Thank you so much to the person who gave me the suggesting for this story. I loved writing it.
The Shopping Disaster
"Good morning" Angelica said the next day as she came down stairs. She was wearing a jean skirt and a purple tank top and flip flops this morning. Today was a day that she had been looking forward to awhile. A shopping adventure with her Dad but that didn't happen yesterday because he was sick. But today is a new day and Angelica was able to invite Susie to come along too. She was so excited last night she could hardly sleep.
"What time did you tell Susie we will be picking her up" Drew asked at the breakfast table.
"Around 10" said Angelica.
After breakfast, Angelica brushed her hair and teeth like she normally did. At her age, she was glad she didn't have braces and was hoping not to get them.
"Ready" Drew asked as Angelica came down the stairs.
"Yes" Angelica replied
The car ride to Susie's house wasn't far from Angelica's. When Susie got into the car, Angelica noticed something different about her.
"Hi Angelica" said Susie "How has your summer been?" she asked
"Hi Susie" replied Angelica "It has been a long summer. Really looking forward to middle school"
"I know" said Susie "Can you believe at this time in 2 more weeks we will be there?"
Angelica started to have fears of the first day rather it was her locker getting jammed or getting lost trying to find her glasses.
"I can't" said Angelica "I hope we get some of the same classes"
"Me too" replied Susie
When they got to the mall. Angelica noticed that Susie had ground a few inches during the summer as they walked in. She always used to be shorter than Angelica.
"So what stores do you guys want to look at first" Drew asked
"Clothes" Angelica and Susie both replied
"Thought so" Drew laughed
As Angelica and Susie searched through the racks of clothing, Susie went over to a another rack. "I can't find anything here" she replied to Angelica
Angelica had known that Susie had just wearing teen clothing a few weeks ago and she was a little jealous because of it.
"Need any help" a sales lady asked
'No thanks" replied Angelica
"I am looking for a navy blue sweater in a size small" said Susie
Angelica hadn't even gotten to a size small yet. As she searched through the clothing department it was hard for her to find anything that looked cool.
"I think I'm ready for something new" Angelica told her Dad. "I think I am ready for the teen department" she said as she glanced at the clothes.
"Are you sure?" Drew asked "You are still wearing a size 12 in kids, Are you sure you'll be able to fit into those clothes"
"I'm sure" Angelica replied
"Well" Drew said "I don't think you are"
"Well" said Angelica "I think I am"
The teen clothing department in the store is where Angelica found Susie. She was looking at the shirts.
"I didn't know you could where teen clothing now, Angelica" Susie replied
"I just started too" Angelica replied
"I've been for a couple months now" replied Susie "And my mom thinks I am even ready for a bra and soon she said I'll get my period" Susie said with excitement in her voice.
This made Angelica feel mad. She wished she would've beat Susie to being the first one with a bra and even she wished she had her period before Susie started hers.
Angelica used to be jealous when she was younger but that has all gone away as she has gotten older but the fact the Susie is growing up faster than her is just something that Angelica doesn't like.
"I am going to get my period before you Susie" said Angelica
"This is not a race" said Susie "Neither of us is better than the other"
"Well I am" said Angelica "You got your ears pierced before me which I still haven't yet, And you even get to wear teen clothing" Angelica said
"Nether one of us is better than the other" said Susie said again.
"That is true, Angelica" said Drew "You guys are growing at your own rate" he said
"But Susie always gets everything before me" Angelica says as she raises her voice.
"No I don't" said Susie
"At least you have a MOM to talk to you with about things like this and have parents who are married" Angelica said as she walked out of store and sat on a bench
Angelica hadn't talked about the reason her parents divoiced. She didn't even want to think about it. Jonathan after so many years got what he had always wanted Charlotte. And Charlotte fell head over heels for him.
"Angelcia" said Drew as he came toward her "This is not the place for this"
Angelica felt hurt after her Mom left but has stayed strong through it all. She knew her Dad has been trying his best but sometimes she just wished she had her Mom to talk to about things.
"I know it's not easy, Angelica" Drew said as he hugged Angelica as he sat down "You are going to be going through some tough changes in the years to come and I really wished you did have your Mom around but you always have me" said Drew
"Really" Angelica said as she looked up
"Of course" said Drew as he gave Angelica a hug.
After Angelica's little meltdown, Drew took both of the girls to lunch at a restaurant in the mall.
"How about this burger place" Drew said as she pointed.
"Sounds fine with me" said Susie
"Ok" said Angelica
As Drew, Angelica and Susie go in they are waited on by someone who both of them knew.
