Itwasamootpoint;thebackofthecarwasempty.Theblondwoman shovedJeriroughlyintothecarandthensatontheseatnexttoher.Themoment thedoorclosed,thecartookoff.
“Wherearewegoing?”Jeriasked,thoughshehadagoodidea.Shehad createdtheSocietyandoverseenthecreationofitsrules.
“That’snotyourconcern.”
“Where’smymother?”
“She’sbeennotifiedofyourcondition.”
“Isshegoingtomeetusthere?”
“Youwon’tbegettinganyvisitorsforalongtime,sweetheart.”
Jeriturnedtotheblondwoman,tearsinhereyes.“Please,thisisalla terriblemistake.I’mnotreallylikethis.I’mpretty,likeyou.I’mthequeen!”
“Ifyou’rethequeenthenI’magarbagecollector.”
“It’strue.There’samagicstone—”
ThebatonstruckJeriintheribs,suckingtheairfromherlungs.Ajoltof electricityranthroughherbodymomentslater.Shecollapsedforward,rolling offtheseat.Ashervisiondimmed,theblondwomangrinnedather.“Don’t worry,ugly,we’lltakegoodcareofyou.”
***
Whensheawoke,Jeriheardawoman’svoicesay,“Ihavetosay,thisismy finestworkyet.Yousawwhatshelookedlikewhenshewasbroughtinhere?”
Laughteraccompaniedthis.Anotherfemalevoicesaid,“Idon’tknowhow
shecouldstandit.Andtogooutinpublicyet.Eithershe’sreallybraveor reallycrazy.”
Morelaughter.Jeriknewwithoutopeninghereyestheyweretalkingabout her.Whathadtheydonetoher?Shetriedtomove,butherbodywastooweak.
Shecouldn’tmanagetospeakeither;herthroatwastoodry.Allshecoulddo wasforcehereyestoopen.
Thiswasallthatwasneeded.Adark-hairedwomaninanurse’suniform tookastepback.Shenudgedablondwomanwhocouldhavebeenthetwinof thewomanwho’dtakenJerifromthepool.Fromtheblondwoman’slabcoatit wasobviousshewasthedoctor.SheflashedaperfectwhitesmileatJeri.
“Hello,younglady.You’reupalittlesoonerthanexpected.”
Jericouldonlymanageawheezeinresponsetothis.Thenursescuttled overandpouredacupofwater.SheforcedthisdownJeri’sthroat.AtlastJeri’s tonguewasmoistenoughthatshecouldspeak,albeitinaraspyvoice.“What happenedtome?”
“You’vebeenbeautified,”thedoctorsaid.Shesatontheedgeofthebed andthenranahandthroughJeri’shair.ShebrushedthehairforwardsoJeri couldseeherhairhadbecomeredandcurlynow.“You’reanentirelynewgirl now.Evenyourmotherwon’trecognizeyou.”
“Whereismymother?”
“She’sprobablystillathome.You’vebeenherefortwoweeks.Butnow thatyou’reawake,I’msuresomeonewillcallher.”
“Iwanttogohome.”
“I’msure,butyoucan’tforafewdays.Yourbodyhasbeenthroughan awfullotofreconstruction.Beforewegetintoit,whydon’tyoutakealookat yourprettynewface?Ihavetowarnyou,though,it’sgoingtobeabitofa shock.”
Jerinoddedslightlytothedoctor.Thenursebroughtoverahandmirror andhelditupsoJericouldseeherface.Shegaspedatherreflection.Besides thekinkyredhair,herfrecklesandglasseshaddisappeared.Hernoseseemed tinierandhercheekboneshigherandmoredefined.Herlipswerepuffierthan before,farmorepoutythanthey’dbeen.
“That’sjustthetipoftheiceberg,”thedoctorsaid.“Weinstalledbreast implants,suckedawaythatnastyfatinyourmidsection,andtightenedupafew things.Afteryougetoutofhere,you’llbeabletowintheYoungMissShada pageant.”
TearsstungJeri’seyes.Shecouldn’tbelieveit;shewasprettyagain!The doctormightwanttotakethecredit,butsheknewmedicalsciencecouldnot haveworkedsuchamiracle.Itmustbethestone.ButifJerididn’thaveitthen
whodid?Whowouldhavedonethisforher?
Shemanagedtomoveahanduptotouchherredhair.Redhair,justlike hersandKari’shadbeenonKifandasKari’shadbeeninTai’sofficebackon Phera.Thatcouldexplainit;Karialwayswassuchagoodperson.Ifshehad theotherhalfofthestone,shewoulduseittomakepeoplehappy,wouldn’tshe?
AndJericertainlywashappytonolongerbeaplaingeek.Withsome effort,sheforcedhernewlipstosmile.Inthemirrorshesawasmileof perfectlystraightwhiteteeth.“Thankyou,Doctor,”shesaid.
