***
Afterthreedays,Teri’sfeverdisappeared.NowitwasTeriwhotookcare ofJeri.ShefinishedrunningabrokencombthroughJeri’slonghairandthen begantobraidit.“Thisissuchprettyhair,”Tericooed.
“Ihateit.It’stoowong.”
“Well,maybewecanfindsomethingtocutitwith.Andmaybewecanfind youaprettydresstoo.Wouldyoulikethat?”
“StoptawkingwikeI’mababy!”
“You owababynow,”Sherisnarled.“Lookatthemessyoumadeonthe floor.”
Sherigesturedtoayellowpuddleatthebottomoftherefrigerator.Jerihad createditasshe’dslept.Hercheeksturnedwarmandshesaid,“I’msowwy.
ButI’mstiwmeinside.”
“Hoorayforus.”Sheriturnedtohersister.“Finishwiththebabylater.We havetogogetfood.”
“Wecan’tleaveherherebyherself,”Terisaid.Sinceherrecoveryshe’d beguntoassertherselfmore,asifsomematernalinstincthadkickedin,which JerifoundironicconsideringTeri’sbackground.
“Icanhewp,”Jerichimedin.
“Dowhat?Youcan’tevengetoutofthisplacewithouthelp.”
“Icanbeawookout.”
“Wedon’tneedyouto wookoutforanything.”
“But—”
“You’restayinghereandthat’sfinal.We’llbringyousomefoodlater.”
“ButI’mhungytoo.”
“Welltoobad.Youshouldhavethoughtofthatbeforeyoubecameababy
—”
Rightoncue,Sheri’sbodyshrunkasJeri’shad.Herclothesremainedthe samesizewhileherhairseemedtogrowlongerasherbodybecamesmaller.
Herlegsandmostofherarmsdisappearedintothefoldsofthedress.
BesideJeri,Teriunderwentthesameprocess.Sinceherhairwasn’tas long,itgrewandgrew,knottingitselfintoabraidliketheoneshehadbeen weavingforJeri.Herpantspooledatherfeetwhilehershirtwentdowntoher kneeslikeadress.TerishrankuntilshewasafewcentimetersshorterthanJeri.
Sheriwasjustasshort,whichmadeJeritheleaderagain.“Nowyoubaby too,”Jerisaidwithagrin.
“Youdidthis!Ityoufawt!”SheritriedtolungeatJeri,butshetripped
overherskirtandcollapsedtothebottomoftherefrigerator.Tearssprangtoher eyes.Shebegantowaillikeababy.
ItwasTeriwhobroughtuptheobviouspoint:“Howwegetoutofhere?”
Thispromptedhersistertowailevenlouder.“Wetwapped!”
“Wenottwapped.Wejustgottaworktogether,”Jerisaid.ShetookTeri’s hand.“Comeon.”
JerihadTerisitonhershouldersandthenshegruntedandstrainedtostand atleastsomewhatupright.ShewasstilltryingtoliftTerienoughtogetherover thesideoftherefrigeratorwhensheheardsomeonegruntbesideher.Sheri pushedwithallhertinymusclestopropelhersisterovertheside.
AtlastTeritumbledovertheside,downtotheground.Tearscametoher eyes,butshedidn’twaillikehersister.Shejustlaydazedforamoment.Then shescrambledtoherfeet.“Findsomethingtothwowinsowecancwimbout,”
Jerisaid.
AsTeriwasabouttolookforsomething,therecamethesoundofvoices.
Peoplewerecomingthisway!“Gettotheoven!”Jerishouted.Sheknewthere wasnowaytheywouldhavetimetogetTeribackintotherefrigerator.“Wun!”
Teriran.Meanwhile,JerigrabbedSheritoshovehertothebottomofthe refrigerator.Sheputafingertoherlips.“Wegottabequiet,”shewhispered.
Sherinodded.
