Thatwaswhenherheadspun.Shepitchedforwardontothesidewalk, whereshemanagedtolandundertheawningofacafé.Asshelaythere,she sawthethirdblackmarkonherhand.“No!”shehadwailed,notthatitdidany good.
Aswiththeothertwotimes,shebegantoshrink.Thistimeherfledgling breastsdisappearedentirelybeneathhernow-oversizedT-shirt.Herskirtsplit downthemiddletobecomeapairofblackdenimpantsthatwentalltheway downtoherbatteredwhitesneakers.Herhairgrewlongerandlonger,untilit waspastherwaist.Insteadofawaveofhairoverhereyes,thickbangsnow stoppedatthetopofhereyesockets.Shefeltsomethingheavyonthebridgeof hernoseandtouchedapairofglasses.Aninstantlatershetastedmetalinher mouth.Withhertongue,shefeltapairofbraces.
Shegottoherfeet,whereinthewindowofthecaféshecouldseewhathad happenedtoher.Shecouldnolongercallherselfateenageranymore;shewas probablytwelveatmost.Accordinglyshehadlostherpiercingsandmakeup.
Instead,shehadadustingoffrecklesthatwerelighterthanVal’s,butalongwith theglassesandbracesservedtomakeherlooklikealittlegeek.CladintheTshirtandpants,shewasatomboyishlittlegeek.Theonlyremainderofher rebelliousphasewasherlongpurplehair.
Thedamagealreadydone,shetrudgedtherestofthewaytowork.Miss Kilgorewaitedthereforher.“You’relate,younglady.”
“Thorry,MithKilgore,”Jerislurredthroughthebraces.
“Gocleanyourselfup.Youlookafright.”
Jerihadmanagedtokeepittogetheruntilshewasinthebathroom.Only thendidshethrowherselftothefloortosob.Itwasn’tfair.Shekeptgetting youngerandhomelierwhileSheriandTerionlygotprettier.Nooneevergave themanyblackmarks;everyoneadoredthetwins.Bycontrast,Jeriwasheld responsibleforeverything,eventheweatherandbusengines.
Whensheheardaknockatthedoor,sheassumeditwasMissKilgoreto yellatheragain.Maybeshe’dendupwithanotherblackmarkandbecomea toddlertobetakentotheorphanage.ThensheheardValsay,“Jeri?Areyouall right?”
“Goaway!”Jerishouted.Shehatedhowtinyhervoicesounded,aidedby theacousticsofthebathroom.
“Areyousick?Doyouwantmetogetsomeone?”
“No.Iwantyoutogoawayandleavemealone.”
JeriwasrelievedwhenValtookafewstepsback.ThenValcharged forward.Thelockonthebathroomstallgaveway.Val’smomentumcarriedher rightintoJeri;theyendedupinatangledheaponthefloor.
“Getoff!”Jeriwailed.ShestruggleduntilsheandValfinallyseparated themselves.Jerislidovertokeepthetoiletbetweenthem.“Whydidyoudo that?”
“MissKilgoresaidyouwereinhere.Ithoughtyoumightneedsomeoneto talkto.”
“I’mfine.Don’tIlookfine?”
Valglancedaroundherandthenleanedoverthetoilettowhisper,“Iknow, Jeri.”
“Knowwhat?”
“Iknowyoudidn’tlooklikethisyesterday.”
“Nuh-uh.”
“Youwereaboutfourteenyesterday.Youdidn’thaveglasses,yourhair wasn’taslong,youhadzitsinsteadoffreckles,andyouhadaprettystudright here.”ValtappedJeri’snosewherethestudhadbeen.“Nowdoyoubelieve me?”
“Howdoyouknowthat?Nooneelthenoticeth.”
“Ican’ttellyouthatrightnow.Whendoyougetoff?”
“Midnight.”
“I’llmeetyouatyourbuildingattwelve-thirty.Allright?”
“Why?”
“Therearethingsyoushouldknow.Andthingsmaybeyoucantellme.”
“What?”
ValtappedJeri’snoseagain.“I’llexplainlater.Fornowyoujustpretend everything’snormal.”
“Allright.”JeriacceptedVal’shandtohelphergetup.Theystaggeredout ofthestalltogether.Atthemirror,ValpulledJeritoastop.Shepulledouta papertoweltowipeatJeri’sface.
“There,nowyou’reprettyagain.”
“Thankth.”
“Everythingwillworkout,Jeri.Ipromise.Justbethereattwelve-thirty.”
“Iwill.”
Withthat,Valleft.Jeristoodinfrontofthemirrorforafewminutesto stareatherchildishreflection.ThoughValwasherfriendandthemostcapable womanJerihadseen,shestilldoubtedthatevenshecouldstanduptoTaiLecau.
