Okay, first off thank you for the review. Yes Aggie has thought this whole thing through, all the way to the last detail. Yes, some kids cannot handle wrestling but for Spinelli, this is a punishment. She definitely had it coming, especially with the fact that she has to smile throughout the whole thing and is not allowed to complain. I seen a few episodes of that show, but it is basically impossible to find online. But now onto the chapter.
Chapter 4: Training begins
Today was Sunday, which meant that Spinelli was starting her pageant training today. She was sound asleep when she was woken up by her grandmother. It was super early, but she was tired due to getting to bed late last night. She had hoped and was still hoping that her grandmother would back off, but it was not going to be today. She had to buckle up and smile through the whole thing, and she was not allowed to complain. After struggling to wake up after a while, she finally got up. Her grandmother in the meanwhile had picked out a dress for her to wear during the day. It was a plain dark blue dress. It was the only dress she owned, but she would wear it for family reunions or class picture.
As much as she did not want to wear the dress, she decided to put it on, but not without her cap or a hoodie to wear over the dress, along with a pair of socks. After a while, she went down to get breakfast. Her grandma frowned when she saw her, before speaking. "Take that sweater off. You can wear a jacket if you feel cold, and there won't be any need for a cap since we're going to the salon, so take that off as well before joining the rest of us for breakfast." Spinelli sighed before doing as told, taking off the sweater and cap, before sitting down to have breakfast. She frowned when she realized that it was oatmeal that she had to eat but ate it anyway.
All throughout breakfast, Aggie kept correcting her granddaughter. The girl was acting like a pig and even eating like one. Aggie knew that she had her hands full with her granddaughter, but she would get the girl in the shape.
Once they were done with breakfast, Spinelli and her grandmother drove to the salon. One of the people who worked there, came and found Spinelli and Aggie. Aggie explained that she had an appointment for Spinelli, and Spinelli was told to take a seat.
"So what should we do about the hair." A stylist asked.
"Can you make her hair more even and a better fit to her face. Give her some highlights and bangs." Aggie said. Spinelli wanted to complain, remembered what her grandmother had said about no complaining, chose not to complain as the stylist began to work on her.
"What about the nails for the manicure and pedicure, what color would you want."
"Make them pink." Aggie explained, much to Spinelli's dismay, but she was not allowed to complain, so she had to let the stylist do her work.
She started out by waxing Spinelli's leg, making her legs hairless. Then she went on to wash her hair and dye it. While the hair dye had to take time before the hair was being washed again, the stylist went on to give Spinelli a facial, and then she could get started on giving Spinelli a manicure and pedicure. Eventually it became time wash her face, and then her hair. After her hair was being washed, it was time to cut it. Spinelli's hair now went just down below her shoulders, shorter than it had been before, and she now had bangs. The stylish finished off by plucking her eyebrows. It sucked and it hurt, but Spinelli had to suck it up and smile. She had to keep her thoughts and feelings all to herself. Her hair looked so different now. It was now wavy, went down just below her shoulders, with bangs and light brown highlights.
Once they were done at the salon, it became time for the dentist, where Spinelli got her teeth fixed and even had them whitened.
Finally, it became time for them to go the jewelry store, so that Spinelli could get her ears pierced. While they were there, Aggie also got a black velvet box with something in it. It was closed, so Spinelli could not see what was in it, but she was sure that it had something to do with her.
After they were done with the jewelry store, Aggie suggested that they found a place to have lunch. They eventually found a restaurant and sat down at a table. A waiter gave them the menus to look over what they wanted. Eventually a new waiter came and asked them what they wanted to eat. Aggie was quick to speak and said. "The steak for me with a glass of vine, and a salat with dressing on the side and a glass of water for her." The waiter then took the menus and left.
"What if I don't want the salad. I wanted a burger with fries and a soda." Spinelli said, clearly not happy about what her grandmother had ordered for her.
"That is precisely why I ordered for you. That is another thing we need to work on. Your unhealthy eating habits. While I am here, I will also decide what you eat. Maybe once the pageant is over, you will have come to your senses regarding what you eat. Besides, we need to make sure that you stay in shape by the time pageant is here. We cannot have you gaining weight. That is not ladylike. Remember what I said about no complaining. Now sit uptight, keep those elbows away from the table, and close your legs." Spinelli sighed and did as told. She could tell that this was going to be a long month.
After a while, their meals came. All throughout lunch Aggie kept on correcting Spinelli regarding her eating habits, which annoyed Spinelli, but she had to do as said.
Eventually lunch had ended, and they drove home to the Spinelli house. It was just Flo in the house, since Bob was out watching wrestling with some buddies, due to wrestling being banned from their house. Flo was busy cleaning when they walked through the door. She was ecstatic when she saw Spinelli with a new hairdo. "Oh Ashley, your new hair looks so pretty. Oh and let me look at your nails." Flo said cheerfully.
