Just a Few Inches by Tara St. Pierre

Author:Tara St. Pierre
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: selfesteem, teen relationships, body image, shrinking, selfesteem and weight issues, teen selfesteem, selfesteem and confidence, teen body image
Publisher: Tara St. Pierre

2’ 4”

Sitting on the top step, around the bend of the stairway and out of view, I eavesdropped on my mother’s conversation with Frank. “I won’t go,” she said. “I don’t care about the price of the tickets. I refuse to leave Carrie alone.”

“She won’t be alone,” said Frank. “Amy will be here too.”

“But Amy’s only thirteen. Is she old enough to…?”

I blocked my ears before I could hear the next word out of her mouth, fearing it would be babysit. I was willing to concede that I was no longer physically able to care for Kylie—who now stood over a foot taller than me—but Amy was old enough that she didn’t need constant supervision. Frank had already made sleepover arrangements for Kylie with his secretary who had a daughter the same age. I didn’t understand what my mother’s issue was.

“If something happens to Carrie while we’re out trying to have a good time, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Nothing’s going to happen. Amy’s trustworthy.”

“I know she is, but—”

“Diane, you’ve been so strong for Carrie’s sake while this has been happening to her.” Frank’s voice softened as he spoke tenderly to my mother, telling her things I completely agreed with. “If it’s possible, I think I love you more because of that strength. You haven’t missed a beat taking care of the rest of us too, but who’s taking care of you?”

“Carrie’s far more important than me right now. I don’t need to be taken care of.”

“Yes you do, Mom,” I muttered, knowing my little voice wouldn’t carry downstairs.

Frank agreed. “Yes you do. Carrie won’t begrudge you one night out. She’s old enough to stay home alone with Amy.”

I nodded my head, silently concurring with Frank. I wanted my mother to go out and enjoy herself at her twentieth high school reunion. Just thinking about it made me think about my upcoming graduation from high school and whether or not I’d still be shrinking then, and how tall I’d be at my own class reunions, if I’d ever be able to attend them. Someone deserved the opportunity to go to one.

My mother ultimately relented and decided to go, changing into a pretty but formal navy blue dress which would probably show her classmates that she still looked good twenty years later.

She made it clear that she would have preferred if I had a friend stay over with me. Unfortunately, Trish had a dance competition that weekend, and Lauren and I weren’t exactly on speaking terms. As much as I would have liked to invite Evan—probably the one boy my mother would trust enough to be alone in the house with me—our staff meeting the day before had been more businesslike than usual, making me feel guilty about how I left things with him. Instead, she made sure we had the phone number for the hotel where the reunion was being held along with phone numbers of friends she’d most likely be hanging out with just in case we couldn’t reach either her or Frank’s cell phone.

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