Thegirlsmiledatherandsaid,“Hi.Areyouhungry?Mymompackedtoo muchforme.”ThegirlheldupabagthatwastwicethesizeSana’shadbeen.
“Sure,”Sanamumbled.
Thegirlsatdownnexttoheratthetableandthenopenedthebag.She pulledouttwosandwiches,twoapples,twocookies,andtwoboxesofjuice.
“Mymomalwaysthinksintwos,”thegirlexplained.
“That’sweird.”
“Iknow.Mysister,shejusteatsboth.That’swhyshe’ssofat.”Thegirl indicatedanotherpalegirlinthecorner.Shewasjustaspale,butherhairwasas darkasSana’s.FromthedarkgreenofhertopandskirtshemustbeinSana’s class,butSanahadn’tnoticedher.Thatwasoddasthegirlwassobigaround thatitseemedimpossibletomissher.Thefatgirlcrammedfoodintohermouth almostwithoutchewing.
“She’sgross.”
“Iknow.”Thegirlsmiledagainandthenheldoutahand.“Myname’s Kari.”
“Sana,”shesaidandshookKari’shand.Asshedid,sheshiveredwitha momentofdéjàvu.Itseemedshehadheardthatnamebefore,butshecouldn’t rememberwhere.
“Howdoyoulikeschoolsofar?”
“Ihateit.”ShetoldKariwhathadhappenedsofar.Karinoddedalong withherstory.
“Boysaresomean.Ihatethem.”
“Metoo.”SanabitintoKari’sextrasandwich.“Idon’tknowwhatI’m goingtodoabouthim.Theteacherdoesn’tcarewhathedoes.”
Kariconsideredtheproblemasshechewedonapieceofapple.“Turnabout isfairplay.Dowhathe’sbeendoingtoyou.”
“Buthow?He’ssittingbehindme.Ican’tpullonhishair.”
“Youdon’thaveto.”Karirippedapieceofpaperfromhernotebook.She toreitintosmallerpiecesandthenballedtheseup.“Youjustthrowtheseover yourshoulderwhentheteacherisn’tlooking.It’llbughimandiftheteacher seesthem,she’llthinksomeonebehindhimshotthem.”
“Won’tthatgetsomeoneelseintrouble?”
“Maybe.Holdonasecond.”Karigotupandthenwentovertowhereher sistersat.TheyconferredforamomentbeforeKari’ssistergotuptowaddle acrosstheroomalongwithKari.“Valisgoingtositbehindhimandbotherhim foryou.”
“Butwhathappensifshegetsintrouble?”
“Idon’tcare,”Valsaid.“Boysarestupid.”
ValtookthepiecesofpaperKarihadwaddedup.Shehidtheseinher backpackforlater.Thenshewentbackacrosstheroomtofinishherlunch.
Karitookherseatagainandgrinned.“Nowit’salltakencareof.”
“Thankyousomuch.Idon’tknowwhatI’ddowithoutyou.”
“It’sallright.Ihadthesameproblemslastyear,onlyIdidn’thaveanyone tohelpme.”
“Whatdidyoudo?”
“ItookitforawhileandthenIwaiteduntilIcouldturnthetablesonthem.
Sometimesyoujustneedtobepatient.”
ThistoopromptedSanatoshiverwithdéjàvu,asifshehadheardthis advicebefore.Shecouldn’trememberwhere.MaybeMommyhadsaidit,or oneofhersiblings.
“Areyoudoinganythingafterschool?”Kariasked.
“No.”
“Howaboutyoucomeovertomyhouse?Momalwaysmakesusextra snacks.”
“Idon’tknow.MommymightworryifIdon’tcomehomerightaway.”
“Oh,sure.Maybesomeothertime.”
Kari’scheeksreddenedalittle,asifshewereabouttocry.Sanahadn’t meanttohurtherfeelings,notafterKarihadbeensonicetoher.“Howabout tomorrow?IcanaskMommytonight.”
“Thatwouldbegreat.”Karishookherhandagain.“Ijustknowwe’re goingtobebestfriends.”
***
Theteacherdraggedhimoutoftheclassroombytheear.Sanalaughed behindherhandatthis.Whiletheteachertooktheboytotheprincipal’soffice, Valslidintohisseat.“Thankyou,”Sanawhispered.
“That’swhatfriendsarefor,”Valsaidandwinkedather.
Whentheteachercameback,shesmiledatthem.“Whohereknowsthe pledgeofallegiance?”sheasked.Nooneraisedtheirhand.“That’sallright.
Thisafternoonwe’regoingtolearnit.Andsomeoneveryspecialisgoingto helpus.”
