“5…4…3…2…1…YEAH!” The class exploded with laughter and screams and yells. This was it; the last day of the seventh grade, how awesome was that? We’d been waiting for this day since September 7. No more tests, no more exams, no more homework, no more grades, no more school period for two more months. Summer was about the three F’s, fun, freedom, and friends. But most importantly summer was about…”
“Etiquette classes?” I shouted in disbelief, “A got darn Poise Ball?” My mother had to be going insane, “And what I suppose Miss Poise joins forces with the Mr. Maturity and together they rid the world of bad posture? What the crap mom?” I was thirteen year old Cassandra Miller, fastest runner on the Layton Middle school, and hard headed sister of two. My mother had to be out of her mind. I wasn’t in to these stupid pageanty things. I would be more likely to be playing tackle football with the high school varsity football team, than sign my self up to be Miss Poise. My closet had more jeans than Gap and my dark braided hair was never three feet from a hair tie. My formal attire consisted of white pinstripe suit, vest suit, and a blouse with black flared pants. The closest thing I had to perfume was heavily scented deodorant. And yet I stood before my mom with a filled out application for the Poise Ball with my name on it.
“Yes, well to the first bit,” she said smiling weakly, “It’s the perfect opportunity for you too…”She paused looking for the right word, “Never mind, you know what I mean.” She walked down the hall as if that settled the matter.
“Mom,” I cried out, “This ain’t over.” I ran after her, “Ma come on.” I looked pleadingly into her eyes, “Why?” It shocked me that she would have thought of this. She was perfectly happy with my boyish nature. She took one last look into my eyes before she cracked, “If you must know,” she started her dark brown eyes staring distantly into mine, “It was your grandmothers’ idea.”
“Which one?” I demanded to know.
“I said both.” So my grannies had turned against me. I understood I wasn’t angelic like my younger sister or dainty like my older one, but who care? I was a different breed. A tough, dirty, smart, never gonna get a date, tomboy, as my mother called me.
“Both,” I repeated sinisterly.
“Sorry Cassy. You know I wouldn’t have suggested it, but your grandmas came together with the application filled out and the check signed.”
“See that’s the problem with having both sides of the family in the same area.” I sighed. My mother laughed heartily.
“It can’t be that bad,” She said hugging me. I pushed away.
“Sitting in a room fully of bursary people isn’t that bad?”
“Are you callin’ your grandmas bursary?” She asked me still smirking. I thought for a moment.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying,” We laughed together.
“Now get,” She said gently shoving me down the hall, “Go play with your sister.” I walked passed Tammy’s room and shouted a "hi". The bed spun as I flopped down. I loved the fact that I was circular and suspended. What would I tell the girls, the team? This whole summer was jacked up. Hadn’t my grandmothers even thought about what I had planned? Now four full weeks would be completely gone. As the bed spun I drifted off. I lost focus of my gold comforter, then the dresser, and last my baby blue walls. It was a nightmare.
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