Sophie Style 1: The Big Move

“The baker was drunk,” said a voice. It was Lily.

“I know, right?!?” I answered. “I’m up to a sale at Chick It Out. Do you want to, you know, chick it out with me?” I giggled.

“Sure. Chick It Out is my favorite boutique. Is there honestly another sale?” she asked.

“Totally!” I shouted rollerblading faster.

“Wait!”

“What?”

“Where is this the sale? Kryptonian road?” asked Lily.

“Yup. It sure is, genius,” I responded. As we headed toward the sale, I changed into my high tops. They were neon orange.

I saw a big bright sign. It read:

 

Sale! Purses, jeans, shirts and more. Why are you waiting? Chick It Out!

 

As we got to the end of the line, we saw (or at least I saw) a glamorous pink purse.

“Lily, Lily, do you see that purse? OMG I want that so bad. Is anything catching your eye?” I asked.

“Those shoes rock,” she shouted, pointing to some silver sandals.

“I have those at home. Don’t spend money!” I assured her.

“Thank you so much, Sophie!” she smiled as we walked into the sale.

As I grabbed the purse I heard a noise.

“I mean, you know, wouldn’t this vest look perf on me?” the voice asked another girl. She was Audrey Kronenberg! My enemy. I thought I would never see her again.

“Hey Lily, I’m just going to get the purse quick. Keep shoppin’,” I reminded her as I walked towards Audrey.

“Oh hello, Sophie. What are you doing at my favorite boutique?” she asked.

“Buying clothes!” I answered.

“Hahaha! Gigi, she is so funny. She is holding a purse, duh! Where were you born, the trash? Accessories is what they’re called, dope,” she smirked.

“Yeah, you dope!” repeated Gigi.

“Gigi, I think this girl was born in a trash can. That blouse is so yesterday. The new thing is wedges,” laughed Audrey, clapping her hands.

“Yeah. It’s wedges!” Gigi explained.

“Excuse me! Where are your wedges, fancy pants?” I asked.

“Umm… Gigi, why did steal my wedges?” lied Audrey.

“I… I” paused Gigi.

“Go along with it,” mumbled Audrey.

“Didn’t mean to steal them?” asked Gigi.

Audrey nodded.

“Didn’t mean to steal them,” repeated Gigi.

“Oh okay. See? She didn’t mean it. Bye Sophie. I enjoy our little chats,” smirked Audrey.

“Me too,” I winked.

“Who was that?” asked Lily.

“Oh, a friend of mine. I bumped into her. Got the purse, let’s get out,” I lied. I grabbed a bra on my way out.

“She looks so pretty!” complimented Lily.

“Oh her. Nah! You should see her without her wig and makeup. Sheesh! She’s been to clown college,” I whispered.

“Is she bald?” asked Lily.

“Certainly not. Her name is Audrey. She can sometimes be grouchy. Kind of like a cat. Do a little thing. She’ll purr with anger!” I explained.

“Oh,” said Lily. She paused. She looked at her phone.

“Oh, look, my mom texted me saying she’s making chicken and soup for lunch. Wanna join?” asked Lily.

“Sure. It’s better than P B and J all the time,” I smiled.

“Don’t you have to ask your mom?” she asked.

I paused. I gulped. I thought about it.

“I did have to ask her but now I am intelligent and my grandparents respect that!” I explained.

“You’re lucky. My grandparents almost never visit me”

“Everyday!”

“Everyday? Where do they sleep?” she asked.

“My mother and father’s old bedroom,” I exclaimed. I wasn’t lying but I wasn’t telling the whole story like, Lily, they died long years ago.

“Oh. But where does your mother and father sleep?” asked Lily.

“They would’ve slept on a cot,” I admitted.

“Would’ve?”

“Yes. Would’ve!” When we got to Lily’s house, Lily, Angel Pony, and I were greeted by a lady in an apron.

“Oh, hello Lily, darling. Is this Sophie?” asked her mother.

“Yes mummy! We came for lunch. Chicken?” asked Lily.

“Chicken,” replied her mother, pulling Angel Pony’s collar. “Come inside now,” greeted her mom.

“Hey Lily. I learned a new part of the accordion. Want to hear?” asked a little boy.

“Not now, Austin. We have a special guest for lunch,” Lily explained.

Boy, was this family so simple.

“Perfect occasion!” grinned Austin. “Nananananana!!! Meehhhriy haad a little lamb. Fleese waas whitte as snoowww!!” sang Austin.

“He’s just learning,” explained Lily. She has no idea what MY brother is like.

“I see,” I answered.

“My sister, Phoebe, is going to camp a few roads away. She is quite the disturbing one,” frowned Lily.

“Oh,” I said.

“Lily. Our sister is beautiful and charming, yes?” asked her mom.

“Yes mom. Sorry!” answered Lily. Her mom handed us plates and sighed.

“Austin, I could use some piano of yours. Would you mind?” asked her mother.

“Not at all. Dingdedingdedong… Hot cross buns. Hot cross buns. Taaake a peeny pick it upp. Hot cross buns,” sang Austin.

“Lovely,” her mother smiled.

“Disturbing,” I heard her mumble. We giggled.

“So how are you?” asked Lily.

“Good.”

“What have you been doing?’’

“My computer.”

