Sweet-and-Sour Summer #9

Natasha sucked in her breath as she walked into the Galleries Lafayette with her mother. I’ve never been shopping in such a beautiful place before! she thought.

“It is stunning, isn’t it?” Mrs. Ross asked, noticing the look of amazement on her daughter’s face. “An absolutely gorgeous place to shop til you drop!”

The Galleries Lafayette was a massive department store, like Macy’s but much fancier, with an open center that displayed six stories of the most elegant and fashionable clothes, accessories, and furnishings. Gilded ornaments on the walls, tiny balconies on each floor, and glowing globe lamps everywhere reminded Natasha of an old-fashioned opera house. The best part was the domed glass ceiling that arched high above the shoppers and displays; it had hundreds of panes of clear glass, through which natural light filtered in, as well as richly colored panes of stained glass radiating outward from the center, like the spokes of a wheel. The building was so exquisite that it made it even more fun to shop there!

For the next two hours, Natasha helped her mother pick out clothes to try on before they went to the juniors’ department. There were so many options available in the Galleries Lafayette that shopping was a little overwhelming—every time Natasha and her mother turned a corner, there were even more fabulous displays.

“Thanks for being so patient, darling,” Mrs. Ross said as Natasha zipped her mother into a sheer icicle-colored gown with tiny silver beads. “After this dress, we’ll do some shopping for you—promise!” Mrs. Ross spun around and looked in the mirror. “Oh, myyyyy,” she murmured.

“Mom, you look ... amazing!” Natasha said with delight. The dress was a shade paler than Mrs. Ross’s light blue eyes. She’d never seen her mother look so gorgeous before.

Mrs. Ross put her arm around Natasha and smiled at her in the mirror. Natasha noticed how they had the same ice-blue eyes, the same pale skin. Even their hair color looked similar, though Mrs. Ross’s hair was more silver than blond. “It sure is funny how much we look alike,” Natasha said carefully. “I mean, since I’m adopted and everything.”

Mrs. Ross looked away briefly. “Mm-hmm,” she said. Then she glanced at the price tag on the beautiful dress, and her eyes opened wide. “My goodness!” she said with a laugh. “Here, sweetheart, unzip me before I rip this stunning gown.”

She never wants to talk about the adoption, Natasha thought, feeling frustrated. Every time I bring it up, she changes the subject in five seconds!

“I wish!” Mrs. Ross replied as she gingerly slipped off the dress. “Maybe someday...but today I think I’ll get the charcoal suit instead. Now let’s find the juniors’ department, Natasha. I can’t wait to see you in some of these hot Parisian fashions!”

All of the clothes in the juniors’ department seemed so much wilder and more adult than the outfits Natasha usually wore. After passing by a display of jeans with silver studs and fuchsia feathers, she turned to her mother.

“Nonsense,” Mrs. Ross replied lightly. “There’s got to be something here that you like. Just think how fun it will be to wear clothes from Paris once we’re back in Brooklyn! No one else will have anything quite like it!”

That’s for sure, Natasha thought as she fingered a fringed black leather tank top. Shawn or Amanda would be better at this than I am—they’re really good at picking out cool clothes that aren’t over-the-top. I wish they were here to help me find something great. Natasha suddenly imagined herself walking into Windsor Middle School on the first day of seventh grade wearing the black leather tank top with the fuchsia-feathered jeans. She couldn’t help grinning at the thought!

“Excusez-moi, a polite voice interrupted Natasha’s daydream. Natasha spun around to see a teenage girl approaching her. She had jet-black hair and olive skin, and she was wearing a shockingly bright shade of magenta lipstick. Wow, Natasha thought as she noticed the girl’s outfit, a sheer black top with tiny rhinestone buttons over a calf-length black skirt and alligator-skin boots. She fits right in here—andlooks awesome in these clothes. ”Y-yes?“ Natasha asked quickly.

“The clothes here are not exactly your style, I think. Let me show you something more for you.” She beckoned to Mrs. Ross. “The haute couture is not for everyone. And not for everyday, either!” She laughed. “Come with me. Oh, by the way, my name is Laure.”

“Thanks,” Natasha said gratefully hurrying to keep up with Laure’s long strides. Within moments, they had entered a section of the juniors’ department that had much more practical clothes. Laure expertly swept through the department, selecting several funky tops, pants, and skirts for Natasha to try on.

Natasha felt a little like Cinderella as she tried on one fantastic outfit after another. Laure had picked out the perfect clothes for Natasha, and she wished she could keep them all. Finally, though, Natasha had narrowed it down to two outfits.

“What do you think?” she asked her mother and Laure. “The green slacks and brown-and-green top or the purple dress? The green outfit is more practical for school,” Natasha remarked with a little frown. “I don’t know where I’d wear the dress.” With a little sigh, Natasha hung the long-sleeve purple chiffon dress back on the wall.

Natasha looked at her mother with wide eyes. “Are you—are you sure? We were just going to get one outfit each,” she quietly reminded her mother. Natasha couldn’t help remembering that when her parents argued, it was usually about money.

Laure grinned. “Oh, non, I don’t work here—I am only fifteen!” she said with a little laugh. “I wish I worked here—I love the fashions, the beautiful clothes. My mother works upstairs, so I sometimes come with her and spend time looking at the new lines, seeing what the people are trying on.”

Laure’s eyes brightened. “Certainment!” she said with a laugh. “There is a café just down the street—the most marvelous sandwiches. Mwa!” Laure blew a kiss into the air, making Natasha and her mother laugh. “You buy the beautiful clothes and I will go tell my mother I am getting lunch. We will meet at the entrance, okay?”

