“Who?”
“Nevermind,”Jerisaid.ShethoughttoaskMissSundreaboutthemean girl,butdecidedagainstit.Shemusthavebeenseeingthings.
***
Itwastendayslaterwhenthenextstrangethinghappened.Jeriwasasleep whenshebegantoshiverwithcold.Herfeetespeciallyfeltlikeicicles.
Somehowtheyhadpoppedoutfrombeneathherblanket.Shebegantodraw thembackinwhenshetouchedtheevencolderedgeofherbed.
Jerisatupandeveninthedimlightofthebarracksatnightshecouldsee herlegsweretoolongforherbed.Assoonasshethoughtthis,thebed expandedtoaccommodateherlongerlegs.Theblankettooswelledtocover her.Shewantedtogetupandruntothebathroom,butshe’dgetintroublewith
MissSundreifshedid.Soshelaybackdownandsoonfellasleep.
Whenshewokeupthenextmorning,shesawitwasnodream;shewas bigger!Notonlyher,butSheriandTeriaswell.Thetwinsdidn’tsayanything.
Theyjustgotupandpaddedtotheshowerslikeusual.Theonlydifferencewas Teriputherhairbackintoaponytaillikehersister.“Whataboutyourpigtails?”
Jeriasked.
“Pigtailsareforbabies,”Terisneered.Jericonsideredthisforamoment andthenundidherpigtails.Shedecidedtobraidherhairinstead.Thatwent betterwithherolderself.
Whentheywerealoneatbreakfast,Jeriasked,“Didyouguysnotice anythinglastnight?”
“Noticewhat?”Sheriasked.
“Didyoufeellikeyougotbiggerinthenight?”
“Bigger?”
“Liketaller,”Jerisaid.
“Areyoufeelingallright?”Sheriasked.“IcouldgetMissSundre—”
“I’mfeelingfine!”JerisnappedloudenoughthatMissSundreturnedto glareatthem.Inalowervoice,Jeriasked,“Howoldarewe?”
“Nine,”Sherisaid.
“Nine?Butwhenwewenttobedlastnightwewereonlyfive.Don’tyou remember?”
“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”Terisaid.“Youfallintheshoweror something?”
“Youdon’tremember?Allthreeofuswerefiveyearsolduntillastnight.I wokeupinthenightandIsawit.MybedwastoolittleformeandIgotcold andthenmybed grewtofitme.”
“Itwasjustadream,silly,”Sherisaid.“We’vebeennineforthreemonths now,atleastmeandTeri.You’vebeennineforsixmonths.”
“But—”Jeristopped.Shethoughtofthatgirlshehadseengetlittlerand thendisappear.SheriandTerihadn’tnoticedthateither.Theyhadn’teven rememberedwhothegirlwas;noonehadexceptforJeri.Itwaslikethegirlhad justunexisted.Nowsomethingweirdlikethatwashappeningtothem.Itdidn’t makesense.
Butsheknewbetterthantomaketrouble.Soshedugintoheroatmealand didn’tmentionitagain.
***
Schoolwasevenbetternowthatshewastheoldest.Shehadtakenher rightfulplaceastheprettiestgirlinschool.Assuch,hercircleoffriendsgrew accordingly.Atmeals,thewholetablewascrowdedwithherfriends.They
laughedateveryjokeJerimadeorsharedheroutrageaboutanyslight.All exceptTeri.Jerididn’tevenwantthelittlebrataround,butSheriwasstillher bestfriendandsoTerihadtoremainwiththem.
NotonlywasJeritheprettiestgirl,butshewasalsothebeststudent.Miss SundreandMissLundyevenhadhergivedemonstrationstotherestoftheclass onhowtocook,sew,andtakecareofbabies.OnceMissSundreevenpatted Jeri’sbackandsaid,“Yourhusbandisgoingtobeaveryluckyman.”