"Mrs. Jacobson" said Angelica and Susie. Mrs. Jacobson was Angelica and Susie's teacher last year.
"How has your summer been?" she asked both of them.
"It has been good" said Angelica and Susie
"Are you looking forward to Middle School" Mrs. Jacobson asked them
"A little' said Angelica
"I am excited" smiled Susie
"Well I hope you girls have a great year" smiled Mrs. Jacobson "And be sure to come and visit me" she said as she left.
The waitress sat them at a booth in the front of the restaurant and handed Drew a menu and Susie and Angelica a kids menu with crayons.
"Today's special is macaroni and cheese" said the waitress "What would you like to drink" she asks
"Just water" said Drew
"Diet Soda" said Angelica
"Water" said Susie
After browsing the menu for a couple minutes. Angelica knew what she wanted. It was always simple for her to go into a restaurant because there wasn't much she liked but there was always either a hamburger, hotdog and pizza on the menu which were the foods Angelica liked to eat.
"What would everyone like?" asked the waitress when she came back. She looked like she had been working for hours, her hair was in a messy bun and the dark circles under her eyes were visible.
"Grilled Chicken salad" said Susie "with light blue cheese dressing"
"A hamburger with nothing on it" said Angelica "No pickle either"
Even thou Angelica did try some vegatbles a few weeks ago which Drew was proud about but that was all short lived. Angelica had been refusing to eat anymore vegetables
"Just try it with tomato on it" said Drew
"NO" said Angelica "I don't want too" she said as she shook her head.
While Angelica and Susie waited for their food to arrive, Susie colored.
"I haven't colored in ages" she smiled
"Well neither have I " said Angelica "But I am not 5 anymore"
"Neither am I" said Susie "But it is just so much fun"
"Not really" said Angelica as she broke her crayons in half and tossed them on the floor.
"Angelica" Drew said "Pick those up"
"NO" said Angelica
Angelica was being difficult that day and Drew couldn't help but wonder why but was hoping when the food came she would feel better.
When the food arrived things weren't much better. Angelica didn't like what came along with her hamburger.
"Yuck" said Angelica tossing the pickle on the grown
"Angelica" Drew said "You don't do that"
"Thank you Mr. Pickles" said Susie "This salad very good" she smiled
"I'm glad you like it, Susie" Drew replied
Angelica wasn't eating her hamburger which Drew was surprised about because that was one of her favorite foods.
"It tastes yucky" Angelica said as she pushed her plate forward "Can we go to Piggie's pizza, Dad" Angelica asked
"Angelica, we are eating here" replied Drew "Now eat your hamburger"
"NO' replied Angelica
As Angelica took a bite of the hamburger she spit it onto the grown
"This tastes like grass" said Angelica
Drew knew not to give in to Angelica. She had to eat what she ordered and she and she had to like it even if she didn't enjoy eating it.
"Just eat it, Angelica" Susie said
"Why don't you?" said Angelica
"Angelica if you don't want to eat it is fine with me" said Drew "but you get nothing more till dinner time"
"Fine with me" replied Angelica
Angelica sat and watched Drew and Susie finish their lunch. She did eventually eat a few French fries.
After lunch Drew took Angelica and Susie to look at shoes. Angelica still needed another pair of shoes for school so Drew thought today would be a better time than any since they were already at the mall.
Susie went her way looking at shoes and Angelica went with her.
"Those shoes don't fit you" said Drew "Maybe we can find something in the kids department"
"I am sick of wearing kids clothes and shoes, Dad" said Angelica
"Well until you feet get a little bigger you will have too" said Drew
Drew took Angelica by the arm and led her to the kids department. The shoes weren't like the shoes in the teen department and just like the clothes, Angelica didn't want either.
"Leave me alone" said Angelica as she cut loose from his grip and ran outside the store. Outside the shoe Angelica was on the floor. "This isn't fair" Angelica kept on saying as she kicked her feet on the floor, "It just isn't fair"
"Stop acting like a baby, Angelica" said Susie as she walked out. "Everyone is looking at us"
"They aren't looking at me, Susie. They are looking at you" Angelica pointed and laughed
"I am not the one who is throwing myself on the ground like I am a baby" Susie said as she raised her voice.
"But you are the one that started it" said Angelcia "I was supposed to have grown before you because I am older than you"
"By only 4 months" Susie replied
"Stop this now, Angelica" Drew said as he raised his voice even more.
When Angelica finally calmed down enough to go back into the store, she found a pair of shoes that were almost like the shoes she had when she was 3 years old.
