Kylie Jean Fashion Queen

by Marci Peschke

  “Sounds like a plan,” Lilly says.

  Giving a quick little beauty queen wave, I smile and head back to the front of the bus.

  “Hurry up, little gal!” Mr. Jim calls. “It’s time to roll. You better get in your seat!”

  When I hop off the bus on Peachtree Lane, Momma has my afternoon snack all ready. While I eat my tangerine, I ask her if she can drive us to the Cut and Curl.

  “Of course I can,” Momma agrees. “I have some errands to run anyway.”

  I decide to text Lilly to let her know Momma will be happy to drive us to our appointment. Momma lets me use her cell phone.

  U R going 2 B happy, I type. Momma will drive us.

  Lilly texts back: Thx. C U tomorrow!

  * * *

  The next day after school, Momma drops us off at the salon. The Cut and Curl is one of my favorite places. It is so pink! It has pink paint and pink wallpaper, and fancy white chairs with pink cushions line the edge of the room.

  “Y’all have a seat,” Miss Norma tells us. “I’ll be finished before you know it.”

  “Yes, ma’am!” Lilly and I say.

  We sit on the soft pink velvet seats to wait for our turn. Lilly looks at a magazine while we are waiting. I look all around the room. Hanging on one wall are pictures of girls with pretty hairdos. Suddenly I realize the pictures on the wall are photos of girls we know!

  I tug on Lilly’s arm and point to the pictures. “Hey, isn't that Ruby Mae Butler?” I say. “We know her.”

  “I wonder why they all have short hair?” Lilly asks.

  “Miss Norma, can you explain how a picture of Ruby Mae got on your wall?” I ask.

  Miss Norma smiles. “Well, all those girls are so sweet, they cut off their hair to donate it to Locks of Love,” she explains.

  “Locks of Love?” I say. “What’s that?”

  “Locks of Love makes wigs for cancer patients,” Miss Norma explains. “All those girls cut off their hair so it could be used for wigs.”

  “That is so sad!” I say. “I wish I could cut off my hair and help, too!

  “Whoa, little cousin,” Lilly says. “I don’t think we can cut off all your hair without your momma’s permission.”

  I sigh. “But I really wanted to help.”

  Lilly hesitates, then says, “What if I cut my hair, and we donate it together?”

  I sure am surprised! “Oh, thank you, Lilly!” I exclaim. “You are the best big cousin ever! I just love your plan!”

  Lilly picks her new hairstyle from the magazine she has been looking at. Then Miss Norma washes her hair, pulls it back in a long ponytail, and snip-snip, she cuts it all off. After that, she cuts the back of Lilly’s hair super short and leaves the front a little longer. Her new short haircut is called a bob. It is so cute!

  It’s my turn next. First I get a shampoo. The water is warm and soapsuds tickle my ears. Then I take a seat in the chair, and Miss Norma swings a pink cape over me.

  Miss Norma has to raise the salon chair up a bit higher so she can fix my hair. The chair makes a pump, pump, pump sound as it goes up, up, up.

  Miss Norma uses the blow dryer and a round brush to curl my hair. She twirls the brush around my hair, but it doesn’t hurt.

  Next there is a flurry of hairspray, and then Miss Norma uses the curling iron to twist long, pretty curls all down my back. Finally she ties a pretty pink ribbon around my head like a bow.

  “You sure look like a little model to me!” Lilly says. “That pink bow will be perfect with your dress. We just have to fix your hair the same way the day of the fashion show!”

  Before we leave, Miss Norma uses her camera to take a photo of Lilly’s new bob for her picture wall. I get to be in the picture, too!

  “Say cheese!” Miss Norma says.

  Lilly and I both smile, but instead of “Cheese!” we say, “Fashion!”

  We all laugh. Just then, I spot Momma’s car out front. The little bell on the door rings as we leave the salon.

  When we get in the car, Momma is so surprised by Lilly’s big haircut. “You look as pretty as a picture, Lilly!” she says.