***
MothertookJerihomethreedayslater.JeriwasrelievedtoseeMotherwas almostthesameasshehadbeenwhenJerihadfirstbeengrowingup.Theonly differencewasMotherseemedyounger,perhapsnoteventhirtyyet.Thatwas hardtobelievegivenhowoldJeriwas;Motherwasn’tthesorttohavegotten pregnantatfifteen.Shesupposedwithallthethingsthedoctorshaddoneto makeJeripretty,theycouldtakeafewyearsoffamiddleagedwoman’sface.
Jerihadselfishlyhopedhermothermightcrytoseeherdaughter,butthat didn’thappen.Instead,Motherstaredatherforafewmomentsandthen nodded.“Itcertainlyisanimprovement.I’mnotsureIlikethered,though.We mighthavetodyeitlater.”
“Ilikeit,”Jerisaid.“It’ssocolorful.”
“We’llsee,”Mothersaid.SheledJeritoawaitingcar.Theywerealonein thebackasthecarspedtowardshome.OratleastJeriassumedthat’swhere theywouldgo.Thensherealizedtheywereintheshoppingdistrict.
“Whatarewedoing?”
“Wecan’thaveyouwearingthoseragsyouusedtofavor.You’regoingto needawholenewwardrobe.”
“Can’tIsettleinalittlefirst?”Jeriasked.Ordinarilyshelovedtoshopfor clothes,butatthemomentshejustwantedtogohomeandrelax.
“You’vespentovertwoweekssleeping,”Mothersnapped.“Thecotillionis intwodaysandyou’regoingtoneedallthepreptimeyoucanget.”
“Cotillion?Ican’tgotothat.Notrightnow.”
Mothershookherheadsadly.“You’refifteenyearsoldandyouhaven’t madeasinglecontactamongyourpeers.Wecan’taffordtowasteanymore time.”
“Isuppose,”Jerimuttered.Thecarcametoastopinfrontofaclothes boutique.Jerisawthemannequinsinthewindowdressedintheirfloor-length gowns.Sheshiveredasshethoughtofhavingtowearsuchadresstoshowoff forabunchofMother’srichfriendsonlyfivedaysremovedfromhavingher entirebodyrebuilt.
Muchofthatbodystilldidn’tfeellikehers.Thiswasaproblemasshe triedtostepoutofthecarandtrippedonthecurb.Thechauffeurcaughther beforeshecouldfall.“Thankyou.”
“Trytobemorecareful,dear.”
“Yes,Mother.”
Jerilimpedintothestorebehindhermother.ShestayedbehindMotheras ifshewereatoddleragain.Asasalesgirlapproached,Jeribracedherselfforthe girl’sscornfulgazefollowedbyawarningtheyshouldleavethestorebeforethe BeautificationSocietywascalled.
Instead,Jerisawsomethingelse:jealousy.Thesalesgirltriedtocoverit withasmile,butJerirecognizedthelookalltoowellfromwhenshe’dbeenthe mostbeautifulgirlinhighschool.Sheletoutabreathshehadn’trealizedshe’d beenholdingandthensmiled.Therewasnoneedforhertoworry;shereally wasn’tuglyanymore.
Shedidn’tpaymuchattentionasMotherandthesalesgirlpickedoutan assortmentofdresses,blouses,skirts,nightgowns,andundergarments.Jeri merelyreveledintheattentionshereceivednotonlyfromthesalesgirl,butevery othercustomertheypassed.Shewasnotonlyprettynowbutdesirableaswell.
Mothersentherintothechangingroomwithherpurchases.Jeritriedona simpleblackdressandthenstaredatherselfinthemirror.Herhomelyfigure beforecouldnothavepulledoffsuchadress,butnowshehadthecurvesto makeitlookgorgeous.Shebegantoimaginethefacesoftheotherg
irlsatthe cotillionwhentheysawher.
Itwouldtrulybeasighttobehold.
***
ThegownMotherchoseforJeritoweartothecotillionwasalongdark greenaffairthatsweptallthewaytothefloor.Thedresswasbothsleeveless andbacklesstoshowoffasmuchofJeri’sskinaswaspossible.Motherwanted toputJeri’shairup,butsherefused.Thecurlyredhairwouldmakemuchmore animpressionifitwereloose,toringherheadlikefierytendrils.Mother grudginglyacceptedthatJeriwasright.
Asthefinishingtouch,MotherpushedbackJeri’swildhairtofastenagold pendantaroundherneck.“Nowremember,youhavetoimpressthesepeople.
Thisisnotthetimetobeashrinkingviolet.Youarenolongerthatugly,timid girlwhohauntedmyhouseforfifteenyears.Todayyouareaconfident, beautifulyoungwoman.Understand?”
