Fitting in

Chapter 2

  The drive home was soothing to Brett, who needed a homemade spa treatment a.s.a.p. She massaged her forehead as she pulled into her drive way, and ignored her mother and older sister chatting in the kitchen. Shoving the door to her bedroom open, she quickly ran to the attached bathroom and slammed the door shut.

  Opening the drawers below her sink she got out a couple of scented candles and lights, and put them on the sides around her Victorian style soaking bathtub. It was one of the greatest birthday presents she had ever received. Her aunt in England got it for her when she had turned 14, knowing how much her niece loved to sit in the bath tub, surrounded by bubbles.

  Slipping into her pink monogramed robe, she got out a tub of the gooey mud mask her mother bought, and spread it on her face. Brett then filled the tub with warm water and added a foreign bubble bath from Spain and rose petals to the mix.

  Taking the bathrobe off she slipped into the tub and sunk in the water so that only her head showed above the surface. Inhaling all the calming scents she put two slices of cucumber over her eyes, and then leaned back and relaxed. It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep, and soon she woke up to the sound of someone banging on her door.

   “Honey, have you drowned in there?” inquired Brett’s mother from outside her bathroom door. Brett sighed as she told her mother to come in.

   “Why are you always taking baths anyway? I read an article online that says your basically swimming in your dirt.”

   “I don’t know mom I just like baths.”

   There was an uncomfortable silence as Brett prepared for the onslaught of procedures her mother was about to pressure her with.

   “Well, I was just thinking, since I noticed that your roots are starting to show through, we’d get your hair re-dyed tomorrow. How does that sound?”

   “It sounds great mom.”

   “Do you want to try going blonder?” her mother asked timidly.

   “No mom, the hairdresser has already told you that no matter how many times I dye my hair, it’s never going to be as blond as you and dads, alright?” she tried to add gently, while preparing for the biggest change her mom kept pressuring her to get.

   “That’s okay, the  hair is not even that noticeable.”

   Brett held her breath and sunk lower into the water.

   “So I was thinking after you died your hair, we’d see doctor Inue about your nose.”

   “Mom!” Brett exclaimed holding her nose in defense. “I like my nose!”

   “There’s nothing wrong with your nose! It’s beautiful and perfect the way it is, it’s just not like ours.”  

   “That’s because it was never meant to look like yours!”

   “I know honey, I know, please don’t get upset. We just don’t want you to feel as if your not a part of the family. You know that once your father starts to appear more on television for this election, it will be more noticeable.”

   “I know.”

   “I just don’t want you to be picked on by the media!”

   “I’ll think about it.” Brett breathed sinking even lower into the bubbles. Her mother smiled and kissed her on the head, then walked out the bathroom door.

   “And get out of that tub before I have a prune for a daughter!”

   Brett laughed but didn’t obey. She ducked her head completely underneath the water and stayed there feeling her hair circle around her head. There was something comforting about being completely underwater.