  Lilly blushes. “Thank you,” she says. Then she asks, “Can I borrow Kylie Jean again on Thursday night? We’re having a fashion show rehearsal at the convention center to practice.”

  “Sure thing,” Momma says.

  I can’t wait! Look out runway, here I come!

  It’s finally Thursday! I have been anxiously waiting for rehearsal day to arrive. I thought it would never get here.

  In the afternoon, Momma and I head over to the Jacksonville Convention Center to practice for the fashion show. Lilly is going to meet us there, so we wait for her in the lobby. Several girls from Lilly’s sewing class are already there with their models. They all look a little nervous, just like me!

  Just then, Lilly walks in. “Hey, little cousin,” she says.

  Before I can say hey back, Lilly’s friends all crowd around her like bees on a sweet-smelling blossom. Lilly’s new short hairstyle causes quite a stir.

  “Oh, I just love it!” one girl says.

  Another says, “It’s so adorable. Now we’re all going to want to cut our hair!”

  Lilly is starting to blush. I think all of this attention is beginning to make her feel a little embarrassed.

  Just then, a tall older lady claps her hands to get everyone’s attention. She introduces herself as Mrs. Brooks, the fashion show director.

  “Mrs. Brooks used be a model a long time ago,” Lilly whispers. “Now she gives etiquette classes — that means how to mind your manners.”

  The director walks over to us, and Lilly introduces me. “Mrs. Brooks, this is my model and cousin, Kylie Jean Carter.”

  Mrs. Brooks shakes my hand, saying, “It is nice to make your acquaintance, young lady.”

  Mrs. Brooks has a kind smile and she is wearing pink lipstick! I like her already. I want to make a good impression, so I try to remember everything Momma told me to do when you meet someone new.

  “Very nice to meet you, too, ma’am,” I say.

  Momma smiles, and I know she’s proud of me.

  Mrs. Brooks calls the models over for some directions. “I want everyone to line up by height, from shortest to tallest,” she says. “Then you’ll all walk on the stage so I can see how you do and give you some pointers before Saturday's show.”

  As we line up, I see the models are all ages. Some are tall, and some are small. I am kind of short, so I will be second in line.

  The first girl walks to the end of the catwalk and back. She is so scared that she never ever looks up.

  “That was good,” Mrs. Brooks tells her, “but when you are walking, look for your family in the audience instead of looking down. You will see a friendly face and not feel so nervous. That’s a good tip for everyone.”

  Then it’s my turn! I am already so nervous that my hands are getting sweaty. I close my eyes and imagine that I am walking down the runway in Paris, France. Standing tall, I stride across the stage flashing my best beauty queen smile. At the end of the runway, I do a twirl and put my hand on my hip.

  Mrs. Brooks looks impressed. “Have you been practicing?” she asks me. “That was an excellent walk!”

  “Thank you, ma’am!” I say. “I have been. My momma always tells me that practice makes perfect.”

  Mrs. Brooks smiles. “Your momma is right,” she agrees. “Girls, remember that — your momma is always right. Kylie Jean, can you walk again so the other girls can see?”

  “I’d love to!” I say.

  I do my runway walk again, and when I get to the end, I strike a pose. Momma is waiting with her camera to take my picture. She is trying to be just like the paparazzi!

  The other models take their turns too. Some of them sprint across the stage like they are in a race.r />
  “Remember to walk slowly,” Mrs. Brooks tells us. “The fashion show is a fundraiser for the prom, and people need time to see the outfits so they can decide if they would like to buy them.”

  When the rehearsal is finished, Mrs. Brooks tells us that we’ll need to be at the convention center two hours before the fashion show starts on Saturday. That will give us time to get our hair and makeup done.

  I can’t contain my excitement. “We get to wear makeup!” I blurt out.

  Momma shushes me until Mrs. Brooks finishes talking, but I don’t hear anything else. I am busy daydreaming about pink eye shadow.

  When we get home, it is already past my bedtime since it’s a school night. I put on my PJs and climb into bed quick as can be. I need to get my beauty sleep, because there is only one more day until the fashion show!

