Dollar Runaways

Chapter 19: Picture Perfect

ASHLEY WATCHED HER mom put the final piece in place on Madison's hair and felt a pang of jealousy. Her hair was so much longer than hers that it looked way prettier on her. "Wow!" Madison said when she got to look at it. The hug and squeal she gave to Mom were priceless. The camera came out on just her, and then on the two of us.

"Are these the pictures you warned me about?" I asked.

Mom giggled, "Nope, those will be after lunch. Which means you need to be really careful at lunch today young lady!"

I gaped at her and looked at my dress, "Can I put something over it...?"

"We'll use a cloth napkin or something sweetie," Madison said.

"Okay..."

At that it was already almost noon and Mom had us go ahead downstairs and I had a seat where Madison and I had been sitting the last couple of days in the dining room. That was when I noticed an extra table filled with presents. "Are those all for... Me?" I asked incredulously.

Mom nodded, "Of course!"

I smiled at her and asked, "Who are they from?"

Gloria answered though as she came through the kitchen door. "They're from the hands, your sister, your aunt and cousin there, me, and of course your parents sent some too," she said with a wink.

"Whoa..." More about that hands giving me presents, they didn't even really know me!

Then I did the normal kid thing, "When do I get to open them?"

They all laughed, "After lunch you can open them before cake is served."

I smiled and felt giddy for everyone to come in.

I saw Consetta walk out of the kitchen to start bringing food out and she said, "Wow!!! Come here mija!" She said with a flourish of her arms. Consetta had me stand about arm's length away and turn. "You look like a beautiful princess!" She told me with a smile.

"Thank you," I said, "but Madison is the one who made my dress!" I said while pulling at the edges of the skirt with my fingers on either side.

"Madison this is amazing!" She said and looked closer at the details she had added. "You could do this for a living you know!"

Madison blushed. "Anyway Princess," Consetta said with her gaze back on me, "Happy birthday!" She gave me a hug and then shooed me away so she could get back to bringing food out.

Lunch that day was fried chicken strips and French fries. I was grateful for that since it was easier to keep my dress clean! Annie came in the door and looked at me saying, "Oh my God, you are just too beautiful! What a pretty princess!" I gave her a hug and twirled for her as requested.

"Madison made the dress for me yesterday!" I told her proudly.

"You made this Madison?" She asked and started looking at it closer.

"Yep!" She said with a smile and bounced over to by my side.

"It's amazing!" She smiled at her. "You would spend a fortune for something like this in a store!"

Madison just grinned.

"Your nails too!!!"

"Also, Madison!" I told her with a smile.

"Hair, Madison?" She asked.

Madison shook her head, "That's all Amber! She does amazing things with braids! She even did mine too!" She was smiling broadly by that point.

I was doted on by most of the hands and given hugs before finally sitting down and eating. Mom appeared with two thick cloth napkins she'd found somewhere. After I sat down very carefully, she tucked one into the neckline like a bib and another on my lap. Normally I would have been furious at being treated like a baby, but I didn't want anything happening to my beautiful new dress!