Thevoicescamecloser.Oneshouted,“There’sone!Grabher!”
JeriheldontoSheri’sarmtokeepherfromleapinguptohelphersister.
SheheardTerisqueal,“Wemmego!”
“Howmanyofyouarethereinhere?”
“None.I’mawone,”Terisaid.“Ipwomise.”
TearscametoJeri’seyesatTeri’ssacrifice.Butthenshefeltahandseize thebackofhermangledbluedress.Someoneheftedherintotheair.AsTeri had,sheshrieked,“Wemmego!”Shepunchedandkickedatamanwholooked likeoneofthesecurityguardsatTaiLecau’scompany,onlynowheworean actualpoliceuniform.
“There’stwomoreofthem,”thecopsaid.
“They’reallbabiestoo.”
“Wenotbabies!”Jerishouted.
“Sureyouaren’t,princess.Comeon,let’sgetthemoutofhere.”
Jericontinuedtostruggleasshewascarriedthroughthedumpthathad beenherhome,outtothestreet.Thereablackcarwaited.Fromthelookofit, thecarwasn’tapolicevehicle.Anothercopopenedthebackdoor.Jeribraced herselftoseeTaiwithhissmuggrinagain.Instead,shesawaveryfatold woman.
“Theretheyare,mythreenewlittlehelpers,”shesaid.
“No!Don’twethertakeustotheophanage!”Jerishouted.
Thewomanchuckled.“Don’tbesilly,girls.You’renotgoingtoan orphanage.”
Thepolicementhrewthemroughlyontotheseatnexttotheoldwoman.
Theyhuddledtogetherforprotection,notthatitwoulddoanygood.Theold womanstrokedJeri’shairasthecarbegantomove.“Don’tworry,girls, everythingwillbeallrightnow.”
Thecarstoppedafewminuteslater.Thedooropenedagain.“We’rehere, girls.”
JerireluctantlypulledawayfromSheriandTeritolookoutthewindow.
Shedidn’tseeanorphanage.NorwasittheskyscraperwhereTaihadworked.
Fromtheneonsignoutfrontofascantily-cladwoman,sheguesseditwasastrip club.
“Welcometoyournewhome.”
Part4
Chapter14
Asshepolishedaglass,Jerilamentedthatitwasn’tfair.SheriandTerigot tobeprettyandgrown-upagainanddoajobwheretheymademoremoneyand gotfarmorerespect.Meanwhile,shewasonlyateenager—anuglyoneatthat
—whohadtoservedrinkstogrossoldmen.Worseyet,allofthemenassumed sheonlyliked women.
ThiswasjustthelatestpunishmentdishedoutbyTaiLecau.Theold womanhadbroughttheminsidetheclubandtherehe’dbeenatatable,allby himself.Alsoatthetablewerethreehighchairs.Sherihadblurtedout,“We don’tneedhighchaiws!Thosefor babies!”
Ofcoursetheyhadimmediatelyshrunkintoinfants,probablyonlyayear old.Jerihadonlybeenabletocryandflailhertinylimbswhiletheoldwoman setherinthechair.TaipattedSherionthehead,whichmadeherfaceturn magentabeforeshewailed.“Now,girls,stopitoryou’llstaythiswayforever.”
ThatpromptedSheritogosilent.Taismiledhissmuggrin.“Well,itjust sohappensthatyougirlsarelookingforworkandIhappentohavethreerecent vacancies.Vacancies,Imightadd,forthreegrown-upemployees.”
TericlappedhertinyhandswhileJeriandSheriwerewarier.“Don’tbeso skeptical,girls.There’snostringsattached.You’llbeprettyyoungwomen again.Full-sizeyoungwomen.Unlessyou’dratherIhaveMissKilgoredrop youattheorphanage?”
Thoughshe’dknowntherewouldbesometerriblepricetopay,Jerihad shookherhead.Workinginaclublikethiswouldbebetterthantobeaslavein theorphanage.Taipattedherhead.“Ithinkwehaveanunderstandingthen.