Theteacherpickeduparemotecontrolandclickedabutton.Ascreenat thetopofthewallinonecornercametolife.Onthescreenwasawomanwith skinnotquiteasdarkasSana’sormostofthechildrenbutnotaspaleasValand Kari’s.HergoldenhairwasunlikeanyshadeSanahadseenbeforeintown.
Theprettywomanworeatightpinkblousewithalotofrufflesandalonggray skirt.Amidsthergoldenhairwasaslightlymoreyellow-goldcrownthat sparkledwithjewels.Thisidentifiedherasthequeen.SanahadheardMommy andothergrownupsmentionher,butshehadneverseenthequeeninperson.
“Goodafternoon,children,”thequeensaidwithasmileofbrightwhite teeth.“IamQueenJeri.I’mtheonewhokeepsyou,yoursiblings,your mommies,andyourdaddiesallhappyandpretty.”
ThechildrenaroundSanaallgaspedinawe.Behindher,Valmuttered somethingSanacouldn’tunderstand.QueenJericontinued,“Thepurposeofthis videoistoteachyouthepledgeofallegiancesoyoucanallgrowuptobegood citizensofShada.Iwantyoutorepeatafterme: Ipledgeallegiancetohermajesty,QueenJeri.
Ipledgetomakemyselfandmyworldbeautiful Ipledgetodefendthatbeautywithmylifeifneedbe Ipledgetostampoutuglinessinallitsforms
SothatShadacanbeforeverpretty Sanarepeatedthewordswiththeotherchildren—allexceptVal.Thefat littlegirlonlymouthedthewordswithfuryinhereyes.Sanacouldunderstand why.Valwasn’tpretty;shewasuglywithherbiggutandpastyskin.Itwas uglinesslikeherstheyweresupposedtostampoutaccordingtothepledgeand yetValhadbeennicetoher,ashadhersister.
Theyhadtosaythepledgethreemoretimes,untiltheteacherassumedthey hadlearneditwellenough.Thevideoskippedaheadtothequeensmilingat themagain.“Ihopeallofyouchildrenhaveabeautifulday.Remembertoeat properly,getlotsofexercise,andalwaysbrushyourteethlikeyourmommies anddaddiestellyouto.”Thequeennoddedandthenthescreenshutoff.
“Bitch,”Valmumbled.
Sanaheldinagaspatthis.Shestaredstraightaheadandtriedtofocuson theirnextlesson,buttheincidentkeptbotheringher.Onthebusridehome,she lookedoutthewindowattheneighborhoodofcolorfulhousesandprettytrees.
Somethingstruckherasodd,butshecouldn’tidentifywhatitwas.
Mommywaitedforheratthedoor.ShewrappedSanainahug.“Howwas yourfirstdayofschool?”
“Fine.”
MommybrushedhairbackfromSana’sface.“Issomethingwrong, darling?Didsomeoftheotherkidspickonyou?”
“No,”shelied.“MommyamIbeautiful?”
“Ofcourseyouare.”
“AndSaede,Suda,andHofer,aretheybeautifultoo?”
“Yes.You’reallverybeautiful.”
“Whatifweweren’tpretty?”
“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”
“WhatifIgotintoanaccidentandmyfacewasallscarredup?OrwhatifI gotreallyfat?”
“You’renotfat.You’remyprettylittleangel.”MommypickedSanaupto carryherinside.“Comeon,let’sgetyousomecookiesandmilk.Thatwill makeyoufeelbetter.”
SananibbledonacookieandthoughtaboutVal.“There’sagirlinmyclass whoisn’t
pretty.She’sveryfatandpale.ShouldIhateher?”
“No,ofcoursenot.Whatgaveyouthatidea?”
“Thequeensayswe’resupposedtostampoutugliness.”
MommytappedSanaonthenose.“Suchlargeissuesforsuchalittlegirl.”
“I’mserious,Mommy!”
“Don’tyouworryaboutsuchthings,darling.That’sforgrownupstoworry
about.”
“Oh.”Sanaateanothercookieandthenpushedawayfromthetable.
“Anothergirlinvitedmetoherhouse.CanIgotomorrow,Mommy?”
Mommyconsideredthisforamomentandthennodded.“Youjustmake suretogetyourhomeworkdoneandbebackintimefordinner.”
SanastoodupandthenhuggedMommyaroundthewaist.“Iloveyou, Mommy.”
“Iloveyoutoo,darling.”
ThenSanaranupstairstoherroom.Shesatonthebed,squeezingherdolly toherchestasshethoughtaboutit.IntheendshedecidedKariandValwere niceandthat’sallthatmattered.