Shawn squinted in the bright morning sun. The Windsor cheerleaders were having a Trust-and-Teamwork clinic, but the weather was so steamy and humid that it was hard to pay attention. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other and tried to focus on what Kelly, the instructor, was saying.

“Trust and teamwork are the two most important traits a squad can develop. Without trust, it’s impossible to do the most challenging tumbles and stunts. And without teamwork, you’ll never be a great squad. The exercises we’re going to do today aren’t easy. They’re tough, and they’re scary. But once you ladies master them, your squad will be completely different. I promise. Okay, for the first exercise, we’re going to split into two groups. Go ahead.”

Shawn glanced at Elizabeth, who’d practically been ignoring her since camp started. Shawn couldn’t shake the feeling that Elizabeth thought she was involved in Angie’s nasty prank. Maybe if we do some of thesetrust exercises together, Elizabeth will warm up to me a little, Shawn thought.

Elizabeth noticed Shawn looking at her and turned away, moving closer to Stephanie, Danielle, and Jessica, and forming a team with them. Shawn sighed and moved over to Jamie, Jenn, and Ashley.

But Kelly had a different plan. “Okay, let me guess. Windsor completely cliqued up, right?” Kelly said with a knowing look on her face. “That’s what every team does at first. Of course you trust your friends the most. But to get the full benefit from these exercises, you need to work with everyone on the squad—especially the girls you’re not close to. So I’m going to split up your teams.”

The trust exercises started out simply—the girls on each team did “trust falls,” during which one girl closed her eyes and fell backward into the arms of the other cheerleaders. Shawn was surprised at how hard this actually was—even though she knew the other girls on her team would support her, she kept clenching up and stopping herself from falling.

“It’s okay,” Kelly encouraged her. “Let yourself fall. Your instincts will hold you back, but you have to overcome them. Trust your sisters. They won’t drop you.”

Shawn clenched her teeth. I’m gonna do itthis time, she thought with determination. She took a deep breath, forced her tense muscles to relax, and felt a rush of fear and energy as she let her whole body drop backward.

And, sure enough, the other girls caught her. Their arms were both gentle and firm as they stopped her fall. Shawn looked up with a huge grin on her face. “Whoa!” she said with a laugh. “That was intense!”

This trust exercise was basically identical to the other except for one difference—there was only one cheerleader instead of a whole group to catch her partner. Shawn saw right away how much more difficult it would be to put all her faith in one person.

She will, Shawn thought. She has to.She smiled at Elizabeth. “You wanna go first?” she asked warmly. Shawn crossed both arms in front of her, palms-up, making a support area that would cradle Elizabeth when she fell back.

Elizabeth looked hesitantly at Shawn. Without saying a word, she turned around with her back to Shawn and prepared to fall. Shawn waited expectantly, arms clenched, ready to catch Elizabeth as soon as she started to fall. A moment passed, then another, and another. Kelly noticed and came over to Shawn and Elizabeth.

Suddenly she spun around. “No way. I can’t do this,” she said, shaking her head. “Sorry, Shawn. I just can’t.” Elizabeth turned on her heel and quickly walked away.

For a second, Shawn stood there, too embarrassed to look at Kelly. Then she chased after Elizabeth. “Elizabeth! Wait up!” Shawn called out. Elizabeth didn’t stop walking, but she did slow down enough that Shawn caught up with her.

“What is your problem?” Shawn asked angrily. “What did I ever do to you? That was so lame back there, Elizabeth. Did you really think I would let you fall?”

Elizabeth sighed, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, right, I’m gonna trust you? You’re Angie’s best friend. And she’s made my life miserable since I moved to Brooklyn. Ever since that sleepover you had, where she talked trash about me all night and you just sat there and let her...I’m not stupid, Shawn. No exercise can make me trust you.”

Shawn stepped back, stunned. “I never did anything to you, Elizabeth,” she stammered. “Yeah, Angie and I were...are—whatever, we were friends. But I never said anything bad about you. And I had nothing to do with her stealing your shoes.”

“I didn’t! I saw her writing on them after the meet. I’m the one who told Coach Carson about it. You can ask Coach if you don’t believe me.” Shawn put her hand up to her mouth. She hadn’t meant to say that.

“Yes,” replied Shawn, sitting next to her. “But please, please don’t tell anybody it was me. Angie doesn’t know I saw her. I don’t know what she’d do to me if she found out.” Elizabeth nodded. Both girls knew now just how mean Angie could be.

“I’m just trying to look out for myself. Moving to Brooklyn wasn’t easy. My whole life was in Minnesota, you know? Everything is different—new school, new apartment, new everything.”

Shawn nodded. “I’ve always lived in Brooklyn, but after my mom died everything seemed different, too. My whole life was, like, a mess. Even though I was in the same place.”

Elizabeth looked surprised. “Your mom died? I didn’t know that,” she said softly. She took a deep breath. “My mom died, too. And my dad.”

Now Shawn was shocked. “Oh, that’s awful,” she breathed. Shawn knew that she would be lost without her dad. So that’s why Elizabeth lives with her aunt, she thought.

“It is,” Elizabeth replied. “I don’t talk about it much with my friends, though. I think it freaks some people out—thinking about parents dying. My...my parents were in a car accident when I was a baby. I don’t really remember them, but my aunt has some home movies that I watch sometimes. I just wish I could have known them, you know?”

For a while, both girls sat quietly. An hour before, they had barely known each other, but now they shared something that no one else on the team did.