“Yes,Mother.”Jeriappliedherlipstickandthensmiledatherreflection.
Shelookedperfect.“I’mready.”
Motherdidn’ttakeJeridownstairsrightaway.Instead,MotherhadJeri
standbythetopofthestairs,behindastatuesoshewashiddenfromview.
“WaituntilIannounceyou,”Mothersaid.
Jericouldhearvoicesdownbelowandtheclinkingofglasses.Shefound herstomachbeginningtoflutterandsweatpoppinguponherforehead.There weresomanypeopledownthere;allofShada’smostpowerfulexceptforthe queenherself.OnewrongsteporonewrongwordandJeriwouldembarrass herselfandMother,makingthemoutcastsamongtheplanet’selite.
Herbreathstartedtocomeinraggedgasps.Sheslidalongthewalluntil shefoundabenchtositon.Sheneededafewmomentstorest,togather herself.Whycouldn’tMotherhavewaitedafewweekstodothis?Therewere cotillionsallthetimeamongthewealthy;whatwastherushtopushJeriout there?
Shetookouthertinypursetopullouthercompact.Herfacewasflushed andsweaty,causinghermakeuptosmearinplaces.Shetookafewdeepbreaths andthendidwhatshecouldtorepairthedamage.Shehadtokeepcalmforjust afewmorehours.Thenitwouldbeoverandshecouldgotobedtorest.
“NowIwouldliketointroducethenewestbelleofShada,mybeautiful daughterJeri!”Mothercalledfromdownstairs.
It’sshowtime,Jerithought.Shetookacouplemorebreathsandthenglided tothetopofthestairs.Shebeganherslowdescentdownthewidesteps.Takeit easy,sheremindedherself.Shedidn’twanttotrip.
Asshewentdownthestairs,thenervousnessreturned.Herbodystartedto feelasthoughitwereonfire.Shepausedmidwayonthestairstoputahandto hersweat-drenchedforehead.Herheartbeatfasterwhileherbreathagainturned ragged.Sheneededtositdown.Sheneededtorest.Thiswastoomuchtoo soon—
Shetumbledforwardonthesteps.Shedidn’tfeelanypainasshefell;it wasasifherentirebodyhadgonenumb.Sheheardscreams,followedby someoneshoutingtocallanambulance.Mother’ssternfacefilledJeri’svision.
“Whathaveyoudone?”
Jericouldn’tanswer;shewasalreadydriftingintosleep.
***
Sheawoketotheblonddoctor’svoiceagain.Thistimeitsoundedfar grimmer.“I’veneverseenanythinglikeit.It’slikeherbody’srejectingthe treatments.”
“What’sgoingtohappentohernow,Doctor?”
“They’llprobablyshipherofftoaworkcamp.Mightaswellgetsomeuse outofher.Poorlittlebitch.”
“It’stoobad.Sheusedtobesocute.”
“Youcan’twinthemall,”thedoctorsaid.Jerimadesuretokeephereyes tightlyshutduringthisexchange.Sheknewtheywereagaintalkingabouther.
Apparentlyherbodywasreuglifyingitself.Thatmusthavebeenwhyshe’dfelt sofaintatthecotillion.IfonlyMotherhadn’trushedherintoit—
No,ofcourseMotherhadrushedherintoit.AndofcourseJerihadturned uglyagain.Itwasn’tKariwhohadfoundthestone;itwasValorperhapsthat scalybitchSana.Theywerebothcapableofsomethinglikethis.Theyhad cruellyraisedherhopesbymakingherprettyagainandthenembarrassedherin public.Nowshewouldbeforcedintoback-breakinglaborfortherestofher days.
Jerifinallyopenedhereyes,notthatshecouldseemuch.Everything aroundherwasreducedtoabluroflight.Sheflailedaroundnexttothebed untilshefoundapairofglasses.Onceshesettledtheseonhernose,everything cameintofocus.
Shewishedithadn’t.Whenshelookeddownatherself,shesawherbreasts haddisappeared.Therewasarolloffataroundthemidsectionofhergown.
Whenshebrushedhairforwarditwasstraight.Tohersurprisethehairhad darkenedtolightbrown.Thiswouldonlyservetomakeherevenhomelierthan before.
AsmuchasJeriwantedtosobonthebedforwhatshe’dlost,sheknewshe couldn’tstayhere.ShehadtogetoutofthehospitalbeforetheBeautification Societyshoweduptodragherawaytoafarmorsomeequallyterribleplace whereshewouldwitherawayintoastoop-backedcronebythetimeshewas fifty.
Herlegshadbecomeshorterandstubbier,buttheymanagedtoholdher upright.Shestaggeredovertotheclosettofindherclothes.Therewasagreen dressandaplaidovercoatMothermusthavebroughtfromhomeontheoff-chanceJerimightrecover.
