The Klyptonites

The K-Chronicles: The Girls

Gina

"You know Gina, all I've ever wanted…" Gina's mother said, holding a red dress in front of her with two hands.

"I know, I know - A little girl who was sweet and blah blah blah. But I'm just not putting that dress on," Gina responded apathetically.

"But why?"

"Because I don't wear dresses, mom. Because I can't kick or punch in a dress. I can't squat, crawl, or run, either."

"Exactly," came the response. "And are you trying to horrify me? Squat? Really?"

"Mom, I know you don't want me to be a tomboy, but I-" I started.

"Honestly, its not that. I love the fact that you're a martial artist. It's just that you're always with your brothers and you don't have any girl friends," she told me. "You always wear baggy stuff to school and I just think you might make more friends if you, I don't know, put on some lip gloss, maybe, and took out that French braid you always wear."

"Mom! Just, please, stop!" I said, annoyed.

It always hurt my feelings for her to bring up my lack of friends. Mom wanted me to be a normal girl so badly, but I always wished she was happier with the fact that I like who I am.

"I'm a championship fighter, trained in 8 forms of martial arts A 3rd degree black belt," I shot back, raising 3 fingers to emphasize my point "Mom, you and I are just different. I know you hate that about me, but can you please cut me some slack today because I'm just not going to wear the dress. Not to mention I've been dressing myself since I was, like, 6. I think I've gotten the hang of it."

"I know you can dress yourself. And I don't hate those things about you, dear. I love those things about you. I love everything about you," she said. "Believe it or not, but I just wish for once it felt like I had 3 boys and a girl instead of 4 boys. And you know, Gina, I fought a little, too, when I was your age."

"Stop right there, mom. I get what you're trying to do, but fighting off the bee that you swore was following you at the farmers market absolutely does not count."

"Very funny," she chuckled. "But I'm serious! I could fight. Also, who signed you up for your first karate class?"

"Yeah, yeah. Mom, I can't even picture you swatting a fly, but I appreciate you trying to connect with me. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to get ready for school."

"Okay. But since you won't wear the dress, how do you feel about jewelry?"

She produced a long gold chain with an antique medallion attached from behind her back and dangled it in front of her face.

"Ugh. Mom, can you please go bother dad, or James, or Brayden & Bryan? Please?"

"Nope. Dad's already at the bakery and your brothers have left for school."

"Fine," I surrendered. "If jewelry will get you to leave me alone, I will wear the stupid jewelry. Just leave it on the dresser."

"Thank you, and don't forget there are some new students that will be in your homeroom today, and since you aren't a new student I told Mrs. Major that you wouldn't mind being friendly and possibly showing the new girls around."

"Friend-ly?"

"Yes, Gina. Friendly. As in, smile and wave…you know, introduce yourself."

"Why?" I whined, exasperated at the thought.

"You're Welcome," she said. "Now, let's go before you're late.

Carmen

My morning should have been perfect. I woke up beneath silk sheets in a canopied bed, with Mario bringing in my favorite breakfast. Mario is the butler, by the way, and my body guard, nanny and, a lot of the times, my best friend.