Jerihadsmiledthewholedayatthatthought.Nowthatshewasnine,it wouldonlybesevenyearsuntilshecouldgetmarried.Somegirlswaited longer,butsheknewshewouldn’tbeoneofthose.AgirllikeTerimighthaveto waituntilshewasanoldmaidoftwenty,butnotJeri.Somenicemanwould sweepheroffherfeetthemomentsheturnedsixteen.
Jeriwasthinkingofwhatherweddingdresswouldlooklikewhenshefelta handonhershoulder.“Payattention,younglady,”MissLundyscolded.
“Otherwiseyourroastwillburn.”
Itwasn’tlikehertogetscoldedinclass.WasmeanoldMissLundymadather?
JeriassumedthiswasthecaseanhourlaterwhenMissLundytouched Jeri’sshoulderagainandsaid,“Comewithme,younglady.”
“DidIdosomethingbad?”
“Theheadmasterwishestoseeyou.”
“Theheadmaster?”Jerigulpedatthis,asdidtherestoftheclass.Jerihad neverseentheheadmasterbefore,buteveryoneknewyouonlysawhimifyou wereintrouble.Still,JeriheldherheadhighasshefollowedMissLundyfrom theroom.
TheoldwomanledJeridownthehalltothedoormarkedwiththe headmaster’sname:TaiLecau.MissLundyopenedthedoorforJeriandthen usheredherinside.TaiLecauwasaverybigmanwithablackbeardandblack eyes.Jerishiveredfromasenseofdejavu.MissLundyhadtoactuallypush JeriovertothechairinfrontofMr.Lecau’sdesk.
JeriexpectedMissLundytoaccuseherofsomething,buttheoldwoman justnoddedtoMr.Lecauandthenbackedout.TheheadmastergrinnedatJeri, whichonlypromptedhertoshiveragain.“Don’tworry,younglady,youaren’t introuble.”
“I’mnot?”
“Ofcoursenot.You’rethebeststudenthere.Andtheprettiest.Aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
Helaughedatthis.Whyhadhelaughed?Didhethinkshewasugly?
“Youdidn’tevenhavetothinkaboutthat,didyou?”
“No.”
“Good.Ilikeaconfidentgirl.Tellme,Jeri,whatdoyouwanttobewhen yougrowup?”
“Iwanttomarryahandsomerichmanandbehiswife.”
“Isee.That’sallyouwanttodo?”
“Yes.”Whatelsewasthere?
“Howwouldyouliketoworkforme?”
“Youwantmetobeyourwife?ButI’mtooyoung—”
Helaughedagain.“No,mydear.PerhapssomedayIwillwanttomarry you.”Mr.Lecausteepledhisfingersandleanedforward.“I’mgoingtostep downastheheadmasterheresoon.I’mgoingtostartanewbusinessandIneed someonetohelpme.”
Jeristaredathim.Whywashetalkingtoheraboutthis?Shewasonly nineyearsoldandshewasagirl;shedidn’tknowanythingaboutrunninga business.Afteranuncomfortablylongtime,hefinallysaid,“Howwouldyou liketobemyExecutiveSecretary?”
“Asecretary?Butisn’tthatforoldergirls?”
“Oh,Ithinkyou’replenty oldenough.”
BeforeJericoulddisputethis,therewasaflashoflightfromtheringon Mr.Lecau’sfinger.ForamomentitblindedJeri.Whenhervisioncleared,she sawthatlikeherbedafewnightsago,herbodywas growing.Shegottallerand taller,untilshecouldbarelysitonthechairanymore.Herboobiesespeciallygot bigger,evenbiggerthanthoseofMissSundreandMissLundyandalotfirmer.
Herhairtumbledoutofitsbraidtofallinwavesdowneithersideofherhead.
Herschooluniformhadbecomeextremelytightonher,untilittoobeganto change.ThejumpershrankintoalightgrayskirtthatbarelycoveredJeri’s naughtyparts.Herlightgreenblouseturnedintoapinksweaterthatremained tightonher,enoughthatshecouldseehernipplesthroughthefabric.