***
Therestofthedaywasanightmare.Customerscouldn’tresistpattingher head,touslingherhair,andpinchinghercheek.Theydidn’tseemtohaveany problemgettingdrinksfromatwelve-year-oldbartender.
Thedancerswereevenworse.Theyactedasifshewereamascot—a mascotwhowassixyearsold.Whenshefetchedthemadrink,theyinevitably cooed,“Goodjob,sweetie!”Asifshehadn’tbeendoingthisforthelastcouple ofmonths.
SheriandTeriweretheworst.AboutthetimeJerihadgottenhersecond blackmark,thetwinshadbegunanewact.Nowtheydressedinidentical cheerleaderoutfits.Sheriworeherblackhairinaponytaildrapedoverherleft shoulderwhileTeriworeherponytailovertherightshoulder.
“Hello,sweetie,”Sherisaid.
“Don’tyoulookprettytoday?”Terigushed.
Jerisettheirwaterbottlesonthecounter.Teriactuallyapplaudedher.
“Lookatthat!Sheknewjustwhatwewanted.”
“Suchasmartgirl.”SheripattedJeri’shead.
Thoughshecouldn’tbesure,Jerithoughttheymustbepatronizingher,to
emphasizehowmuchlittlershewasthanthem.
Aftertheyfinishedtheirwater—atthesametimeofcourse—Sherireached outtotousleJeri’shair.“Howwouldyouliketocomebackstagewithuslater?”
“Wecouldfindyouaprettycostumetowear.”
“Wecoulddosomethingwithyourhair.”
“Andshowyouhowtoputonmakeup.”
“Nothankyou,”Jerimumbled.Thelastthingshewantedwastoplay dress-upwiththetwins.
“Comeon,it’llbefun.”
“Please?”
“Ican’t.Maybetomorrow.”
“Great!”
“We’llcomeupwithsomethingreallyspecialforyou.”
Thetwinswhisperedtothemselvesastheywalkedawayfromthebar.Jeri shiveredasshethoughtofwhattheyhadinstoreforher.Sheturnedtotheclock toseeitwasonlytwointheafternoon.Itwasgoingtobealongday.
***
Thebusmercifullydidn’tbreakdownonherwayhome.Beforeshe’dleft theclub,she’dfoundalightpurplesweatshirthangingup.Itwastoolittle girlishforherliking,butshedecidedtowearitsinceitpromisedtobeachilly night.Shehuggedherselfinthesweatshirtassherodethebushome.
Shepausedasshenearedthedecrepitbuildingwhereshelived.Shelooked toseeanyoneoutfront.MostlysheworriedshewouldfindTaiLecautherewith hissmuggrinandblackeyes.Hewouldgloatoverherdefeatandthenmakeher intoalittlegirltoslaveawayintheorphanage.
Shedidn’tseeTai.Shedidn’tseeanyone.Jerilookedaroundandthen riskedcallingoutquietly,“Val?”
“I’moverhere,”avoicesaidback,butitsoundedstrange;itsoundedhigher thanVal’svoice.
“Where?”
“Overhere,”thevoicesaidagain,thistimefrombehindJeri.
Shewhirledaroundandgasped.Itwasn’tVal,atleastnottheValshehad seenthisafternoon.Instead,Jerisawagirlaboutheragewithasmoothblack helmetofhaircrownedbyagreenheadbandandbangsthatbrushedagainstthe topofherglasses.Sheworeagreenplaidskirtandsweaterwithatanblouse.
Whenshesmiled,sherevealedasetofbraces.Jeritookastepback.Shehad seenthisgirlbefo
reinthemirrorafteroneofTai’srole-playingnightsinbed.
“Val?Whathappened?”
“Let’thtalkaboutitoverthomecoffee.”
Theydidn’tgoupstairstoJeri’sapartment.Valinsistedtheygotoanall-nightdinerattheendoftheblock.Thewaitressdidn’tseemtohaveanyissue withtwoyounggirlsorderingcoffeeatoneinthemorning.
Valwaiteduntilthecoffeearrivedtosay,“MydaughterithnamedKrithee, butthe’thnotreallymydaughter.Reallythe’thTaiLecau.Youknowhim?”
“Yeth.Iknowhim.”
ThenValbegantotellherwhathadhappened.Ithadallstartedwithan expeditiontoaremoteplanetconductedbyherfriendKari—thesameKariwho hadworkedinTai’sofficewithJeri,Sheri,andTeri.Kariandherassistant—Tai
—hadfoundastrangeartifactknownastheStoneofChange.Asthename implied,itlettheuserchangethingsaccordingtotheuser’swhims.
InTai’shandsitbecameatooltocreatewidespreadmayhem.Hehad changedKariintoafatlittlegirlandlefthertodiewhilehereturnedtoPherato remaketheworldashesawfit.Meanwhile,Valhadreturnedtotheremote planetfromascoutingexpeditiontofindherfriendreducedtoachild.