MissKilgore,putthesesweetlittlegirlsonthefloor.”
“Yes,Mr.Lecau.”TheoldwomangentlyliftedJerioutofthehighchair.
ShepattedJeri’sbackforamomentbeforeshesetherdownonthefloor.Sheri andTerisoonjoinedher.
Taigazeddownatthem.HeseemedlikeagiantfromJeri’svantage.“To startwith,welosttwoofourdancers.Theyweresuchlovelygirls.ButIthink wehaveauniqueopportunitytoreplacethemwithafantasticact—twins!”
SheriandTeribegantogrowinunison.Theseamsoftheir clothesexplodedastheygrewintotoddlersandthenlittlegirls.Asthey continuedtogrow,Jerinoticedsomethingodd.SheriandTerihadneverlooked muchalike—thelastmonthTeriandJerihadmorecloselyresembledtwin sisters—butthatwaschanging.Teri’shairdarkenedtoblacklikehersister’s.
Theirnoses,cheekbones,andeventheirearsbecamethesame.Theyhad
become identicaltwins.
Theyfinallygrewintoyoungwomen.Theirbreastsswelledinunison whiletheirhipswidenedandwaistsshrunk.Whentheyreachedwhathadtobe theirmid-twenties,theystoppedgrowing.Identicalblackstilettoheelsappeared ontheirfeetwhiletheirprivateswerecoveredwithatinyblackskirtand extremelytightwhiteblousewithadenimjacket.Theonlydifferencewasthe headbandthatheldtheirhairback;Sheri’sheadbandhadabowontheleftwhile Terihadabowontheright.Otherwisetheywerethesame.
“Welookthesame!”theyshoutedinunison.
“That’sright.Justthinkhowcrazythemenwillgetwhentheyseeyoutwo onstage.Doublethepleasure.”Hewinkedatthem.“MissKilgore,takeSheri andTeribackstagetogetacquaintedwiththerestofthegirls.”
Terilookedathersisterandthensaid,“Youwantustobe... dancers?”
Sheriadded,“Wecan’ttakeoffourclothesformoney!”
“Well,youdon’thavetobedancers.Ifyou’dratherbeslavelaborersinthe orphanage—”
“No!”theyshoutedasone.
“Good.”Hepattedashoulderoneachofthem.“Itwon’tbethatdifficult.
MissKilgorewillshowyouwhattodo.She’sverygoodatwhatshedoes.”
Thetwinslookedateachotherandthenfinallygottotheirfeet.They trudgedoffaftertheoldwoman.TeriglancedbackoverhershoulderatJeribut didn’tsayanything.Hersistergrabbedherarmandthentheydisappeared behindacurtainofsilverstreamers.
ThisleftTaiandJerialone.Hetappedtheendofhernose.“Youdon’t wanttostrip,doyou?”Sheshookherhead.“Ididn’tthinkso.That’sgood, becausetheotherjobIhaveopenisn’tforadancer.”Hestoppedtogestureat thebar.“Weneedagirltoservedrinks.Doesthatsoundlikesomethingyou wanttodo?”
Jerididn’twanttobeabartender,butsheknewwhatthealternativewas.
Shenoddedslightly.“Verygood.Now,ourlastgirlisaveryhardacttofollow.
I’mafraidshegaveourbarabitofareputation.Wewouldn’twanttoshockour patrons,wouldwe?”
Asherbodybegantoswell,Jerihadanaggingfeelingthatadouble-cross wasatwork.AsSheriandTerihad,shegrewfromababyintoatoddlerand thenalittlegirl.Soonsheenteredpuberty,herbodychangingfromagirl’sinto awoman’s.Exceptitdidn’tcompletethechange.Herbreastsgrewonlyinto nubswhileherfiguredidn’thavethecurvesofarealwoman’s.Ifnotforthe tinybreasts,shewouldhaveswornshewasaboy.
