Cinderella Smith (2 page)

Chapter 2
Shiny, Ruby Red Tap Shoes

“C
inderella, phone for you,” my mom called. “As soon as you hang up, we can leave.”

I don't get a lot of phone calls, so this was pretty exciting news.

The voice on the phone said very loud and bossy: “Who did you get for your teacher?”

And I knew right away that it was Rosemary T., who lives just down the block and always talks like that.

“I have someone named Mr. Harrison,” I said.

“So do I!” said Rosemary T. “Hannah and Abby do too, and so does Rosemary W.”

Rosemary W. was the new kid last year. Since all of a sudden we had two Rosemarys in one class, we had to start adding the initial of their last name to tell them apart. At first Rosemary T. couldn't stand it, but by the end of the year she didn't mind because they were friends and even went to summer dance camp together.

“I've been calling everyone on my cell phone this morning to find out who their teacher is,” said Rosemary T. “Emma and Amy and Nicole have Mrs. Kirk.”

“That's too bad,” I said. Emma and Amy and Nicole were in dance class with us, along with Rosemary W. and Hannah and Abby. Then I thought of something else. “You have a cell phone?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Awesome!” I was very impressed.

“It's my sister Andrea's old one. She's getting a new one for back-to-school, and she said I could use it. Guess what else?”

“What?” I asked.

“I'm getting my ears pierced!”

“Super awesome!” I said. I've wanted to get my ears pierced for forever, but my mom won't let me, and she doesn't want to talk about it anymore. If I ask about it even by accident, she adds another day to the time when I can finally get them done.
Alas
. Maybe my mom is a little wicked after all.

“Rosemary W.'s getting hers pierced,” said Rosemary T. “Hannah already has hers and Abby might too.”

“Wow,” I said.

“You should get yours done,” she said.

“I can't,” I said.

“Why not?”

“My mom doesn't think I'm responsible enough yet.”

“Maybe she would if you would quit losing shoes,” said Rosemary T.

“Maybe,” I said.

“Keep asking her all the time. That's what I did all summer long.”

“I already tried—,” I started to tell her, but she interrupted.

“And it's not that expensive, if that's the problem.”

“I don't think it's—,” I started to say, but she interrupted again.

“I've got to go. My mom is taking us to the mall for back-to-school shopping.”

“We're going back-to-school shopping too,” I said.

“Maybe I'll see you there.” She hung up and didn't even say good-bye.

“Guess what, Mom?” I yelled. “Rosemary T. called me on a cell phone, and she's getting her ears pierced. She said Rosemary W. and maybe even Abby are, too.”

“I see,” said my mom.

“Do you think maybe, possibly, I could get mine too?” I asked.

My mom's eyebrow went up.

“You know what they say: the more the merrier!” That's something my Grandmother Smith always says. She especially says it when I ask if I can do something she's doing, like reading Dear Abby or watching one of her soap operas.

My mom's eyebrow went up even higher.

“I take it back; I take it back!” I yelled. “You didn't hear that, right? Right?”

“Hear what?” said my mom.

“
Phew
.” I wiped my forehead all dramatic.

When we got to the mall, it was very, extremely crowded with back-to-school shoppers.

My mom didn't want to lose us, so she held on to Tess with one hand and me with the other. The ear-piercing place was right in the middle of everything, and right there was Rosemary T. with her big sisters.

“Hi, Rosemary T.,” I said.

She looked up from where she was studying all the earrings. “Hi.” She looked very grown up, with a purse over her shoulder and shopping bags at her feet and no mom in sight.

“Where's your mom?” I asked.

“She having coffee and letting us shop by ourselves,” said Rosemary T. Then she stared hard at my hand that was holding on to my mom's. I let go of it quick, but I felt a little alone without it.

“Did you finally talk your mom into letting you get your ears pierced?” she asked.

“No.” I thought I'd better change the subject super quick. “What did you buy?”

“So far I've gotten three shirts and a pair of jeans,” she said, “but we just started.”

“I'm on my way to get a new pair of tap shoes,” I said.

“I got a new pair right before dance camp started,” she said. “But I might get another new pair for class.”

“I can't wait for it to start next week,” I said.

“I can't either,” said Rosemary T. “I wonder if Miss Akiyama will move me and Rosemary W. up a level. We got really good over the summer.”

“Have you made a decision yet?” the ear-piercing lady asked Rosemary T.

“Yes. I want these.” Rosemary T. pointed down to a pair.

“Go get your mom and we can get started,” said the ear piercer.

“I'll just call her.” Rosemary T. pulled a cell phone out of her purse.

“Rosemary!” Rosemary W. ran up to Rosemary T. She had a purse slung over her shoulder and was with her big sister too.

“You got here just in time, Rosemary!” said Rosemary T. “I'm going to get these.” She pointed to a pair of earrings in the glass case.

Rosemary W. and all the big sisters crowded around to see which pair she'd chosen.

“Hi, Rosemary W.,” I said.

Rosemary W. looked up. “Oh, hi, Cinderella. Are you getting your ears pierced too?”

“She can't yet,” said Rosemary T. “She's not grown up enough.”

Tess grabbed my hand and pulled me and my mom toward a shop with plastic horses in the window. And I was not mad at her one little bit. I was glad to get pulled away.

“Bye,” I called to the Rosemarys and their big sisters.

“I'm just asking out of sheer curiosity and no other reason,” I said to my mom. “How much does it hurt to get your ears pierced?”

“They do it differently now,” said my mom, “so I'm not sure. When I had mine done, I went to a doctor's office. He pinched my ears really hard until they were numb and then stuck big needles through.”

“Wow,” I said. “That must have hurt like the dickens.”

“I didn't feel a thing,” said my mom. “Your uncle was in the exam room with me, though, and he fainted.”

“Because of all the blood and guts?” I asked.

My mom laughed. “There was no blood and guts. He was just a little squeamish.”

We found everything on my school supply list at Office Mart. I didn't get a Puppy Power Messenger Bag because my old backpack was still fine, but I did get a box of sparkly pencils and scissors with pointy ends.

We just had to get mini cinnamon rolls because they smelled so good, then we went to the dance shop. A pair of the most beautiful tap shoes was in the window. They were shiny ruby red with a fancy bow, but were really spendy. I tried on a pair of regular black ones and my feet had gone up one whole size. The next pair fit perfectly, but when we went to the counter to buy them, my mom surprised me with a capital
S
. She asked if they had the red ones in my size, and she bought me those instead! I do not know why she did that, but maybe she's not so wicked after all.