  On Saturday morning I wake up early. Excitement is buzzing through me like lightning in a summer storm. The fashion show is this afternoon! I wish the hands on the clock had wings so the time could just fly by!

  Momma makes breakfast for me, and I watch cartoons for a bit. After that I take Ugly Brother for a walk. The clock doesn’t seem to be moving at all.

  Up in my room, Momma helps me pick out some shoes to wear. We both agree that my pink sandals will look perfect with the dress Lilly made. Then I spend some time with my Barbie trying on some new fashion designs I made.

  Finally Momma calls, “Kylie Jean, it’s time to go.”

  “I’m coming!” I shout.

  Before I go, I give Ugly Brother a big squeezy hug. He has been a wonderful assistant, but dogs can’t attend fashion shows.

  On the short drive over to the convention center, Momma reminds me about the tips Mrs. Brooks gave us. “Remember to look up and walk slowly,” she says.

  “Don’t worry, Momma,” I tell her. “I am ready to rock the catwalk!”

  Momma laughs. “I believe you!” she says. “Practice makes perfect, and you have been practicing nonstop.”

  When we arrive, there are already lots of cars in the parking lot.

  “Are we late?” I cry.

  Momma shakes her head. “No, those are the cars of the other models and designers,” she says.

  Phew! I am so relieved. Inside the convention center, people are zipping around setting things up for the show. Momma leads me to the dressing rooms behind the stage. Lilly is waiting for me there.

  “Just in time, little cousin!” she says. “I sure hope someone wants to buy my dress today!”

  “I am going to look so pretty in your dress, I just know you’re going to sell it!” I tell her.

  Lilly has the dress in a clear plastic bag so that it won’t get dirty. The little pearl buttons on the pockets look so cute.

  “I want to put it on right now!” I say, reaching for the bag.

  But Lilly stops me. “Wait just a minute,” she says. “Hair first, then dress, and makeup last.”

  I sigh and say, “Okay.”

  We find an empty dressing room table. Lilly has a huge bag filled with hairspray, brushes, and a curling iron. She fixes my hair just like Miss Norma did with long curls in the back and a pink ribbon tied into a bow.

  “You look pretty as a picture!” Momma tells me.

  “Just wait until she gets dressed and has her makeup on,” Lilly says. “Then you’ll get the full effect.”

  Momma and Lilly help me carefully slip the pretty dress over my head. Then I buckle on my pink sandals. They look perfect with the dress! Next I sit on a tall stool while Lilly gives me a little pale pink eye shadow and some pink lip gloss. Finally she uses a fluffy brush on my cheeks to give me just a hint of pink blush.

  When she’s finished, I hop down off the stool so Momma can straighten the dress.

  “Okay, take a twirl and let’s see how you look,” Momma says.

  I twirl and twirl. Then I stop and pose with my hand on my hip.

  “Gorgeous!” Momma and Lilly exclaim.

  It’s almost time for the show to start, so Momma goes out to wait in the audience with Daddy, Lucy, and Aunt Susie. The other girls are still getting ready, and the room is noisy. I am crossing my fingers that someone pays a lot for Lilly’s sweet dress.

  Soon it’s time! Everyone has jitters as we line up. My hands are a little sweaty again. Mrs. Brooks has music playing, and there is an announcer that is going to describe the outfits as we walk on the stage. After the show, all the dresses will be hung in the lobby next to bidding cards so folks can buy them.

  I watch the first girl walk out across the stage. She remembers to look up.

  I’m next! I take a deep breath just as Mrs. Brooks taps me on the shoulder. It’s my turn to step up on the catwalk — I mean stage. Walking out, I smile widely. Right away I find Momma, Daddy, T.J., Aunt Susie, and Lucy sitting in the audience.

  With my hands tucked into the heart-shaped pockets on my dress, I walk slowly and confidently to the end of the stage. Then I do a fancy twirl and stop to place one hand on my hip. I just can’t resist giving a beauty queen wave — nice and slow, side to side — with the other hand. The audience loves my pose. They cheer as I turn to walk back.