Thatwasn’teventheworstofit.Herskinturnedachalkywhite.Then
darkblotchesappearedalloverit.Theseblotchesspunthemselvesintotattoos ofskulls,dragons,andallmannerofhideousthings.Painlancedthroughher righteyebrow,leftnostril,andlowerlip.Shetouchedtheseareaswithfingers tippedwithblacknailpolishandfeltmetalrings.Awaveofdarkhairdescended overherlefteye;shetouchedthebacktofeelitwasn’tmuchlongerintheback thaninthefront.
Shewasrelievedwhenherclothesbegantoappear;atleastthatwould coverupsomeofthesehideoustattoos.Exceptherclothesdidn’tcovermuch.
Herblackbootsdidcoveragoodportionofhercalves,buttherestoftheoutfit wasfarmorerevealing.Herblackleatherskirtbarelycoveredthetiny underpantsshewore.Herblousewaslargelysheer,withapurplestripetocover thenipplesofherpubescentbreasts.Ashortblackleatherjacketdidcoverher arms,forwhichshewasgrateful.
Nowthatthechangewasover,sheshouted,“It’snotfair!I’mstillakid!
YoupromisedI’dbeagrown-up.”
“Ofcourseyouare.You’reseventeen.Notallyoungwomencanbequite sovoluptuous.”
Shegesturedtotheringsonherface.“ButIlooklikeafreak!”
“Nonsense.You’reaveryprettyyounglady.Likealotofprettyyoung ladies,though,you’regoingthroughalittlerebelliousphase.”
Jericrossedherarmsoverherchest.“Fine.Playyourstupidlittlegame.”
Shestompedovertothebar.Behindthecountershesawamirror,whereshegot abetterlookatherself.Toaddtoherfreakishness,herhairwasdarkpurple!
Sheworeequallydarkpurplemascaraandblacklipstickthatcontrastedsharply withherdeathlypaleface.Shedefinitelylookedlikeagirlgoingthrougha rebelliousphase.
Taismiledsmuglyather.“I’llletyougetacquaintedwithyournewjob.
I’msureyouwon’tfinditmuchofachallenge.”
Thenhehadgone.Theonlygoodthingwasthatinthetwoweekssince,he hadn’tcomeback.Ashe’dsuggested,shedidn’tfinditmuchofachallengeto beabartender.Thehardestpartwastofigureoutwhatallthedrinkswerecalled andhowtopourthem.Thepouringwasmadedifficultwiththisdamnedpurple hairinherfaceallthetime.
Onedayshehadtriedtopinthehairback.Whenshe’dgottenintotheclub, shegaspedtoseeherpurplehairhadbecomeaspikypurpleMohawk.Shehad quicklyrunintothebathroomanddonewhatshecouldtosmoothitdownuntilit returnedtoitsusualtousledmess.
Mostglaredatherwithdisgust.Oneactuallygrowled,“Fucking dyke.”Shehad
shudderedattheslur.EvenwhenPherahadbeenrunbywomen—whenshehad datedwomen—shehadneverconsideredherselfadyke.Womendatedother women;itwasasnormalasbreathing.ButinTai’sworlditwasataboo.Given herpresentappearanceitwaseasyforthemtothinkshewasfloutingthistaboo.
Theproblemwasshedidn’tfeelthatwayaboutanywomen.Shehadtried tostareatthedancersastheystripped—notSheriandTeri,whofeltlikeher sistersbythispoint.Nothinghadstirredinsideofherevenwhenthegirlswere completelynude.Notthatshefeltverystronglyforanyofthemeneither, thoughmostwerefartoooldorfatoroldandfatforhertastes.Thefew handsomeyoungermenwhocameinneverevenlookedather;theykepttheir eyesfixedonthestageevenwhentheyorderedtheirdrinks.
