Part I, Arrival-this whole part is just one chapter

Morning.

Tracy Turnblad of Baltimore enjoyed "ratting" her hair. It was a popular idea of the 60s. She had dark brunette hair with a few blonde streaks on the front of her hair. She also had blonde bangs, but to some didn't like he hair very much. For example, just like her teachers, who put her in detention for it.

She had overslept one morning-she awoke at 8:15 am. Her mother had walked by and Tracy woke with a start.

"My alarm didn't wake me up and oh, shoot, I am going to be late."

Tracy pulled her clothes on and just as she was finishing the touches on her hair, she noticed she was low on hairspray. She yelled,

"Ma, I am out of hairspray!"

"Can't you go real quick and give you a can?"

"Today, I just don't have time. I don't want to miss the bus again."
"Just finish that one as much as you can and go."

Tracy just did that, but she knew not having her "full" amount would affect how her hair would stay.

Arriving at school, Tracy saw her boyfriend, Link Larkin.

"Hey Link!" she yelled.

"Hey, babe how was your weekend?"

"It was fine, but I missed you."

Tracy and Link kissed and headed to class.

After their first class, a girl and her parent walked down toward the principal's office.

"Tracy, there's a new girl moving here. Should we…?"

"I think we should wait till she is settled with the principal, We all know that at least once in our lives."

The principal met me and said,

"It says you're in theatre and choir-You have 3.5 GPA and seem quite honorable. Here's your class schedule. You seem to be a well-mannered young student. You're a junior-16 years old. Just in time for your third class of the day. I'll lead you there. Room 36-A, Chemistry. Here's a map for the rest of the day."
He led me to the Chemistry class. The principal told the class,

"This is Crystal and she is from the city of San Diego, California. A city much larger than are own. I expect you all to make her feel welcome."

Tracy wondered if this new girl was snobby or mean. But maybe not because no one really cares if you're mean or not, except for Amber.

Amber said nastily,

"Oh, look, we have another Tracy. We may as well have some fun with her later."

I wondered what she meant. But at lunch she was what most call a "bitch."

"Why are you eating that stuff? You don't need. Look at your chest and thighs, and your hair's all wrong."

I ignored her. She was teasing me about my weight. From most viewpoints, I am a little overweight, but I had lost weight before.

But she kept going.

"Did you know that San Diego has the highest overweight rate in California?"

Finally, I got angry. She had said too much. And that is one thing about me. Never push the weight jokes too far. I don't just get angry; I get pissed like a cobra about to attack.

"Stop it! Just leave me alone! I'll hit you if you don't."

Just then, someone grabbed my arm, for me to stop it. It was Tracy (though I didn't know it yet)!

"Don't let Amber get to you. Amber's been nasty to me all the time. She was remarking about you and me in chemistry. I'm Tracy Turnblad and you're Crystal right?"

"Come on, I know. Let's lead you to our table. Since you are new to here."

I noticed a young African American boy and another blonde girl.

"This is Seaweed and Penny," Tracy said, "They're my best friends. And this is Link, my boyfriend."

"Hey."

"I'm okay. At my school, they always teased me about my weight."

"Oh, so you're used to it. It's rude of my to ask, but where do you live?"

"Here in Baltimore, of course, I live in the eastern Baltimore. Near the joke shop. My parent bought me to register. Tomorrow I am taking the bus."

"I live near the joke shop, too 'cause my dad owns it."

"Are you rich, Tracy?" I asked.

"My dad doesn't make much money on it and my ma does people's laundry."

Tracy smiled at me, for I knew I found a friend in a smaller city.

"Crystal, Link and I have to do the Corny Collins Show today. Actually everyday Monday thru Friday."

Seaweed told me,

"My little sister is on the show, Lil' Inez. She won Miss Teenage Hairpray and if weren't for Tracy, we'd been separated by segregation."

"Yes, San Diego is integrated completely-in schools-everywhere."

"Can you come to show today?"

"I'll have to borrow some change so I can call my aunt. But I don't have any money to see the show."

"It's free and you will be surprise that the first Monday of each month is Friend Day. The council can bring a friend with them. Lil Inez takes her brother, I usually take Penny, but you've never been on the show. I can take you and Link can take Penny. It's fun. A great dance show, but you need to do something with your hair before you can go on. Come on."

After school Tracy said,

"This is my new friend and she's going to be on 'Friend Day!'"

Finally, the show began! There was Roll Call. After Tracy said her name, Corny said,

"Well, today's your council's friends will join us on the show today. So, let's begin with Tracy's friend. This is…"

"Crystal," I said.

"Well, you seem to choose a new friend without Penny."
"Don't worry-Penny, is Link's friend this month."

"Where are you from?" asked Corny.

"From San Diego, California!"

"A new person of the Baltimore area, folks!"

There was applause. After introducing the friends, Corny announced,

"It's time for the Pony!"

I remembered that I didn't know how to do the dances of the time. I had taken jazz and ballroom dancing, mainly because I wanted to be on Broadway. That's is why I took dancing, choir, and theatre, at school.

Tracy said,

"What's the matter, Crystal?"

"I don't know how to do the dances you know."

"Come on, I'll show you. It's easy."

She began teaching me, and thanks to my ballroom dancing lesions, I was able to catch on quickly.

"Good, Crystal! Now the next dance-the Mashed Potato."

She demonstrated and we managed to dance together. The Corny Collins show was over for the day.

"Tracy I am sorry I embarrassed you."

"You didn't. Are you sure you haven't done any dances before?"
"Well, I take ballroom and jazz dancing, not modern dances."

"A dancer-no wonders you did so well learning the dances. I can help you learn them better."

"Well, thanks, it's getting late and I'm a bit tired."

"Crystal, since I still have some time, do you want to meet my family?"

"I guess since that my aunt works. I guess it'll be all right. My family-my parents work for a company that makes them travel all the time. So, they decided since I don't have an other relatives in San Diego that I would have to live here in Baltimore."

"Okay, come on, Penny, Link. We're all going to my place."

As soon as we arrived at Tracy house, she called out,

"Ma, I'm home!"

Edna, Tracy's mother said,

"Saw you today with some girl-who is she? New friend?"

"Yes she came from all the way from San Diego."

"Where is her family?"
"Her parents travel, so she's living with her aunt about two blocks away."

"I can walk home now. Since I need to get home."

Just then, it started to rain.

"Now I can't walk to the house."

"Stay awhile-ma, can we have Link, Penny, and Crystal over for dinner?"

"I guess if Penny's mother doesn't mind."

"I'll call her and let her know I'm here. I hope she doesn't have a heart attack. She still treats me as if I am two."

After Penny called her mom, Tracy asked,

"What did she say?"

"Plenty, but she's coming once the rain lets up some.

An hour passed and we ate. Penny's mom came and showed up for half an hour. Penny's mother was a crazy skinny woman that thought I was related to the Turnblad family.

Yes, I knew my adventure in Baltimore had begun!

I headed home and then the next morning headed to school.