Small Problem -13- by Melanie Brown

Small Problem

Part 13

Cathy and I spent the better part of Tuesday fretting about school starting Wednesday. This wasn’t the typical I don’t want summer to end type of fretting. For me, it was Oh my God I have to return to school after all these years? It just isn’t fair. And it’s not! I have degrees in physics, math and engineering. And now Mom insists I join the pimple brigade. Well, thankfully, I don’t have pimples. But still.

Mom insists I wear a skirt and make sure I shave everywhere. Having to roam the halls again, surrounded by noisy teenagers, is too much. And Cathy teasing me about being surrounded by boys. A lot of boys. That is intimidating.

Sitting through classes is going to drive me insane. So I wouldn’t be too bored in math class, I tried to sign up for Calculus. I wasn’t allowed because I have to take Algebra I first. I also have to take physical science. Needless to say, I wasn’t happy.

We were also either stuck at the house, or we had to rely on Mom for transportation. Cathy’s boyfriend’s car was still out of commission. We couldn’t even call Owen if we were willing to risk Mom’s wrath because after his car was impounded, his Dad sold it. And Mom was at work during the day.

Cathy held up a top and a skirt. “What do you think, sis? Do you like this combination or…” She dropped those items on the bed and picked up another skirt and top. “…this one? I’m kinda favoring the first one.”

I looked up from lying on her bed and said, “Then do the first one. What do I know? Does it matter?”

Looking offended, Cathy shouted, “Does it matter? We’re talking first day of school here. You gotta make that great first impression.”

I laughed. “What first impression? It’s not like you haven’t gone to this school before.”

Frustrated, Cathy asked, “What kind of girl are you?”

I grunted a laugh. “I’m sorry the nanites didn’t give me a fashion sense while they were transforming me.”

Sitting on her bed with me, Cathy asked, “So what are you wearing tomorrow?”

Shrugging, I said, “Probably the outfit Mom left out for me. It’s on my cot.”

Nodding, she said, “That is cute. Maybe I’ll just ask Mom.”

I nodded back at her. “Good choice. Now that we’ve solved that, any idea what we’ll do for lunch?”

“I’m going to have to call Marcia or somebody about getting to practice. Mom can’t take off early today.”

I sat up on the bed. “Why don’t you call her and see if she wants to pick us up for lunch?”

Cathy frowned. “Why did you get a boyfriend who can’t drive yet?”

I shook my head. “I wasn’t really given a choice. Why can’t Jonathan borrow his mother’s car?”

Cathy sighed. “It’s a mom-mobile. He hates driving it.”

I laughed. “Who cares? It’s wheels!”

Cathy looked down her nose at me. “You’ve been a dad too long. Jon would lose street cred if he drove that thing.”

I sighed as I slid off Cat’s bed. “Well, there’s a can of Beenie Weenies in the kitchen with my name on it. I’ll just have that.”

Cathy waved her arms. “Wait. You don’t have to go to that extreme. Let me call Marcia.” She picked up her cell phone and punched a few buttons. After a moment, she said, “Hey Marsh. What be the haps? … Yeah, we’re stuck for lunch ideas.” There was a longer pause, and she looked over at me. “Want to go to Caine’s?”

I nodded. “Sure. I like chicken.”

“Great!” Cathy disconnected her call. “Marcia will be here in about five minutes.”

“At least give me a chance to do my make-up!” I squealed.

Cathy laughed. “That’s funny. It didn’t take you long to be worried about make-up. Don’t worry. You won’t scare any small children.”

A few minutes later, we were picked up by Marcia, Wendy and Sandy. It was a tight fit in Marcia’s back seat.

As we got out of the car, Cathy asked, “Hey, Marcia. Will you be able to give us a lift to practice?”

Marcia sighed. “Sorry. I have to leave early to take Stewart to football practice.”

Sandy said, “You guys can catch a ride with me.”

Cathy let out a sigh. “Thanks!”

We weren’t quite expecting such a large crowd. And mostly boys. And cute ones at that.

Cathy poked me in the ribs. “Down girl. You’re spoken for, remember?”

“I can still look,” I said, grinning. Cathy laughed.

We were getting in line when three boys I didn’t know stepped up to Cathy. They were all wearing black leather bike jackets.

The tall one with dark brown hair and crystal blue eyes said, “Hey, Cat. Do you mind if me and guys join you for lunch?”

Cathy laughed. “Trying to improve your image?”

The boy chuckled, “Maybe. Hey, a biker gang gots to have biker chicks, right?”

Marcia grinned. “You can join us for lunch if you want, Douger, but you’re gonna be barking up the wrong tree. All of us have boyfriends.” She then turned to give her lunch order.

Douger sighed. “True. I know all of you… except…” He pointed at me. “Except this chick that looks like Cat.”

We all took a step forward as Marcia completed her order and stepped aside. I asked, “How do you know I’m not Cathy?”

Douger grinned. “Slight differences, but do you have a mole on your left tit?”

I don’t, but she does, and it’s not like it’s in open view. “How do you know about her mole?”

Douger’s grin got wider. Cathy suddenly looked worried. She stepped towards me and announced, “Doug! Have you met my sister Amanda?”

Still grinning, Douger said, “Nice to meet you, Amanda. So, do you have a mole…”

I cut him off, saying, “No!” I looked over at Cathy and asked, “How does he know about,..”

Looking embarrassed, Cathy said, “Everybody knows.”

Douger frowned, “Hey. You told me that was an exclusive club.”

The cashier asked, “Hey. Who’s next here?”

Cathy shouted, “I am!” and jumped past Douger and me.

Douger stepped up next to me. He looked at me with his gorgeous blue eyes. He said, “Amanda, eh? I think I’ve heard about you. Adopted? Do you like bikes?”

Sandy laughed. “You’re too late. She has a boyfriend.”

Douger shrugged. “So? He’s probably some little dweeb. Do you like bikes?”

Sandy said before I could, “She’s dating Chad.”

Douger’s grin dropped a bit. “Chad the football player?”

I grinned and nodded.

Sandy stepped up to give her food order.

Looking at me, Douger asked, “Cheerleader?”

I nodded.

Frowning, Douger said, “What’s the deal with cheerleaders and football players?” He then flashed another wide grin. “Challenge accepted!”

I shook my head at him. “You’re funny.”

One of his friends laughed. “Yeah. A real laugh riot.”

Lunch settled down when we all stopped talking about Cathy’s mole. Well, I’ll be asking her about that later.

* * *

We heard the other girls laughing as Cathy and I entered the gym. When they saw me, they all burst out laughing again. The coach hadn’t arrived yet.

Frowning, I set my fists on my hips and demand, “What’s going on?”

Cathy and I were waved over to the group. Ariel held up her phone. “Look! I found it. Your mug shot!”

Wendy laughed, :”You look like shit, girl!”

I scowled at Ariel. “I’d been crying. You’d look like shit, too if you’d been subjected to the searches I’d received.”

Marcia’s phone suddenly started playing Foggy Mountain Breakdown.She grinned. “Trying to make Bonnie here feel more at home.”

The coach stepped out of her office, scowling at us. She looked at me crying and said, “Okay girls. Hand over the phones. And apologize to Amanda. You got her crying, guys. It’s not funny. You can get your phones back after practice.”

Marcia handed her phone to the coach. “I’m very sorry, Amanda. I wasn’t thinking.”

I stood and coldly watched the phones being handed over. How could they bring up those horrible memories and think it’s a joke? Coach told me to go home. Of course, I couldn’t, so I just waited outside and watched Chad practice.

* * *

End of Part 13 of Small Problem