Jeristaredfirstatherhandswiththeirprettypinknailsandthendownat herboobies.Shewasabiggirlnow,anadult.“I’magrown-up,”shebreathed.
Mr.Lecaucamearoundthedesktoputahandonhershoulder.“That’s right,sweetheart,you’reagrown-up.Andyou’regoingtoneedagrown-upjob untilwefindsomenicemanforyoutomarry.”
“CanIstillbeyourExecutiveSecretary?”
“Ofcourseyoucan.”
Jeristilldidn’t
***
JeriwantedtosaygoodbyetoSheriandTeriandallherotherfriends,but Mr.Lecauwouldn’tlether.“Don’tworry,you’llseethemsoon,”hesaidwitha wink.Whatdidhemeanbythat?Shethoughtbetterthantoask.Instead,she followedMissLundyouttoabigblackcar.
“Thiswilltakeyoutoyournewhome,”MissLundysaid.
“Congratulations,dear.”
“Thankyou,MissLundy.Iwon’tforgetthisplace,notever.”
TheoldwomannoddedandthenJeriwasaloneinthecar.Asshesatthere sheagainshiveredfromasenseofdejavu.Reflectedintheglassshethought shesawthefaceofageekygirlwithuglycat’seyeglassesandwhite-blondhair andstupidfreckles.Jeritouchedherownfacetomakesurethatwasn’ther reflection.Thegeek’sreflectiondisappeared.
Shewasstuckinthecarforanotherhalf-hour.WhatwastakingMr.Lecau solong?Shewasabouttogetouttoseeiftherewasaproblemwhenthedoor opened.Butitwasn’tMr.Lecauthere;itwasaprettybrunetteaboutthesame ageasJeri.SheworealightbluesweaterthatlookedexactlylikeJeri’sexcept forthecolorandadarkerblueskirtthatwasjustasshort.
Thebrunette’sfacelitupassheasked,“Jeri?Isthatyou?”
Jerisquintedatthewomanandthengasped.“Sheri?”
“It’sme!Wow,you’resopretty!”
“You’reprettytoo.”Notasprettyasme,Jeriamendedtoherself.
“Whatareyoutwoscreamingabout?”asullenvoiceasked.Jeriturnedto seeanotherwomanwithblackhair,atressofwhichfelloverherlefteyeto almostcoveritup.Sheworeatightorangesweaterandshortblackskirt.While JeriandSheriworecutehighheels,thiswomanworetall,uglyboots.Without asking,shethrewherselfontotheseatnexttoSheri—nexttohersister.
“Teri,lookatJeri.Isn’tshecute?”
“Yeah,sure.”Becomingagrown-uphadn’tseemedtoimproveherattitude atall.
Mr.Lecaubentdowntoclimbintothebackseat.“Scoochoveralittle, Sheri,wouldyou?That’sagirl.”Mr.LecausatbetweenSheriandJeri.Heput anarmovertheirshoulders.“Mylovelyladies.It’stimewewereoff.”
Thecarfinallybegantomove.Jeristaredoutthewindowuntilschool recededentirelyfromview.ThenshelookedoveratMr.Lecau.“Wherearewe going?”
“Tothebigcity,mydear.”Hegesturedthroughthewindow.Aheadofthe car,Jerisawhuge,gleamingskyscrapers.“Youthreewillbeworkinginthe biggestone,rightatthetop.”
“Allthreeofus?ButIthoughtIwasyourExecutiveSecretary.”
“Youwish.IshouldbehisExecutiveSecretary,”Terisaid.“I’mthebest.”
“Youarenot!”Jeriroared.ShetriedtoreachoverMr.LecauandSherito clawoutTeri’seyes.
Mr.LecauheldJeriback.“Now,girls,don’tfight.JeriismyExecutive Secretary.TeriandSheriarejust internsrightnow.”