"I found the pair of shoes I wanted" said Angelica
As Drew looked at the price tag that read $50.
"These are too much, Angelica" Dew said
"But I want them" Angelica replied
"Maybe for Christmas" said Drew
"But they won't have them at Christmas time" said Angelica "I want them now" she said.
As Drew thought for a few minutes, he was regretting telling Angelica she couldn't get the shoes. She had given up a lot since the divorce and really hadn't asked for a whole lot.
"Ok" said Drew "You can get the shoes"
A smile appeared on Angelica's face. "Thank you Daddy" she said as she hugged Drew "You are the best Daddy ever"
"Just try them on first" Drew said
"I am sure they fit" replied Angelica
Sometimes when Angelica liked something she doesn't look at the size of it. She just thinks it will fit. As Angelica sat down on a bench, she took off her flip flips and tried on the shoes.
"They don't fit" said Angelica as she threw the shoes across to wear her Dad was standing
"Maybe they have a pair in your size" said Drew
"Hopefully" replied Angelica as she got up.
Drew and Angelica looked and looked for a size 4 but couldn't find one available.
"This sucks" said Angelica as she kicked the rack "I want the purple shoes. I want the purple shoes" Angelica said over and over again as she continued to raise her voice.
"Angelica they are out of them" said Drew
Susie comes over with a box of purple shoes, almost like the kind that Angelica wanted.
"These look almost like the ones you had when you were 3, Angelica" Susie said
That really made Angelica mad. She grabbed the box of shoes out of Susie's hands and threw them across the room.
"If I can't get these shoes neither can you, Susie" said Angelica
"But I am paying for them, Angelica" said Susie "I want to wear them on the first day of school"
"Not with me around your not" said Angelica "Because I will take them off your feet if I ever see them on you"
Angelica and Susie were back and forth at it for awhile.
"That's it" screamed Drew "We are going home"
"Look what you did, Susie" said Angelica as she stuck her tongue out. "You ruined it"
"Did not" said Susie
"Did too" replied Angelica
"Did not" said Susie
When Drew, Angelica and Susie got back to the house. Susie's Mom was going to be there in a few minutes.
"I had a great time" Susie said "Thank you for inviting me"
"We were glad you could come along" Drew replied
"And thanks for ruining it" Angelica replied
"I did not ruin it" said Susie "That was all you Angelica"
"We are not longer friends Susie Carmichael" Angelica said as she ran up to her bedroom and slammed the door.
"I didn't mean to do it' Susie said downstairs
"It isn't your fault, Susie" Drew replied "I don't know what has gotten into Angelica today.
All of a sudden the doorbell rings and Susie's Mom comes in.
"How was your shopping trip?" she asked
"Fun" replied Susie "Angelica is upset that her isn't developing as fast as others thou"
"She is just upset that she can't wear teen clothing now" Drew said "shoe size is still a kids size"
"Can I talk to her?" asked Mrs. Carmichael
"You can try" said Drew "She might not want to listen thou"
Angelica was on her bed when Mrs. Carmichael came in.
"Angelica" said Mrs. Carmichael
"GO AWAY" replied Angelica as she threw a pillow at the door.
"I want to talk to you" said Mrs. Carmichael
"Nothing is going to change it" said Angelica "Nothing"
As Mrs. Carmichael came in, she found Angelica on her bed.
"This is not normal" said Angelica as tears came down her face.
"You will grow when you are ready" said Mrs. Carmichael
"But what if I don't" Angelica replied "What if I am like this forever?" Angelica asked
"Everyone grows at their own rate, Angelica" said Mrs. Carmichael "And your body will change but when it is ready too"
Mrs. Carmichael sat on Angelica's bed now
"Do you want to know what, Angelica"
"What" Angelica replied
"I wasn't even close to your age when I got my first period" Mrs. Carmichael said "I started wearing a bra just before I turned 14 and my period didn't come till just before I turned 15" she said "You see everyone grows at their own rate, Angelica"
"But Susie" said Angelica
"Susie hasn't started hers and hasn't even started to wear a bra but that all will come when she is ready. Just like it will for you"
The talk made Angelica feel a little better. She learned that day that everyone grows at their own rate. Some people are big and some are small.
That night as Drew put Angelica to bed.
"I am sorry about today" said Angelica
"I know" said Drew
"I love you, Daddy" said Angelica
"I love you to the moon and back again, Angelica" Drew said as he hugged her. "Today will all be forgotten about tomorrow" he said with a smile
As he turned off Angelica's light and closed the door he knew that he had a pre-teen on his hands now.