The Lunam Ceremony (Book One) Read Online Free PDF Page A

interrupts with a single knock as she opens the door. “You ready to hit the road?” She brings her hand to her mouth, trying to hide the shock so evident in her eyes. “You, uh, look different, Kalysia.”
    “I did her hair and makeup. Isn’t it great?” Krystal’s face beams with pride.
    I pray my mother isn’t her usual truthful-to-a-fault self. I don’t want to crush Krystal’s confidence. “Isn’t it great, Mom?”
    She puts her hand on her hip and leans on the door frame. “It’s very chic. I’m just not sure it’s you, Kalysia.”
    “Maybe I don’t want to be me today.” I wink at Krystal as I stand and walk out of the room to get my bag. Fake eyelashes and teased hair still won’t hide the fact that I’m scared out of my mind. I hide my shaky hand as I lift my bag onto my shoulder. The only other time I felt this nervous was when I stood in line to ride the roller coaster at the top of Stratosphere. My knees buckled as I looked over the edge. That was the first time I felt fear. In the nervous, pee-your-pants sort of way. What I feel now is more like I want to puke then run or run away while I’m puking. I walk into the bathroom and stare at the overly mascaraed hair-bear I’ve been transformed into by Krystal. I start to laugh at how ridiculous I look. No boy in his right mind would ever pick me for a partner. I have nothing to worry about.
    I meet my mom out front. Jessie and Bonnie are packing the last of the bins in the trunk of the convertible. Mom offers more kind words for Krystal and tells her she has a good eye for color. She hugs and kisses Sophie Ann, and then Krystal. “You two be good,” she warns. “I’ll be back after Lunam, so you’ll have to deal with me and your mom if I hear you’ve been acting up.” They pretend to be annoyed, like teenage girls do, and assure Layla they will be angels.
    I decide to ride with Jessie and Bonnie in the SUV after Layla mentions making a pit stop at a shopping center nearby. The idea of spending time with my mom is tempting, but shopping sort of kills any chance of us actually speaking. And shopping with Layla is torture. She always tries on a million outfits and usually ends up buying the first one in the pile. When she’s on a mission, nothing and nobody can get in her way.
    I give her a hug goodbye and tell her to hurry. I know I’m about to become a woman, but I still want my mom there for support. “I will, honey,” she says and hands me a little travel bag. “You’ll need this.”
    I settle into the back of the SUV and open the bag. I laugh as I look inside. God, I hate when she’s right. I pull out a container of makeup removing wipes and start swiping my eyes. I use a handheld mirror in the bag to check my progress. It takes six wipes before I look like me again. My hair is a lost cause. I put it in a messy bun and sit back to enjoy the beautiful scenery outside. The drive to Clearlake is a series of twists and turns into the mountains. By the time we pull to a stop in the gravel parking lot, I can’t tell if the knot in my stomach is from the drive or fear. I hop out of the SUV and stretch. Sweat slides down the back of my knees. In the desert the heat is dry, but here it’s like a wet blanket being draped over my body.
    Layla must have beaten her personal record for her fastest shopping time ever, because she pulls up only ten minutes after us; she looks as if she just rolled out of a salon. She unties the black silk scarf from her head, and there isn’t a hair out of place. She steps out of the car and I notice she is wearing a dress. It’s a retro Marilyn Monroe style black and white halter that looks amazing on a curvy woman like Layla.
    Bonnie and Jessie whistle when they see her. She spins playfully and poses by the car.
    “Who are you trying to impress?” I ask as Jessie loads my arms with grocery bags.
    Layla adjusts her boobs and smiles at me. “Just worry about yourself tonight, sweetie.”
    I’ve seen