UnlikewhenJeri,Sheri,andTeryhadbeenreturningtoPhera,Taihad waiteduntilValandKariwereneartheplanettochangethings.Likewhat happenedtoJeri’sship,thecontrolsbecamesoprimitivethattheshipcrashed.
WhenValexitedtheship,shebecameateenagerasshewasnow,whileKarihad becomeanevenyoungergirl.
Overthecourseofafewmonths,ValandKarikeptgettingyounger.Bythe timetheywerebabies,theywerefinallysplitup.Kariwenttotheoffice,where shemetJeri,Sheri,andTeri.ValwastakentoacircussideshowastheWorld’s FattestBeardedLady.OnlywhenshehadkissedTai’sringhadheallowedher toleave.
SheendedupattheclubwhereJerinowworked,onlyValhadbeena dancer.Notlongafter,Karijoinedher.ButKarididn’thavewhatittooktobea dancer.Shewasbrieflydemotedtoawaitress,beforeshebecamethebartender.
ThatwaswhereKariandKriseebecameanitem.Kriseehadbeenanother dancerattheclub.SheandKarisoonreceivedblackmarksthatturnedthem intorebelliousteenagers.Theybegantospendmoreandmoretimetogether.
“ButwhatKarididn’tknowwaththatKritheewathreallyTai,”Valsaid.
Shestoppedtoflagdownthewaitressformorecoffee.“Hefiguredthatwath theonlywaytomakeherlovehim.”
Jerinearlyspatoutamouthfulofcoffee.Sherememberedwhathad happenedinTai’soffice,thedaysheandthetwinshadbecomeurchins.“I’m theonewhohelpedhimfigurethatout,”shesaid.ShetoldValaboutwhathad happenedwithher,Sheri,andTeri,howTaihadpulledthemaparttotestthem.
“IthoughthewathaniceboynamedBene.Ithoughthelovedme.Butitwatha
lie.”
“Andthatthowedhimhowtomakeagirllovehim.”
“I’mthorry.IfI’dknown—”
“It’thnotyourfault.Youcouldn’thaveknown.”
“ThoKarithtillloveshim?”
“Notreally.”Valfinishedherstory.EventuallyTaihadshrunkKari, Krisee,Val,andallthedancersattheclubintosmallchildren.Theywere destinedtobesoldtosomesleazypeopleasslaves.Whiletheywaited,Valand KarifoundachunkoftheoriginalStoneofChange.Theytriedtouseitto changethingsback,butitdidn’twork.
“Itwathanothertrick,”Valexplained.ThatwaswhenKriseehadrevealed hertrueidentity.AssoonasKariknewthis,shewashorrified.Butshe volunteeredtoremainKrisee’sgirlfriendifhestoppedusingtheStoneof Change,whichhepromisedtodo.
“Buthelied!”Jerishouted,loudenoughtowakeadrunkasleepatthe counter.
“Ofcourthehedid.Butthedoethn’tknowthat.”
“Andwhataboutyou?WhyareyouraithingKrithee?”
“Becautheyoukeepyourfriendthclotheandyourenemiethclother,”Val said.Whileshehadworkedattheclub,shehadpretendedtobeabimbowho wasmadlyinlovewiththehandsomeTai.WhenKaristruckherdeal,Val refusedtoletgoofTai.Instead,shehadpleadedtobeKrisee’smom,ostensibly tobeclosetothepersonsheloved.
“Butyouthtillremembered.Thowhyareyouakidnow?”
“I’monlyakidwhenI’maroundyou.Thatwathadealwemade.When I’maroundKari,Ichangebacktoanadult.”
“Why?”
ShereachedacrossthetabletotakeJeri’shand.“Hewanteduthtomeet.
HethaidtherewaththomethingattheclubIthouldthee.ThoIwentandwhenI thawyou,Iknewwhatitwath.”
“Thothithithallatrick?”
“No.Hewantthtoberidofme.HefigurethifIfallinlovewithyou,I won’tbotherhimandKarianymore.”
“Oh.”Jerilookeddownatthetable.Tearsbubbledupbehindherthick glasses.“Youdon’treallycareaboutmethen.”
Valleanedacrossthetable,nearlyknockingbothoftheircoffeecupstothe floorasshestruggledtoreachJeri.HerlipsbrushedagainstJeri’s.Itwasan awkwardkisswithValhavingtoleanoverthetableandwiththeirbracesinthe way,butwhentheyfinished,Jerisighedasifshe’dbeenravaged.
“Iloveyou,Jeri.MorethanIeverdidwhenwewerethithagebefore.”
“Why?”
“Becautheyou’reageek.”
“YouonlylovemebecautheI’mugly?”
