Little Divas (16 page)

Rikki reached in and held up one of the forbidden items like it was nothing but a piece of gum and then tossed it back in the box. She asked, “How are we supposed to know what to do with it?” She looked so comfortable touching it, like she’d seen one before, like she’d even
touched
one before for that matter. But we both had virgin eyes, and she knew it. All three of us did.

After Golden picked one up, I reached in too. But I dropped mine right back in. Immediately I tried to erase the memory of the way it felt. An airless balloon, suffocating in plastic. It landed on top of another, and they seemed to multiply. I counted. Mary had given us three.

Mary leaned back and wrapped her arm across her stomach and around her waist, her hand holding onto her hip. She started tapping her fingers at her side and her usually dreamy eyes grew intense.

“Maybe it’ll be years from now, maybe it won’t, but whenever it happens, you are
never,”
Mary instructed us, “to do the grown up without one. Comprende?”

“Sí.” All three of us nodded.

Only deep inside I knew I would gladly wait to do the grown up until I actually became, well, a grown up. I didn’t say that out loud though. Some things, when you’re really sure about them, are okay just to think to yourself.

From the smile on Rikki’s face, I think even she would have agreed that having two friends is better than one. That night, the three of us promised to be together forever, no matter what. No crossing of hearts. No linking of pinky fingers. A promise has always been enough, and I know it always will be. Rikki, Golden, and me. The way things work even better.

acknowledgments

To God be the glory
Thanks also to Leann Heywood, Mel Berger, Ali Douglass, Sasha Illingworth, Kathryn Silsand, Lisa Moraleda, Rockelle Henderson, Gilda Squire, and all of the wonderful experts at HarperCollins.

A newspaper article once misquoted my mother regarding what I’d asked for while shopping as a child. “It was always a book, never a Barbie,” was how she was quoted. What my mother actually said was, “If it
wasn’t
a book, it was a Barbie.” I have such fond memories of what my friends called “BarbieLand” in my parents’ basement. I still remember when my friends and I threw a big welcome-to-the-neighborhood Barbie party around the Barbie Swimming Pool, the Christmas when I received “The Heart Family,” and even the plot where Ken saved Skipper from drowning. Mom and Dad, I know you could have done a lot of other things with what you spent on Barbies, but that’s where a lot of my love for storytelling began. So thank you.

Here’s to growing up in Toledo, the sorely missed Jacobson’s and being on “J. Board,” and Thackeray’s Books. Here’s to Dudley’s, Southwyck Mall, Sleepy Hollow Park—better known as “The Pond”—the “Mini-Mac” on Dorr Street, and the Strawberry and the Old West End festivals. Here’s to McTigue Junior High—and my “bestest friends” in the whole wide world back then. And here’s especially to my three cousins who made growing-up adventures so fun. Nikeeta Ziegler, Joy Harrison, and Robyn Harrison—“Keeta-Bea,” “Weez,” and “Roddy.”

My love and appreciation for their enduring support and/or encouragement: my sister Ginger, my family (far too many to name in the allotted space!), SUA, Marci Cannon, Rose Cannon, Rhonda B. Sewell (and
The Toledo Blade),
Chris Champion, Nkenge Abi, Stephanie Koehler, Melissa Timko, and Kelli Martin.

Finally, hello to my Leverette Junior High family in Toledo. Kids,
this one
you can read! Maybe Ms. Hawley will even give you a few extra credit points if you do!!

LITTLE DIVAS
is
Philana Marie Boles
’s third novel, although it is her literary debut for younger readers. She is also the author of two adult novels: BLAME IT ON EVE and IN THE PAINT. An inspirational speaker, Boles has a B.F.A. in creative writing and theater from Bowling Green State University and has worked as an educator in both New York City’s and Ohio’s public and community schools. Because she has been so inspired by the many students she has taught and mentored, “Miss B” feels blessed to be the founder and creative director of CeleRead—a national tour of reading CELEBrations!

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