Wish Upon a Star Read Online Free PDF Page B

Did I miss dinner?”
    “That’s not what I meant.”
    I looked at her with confusion.
    “Dierdre called me.”
    “Oh,” I shouldn’t have been surprised.
    “Let’s go,” Mary grabbed my hand and marched upstairs. She pushed me into the bathroom with the command to shower –completely ignoring my protests.
    I shrugged. I did need a shower from doing all the set up work. After a nice, hot cleansing, I toweled off. I wondered what mom was cooking for dinner. I hoped it was something tasty, not the health food she liked to foist on us.
    Mary knocked. “Move it, Jen. We have stuff to do.”
    I hesitantly opened the door. She thrust underwear, a bra and a slip at me and closed the door again.
    “Mary! Wha-What are you doing?”
    “I’m helping you get ready for the dance.”
    “I don’t know if I’m going.”
    “You are.”
    “I’m pretty sure it’s my choice.”
    “Look, sis. You did all the decorations. You have to at least see them. If you’re miserable, you can always come home.”
    She had a point. I could make a quick appearance, say hi to my friends then disappear again.
    “Fine. But I’m not shaving my legs for this.”
    “Whatever.”  I couldn’t tell if she was laughing at me.
    In those tell-all interviews with models they mention how it’s not all fun and games. They mention physical pain and lots of discomfort. I totally related when my sister went after my eyebrows with tweezers. With every yank I whimpered. Tears squeezed out of my eyes. The price of beauty is too high.
    She applied creams and powders to my face. At last, my sister declared me done. It was about time. I didn’t know how much longer I could sit in my skivvies while she performed her own brand of torture.
    “Now, the dress,” She walked out of the room.
    I inspected my face and yelled after her. “About that. I was wondering if I could borrow one of yours. I hadn’t planned on going, so I didn’t buy a dress…”
    She walked in the room with the dress. The one I’d imagined wearing. The one that had transformed Mary from the obnoxious older sister into a princess. Panic struck. What if it didn’t fit? What if it didn’t look good on me? What if I ripped it or spilled something on it? She would kill me!
    “Put it on,” she ordered.
    I reached out and felt the shimmering fabric. “I couldn’t. What if I ruin it?”
    “It’s a dress. Now try it on.”
    I slipped it over my head with her help. The material slid down my body, causing me to shiver with delight. I looked at my sister to see what she thought. She tapped her lips as she studied me. She gestured for me to turn around. I spun slowly, nervous for her opinion.
    “Well?”
    “Gorgeous,” I heard my dad say. He stood behind Mary in the doorway. He had the far-off, my-baby-is-growing-up look in his eyes.
    Mary nodded. “You look amazing.”
    “Go look in the full length mirror in your mom’s closet.”
    I hurried to their room. I gazed in the mirror and wondered who had appeared. Without my t-shirt and jeans, I barely recognized myself. The makeup and up-do in my hair helped mask my face. For once, I felt…pretty. I felt like a girl. It was thrilling and bizarre at the same time.
    I noticed dad behind me. He had something behind his back.
    “What do you think?” I held out the skirt and twisted a little to make the dress ripple.
    “I think any guy would be lucky to dance with you.”
    I smiled.
    He pulled his hand from behind his back. He held a plastic box with a flower inside. “I was told every girl requires one of these at a dance. “
    He held out the box and I opened it. The flower’s blue matched my dress perfectly. I gasped in delight and surprise.
    “It’s a wrist corsage. Here.” He helped me put it on.
    “Thanks dad!”  I wrapped my arms around him and hugged tight.
    We ate our meal as a family. Then, it took about 3,000 pictures, but I finally slipped out the door to see my handiwork.
    ***
    The gym looked amazing. With the