Shehurriedtodressintheclothes.Shedidn’thavemuchtime.Thenurse ordoctorcouldreturnatanymomentandfindheroutofbed.Oncetheydid,it wouldn’tbelonguntiltheSocietycameforher.
Shepausedatthedoortolookoutinthecorridor.Therewerenosecurity guardsorSocietyofficersoutthere.Shedidn’tseeherdoctorornurseeither.
Jeristeppedintothehallway,keepingherheaddownsonoonewouldnoticeher plainface.
CodeBlack!”Thiswasthecodeforanescapeduglyperson—Jeri.
Sheforgotaboutcautionandpoundedfasterdownthestairs.Asshecame tothebottomofthesteps,shetookherglassesoff.Sheshovedtheseintoa pocketoftheovercoat.Withouttheglasses,shemightbeabletopassfora normalperson.
AsquadofSocietyofficerspoundedthroughthefrontdoorofthehospital.
Jeribracedherselfforonetograbher.Nonedid.Theyrushedpasthertothe stairsshehadrecentlyvacated.Sheheardtheirbootsclickingonthestairsas theyhurrieduptoherroom.
Jeriboltedfromthehospitalbeforeanyonecouldstopher.
***
Atthefirstphoneboothshepassed,Jeristopped.Shedidn’tknowanyone onShadaexceptforhermother.WouldMotherturnherinnowthatshewas uglyagain?JeridecideditwasbettertoriskcallingMotherthantorunaround onherown.
IttookseventeenringsbeforeMother’ssecretaryansweredthephone.
“CanIspeaktoMother?”Jeriasked.
“Justamoment,”thesecretarysaid.Therewasapausebeforethewoman said,“It’syourdaughter,ma’am.”
“Jeri,doyourealizewhatyou’vedone?ThewholeSocietyislookingfor you.They’reprobablylisteningtothiscall.IftheythinkI’mhelpingyou escape,they’lltakeeverythingfromme.”
“Isthatallyoucareabout?Whataboutme?”
“Whataboutyou?ForfifteenyearsIlivedwiththeshameofhavingsucha sub-ordinarydaughter,ahomely,timidmouseskulkingaboutmyhouse.When youfinallygetthechancetobecomesomethingmore,youthrowitaway!”
“Ididn’twantthattohappen.TherewasnothingIcoulddo.”Tearsstung Jeri’seyes.Aknuckletappedherglassesbeforesherememberedshewasback towearingthemagain.Thispromptedmoretearstoflow.“Mama,please,I needhelp.Ican’tdothisalone.”
“I’msorry,
Jeri,butIcan’thelpyou.Isuggestyoureturntothehospital.
TheSocietywillfindagoodhomeforyou,whereyourfaultscanbetolerated.”
“Mama—”Theconnectionbroke.Jeriheardacarscreechtoastop.She ran.
***
Jerishiveredinthealleywhereshe’dsoughtrefugeforthenight.Shetried torearrangeherovercoatonlytorealizeshenolongerworeit.Thecoatshe worewasjustascoarsebutshorter,witharoughskirtbelowit.Asilkscarfwas tiedaroundherneck,notthatitprovidedmuchwarmth.
Jerisatup.Toherreliefshesawherbreastswereslightlybiggeragainstthe
tanblousesheworebeneathatweedsuitjacket.Thebreastswerestillfarbelow average,butperhapsitwasastart.Withayawnshestretchedherarms.Shelet onehandrunthroughherhaironlytodiscoveritwasshorternow,downtojaw length.
Shewishedshehadamirrorsoshecouldseeeverythingthathadhappened toher,buttheredidn’tseemtobeoneamongsthernewclothes.Withagroan shepushedherselftoherfeet.Shetrudgedalongthealley,outtothestreet.
Fromthedimnessoftheskyitmuststillbeearly;itwasunlikelyanyonewould takemuchnoticeofheryet.
Togowithhernewoutfit,sheworeclunkybrownshoesthatwerenot designedforwalkinglongdistances.Jericouldalreadyfeelblistersformingon herfeetasshewalkedalongthesidewalk,stilltryingtocomeupwithaplan.
Shewanderedintothepark,whereanoutcastlikeherwouldn’tbenoticed, especiallynotatthisearlyhour.
Therewasabathroomintheparkwhereshewenttocleanupafteranight inthealley.Thismorningshestaredintothemirrorathernewface.She blinkedafewtimesastherealizationhither:shelookedlikeMothernow,only geekierwithfrecklesandenormousblack-framedglasses.Sheranahandalong thetressofhairthatcurvedaroundtherightsideofherfacetoframeit;her motheronPherahadwornherhairthiswaythelasttimeJerihadseenherbefore allthismadnesswiththeStoneofChange.Whenshelookedcloser,sheeven sawthewrinklesattheedgesofhereyesandmouthandcrinklingherforehead.