“I just am bored so I just ask that when I can’t think of something else.”

“Oh.”

There was a moment of silence. I chewed on my chicken wing. She drank her water. Her mother was washing the dishes and sitting there. Austin went to mail a letter to his pen pal.

Suddenly, the phone rang.

“Its for you,” grinned her mom.

“Hey Julie. Yeah sorry about that, I am kind of having lunch with my new friend. TTYL,” smiled Lily.

I gulped. How could she say that to her friend?

“So… do you want to sit on the porch and talk?” I asked.

“K,” mumbled Lily.

“Where did you live before Florida?”

“London.”

“London?”

“Yes. You might notice me and my mom have a slight british accent.”

“I did notice that.” I was quiet for a second.

“Last year the kids in my class made fun of me because they thought I had more of an Australian accent than British. They called me Willa the Australian.”

“I see. So, I was looking and I found this place where a lady will unlock our secrets on what our true hairstyle is. She’ll make it actually wearable.”

“Cool. I’m in,” Lily smiled. We walked to the hair salon and had a seat in the waiting area.

“Why, hello ladies. Are you here to unlock your secret style?” asked the lady.

“Yes. I am Sophie Resnick and this is Lily Largsburg!” I smiled.

“Sugar Pie, sit over by Lidya. You, my cutie, sit by Sarah. They know my secret and they do your hair” directed the lady.

Lidya grinned at me. “Hmmm. You are quite the lady. Darling, you got the swag of a bun,” explained Lidya.

I looked at Lily.

“I am a pony tail natural!” boasted Lily.

“I am buntiful!” I giggled.

Lidya gave me a cute bun and Lily got a pony.

“You make it work,” I admitted. We walked down to the corner of the road.

“What do you want to do?” asked Lily, fixing her pony.

“I have ten bucks! Wanna spend it on candy?” I asked, licking my lips at the smell of chocolates freshly made.

“Sure! In London, we used to have a cabinet full of sweets and sugar. Every night, before bed, me, Phoebe and Austin would sneak in and shower ourselves with it,” said Lily, licking her own lips.

“Ahh! Young girl, you visited the shop a month ago with another one! Where is she? You here for more?” asked the chef.

“Oh my grandmother. She is at home,” I explained. He was talking about Valerie. I didn’t want Lily to know that.

“Yes. I am new, chef. My name is Lily. Sophie wanted me to get just the sweet taste of Florida!” explained Lily.

“Our shop makes it a sweet place,” smiled the chef. “I am Chef Jason,” introduced the chef. I looked at the list carefully. I found and picked three items to share.

 

 

hot fudge-

comes in chocolate, vanilla, cream, and bean

 

sour patch-

watermelons, quatro belts, soda cans, cupcakes

 

gummies-

bears, sharks, and pretzels

 

nonpareils-

sprinkles or chocolate

 

chocolate bites-

caramel, chocolate chip, cookie dough, vanilla, mint, or chocolate

 

chocolate gumballs-

dark chocolate balls

 

I decided to share quatro belts, vanilla fudge, and chocolate nonpareils. Lily did want the gummy bears, but I wanted all of mine. My mom loved gummy bears because they reminded her of the loss of her teddy bear from growing up. So now I eat my gummy bears alone thinking of the loss of my dead mom. A tear dropped. I blinked it in.

“What a day!” smiled Lily, swallowing the last of her quatro belt. Suddenly, everything seemed clear. All my life, now it all came together. Maybe I wasn’t meant to be BFFs with Gina or even Valerie. Maybe I was meant to see the smiling face of Lily everyday. But then I remembered that I was moving in a few days! How would I ever tell Lily this? I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. I would tell her the day before and until then we could have some best friend fun. I was telling her about school and every detail about it when I wouldn’t even go to school there anymore.

“I’m free tonight, are you?” I asked.

“Definitely, Wanna come to my house for a slumber party?” asked Lily.

“Totes,” I grinned.

Lily’s phone dinged.

“Ugh! It’s Julie. She keeps bugging me about you. It’s like she’s jealous of you,” whined Lily.

“Well, she might miss you,” I suggested.

“Listen to this: She asked, What are u and that girl Sophia doing today? I answered, Going to get some candy! and she goes That’s our thing. I mean, if once or twice me and Julie went down the block to get M&Ms, it doesn’t mean it’s our thing,” explained Lily.

“Yeah you’re right, but does she have any other friends beside you in England?” I asked.

“Well…” Lily hesitated. “Not really. We kinda hung together the whole school year.”

“That’s it! She has no one to study with! No one to talk to! Lily, she’s lonely” I shouted.

“Let’s go to my house and pack stuff for the sleepover and we can talk,” I grinned.

Lily texted her mom and she picked us up and drove us to my house, with Angel Pony in the car.

“Thanks mom,” Lily smiled excitedly.

“You’re welcome. Honey Bee, I think you should know that Julie tried the home phone approximately twelve times. Call her back so that ringtone doesn’t drive me nuts please,” and she shut the door.

We got into my house. Talia lay on the shabby, gray, ripped and torn living room chair, painting her and her doll Sandy’s nails. The chair and doll belonged to my mom. Her smelly feet rested on a foot rest. For me that was normal. I could only imagine what Lily was thinking as Andrew played wii.