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Lauren-Anne
When I got home from Meg’s house, my mom told me that a girl had called. She had left a message saying that we were meeting at her house the next day to go over outfits for the week.
“Who was it?” I asked.
My mom thought for a moment before saying, “Beverly. I believe she said that her name was Beverly. I don’t remember you ever mentioning someone named Beverly before.”
“She’s a new friend.” I told her. “I met some new friends at school this week and joined the Charm Club. Our first meeting was today.”
My mom hugged me as she said, “Oh honey, that’s great! I’m so glad to hear that you’re finally starting to take care of how you look. Looks are an important thing, you know. It’s the first thing people notice about you.”
“Well, it’s about more than looks. It’s all about being the best that you can be.”
“I’m so excited for you,” My mom told me.
I faked a smile. “Thanks.”
I went upstairs and shut my door. As I looked for clothes to take to Beverly’s house the next day, I thought about what my mom had said. I didn’t wear makeup or anything, but I didn’t look that bad, did I? Did looks really matter that much to everyone else? Were people going to think that I was vain for joining the Charm Club? My mom had always said that Jesus didn’t want us to be vain. Then again, my mom put more time into her looks than anyone I had ever met.
Those thoughts stuck in my head for the rest of the day, and they were still there when I went to sleep. Then they were there again when I woke up.
When I went downstairs for breakfast, my mom greeted me with, “How’s my little Charm Club daughter? If you need to borrow my makeup or hair rollers just ask. Do you want me to take you shopping for some new clothes? Do you need help with picking out an outfit for today?”
“Mom, calm down. Please.” When I saw her frown slightly I said, “Thank you for the offer, but I don’t need to go shopping or use your makeup or anything like that. But I do need something to carry my clothes in. Do you have anything that might help?”
My mom grinned. “I’ll go get my suitcase!”
Brittany
When I got to Beverly’s house, her mom led me to Beverly’s room. Everybody else from the Charm Club was already there. Including the principal.
“Brittany! How are you?” One of the girls, whose name I hadn’t remember, ran over to hug me.
“Um, hi,” I hugged her back.
Marylin looked up for half a second to smile at me before turning back to Ms. Ruffinio. “Evelyn, you can’t wear gray with black pinstripes, it’s too teacher-ish. You’re going to look like all of the other teachers who have no sense of style whatsoever.”
“But it was a forty-dollar outfit!” Ms. Ruffinio cried.
“You should have consulted the other members of the Charm Club first.”
“Brittany, come over here.” Beverly said. “I’ll help you choose your outfits.”
As we were deciding what shoes to pair with my yellow skirt for Tuesday, Beverly said, “So, I heard you like Meg’s brother.”
I quickly turned around to look at Meg and Lauren-Anne. “They told you?” I asked in shock.
Beverly laughed. “No, not them. She did.”
“She?”
Beverly nodded. “She. Et Splendidis.”
“What?”
“Et Splendidis. You made your pledge to Her, remember?”
“I... What? What do you mean Her? I thought that Ms. Ruffinio said that it was just a silly phrase.”
“No, it means ‘the gorgeous one’. She is the one who gives all of this to us.” Beverly gestured around the room. “She wants us to be the best that we can be, and she helps with that. She helps us figure out how to look good, what to say, how to act. She’s amazing.”
“Who is she? When are we going to meet her?”
She laughed. “You don’t meet her, silly. You feel her. She’s all around. She was a goddess of beauty. Now she’s devoting herself to us.”
“I don’t, I, I don’t know what to say.”
“You should thank her. She’s here to give us the lives we’ve always dreamt of.”
I stared at Beverly for so long, she asked if I was ok.
“I’m fine.” I told her. “It’s just that I told my mom I’d help her with something. I totally forgot about it. I have to go.”
“Alright, I’ll walk you to the door.” As we walked down the stairs Beverly said, “I’m glad that you like Graham. He’s a very good choice for a boyfriend. Just remember that you have duties to the Charm Club.”
I nodded as I blankly said, “I’ll remember that.” And then I shut the front door behind me.
Tiffany
Since I didn’t need help choosing outfits for the week, I was walking around the room, listening to everyone’s conversations. I stopped when I heard Beverly telling Brittany about some goddess of beauty. Brittany got pretty freaked out and left. I didn’t blame her, though. If Beverly, Marylin, and Ms. Ruffinio were crazy enough to believe that some goddess was making them popular than who knows what else they were crazy enough to think? Not to mention Ms. Ruffinio’s husbands’ deaths. Anyway, they were going to be seriously surprised when they realized that nothing could make Lauren-Anne or Meg popular.
When Beverly came back up to her room I walked over to her. “Tell me more about Et Splendidis.”
“I can’t. That’s all I know. If you want to learn more, you have to ask Evelyn.”
Yeah right. Like I’d ever be caught talking to the principal. But if being in a club with my school’s crazy principal and pretending to believe in some goddess was what it took to raise my social status, then so be it.
Meg
The girl who was helping Lauren-Anne and I figure out what to wear for the week was appalled when she saw our clothes.
“These are your cutest clothes?” She asked.
We both nodded.
“Why didn’t you do anything with your hair? Why aren’t you two wearing make-up? I know it’s the weekend but you at least have to look somewhat presentable.”
Marylin walked over. “Now, Casey, Meg and Lauren-Anne are new to the Charm Club. They don’t know how to behave yet. It’s almost better that way. We can mold and shape them any way we want. They don’t have any ideas about fashion or beauty stuck in their heads.” She pointed to Lauren-Anne and me as she said, “Come on, ladies. Let’s find you some clothes to wear. And some make-up too, I guess, since I’m assuming you don’t have any of your own.”
“Wow, really? That’d be great!” Lauren-Anne said.
“Are you sure it’ll be alright with Beverly?” I asked.
Marylin nodded. “When Evelyn, Beverly, and I formed this club we all agreed that our closets and make-up drawers are open to all members of the Charm Club. Now follow me.”
Later that day when Lauren-Anne and I were walking home with suitcases full of Beverly’s clothes and makeup, Lauren-Anne asked, “Can I ask you something?”
I nodded. I was too out of breath to say anything. The suitcases were heavy.
“Do you think that people are going to think we’re vain?”
“For joining the Charm Club?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“I guess. It’s not too big of a deal though. Everyone knows that all high school girls are at least a little vain.”
“Well, it’s just that we made a pact to not let high school change us, remember? And isn’t that what we’re doing right now? Changing?”
“Everyone changes sometime, Lauren-Anne. It’s our turn to change.”