The Girl I Wanted to Be by Sarah Grace McCandless

Author:Sarah Grace McCandless
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2006-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

The next time I wake up, it is 11:34. On my bed stand, my mom has left the glass of orange juice poured into one of the Detroit Tigers cups we got for free at a game last summer. The ice cubes have melted, and the juice looks thick and warm, like soup. My mouth feels dry, the corners crusty. I force myself out of bed, slipping into my robe and grabbing the cup for a refill.

From the kitchen, I can hear the TV in the family room and the cheers of the Price Is Right contestants. “I bid one dollar, Bob!” one contestant chirps. I hope her strategy makes her the closest to the actual price without going over. The plan works, and Bob Barker calls her up onstage to try her luck at Plinko. It’s my favorite game, so I grab my fresh glass of juice and wander in to watch.

Betsi is camped out on the couch, buried underneath two afghans and staring past the TV out the window that looks into the front yard. She jumps a bit when she notices me in the room. “Hey, you’re awake. Want to sit down?” she asks, pulling her legs up to make room. I shake my head and plop down in the armchair instead. I can feel her eyes on me, but I concentrate on the television screen. The contestant is wearing a name tag that says NANCY and a T-shirt that reads TEXANS LOVE BOB BARKER , with an airbrushed dollar sign where the S should be. Nancy stands at the top of the Plinko board with the three chips she has earned, trying to navigate the best place to drop them and win the most money.

“Everyone thinks it’s best to drop the chip right above the highest money amount, but it’s a mistake,” Betsi says, reaching into a nearby box of oyster crackers. She drops a handful into her mouth and adds around cracker crumbs, “The trick is to find a spot off-center and let go.”

She’s right, but I remain silent and watch Nancy make this exact mistake, placing all her chips in the dead center above the highest amount only to watch them fall into the zero dollar amount on either side. Bob tries to act disappointed, reminds Nancy she still has a chance to win a spot in the Showcase Showdown, and leans over for his millionth kiss.

“He’s such a player,” Betsi says. “I can’t figure out why all these ladies are jumping out of their pants for a chance to kiss old Bob. What do you think?”

I shrug. “I dunno. They’re probably just excited to be on TV.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Betsi sighs. The show cuts to a commercial for dishwasher detergent. A housewife is beaming as she holds up her dinnerware, finally free of spots and grime.

“Where’s my mom?” I ask.

“She ran to the store to get you some ginger ale and stuff. She should be back soon.” I nod and stand back up.

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