Chapter13
Herseconddayofschoolwentbetterthanherfirst.Valsatbehindhernow, soshedidn’thavetoworryaboutanymeanboyspullingherhairorpokingher.
ShesatwithValandKariatlunch.KarihuggedherwhenSanasaidMommy hadlethercomeovertoplay.“That’swonderfulnews.We’regoingtohaveso muchfun!”
SanafollowedValoutside,wheretheywaitedonthefrontstepsuntilKari joinedthem.Kariledthewaydownthesidewalk,theyoungergirlstrailing behindher.Valsoonlaggedbehind,herbreathcomingingaspsandsweat drippingdownherredface.“Waitup!”sheshouted.
SanaheldupsoValcouldcatchup.“Ihatebeingfat,”Valgrumbled.
“Thenyoushouldloseweight,”Sanasaid.
“Ican’t.”
“Whynot?Juststopeatingsomuch.”
Valsnortedatthis.“Itwouldn’tmatter.”
“Why?”
“Nevermind.”
“Shejusthasfatgenes,”Karisaid.Shetousledherlittlesister’shair,which promptedValtoglaredaggersather.“Somepeoplearejustthatway.”
“Andsomepeoplearejustgeeks,”Valsaid.
Kari’scheeksreddened.Shetouchedherthickglasses.“Yes,somepeople arejustpredestinedtobegeeks.Andsomearejustpredestinedtobeadorable,”
shesaidandpattedSana’shead.
“Thanks,”Sanamumbled,thoughshedidn’tappreciateKaritalkingabout herlikeshewasababy.
KariandVallivedinahousesmallerthanSana’s.Itwasonlyonestory withwhitepaintthatwaschippedinplacesandgrayshuttersthathunglimply,as iftheywouldfalldownatanysecond.Thegrasswascutsoshortthatpatchesof dirtwerevisible.“Mommusthavecutthelawnagain,”Karisaid.“Shealways doesittwice.”
Sanasaidnothingtothis.KariandVal’smomsoundedveryodd,notatall likeMommy.Shefeltanervousflutterinherstomach,wonderingiftheir motherwassomekindofterriblemonster.Butwhenshecametothedoor,she wasrelativelynormal.Shehadpaleskinlikeherdaughters,darkbrownhair, andwhiteglassesthickerthanKari’sthatmagnifiedherbrowneyes.Sheheld outbothofherhandsforSanatoshake.“YoumustbeSana,”shesaidfromone sideofhermouth.“It’sgoodtomeetyou,”shesaidwiththeothersideofher
mouth.
AsKarihadindicated,hermothermadelotsofextrasnacks.Valtookhalf ofthemforherself,whileKariandSanasplittherest.Theywentdownthehall tothebedroomKariandValshared.ItwasonlyhalfasbigasSana’sroom, whichdidn’tleavealotofroomforthemtoplay.
Karisatdownataplastictableandpushedasideplasticteacups.Sanasat downononesideofherwhileValsatonherbedtodevourhersnacks.“Thisis aniceroom,”Sanalied.
“We’repoor,”Valsaidbetweenbites.
“Momhastroublefindingajob,”Karisaid.Sheexplainedhermotherhad triedtobeawaitressbutkepttellingthecookstomaketwicewhattheyneeded.
Shetriedtoworkatagrocerystoreasacashier,butshewouldringeverything uptwice.
“Isshecrazy?”Sanafinallyasked.Shelookedtothedoor,afraidtheir motherwouldburstintokillthemall.
“She’snot crazy,”Karisaid.
“She’ssick,”Valadded.
“Shedidn’tseemsick,”Sanasaid.
“Notthatkindofsick.She’ssickinherhead,”Karisaid.Shelookeddown atherglassofmilk.“Shethinksshe’stwopeople—twins.That’swhyshe’s alwaysdoingthingstwice.”
“Oh.”Sanashifteduncomfortably.Shesuddenlywantedtobebackhome inherroomwithherdolliesandMommyonlyashoutaway.
“Butshe’sverynice,”Karisaid.“She’dneverhurtanyone.”
“That’sgood.”
Kari’sfacereddened.Shesniffledandthenwipedathernose.“I’msorry.
Ishouldn’thaveaskedyouhere.You’rethefirstfriendI’vehadoverhere.
You’rethefirstfriendI’vehadatall.Everyoneelsehatesus.”
“Idon’thateyou,”Sanasaid.“You’vebothbeensonicetome.AndI don’thaveanyotherfriendseither.AllIhavearemysiblingsandthey’re mean.”
Valsnorted.“Crybabies.”
Kariwipedhereyesandthenforcedasmiletoherface.“Comeon,let’sgo outsideandplay.”
