Miyu's Wish (22 page)

But I shook my head and smiled. “No, I don’t think I would. I like to think that one day, he’ll learn how to be a good man all on his own.”

Before she could respond further, there was a gigantic splash, leaving us both sizzling and drenched.

“Oh Miyu, we’re so sorry!” Ruby exclaimed, emerging from the frothy water. June had appeared just behind her, sticking her tongue out at Tamara. “We didn’t realize you had joined us!”
She grabbed June by the hand and immediately lunged over to me. “It was just that Tamara was being so mean.”

“It’s OK, really!” I said frantically as they crowded about me. “I’m fine!” But they were already clinging to my arms and stroking me as if I hadn’t said anything.

I was wet and annoyed, but the sound of Tamara laughing to my left brought me an unexpected sense of peace.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

T
he day’s itinerary was a busy one, and our attendants ushered us through manicures, pedicures, deep massages, and the like. We all felt increasingly exhilarated as we sailed through the process. But though I appreciated the pampering as much as anyone, I remained a little distracted. Kimberly and Marlene had barely said a word to me since their reunion. And then there were Mary and Liz, who simply moped along from one event to the next as if being marched toward their eventual executions. I had to intervene.

“Please be nice to them!” I urged everyone while Mary and Liz were in the bathroom. We were all dressed in white robes, with white towels wrapped around our heads like turbans.

“Why did you invite them, anyway?” Candace asked somewhat dismissively. “They obviously don’t want to be here.”

“I’m trying to help them uncover their hidden beauty,” I said with a sigh, realizing that probably sounded sillier than intended.

Candace smiled. “That’s nice Miyu, but some people just can’t be helped.”

Her words were like icy quills plunged into my skin, but I feared she was right. I glanced at Marlene and Kimberly, but they were now oblivious to everything, gabbing about inconsequential things several feet removed from the rest of us. I then peered at Tamara, but she only shrugged.

“The facials and makeovers are this way,” Mom announced as she approached us. She had been observing us throughout the day, but had not really partaken in any of the events beyond receiving a nice manicure.

We looked down the granular hallway, its stone walls seemingly carved from the inside of a mountain, and saw Miss Stone beckoning us forward to a large, glass door. The girls eagerly pranced down to her, leaving Mom and me alone.

“Looks like you’re missing two,” she remarked. “Everything OK, child?”

“Yeah, I’m just waiting for Mary Beth and Lizzie to get out of the bathroom.”

“Those two are tough ones to reach, aren’t they?” she observed, staring at the restroom door. “But the makeup portion is the most important. This is where you show them how pretty they can really be.”

“I hope so,” I replied uneasily. Suddenly, I heard the scampering of feet behind me. I turned to see the Twins stop right before me.

“There you are!” June chirped at me. “We want to help!”

“Yeah! Making those two over will be fun!” Ruby agreed.

My mouth fell open. “You really want to help?”

“Of course!” they both sang eagerly.

I heard Mother chuckle softly as I turned around to see Liz and Mary emerge uneasily from the bathroom. The Twins bolted straight for them, grabbed their hands, and dragged them down the hall.

“Hey, wait,” Mary muttered. But she and Liz quickly relented as the Twins forced them onward, giggling all the way.

“You better get going,” Mom beamed at me.

I returned her smile and then scurried after them.

After our facials, the Twins and I worked with the resident beauticians to bring out Liz and Mary’s hidden shine. We fought with their matted and tangled hair, held down their arms as their eyebrows were plucked, and taught them how to choose and apply a proper base and foundation to their faces.

“This is senseless!” Mary complained, squinting her eyes and gritting her teeth as a beautician rubbed moisturizer into her cheeks. Liz, for her part, clung to her chair as if enduring a root canal.

I smiled wearily at them. “This will all be worth it in the end, I promise.”

The Twins laughed. “Miyu, what color lipstick should we choose? Blue? Green?”

I peered at them warily. “It’s not time for that yet. But let’s just stick with traditional colors for today.”

As Liz and Mary’s transformation became more evident, the other girls began crowding around with interest, providing their own feedback.

“Hmmm, I think a touch of apricot gold would do wonders for Mary,” Candace suggested, looking through the collection of blushes and illuminators available.

Janet smiled. “Either way, you two look adorable!”

Both Mary and Lizzie gaped at her, while the Twins and I giggled from a distance.

“They
are
looking really pretty, aren’t they?” Ruby asked enthusiastically.

I nodded gratefully. “And more importantly, I think they’re finally beginning to enjoy themselves.”

As we watched, Miss Reed walked up and reminded us we still needed our own makeovers. “If you don’t go now, you might not have time later.”

And so we followed her to our own chairs and let the beauticians work their magic. Within an hour, I was admiring my new face in the mirror as my artist stood smiling behind me.

“What do you think?” he asked. “Have I managed to capture every ounce of that radiant face of yours?”

“Yes, you do lovely work,” I said quietly, turning my face from side to side. Little specks in my painted cheeks glittered under the surrounding light, and my lips were redder than the darkest rose. He had worked my hair into one long, elegant braid going down my back, and perched a white flower just above my ear. I smiled at him through the mirror. “Yes, very lovely work. Thank you.”