“No!”Vallookeddownatthetable,hercheeksred.“Before,youweretho pretty.Iknewyouweretooprettyforme.Iwathn’tthithgeekybefore,butI waththtillthortandthcrawny,andatomboy.Iknewyouwerejutht experimentingwithme.Butnowyou’renotthopretty.You’renotthothtuck-up andthallow.You’rethweetandevenalittlethynow.”
“Oh.”Jeriswallowedthelastofhercoffee.WhatValsaidrungtrue.The lasttimetheyhadbeentogether—whentheyhadbeenaboutthissameage—Jeri hadbeenverydifferent.Shehadbeenaflawlessbeautythenwithhergolden hairandstatuesqueframe.Therewasnowayagirllikeherwouldhavestayed withaplaintomboylikeVal.“I’mthorry.ForhowIwathbackthen.”
“Don’tbethilly.Youcan’tapologizeforhowyouwereborn.”Valtookher handandhelpedheroutofthebooth.“Comeon,let’thhavethomefun.”
“Whatarewegoingtodo?”
“Juthtwaitrighthere.”
JeriwaitedinthemiddleofthedinerwhileValhurriedovertothejukebox.
Shesearchedthepocketsofhersweateruntilshefoundtherightamountof change.Thenshedroppeditintothejukeboxandanup-temposongcameon.
ValranbackovertowhereJeriwaitedandtookherhand.Shebeganto twistandflailwhileJeriremainedrootedinplace.“Comeon,let’thdance!”
Sincetheonlyothercustomerwasthedrunknursinghishangover,theyhad thewholefloortothemselves.JeriandValattemptedtodanceuntiltheywound updoubledoverastheylaughed.“Youarethooooterrible!”Valteased.
“Youaren’tanybetter!”
Aslowersongcameonthejukebox.ValtookJeri’shand.Theypressed closetoeachotherandswayedtothemusic.“WhenIthawyouthithmorning,I wenttoKritheeandIathkedhertomakemethithwaythowecanfinallybe together.”
“UntilTaimakethuthintolittlekidsorthomething.”
Valshookherhead.“I’mgoingtothtophim.Itwilltaketime,butI promithe,I’mgoingtomakehimpay.”
Tosealthisagreement,ValkissedJerionthelipsuntillongafterthesong hadwounddown.Then,hand-in-hand,theyleftthedinertogobacktoJeri’s apartment.
Chapter17
ThenextsixmonthswerethebestJericouldrememberinherlife.Sheand Valspenteveryfreemomenttheycouldtogether.Valwouldshowupattheclub afterKriseehadgonetoschool
andthengohomebeforeKriseeandKariwould getoutofschool.Atnight,afterKriseeandKarihadgonetobed,Valwould sneakouttomeetJeriatherapartment.
Giventheirage,thereweren’talotofthingstheycoulddoatnight.They wenttothedinertohavecoffeeandicecreamsundaes.Afterwards,theywould takeawalkinthepark.Theyendeduponanornamentalbridgeoverthestream inthepark.Whenthemoonswerefull,itwassuchaprettyplacetobe.Inthe bluemoonlight,Val’sfacewouldseemtoglow;eventhewayherbraces sparkledlookedromantic.Jeriimmediatelyleanedforwardtokissheruntilthey hadtocomeupforair.
Therewasonethingtheydidn’tdo.Theirfirstnightinherapartment,Val hadstartedtounbuttonherblouse.Jeriseizedherhand.“Wecan’t.”
“Whynot?”
“Becauthewe’retoolittle.AtleathtIam.I’mnoteventhirteenyet.”
ShethoughtValmightpressthepoint,butshehadonlynodded.“I underthtand.Wewon’tdoanythinguntilyou’reready.”
Theyjustlayinbedholdingeachotherforafewhours,untilValhadtogo hometowakeKriseeandKariforschool.Thosemomentsinbedwerethemost specialforJeri.Shehadneverbeenheldsotenderlybefore.Noneofher previousgirlfriendshaddonethatandTaihadneverbeenthetypetoshowany tendernessatall.And,shehadtoadmit,shehadn’tbeenthemosttenderand considerategirlbacktheneither.
Whenthealarmwentoff,Valkissedheronthecheek.“I’lltheeyoulater.”
“Ican’twait.”
TheworstmomentswereafterValleft,whenJerihadtofacehoursalonein bed.Shestaredintothedarkness,worryingthatTaimightusetheStoneof ChangetodosomethingtoherorValtobreakthemapart.Valassuredherthis wouldn’thappen;hewantedthemtobetogethersoValwouldn’tbesuchathird wheelwithKariandKrisee.ThisdidlittletoreassureJeri,notafterallshe’d gonethrough.
Attheclub,shemadesuretoavoidgettinganyblackmarks.Shedidn’t wanttobecomeanylittlerandgeekierforVal.Shedidn’tknowiftheirlove couldsurviveiftheybecamechildren.Itcertainlywouldn’tsurviveinan orphanage.