NotsinceTaihadsentherbacktohighschoolasapastygeekhadshefelt likesuchanoutcast.Inawayitwasevenworsethistimebecauseitwas impossibleforhertofadeintothebackgroundasshehaddonethen.This terriblehairandmakeupandclotheswerelikeabrandthatlabeledhertoanyone whosawher.Itmadeherstandoutinallthewrongways.
ThatwasTai’slatestgameforher.Hewantedhertofeelsoaloneand confusedthatshe...what?Shedidn’thaveanyideawhathehopedshemightdo.
Maybetherewasnopointtoit.Maybeitjustamusedhimtoseeherstruggle, likewhenshe’dbeenamidgetoranurchin.Thoseseemedtobethesadistic gamesheenjoyed.
Sheheardawomanclearherthroat.SheassumeditwasMissKilgoreto admonishheraboutdaydreamingagain.Thensheturnedandsawawomanwho lookedveryoutofplace;inherblueplaidhousedressandwhiteglassesandwith straightblackhairthatturnedupathershoulders,shelookedlikethesortof womanwhogracedtheinsideofawoman’shomemakingmagazine.Therewas somethingveryfamiliarabouttheblackhair,freckles,andtheicyblueeyes.
Theglassshehadbeencleaningfellfromherhandtoshatterontheflooras theanswercametoher.“Val?”
***
ItcameasnosurprisethatValdidn’trecognizeher.Whyshouldshe?The lasttimethey’dmet,they’dbeenyoungerthanJeriwasnow.Jerihadlookeda lotdifferentbackthenwithhergol
denhairand“voluptuous”figureasTaihad said.Valhadlookedabitdifferenttoo,farlessdowdythanthewomanbefore her.
“I’msorry,doIknowyou?”Valasked.
“It’sme.Jeri.Doyouremember?”
“I’mafraidnot.Howlongagowasit?”
“Afewyearsago,whenIwasstillakid,”Jerisaid.Beneathhermakeup,
hercheekswarmed.Sheforcedherselftosmile.“Anyway,whatcanIgetyou?”
“Oh,Idon’tknow.Doyouhaveanywhitewine?”
“Onlychampagne.ButIhavesomewinecoolers.”
“Thatsoundsfine.”Valseatedherselfatthebar,whichwasfortunatelyfree ofotherpatronsatthemoment.Therewerenevermanycustomersattwointhe afternoon,justafewoldmenwithnowhereelsetogo.
JerisetawinecoolerinfrontofVal,whostaredatitforamoment,asifit mightexplode.Thenshetwistedoffthecapandtookasip.Immediatelyshelet outagasp.“Ohmygoodness.”
Jericouldn’thelpgigglingatthis.IfValthoughtawinecoolerwasstrong, howwouldshereacttosomeofthehardstuffbeneaththecounter?“I’msorry,”
Jerisaid.“Icouldgetyouaclubsoda—”
“No,thisisfine.It’sjustbeenawhilesinceIhadadrink.Igaveitup whenIwaspregnantwithmydaughter.”
“Youhaveadaughter?”
“Ohyes.She’saboutyourageIsuppose.Whichmakesmewonder:why aren’tyouinschool?”
“I,um,droppedout,”Jerisaid.“Itwasn’treallymything.”
Valcluckedhertongueatthis.“Youshouldn’ttakeyoureducationso lightly,younglady.”
“Yes,ma’am.”
ItwasVal’sturntogiggle.“Ohdear,listentome.Imustsoundlikesuch anoldbiddytoyou.”
“Notsoold.”
Valpattedtheupturnedendsofherhair.Herfreckledcheeksflushed.
“Thankyou,younglady.Idon’tthinkmydaughterwouldagree.”
“Probablynot.”Jerileaneddownandasked,“Ihopeyoudon’tmindmy asking,butwhyisaladylikeyouinaplacelikethis?Itdoesn’treallyseem yourspeed.”