One week with Nonny at some point, the rest awful. Zera wondered what agonizing camp experience Tiffany had lined up for her. Last year was the worst, six weeks of hell at Make-Over Camp, whose motto, “Grooming, hairstyling, diet and fashion — our modern young woman focus!” said it all. Zera groaned, flopped back down on the bed. Maybe Abby would break up with Thor. Or maybe a miracle would happen and a boy would be interested in her. She’d been trying to talk her uncle into letting her try to find some kind of work, volunteerism, anything so the summer wouldn’t stretch before her like a prison sentence.
Rolling on her side she looked at Sunny in the antique terrarium, surrounded by five other plants in small terra -cotta pots. The gloom lifted somewhat. “I forgot to say good morning. How can I stay bummed with you guys around?”
Zera had started collecting plants since her birthday, but Tiffany stopped her when she found out. “We’re not letting things get out of hand,” she said. “You’re not turning this bedroom, that I spent a lot of time and money decorating, into a jungle .”
Zera’s hand flew over to the terrarium. She lifted the lid so the condensation inside could clear. In doing so, she accidentally brushed the lavender plant sitting next to it. A cool, fresh smell escaped from the leaves, filling her nostrils. For a moment everything seemed bright again. She remembered the nightmare and a particular soothing voice.
That voice seemed so real .
* * *
Zera came to breakfast wearing one of her usual ensembles: cut-off jeans, red high-top sneakers, and a black T-shirt featuring the name and flaming guitar logo of her favorite oldie rock group, Pyro. Oh great, she’s here again.
Tiffany sat at the glass and chrome table. As usual, she looked Zera over. Predictably, her pouty lips twisted into a disapproving curve as she took in Zera’s T-shirt. But today the expression lasted only a second before something unusual happened. It was replaced by a smile . “Good morning,” she practically sang. Zera was surprised at what Tiffany wore. The top of a ruffled apron was visible over her shirt.
“Uh . . . Good morning.” Zera was caught off-guard. She couldn’t believe the delicious smell in the air. Tiffany had prepared a real breakfast — eggs, bacon, pancakes were on the table, on her plate! Tiffany never cooked, much less prepared a sit-down meal for the three of them. Have I entered another dimension? The Toad sat semi-slouched over his notepad across from Tiffany, reading.
Tiffany sipped a diet drink, Skinny 2000 Death By Chocolate. The Toad was partaking in the feast, only having smaller portions than he would have had some months ago. Lately for breakfast he’d been having a StrongMan protein drink or power bar.
“Isn’t it a gorgeous day?” Tiffany smoothed down the collar of her seashell-pink blouse.
“Yeah, I guess so.” Zera sat down.
“I made you breakfast.” Tiffany giggled.
Tiffany looked positively pleasant as she sipped from her pink straw. She giggled, how weird! Zera remembered how The Toad was nice to her the night before, asking her if she wanted anything special for take-out because he was taking Tiffany out to dinner. Something big is up . Zera’s eyes went to Tiffany’s left hand. No ring, thank God .
As Zera peered down at the scrambled eggs, the memory of Make-Over Camp sprang up in her mind. With it came a shiver of dread that she fought to smother . Maybe Tiffany has found something even more disgusting for this summer, maybe that’s why she’s acting like this. She picked up her fork. “This looks great,” she said. She was afraid to ask the reason for the special meal.
Tiffany just continued to look like Alice in Wonderland’s Cheshire Cat. Super weird .
“Good morning, Zera.” The Toad looked up from his notepad over the top of his black-rimmed glasses. Zera groaned inwardly. He wore his pseudo-dad expression — serious,
Rolling on her side she looked at Sunny in the antique terrarium, surrounded by five other plants in small terra -cotta pots. The gloom lifted somewhat. “I forgot to say good morning. How can I stay bummed with you guys around?”
Zera had started collecting plants since her birthday, but Tiffany stopped her when she found out. “We’re not letting things get out of hand,” she said. “You’re not turning this bedroom, that I spent a lot of time and money decorating, into a jungle .”
Zera’s hand flew over to the terrarium. She lifted the lid so the condensation inside could clear. In doing so, she accidentally brushed the lavender plant sitting next to it. A cool, fresh smell escaped from the leaves, filling her nostrils. For a moment everything seemed bright again. She remembered the nightmare and a particular soothing voice.
That voice seemed so real .
* * *
Zera came to breakfast wearing one of her usual ensembles: cut-off jeans, red high-top sneakers, and a black T-shirt featuring the name and flaming guitar logo of her favorite oldie rock group, Pyro. Oh great, she’s here again.
Tiffany sat at the glass and chrome table. As usual, she looked Zera over. Predictably, her pouty lips twisted into a disapproving curve as she took in Zera’s T-shirt. But today the expression lasted only a second before something unusual happened. It was replaced by a smile . “Good morning,” she practically sang. Zera was surprised at what Tiffany wore. The top of a ruffled apron was visible over her shirt.
“Uh . . . Good morning.” Zera was caught off-guard. She couldn’t believe the delicious smell in the air. Tiffany had prepared a real breakfast — eggs, bacon, pancakes were on the table, on her plate! Tiffany never cooked, much less prepared a sit-down meal for the three of them. Have I entered another dimension? The Toad sat semi-slouched over his notepad across from Tiffany, reading.
Tiffany sipped a diet drink, Skinny 2000 Death By Chocolate. The Toad was partaking in the feast, only having smaller portions than he would have had some months ago. Lately for breakfast he’d been having a StrongMan protein drink or power bar.
“Isn’t it a gorgeous day?” Tiffany smoothed down the collar of her seashell-pink blouse.
“Yeah, I guess so.” Zera sat down.
“I made you breakfast.” Tiffany giggled.
Tiffany looked positively pleasant as she sipped from her pink straw. She giggled, how weird! Zera remembered how The Toad was nice to her the night before, asking her if she wanted anything special for take-out because he was taking Tiffany out to dinner. Something big is up . Zera’s eyes went to Tiffany’s left hand. No ring, thank God .
As Zera peered down at the scrambled eggs, the memory of Make-Over Camp sprang up in her mind. With it came a shiver of dread that she fought to smother . Maybe Tiffany has found something even more disgusting for this summer, maybe that’s why she’s acting like this. She picked up her fork. “This looks great,” she said. She was afraid to ask the reason for the special meal.
Tiffany just continued to look like Alice in Wonderland’s Cheshire Cat. Super weird .
“Good morning, Zera.” The Toad looked up from his notepad over the top of his black-rimmed glasses. Zera groaned inwardly. He wore his pseudo-dad expression — serious,
Similar Books
