Through Thick & Thin by Sandra Byrd

Author:Sandra Byrd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian
ISBN: 9781414360287
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2010-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 33

That night, Tuesday, I studied really hard for the next day’s science test, and when I was done, I had a brilliant idea. I was blonde, right? And nothing looks better on blondes than a little bronzing on their normally pale skin. I dug through a duffel bag I’d brought from the States and found exactly what I wanted. Bronze Glo: For those in the know.

I took a bath and shaved my legs first, then rubbed the rest of my skin with a washcloth to make sure there were no leftover skin flakes. I wanted a nice, even tan. I thought I’d just do a light coat at first, and then for Friday I’d add a little more. I knew I’d used this stuff before. I thought it had turned out okay. One thing I did remember, though—to wash my hands right after applying it. Otherwise your palms got “tan” too.

I smoothed the lotion all over my skin, stopping at my neck because I could put bronzer on my face. I washed my hands and let everything dry before getting into bed. Wednesday was going to be a good day.

Wednesday morning I woke up and, first thing, looked at my arm. Oh no! It wasn’t bronze—it was orange. And not a little orange. Really orange. I looked like one of the Oompa-Loompas from Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. I ran from my bedroom, still in my pajamas, to find my mom.

“I can’t go to school today. I’m not kidding. I really am sick.” I held out my arm. I lifted a leg and held it up too.

“What happened to you?” Dad asked.

“Tanning lotion,” Mom answered for me. “That’s not sick.”

“It sure looks sick,” Dad said, grinning. He slunk away when I did not grin back.

“Get your uniform on. Wear tights. Keep your sleeves down today. Button your shirt to the neck, and wear your tie tight,” Mom said.

I started to breathe again, just a little. Then I remembered. “PE!” I practically shouted. I could see it now. I’d have to get shorts and a T-shirt on, and everyone would see my legs and arms. One of the Aristocats would point it out to Ashley, who would say, loudly, that she couldn’t believe anyone would be that low class and she wasn’t sure at all that I should come to the Peter Chen shoot. And then Penny would be embarrassed that she’d suggested me, and later she’d ask me to remove her number from my phone.

“Savvy!” Mom called out. “Did you hear me? Wear a sweat suit in PE today. It’ll be okay.”

“Oh, oh yeah. Good idea, Mom.”

She came over and kissed my head, and I pulled away. She looked startled but said nothing. I, of course, couldn’t tell her that I really wanted us to be tight again, but with the secret disobedience between us, I felt unworthy.

I got dressed and went to school. I even made it all the way through PE by changing in a bathroom stall. And then I went to science.

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