by Casey Peeler
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In the weeks leading up to homecoming, Maddie has been campaigning hard and has kept her distance from me. I’ve been passing the time playing pranks on Barrick in retaliation for the pranks he pulls on me. It’s become our thing and how we deal with having to see each other every day. At school I get to see what Jade was talking about when she first told me about homecoming. There are signs everywhere. Girls have been talking about what they are going to wear, who they are going to the dance with, and I suddenly realize homecoming in the South is like the Super Bowl for teenage girls.
Jade and I have gotten closer and I pull her aside after class to get more information from her.
“These girls are serious about it, aren’t they?” She laughs.
“Yes, they are. Are you going to go?”
“Yes, and now I need deets. Are you going shopping with me this weekend so I can find the right dress?” I question her.
There is hesitation in her voice. “Nah, I’ve got practice. Plus, my mom ordered one online for me.”
“Practice? What sport practices on Saturday at school?” I ask.
“I dance.”
Ah, she’s a dancer. I wonder if that’s why I like her so much. Maybe there’s a secret dancer vibe I was picking up on.
“Oh really? Where do you train?”
“At the studio down the road. I’ve been going there since I could walk.”
“Huh, cool.” I wonder if she is any good training at that rinky-dink studio. Seriously, why couldn’t Gran live closer to a big city so I could continue at a good school?
Jade and I go our separate ways and meet up for lunch. She tells me more about homecoming, and I can’t believe it. Apparently, the entire town shuts down like they do every Friday night for football. Girls in the homecoming court leave school early to get their hair, makeup, and nails done. There’s a parade downtown immediately after school, at halftime it’s like a mini pageant, and once it’s over everyone else leaves to get ready for the dance.
“So how does someone get on the court?” I ask her.
“People nominate and vote online,” she says.
“Do you want to do it?”
She wiggles in her seat a little before she replies. “I mean… I’d like to, but what’s the point? Maddie will win. She’s won the past three years.”
“I’ll be damned if she wins this year. It’s either going to be me or you, girlfriend,” I state, pointing toward her.
“Well, I’ll let you have that, Cadence,” she says seriously.
“No, I don’t know anything about this, and face it, I’m the new girl. You have the better shot at taking that high and mighty bitch down.”
“I don’t know. She might be a bitch, but I’m glad I’m in her acquaintance zone.” Who would have thought that Jade would refer to herself as an acquaintance to Maddie? I can’t believe she thinks that low of herself. I drop the subject, but know when I get home today I’m going to do my research, and this girl is going to leave a mark at homecoming. That’s for sure.
When I get home, I use my phone to do as much digging as possible on Maddie. I search all of her social media platforms. I swear it’s like she has people hypnotized around here. I shake my head.
“Whatcha doin’?” Gran asks as she enters the living room.
“Research.”
“Care to share? I’m a pretty wise cookie,” she says as she takes a seat beside me.
“I’m just finding out why everyone thinks Maddie is so special. Oh, and I’m trying to wrap my brain around homecoming. Gran, these girls are cray-cray! You’d think it was Miss America or something.”
Gran laughs. “Maddie is from new money. I’ve seen her at The Loft. She seems to have a string of people following her, which isn’t a good trait in my opinion. People should be who they are without someone telling them what’s popular or not. I honestly think she’s insecure. I’ve heard her mom isn’t stable. As for homecoming, you really should ask your mother about that.”
“You should ask me what?” Mom asks as she closes the front door.
“Cadence is asking about homecoming,” Gran says with raised eyebrows.
Mom sets her purse on the coffee table and walks toward the fireplace mantel. “Cadence, you really want to go? I remember homecoming like it was yesterday. Homecoming court, the parade, the halftime show. The moment I saw Mandy Monroe win my freshman year, I knew I wanted to be queen. And, Cadence, dear, I achieved my goal,” she says while pulling a picture out of a photo album.
I stare at it. The girl in the picture looks like me, but that dress is not something I’d be caught dead in. “Gran made my dress. We didn’t have money to go and buy one. I know it’s not your style, but when I was in school this dress set the trend for the years to come. Until that point, girls wore their Sunday best. I wouldn’t settle for that and Gran can take a flat sheet and make it look like it belongs on the front page of Vogue.”
I look at Gran. “Guilty,” she says as she wiggles her fingers. “Your Gran’s got deadly weapons right here.”
“Mom, are you serious?” I ask, still unable to process it.
“As a heart attack.” I sit and ponder that for a minute. I sure as hell don’t want to be homecoming queen, but I also know that I want to show Maddie who’s the boss. I really think Jade needs to make it on the court. She’s super nice and from what I can tell everyone likes her.
“I guess I need a dress,” I say to Mom.
Gran jumps up. “Hold that thought.” She hurries out of the room and comes back in with a box. She removes the lid and takes out a dress that is definitely older than me. “Whatcha think?” she questions.
“Ummmm.” I don’t know what to say. I’m sure that this is the dress in the picture, but it’s not my style. “Gran, that’s so twenty years ago,” I say with attitude.
“Regina, you want to try it on?” Gran questions.
“I doubt I can fit in it.”
“Come on,” she says, handing it to Mom.
“Okay,” Mom says and excuses herself.
When Mom returns, I’m in awe. Not only does it fit, but it is beautiful on her. I never knew my Gran could sew like that, but it’s obvious where Mom’s love for fashion came from.
“You look amazing, Mom.”
“Lord have mercy! It’s ‘bout time you said something nice,” Gran says to me.
I laugh. “It’s the truth. My mom is beautiful, and Gran that dress is beautiful for her but not me. Mom, do you think there is any way you can call in a favor? I need a new dress that’s hot off the runway.”
“Welp, there it goes. I thought we were makin’ progress, Cadence. Why can’t you shop at the mall?”
I look at Mom with worry in my eyes. “A mall around here? I’d rather die. Besides, Jade didn’t even shop around here. Her mom ordered one for her.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Mom says as she looks at herself in the mirror. For the first time since my dad walked out, I can see the light in my mom’s eyes shine.