Spinelli was uncomfortable by what her mother said but said nothing. Instead, she was about to go up to her room to read some comics when her grandmother started talking. "Where do you think you're going young lady."
"Up to my room, to read some comics."
"I don't think so. First you have homework, then you have pageant training, and then you have to help with dinner." Aggie was final in her statement, and Spinelli begrudgingly went up to get her homework, and do them in the living room. She then got started on her homework, despite how boring it was.
Eventually she was done with her homework, which meant that her pageant training would start.
Aggie soon enough found a pair of heels and started talking. "Okay Ashley, by the time the pageant arrives, you must learn how to walk in a pair of heels, so put these on, and start walking. If you fall, then you must get back up again. By the time, the pageant will be here, you'll be an expert in walking in heels." Spinelli put the heels on and started walking in them. To no surprise, she was bad at it, so she got back up again.
While Spinelli was busy walking in the heels, Aggie started talking. "As a young lady, you must learn how to behave in public, and you have to know a couple of things; When talking to others, you must always be polite, always say please and thank you, and always remember to curtsey. If being asked a question, always say yes, no or I do not recall. Of course, no burping ever, and if you must use the ladies room, always say excuse me. You must always remember to show gratitude towards others in a polite way. If you have a question raise your hand, and of course, as a lady you must never fight; instead, you can say something clever. Also, a lady does not nag nor brag. Now do you remember all that."
"I think so." Spinelli said, clearly being annoyed by all the stuff she had to remember.
"Okay then repeat them. You will do that every day, and eventually you'll know it all by heart." Aggie was firm, but she knew she had to be. She knew that with the right guidance her granddaughter would be a proper and polite lady by the next month. Spinelli repeated most of it.
After 30 minutes, Aggie then spoke up. "Okay Ashley let us try something else. Let us get started on working on your posture." She said, as she found a book, before speaking again. "Put this book on your head and walk in one line from one end of the living to the other end." Spinelli sighed and did as told, knowing she had no say in the matter.
After spending roughly 30 minutes working on her posture, Aggie told her that they should have tea. She wanted to see how Spinelli behaved when being served tea.
Soon enough, Flo came in with some tea and cake. She asked if they wanted anything, to which Spinelli replied. "Yearh sure." As she grabbed a piece of cake.
Her grandmother corrected her and said. "Ashley, you say "yes, please," when someone offers you something to eat. If you do not want anything you say, "no thank you" and not what you just stated. You also do not grab all the food at once. Let the server hand them to you or place them on your place. Otherwise you gently take one item and it put down on your plate. Do remember to take small bites when you eat, and do not talk when your mouth is full. You must always sit still and keep your legs closed" She said as Spinelli put sugar cubes in her tea along with a lot of cream.
After tea, Aggie wanted them to work on Spinelli's table manners, so they walked into the kitchen to the table. At the table, different sets of cutleries were seated on the table. Spinelli was now being taught which set of cutleries to use. She failed at that as well. But they continued to do so, for the next 30 minutes or so. Aggie was convinced that her granddaughter would know all of it before the pageant.
Soon enough, it became time for Spinelli to help out with dinner. It was one of her grandmother's rules. She honestly could not wait for the pageant to be, so that she could go back to her old ways. She had no clue on how to make dinner, so her grandmother would teach her.
During dinner, came a new set of rules. For starters, her shoulders were being tied to the chair. Apparently, it was supposed to help with her posture until she could sit properly.
Once they were all seated at the table, Aggie began to speak. "When you eat Ashley, you will sit still and chew with your mouth closed. Keep eating until your plate is empty. When you are finished and if you are being asked if you would like some more, you answer, "no thank you, I am already full." And of course, no elbows on the table, and no burping. Do not eat with your fingers. Always use a knife, fork, or spoon, and always be seated until -everyone else is finished. You must always eat everything on your plate; anything else is considered improper."
Once Aggie was finished explaining things to Spinelli, Bob decided to break the ice by asking how everybody's day had gone by. Flo started talking about her day, and Aggie chimed in. Spinelli was the only one not talking. For one, nothing fun had happened during her day, and second; she was exhausted.
Eventually dinner had ended, and it was up to Spinelli to clear the table.
Once she was done with that, she was finally free to spend the remaining hours as she pleased. She would usually spend it by watching wrestling, but that was now banned from their house, so she decided to read some comics.
Soon enough, clock was 9:30 pm, and she now had to get ready for bed. She would usually have a problem with having to go to bed so early, but she was too tired to fight back. Tomorrow was another day, and school would be a place of freedom from her grandmother, since she would be with her friends. Of course, what she did not know, was that her grandmother had plans for her tomorrow.
Next chapter: Spinelli goes to School but has a surprise waiting.
So, that is it for chapter 4, hope you all enjoyed it.
As always, I do not own recess or its characters, only my oc's.
Oh, and please read my other stories.
Please R/R and let me know what you all think, if you have any suggestions, feel free to comment.