He seemed pleased. And with a slight bow, he ushered me toward my gleeful, awaiting friends. Indeed, everyone was transformed into ravishing, otherworldly beings; they were now all huddled about, inspecting and admiring each other with joyous faces. Not surprisingly, Mary and Lizzie seemed to be the primary focus of their attention, and the two twirled awkwardly in front of the other girls. I watched them wistfully and placed a hand to my chest, remembering that not all transformations were so simple.

Mom was holding a camera and gesturing for us all to stand and pose for a picture just inside the salon entrance. I hurried over—giggling and laughing with the rest of them—lined up, and beamed my prettiest smile into the camera. As Mom snapped the shot, I felt two pecks grace my cheeks. I quickly turned to see Kimberly and Marlene gazing at me.

“Hey!” I said pouting, but I couldn’t help but smile. “What was that for?”

“For everything,” Marlene replied.

I tried to speak, but only a bashful squeak left my lips, and I stared uncomfortably at the floor. Apparently seeing this as another opportunity, they quickly bent over and kissed my cheeks a second time.

“Hey!” I exclaimed, but I was laughing now as they pulled me into their arms. I squeezed them as hard as I could, and they both cradled me gently.

“Miyu?”

Kimberly and Marlene let me go, and I turned around to see both Mary and Lizzie staring at me. I barely recognized them; both bore matching hairstyles that fell past their shoulders in delicate, wispy curls, and their faces were smooth, pink, and radiant. But most remarkable were their penetrating eyes. No longer hidden behind their thick glasses, they burned into me with a marvelous, crystal-clear intensity, enhanced further by long, willowy lashes.

I folded my hands together beneath my face. “My two beautiful princesses.”

“You both look stunning,” Marlene agreed.

Mary spoke bashfully while Liz played with her hands. “We just wanted to say thanks. Once we finally got to look at ourselves, well, we saw two people we didn’t know were there. And we like what we saw.” She smiled gratefully while Liz gave me a cheery nod.

“I’m glad you found them, because that’s who I saw all along,” I replied happily.

Blushing, Mary stepped forward and kissed me on the cheek, followed by Liz a second after.

I wiped my eyes, not knowing what else to say.

Kimberly cleared her throat. “The question now is whether you two have the apparel to go along with those beautiful faces.”

Mary and Liz glanced at each other. “Our jeans and sweaters are all we brought,” Mary said haplessly.

“I suspected as much,” Kim said knowingly. “But don’t worry about it. When we hit the mall, we’ll find you something appropriate. On me.”

I looked up at her and beamed. “You’ll do that for them?”

She squeezed my shoulder and winked. “Of course. It’ll be fun!”

To our surprise, Liz suddenly clapped her hands and cheered. “Thank you, Kimberly! Thank you!”

We all laughed, and Mom called us to attention.

“Manfred is waiting to escort us out to the lobby, so everyone this way!”

We followed her out of the salon—a bit more daintily than when we had entered—and headed down to the main entrance. I exited last, and found Tamara waiting for me just outside the salon door. Her beautician had styled her hair into a series of wavy crests that swept over her head and fell partially across her face, hiding her left eye. She was absolutely striking.

“What?” she asked, tilting her head away in an almost snooty gesture.

“You look wonderful,” I said admiringly.

She shrugged. “It’s not really me, but…”

“Yes?”

She grinned at me. “But, this was kind of fun.”

We all changed into the cute dresses and outfits we brought with us, and then said good-bye to Manfred, Miss Reed, and Miss Stone as we gathered back into Kimberly’s limo. The mood was light and cheerful—even Liz and Mary actively joined in the revelry—and once we reached the mall, we dressed them in the cutest fashions available. We then escorted the pair around the mall, and I enjoyed counting the number of flattering looks they received from passing guys.

Nevertheless, I eventually felt the need to wander off on my own. I found a bench and sat down, staring at my little feet as they rocked beneath me. I rolled my tongue against the back of my teeth, and rubbed a lock of my hair against my cheek. I closed my eyes—hearing my mom’s sweet voice wafting through my mind, saying that she loved me—and listened to the happy laughter of my friends. And then Keil’s face appeared, looking cold and abandoned, and everything darkened into shadow.

My body was trembling, and I had to stand; my feet slowly brought me to the large fountain at the center of the mall. I
glanced down and studied my reflection in the water, a forlorn creature beckoning for help. A tear fell from my face and shattered her image. I could hear her crying.

I looked up, and in the distance observed Kimberly demonstrating to Liz and Mary how to properly wear a shawl. I gazed back into the water, my quavering image barely recognizable.

Let me stay. Please.

But as always, no answer came; the girl in the fountain seemed to shrivel.

“Are you making a wish?” Ruby asked from behind.

I quickly wiped my eyes and took a deep breath. “Something like that,” I said. I turned around and beheld the Twins observing me peculiarly.

“C’mon,” June motioned. “Your mom is treating us all to ice cream!”

“Oh, OK!” I said, trying to smile. I cleared my throat and let them drag me away, but I could still hear the girl crying.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

W
ith December now in full swing, the following Monday found school abuzz about the upcoming Christmas Ball—now less than two weeks away. Most of the gang intended to go; Marlene had already been asked by a guy named Duke, and both Janet and Candace had their own prospects in mind. Tamara remained undecided whether she even wanted to attend, and I was shocked to find that Kimberly was also unsure.

“I suppose if the right guy asks, I’ll go,” she explained to Marlene and me after lunch on Monday. “But there really is no one I find especially appealing at the moment.” She shrugged at us, perhaps a little glumly, and then proceeded off to her classroom.