SananoddedandfollowedKarioutside.Thebackyardwasn’tasbigasat home,buttherewasanoldoaktreetheycouldclimbup.Kariwentupfirstto showSanahowtodoit.Sanahesitated;Mommyhadtoldhernottoclimbany treesathome.ButMommywouldn’tknow,wouldshe?Sanascrambledupthe treetojoinKarionabranch.
“Isn’titbeautifuluphere?”Karisaid.
Sananodded.Theycouldseeovertheroofofthehousetolookatthe wholeneighborhood.Sanapointedtoherhouse,recognizablebyitspink siding.“That’sMommy’shouse.”
“It’ssopretty.”
“Uh-huh.”
Karihadbroughtherbackpackwithher.Shereachedinsideittotakeouta book.Itwasthekindwithoutpictures,agrownupbook.Sanastaredatthe print,butshehadonlylearnedacoupleoflettersinschoolsofar.“Youwantto hearastory?”Kariasked.
“Sure.”
Karibegantoread.Sanasnuggledupagainstthetrunkofthetreeand staredoutattheneighborhoodasshelistenedtoKarireadastoryaboutanugly girlwhofoundamagicstonethatmadeherintoabeautifulprincess.IwishI hadamagicstone,Sanathought.
***
TwomonthswentbybeforeKariinvitedSanatostayoverforthenight.By thenshehadadjustedtoKari’sweirdmotherandthesmallnessoftheirhouse.
Thatshedidn’thavetoworryaboutheroldersiblingspickingonherandthat shecoulddothingsMommywouldn’tletherdo—likeclimbingKari’stree—
morethanmadeupforit.
Beforethenightofthesleepover,MommytookSanashoppingfora sleepingbagandanewnightgown.Sanahadtocarrythesewithheralldayat schoolinMommy’swheeledsuitcase.TheteacherletSanakeepthesuitcaseby herdesktomakesurenoneofthenastyboystamperedwithit.
Thewheelscameinhandyasshedraggeditbehindherafterschool.Kari hadofferedtodoitsinceshewasbigger,butSanarefused.“Icandoit,”she insisted.WiththesuitcaseslowingSanadown,itwaseasierforValtokeepup.
Inthelasttwomonthsshehadonlyseemedtogetfatter,tothepointwherethe buttonsonhershirtlookedreadytopop.SanathoughtagaintosuggestValstop eatingsomuch,butshealreadyknewVal’sresponsetothis.
Kari’smothermadeenoughpotroastfordinnertofeedtwoentirefamilies.
Sanaateonlyasmallhelpingofthis;Kari’smotherwasn’tnearlyasgoodofa cookasMommy.Valatethemost,whichwasn’tasurpris
e,buttherewasstill plentyleftover.“We’lljustsavethisfortomorrow,”Kari’smothersaid.“It shouldkeepuntilthen.”
Theychangedintotheirpajamasafterdinner.Kariworeayellowtwo-piecesetinsteadofanightgownwhileValworealightgreennightgownthat lookedbigenoughforhermothertowear.Sana’spinknightgownfitmore
snugly;itfeltalittlestiffsinceitwassonew.
Theycampedoutonthefloorofthelivingroomintheirsleepingbags.
Kari’smothermadethemtwobigdishesofpopcorntonibbleonastheywatched moviesontelevision.SanaandKarilayclosetogetherwhileVallayofftothe side,assheusuallydid.Valtookoneofthepopcorndishesforherself,which wasfinewithSana,whohadneverreallylikedpopcorn.
Theydidn’tsayalotduringthemovies.Sanawascontentjusttolieclose toherfriendwithherdollypressedtightagainsther.Athomeshenevergotto watchtelevisionlikethis;hersiblingsusuallyhoggedituntileighto’clock, whenSanahadtogotobed.Sherelishedthefreedomtowatchuntileleven, whenshefinallybegantodriftoff.
Valhadalreadybeguntosnoreinhercorner,popcornspreadaroundher.
Karicreptovertotuckhersister’ssleepingbagaroundher.Valgrumbled somethingunderherbreath,butdidn’twakeup.ThenKariturnedoffthe televisionandgotintohersleepingbag.
SherolledovertofaceSana.Theywereonlyafewcentimetersapart,close enoughthatSanacouldfeelthewarmthofKari’sbreath.Theoldergirlsmiled andthensaid,“Didyouhaveagoodtime?”
“Yes.Itwasfun.”
“That’sgood.I’vereallyenjoyedthetimewe’vespenttogether.It’sbeen sonicetohaveafriendagain.”
“Again?Whathappenedtoyourlastfriend?”
“Nothingbad,”Karisaid,buthersmilefalteredforamoment.“Shemoved away.”