1:

Rhonda sat on the picnic table, a pamphlet in her hand. Though most of the other kids were playing kickball, a small group from her class surrounded her. She flipped though the small paper book and pointed.

"That's what I'm going to get!" She tapped the page triumphantly. "Amethyst Blue Contact lenses! They'll really bring out my eyes!" She paused, then turned to the next page. "Then again, I do adore the Cerulean colored ones. And they would make a smashing contrast to my sable hair!" At this, she flipped her tresses over her shoulder. "Oh, decisions, decisions! And I only have five and a half hours until my appointment!"

Curly grabbed the book. "Get these ones!" He said. "Blood red with blue veiny things!"

"Ew!" Rhonda snatched it back. "Curly, that's disgusting!"

"These green ones are oh so pretty!" Lila pointed to a picture.

"What about Onyx black?" Said Sheena.

"Please, people!" Rhonda lay down across the table, holding the booklet over her face with her arms straight. "Whatever I decide, they have to be blue! I've always wanted blue eyes!"

Someone chortled. "Oh come off it, Princess!"

Rhonda sat half way up and glared. "What?"

Helga stood with her arms crossed. "You have brown eyes. If you get blue contacts, they'll just look brown."

"Shows what you know," Rhonda huffed. She pulled herself all the way up and swung her legs over the table. "And for your information, my eyes are hazel!"

Helga snorted. "Yeah, and I'm Darby O'Gill of the Little People. Your eyes are brown, Rhondaloid. Dark brown."

Rhonda growled, scrunching the pamphlet in her fist. "You're just jealous, Helga, because I get brand new contacts and you don't!"

Helga let out a loud laugh. "Oh I'm jealous all right!" She sneered. "For your information, I don't need contacts. My eyes are perfect!" She turned away and headed back to the other side of the playground. "Come on, Pheebs. Let's go make Harold give us some of his peanut M&Ms."

Rhonda growled again. "Ooh! That girl makes me so…so…"

"You're getting contacts, Rhonda?" Said a new voice. Rhonda turned to see Arnold, who had just sat down.

"Why yes I am!" She handed him the brochure. "Isn't it marvelous? No more geeky glasses, no more…" Several of the kids made huffy noises. Rhonda smiled sheepishly. "Not that they don't look divine on some people!"

Arnold gave her back her pamphlet. "I thought your parents said you couldn't have contacts until you were twelve."

"That was before! I'm much older and much more responsible now than when I first got my frames!"

"But that was two weeks ago."

"The point is," Rhonda continued. "Mommy and Daddy finally saw the light and generously allowed me to switch."

"You mean," Said Gerald. "You whined and moaned until they gave in."

Rhonda shot him a poisonous look. "You'll see," She said. "You'll all see! Soon Rhonda Wellington Lloyd will be outfitted in the prettiest, most comfortable contact lenses ever!"

Arnold lay his arms on the picnic table. "I don't know, Rhonda. Contacts are a big responsibility. Are you sure you're up to it?"

Rhonda grinned. She sat back with her eyes closed and her face turned towards the sun. "It'll be as easy as kindergarten mathematics."