Kinship (revised)

Chapter 5: Stick Figures and Glitter

“Nah, too pink.” Karen dismissed the frilly-cupcake-magenta-pink dress I was currently modeling in some overly-priced-and-crammed store in the mall.

“Can we just get this overwith?” I complained, tugging at the scratching material. It was my least favorite time of the year, prom.

“Where’d you're Mom disappear off too?” She asked glancing around the racks and racks of dresses.

“Hopefully out of this store. I can only imagine what she’ll pick out here.” I sighed, closing the stall to change.

“Come on, her taste can’t be that horrible.” She sighed behind the door.

“Oh just you wait..” I sighed, as I tried brushing away the glitter that had some how managed to get everywhere.

“Oh, Ann! You’ve got to see this one!” My Mom called, hauling a dark green dress my way.

Instead of arguing, I just grabbed the dress, and shut the door. Slipping it on, I examined it in the mirror. Black frilly lace looked like it has been glued on in random places. There were some nice long sleeves with shoulders that seemed to defy gravity. To top it off, the whole thing appeared to be a special shade of puke-dark-green. With a laugh, I face-palmed.

“Doesn’t fit quite right.” I lied, as I raced to get the dress off.

“Just let me see!” My Mom called excitedly.

“Ah,” I tried to think of an excuse off the top of my mind, “it makes me look flat-chested.”

I mentally face-palmed as I blurted out the words, very loudly I might add.

“Oh, that’s okay honey.” My Mom replied awkwardly, then Karen burst out in laughter.

“Why don’t you come out and look?” Karen suggested, trying to stop her laughter.

“Okay, one minute.” I said, grabbing the dress, and making my way out.

I found myself wading through sparkles and neon colors all the way to the back of the store. Gradually the dresses got less extreme, more reserved.

“Look at this one!” Karen called, leading me to a long red dress. It has a few beads, but other than that, I really liked it.

“Grab it, in my size of course.” I grinned making my way over to her.

“Hmmm,” She pondered, searching the rack, “zero...one...zero..double zero! Who even can fit into these things!” She exclaimed with a sigh.

“No luck?” I sighed.

“Lets go ask the counter.” She decided, leading way to the desk.

“Excuse me, do you have any more sizes in this?” Karen asked the stick figure behind the counter.

“No, I am sorry, but Cordean dresses only go up to one and a half. We don’t carry twenties.” She sneered.

“Hold me stuff Karen, I am going to break this twig in half!” I yelled,  grabbing the counter.

“Come on Ann, she’s not worth the time.” Karen muttered, pulling me.

“Oh you just wait!” I called after the clerk.

“I am going to go find your Mom. Stay here.” She sighed, throwing the dress on a random rack.

Slowly, I covered my self behind the racks, and with a flick of my hands, I watched as a tiny flame licked stick-figures extensions.

“Jesus!” She screeched as the flame quickly spread. I watched in fits of laughter as she began unclipping her extensions.

“Ann!” My Mom yelled, as she looked to the clerk, who was stomping on her now-extinguished hair extensions.