  “Good job, young lady!” Mrs. Brooks says when I come off the stage. “I like your spunky charm.”

  One good thing about being second in line is that you get to watch the rest of the show without being nervous! The other models all do a great job too. Everyone remembered the pointers Mrs. Brooks gave us.

  When the show is over, we change faster than hummingbirds fly! All of the outfits are rushed out to the lobby to be purchased. Momma helps me change, and we go out to see who is going to buy Lilly’s dress.

  At first I don’t see it anywhere. But then I spot Lilly and the rest of our family standing near a huge line of people. I still can’t see the dress, but Lilly waves us over. She is so excited!

  “Just look at all these people that want to buy our dress, Kylie Jean!” Lilly says.

  Daddy winks at me. “I wonder who will get it?” he says.

  When the last person in line hands in her bidding card, Daddy steps up and writes something on a bidding card of his own. Then he hands it to Lilly.

  Lilly squeals. “One hundred dollars!” she shouts. “Thank you, thank you!”

  Mrs. Brooks comes right over. “Congratulations, Lilly,” she says. “One hundred dollars is the most money anyone has bid for a dress today!”

  “Yay!” I shout. “Lilly, your dress is the best!”

  Lilly gives me a high five. “We make a good team, Kylie Jean,” she says.

  Then an idea hits me like pearl buttons on a pocket. “Daddy, what are you going to do with Lilly’s dress?” I ask him.

  Daddy smiles at me. “I bought it for my very own little fashion queen!” he says.

  I give Daddy a big squeezy hug. I just love being the queen of everything, especially fashion!

  Marci Bales Peschke was born in Indiana, grew up in Florida, and now lives in Texas with her husband, two children, and a feisty black-and-white cat named Phoebe. She loves reading and watching movies.

  When Tuesday Mourning was a little girl, she knew she wanted to be an artist when she grew up. Now, she is an illustrator who lives in South Pasadena, California. She especially loves illustrating books for kids and teenagers. When she isn’t illustrating, Tuesday loves spending time with her husband, who is an actor, and their two sons.

  accessory (ak-SES-ur-ee)—

  a small item worn with clothes that adds to the overall outfit; items like jewelry, scarves, or belts

  auction (AWK-shuhn)—

  a type of sale where the item goes to the person who offers the most money for it

  bodice (BOD-iss)—

  the upper part of a dress, which covers the chest, separate from the skirt and sleeves

  dilemma (duh-LEM-uh)—

&nb
sp; a difficult problem that is hard to solve

  etiquette (ET-i-kit)—

  the rules of good manners and polite behavior

  ombré (ohm-BRAY)—

  a type of dyeing where the colors gradually fade into one another

  paparazzi (pah-puh-RAHT-see)—

  photographers who take pictures of celebrities

  pincushion (PIN-koosh-uhn)—

  something a designer or person who sews uses to stick their pins in, holding the pins until they need them

  pose (POHZ)—

  a special position that someone holds so that they can be photographed, painted, or drawn

  rehearsal (ri-HUR-suhl)—

  a practice, especially before the performance, to make sure everyone knows what to do

  1. Kylie Jean and her mom made snacks for the family to eat while they watched the Academy Awards. What kind of snacks does your family like to eat? Which is your favorite?

  2. Would you rather be a model or a designer or both? Talk about it!

  3. Lilly donated her hair to Locks of Love so that it could be made into a wig for someone who has cancer. Have you ever donated your hair? Talk about how you felt before and after. If you haven’t done it, would you like to someday?

  1. Kylie Jean makes her own designs for Ugly Brother, Tess, and several other dogs. Pretend you’re in her shoes, and describe the doggie designs you would make. Don’t forget to include your sketches!

  2. Think about what your dream outfit would look like. Draw a picture of it, and then write a paragraph about what makes it special.

  3. Pretend that you’re planning your very own fashion show! What would the clothes look like? What kind of decorations would you have? Who would come to the show?