Asintheoffice,JerisawMr.Lecau’sringwink.ThenshesawSheriand Teribegintoshrink.Thesleevesoftheirsweatersdevouredtheirhandswhile theirskirtssaggedtopasttheirknees.Withsomesatisfaction,Jeriwatchedas theirboobiesflattenedout.Theirhairstraightenedaswell.Aheavylineof bangsdescendedoverTeri’sforeheadwhileSheri’smerelypartedinthecenter.
Theiroversizedclothesshrunktofittheirnewbodiesbetter.Whenitwasover, SheriandTeriwere girlsagainwhileJeriwasstillawoman.
Mr.LecaulookedoveratSheriandTeristernly.“Iwantyoutwotopay attentiontoJerianddowhatshedoes.She’stheoneincharge.Understand?”
“Yes,Mr.Lecau,”theysaidinunison.
“Good,”Mr.Lecausaid.TeriglaredoveratJeriforamoment,whoglared backinresponse.ThenTerifoldedherarmsoverhernonexistentboobiesand turnedtothewindow.
***
AstheExecutiveSecretary,Jerigotanapartmentalltoherself.Sheletout awhoopassoonassheopenedthedoor.Theplacewassobig!Itseemedeven biggerthanthewholebarracksatschoolhadbeen.Anditwasall hers.
Sherushedovertothebalconyandthrewopentheslidingglassdoor.She staredoutatthecityspreadaroundherandletoutanotherwhoop.Atschool therehadbeennothingtoseeexceptforafewhills.Hereshecouldsee buildingsastallasmountains.Theirwindowsreflectedtheeveningskytomake thewholecityseemalivewithcolor.Jerisighedasshewatchedthelinesofcars andcrowdsofpeople.Tothinkshewasoneofthemnow,agrown-upwitha grown-upjobandaplacetolivealltoherself.
Afterafewminutesshewentbackinsidetoseetherestoftheapartment.
Thebathroomhadatubbigenoughtofitahalf-dozengirlsfromschool,along withashowersoshecouldchoosehowshewantedtobathe.Shesatdownon thetoilettodoherbusiness.Shestayedtherefarlongerthansheneededto, enjoyingtheprivacy.Atschoolifyouusedthetoiletformorethanthree minutessomeonewouldknockonthedoor.Ifyoustayedintherelongerthan fiveminutes—notthatJerieverhad—oneoftheteacherswouldbargeintofetch you.
Onceshefinished,shewentovertothesink.Shestudiedherfaceinthe mirror.Shegrinnedtoseehowgrown-upshelookednow.Withonehandshe
brushedatressofhairawayfromherface.Shewassopretty,notlikeSheriand thatmeanieTeri.Theywerestillkidswhohadtostaywithagoverness.
Theyprobablyhadtosharearoomtoo,whileshehadawholehugebedall toherself.Ithadtobefourtimesthesizeofherbedatschool.Whenshe jumpedontothemattress,shenotedhowsoftitwastoo.Thepinkcomforter madeitfeelasifshelayonacloud.Jericlosedhereyesandforamoment imaginedshefloatedinthesky,faraboveeverything.
Withoutmeaningto,shefellasleep.
***
AbellshookJerioutofsleep.Shegropedarounduntilshefoundthealarm clockthathadwokenher.Whensheslappedthetopoftheclockitwentsilent.
Thensheopenedhereyes.
Foramomentshestaredattheroomaroundher.Ittookheraminuteto rememberthiswas herbedroomnow,in herapartment.Sheneededonlytosee thebulgeofherchesttoremembershewasagrown-upnow.AnExecutive Secretary—onewhohadworktodo.
Thatpromptedhertorolloutofbed.Shesawshehadfallenasleepinher pinksweaterandshortskirt.Itwouldn’tdoatalltoshowuplikethattoherfirst dayofworkforMr.Lecau.Shewentovertotheclosetandopenedthedoor.
Immediatelyshesquealedtoseeaclosetfullofprettyclothes.Insteadofthe boringgreenjumperandblouse,shehadclothesofalmosteverycolor.She decidedonanotherpinksweatersimilartotheonesheworeandashorttanskirt.
