair smelled of roses. I brushed it out and then proceeded to step out of the bathroom and head for Kate's room. My mom was already waiting for me there. "Oh, honey, you look lovely. Come here, let's fix you up for the bonfire," she said.

Mom blow-dried my hair. She curled it once it was dry. Then she applied a minimal amount of makeup to my face. Once she was done, we went to the full-length mirror to see how it all turned out.

I gasped when I saw myself. My long brown hair fell down my back in soft curls. The dress I wore reached just above my knees. The knee-high sandals curled up my leg like vines. I loved it.