Thenshewentintothebathroomtoshower.Shetookfifteenminutesinthe shower.Notthatshewasthatdirty,butaswiththetoiletshejustwantedto enjoyhernewfreedom.Shedidn’thavetoworryanymorethatthewaterwould turnoffinaminuteandleaveherwithsoapinherhair.
Theonlyritualshemaintainedfromschoolwasthecareshetookwithher hair.Onlynowshedidn’tputitintopigtails;thosewereforbabies.Instead,she drieditwiththehairdryerandthenbrushedituntilitwassilkyandbouncy.
Themakeupwasfarmoredifficult.Theydidn’twearanyatschooland theydidn’tteachgirlshowtoputitonuntiltheygottohighschool.Sinceshe hadskippedoverallthat,shewouldhavetodowhatshecould.Shesmeared lipstick,rouge,andmascaraon.Tearsnearlycametohereyesattheresult;she lookedlikeaclown!Shetookadeepbreathandthenwipedsomeoftheexcess off.Thatlookedalittlebetter.ShehopedMr.Lecauwouldn’tnoticeorelsehe mightnotthinkshewasExecutiveSecretarymaterial.
Backinthebedroom,hernextproblemwasherundergarments.Herface turnedredasshestaredatthebrathatwassupposedtogooverhergrown-up chest.Thatwasa
nothertopictheydidn’tcoverinschooluntillater.Afterthree
triesshemanagedtogetitonherboobiessnuglywithoutitcomingoff.
Therestofherclotheswereeasyenough.Shelookedatherselfinthe mirrorandsmiled.Maybeshehadalittletoomuchmakeupon,butotherwise shelookedjustasprettyasshehadbeforeshefellasleeplastnight.Shelooked likeagrown-up,notalittlekid.
Apinkovercoathungnearthedoor.Jeriputthisonbeforesheleftthe apartment.ThenshewentdownstairsandgaspedtoseeMr.Lecauinthelobby.
Hesmiledatherandthenrushedforwardtotakeherhand.“Hello,Jeri.You lookwell-rested.”
“Yes,sir.”
“Now,there’snoneedforformality.YoucancallmeTai.”
“Yes,Tai.”
Heputanarmoverhershoulderstopressherclosetohimastheywentout thelobby.Thelimousinetheyhadrodeinyesterdaywaitedbythecurb.The chauffeuropenedthebackdoorforthem.JeriwasrelievedtoseeSheriandTeri weren’tinthere.“WhereareSheriandTeri?”sheasked.ShehopedTaihad decidedtosendthembacktoschool,wheretheybelonged.
“They’recomingintheirowncar.”Hehelpedherintothecar,ontothe backseat,wherehesatnexttoher.Heputhishandonherthigh.“Howdoyou liketheapartment?”
“It’swonderful!Theviewissobeautifulandtherearesomanypretty clothes—”shestoppedherselfassherealizedshewasgushinglikeanine-year-old.Shewasn’tachildanymore;shewasagrown-up.“It’sallverynice.”
“I’mgladyoulikeit.Iwantyoutobehappy,Jeri.”
“Thankyou.I’msureIwillbe.”
Thelimousinetookthemtothetallestbuildingintown.Thechauffeurheld thedooropenforthemtogetout.TailedJerithrougharevolvingdoor,intoa lobbyevenmoremagnificentthanherapartmentwithitsmarblefloorsandrich woodendesk.Atthisdesk,Taiintroducedhertothesecurityguard.“Thisis JeriPoldar,mynewExecutiveSecretary.Havemynewinternsshownupyet?”
“Notyet,sir.”
Rightoncue,JeriheardTerishriek,“Stoptouchingme!Idon’tneedyouto leadmearoundlikealittlekid!”Jeriturnedtoseeanoldwomanbetweentwo girlsinburgundyjacketsandsweaterswithplaidskirts.Sherecognizedthe brown-hairedoneasSheriandtheraven-hairedoneasTeri.Atthemoment Teri’scheeksglowedredastheoldwomantriedtotakeherhand.