"No eighteenth birthday brunch?" I asked my little sister while she ate a bowl of cereal at our kitchen table.
"You know I'm not one for going out," Polly responded, kicking her crossed ankles as if nervous to talk to me. Her blue toenails looked so cute poking out from her pajama bottoms. She had worn her light brown hair in a bob forever, preserving her look as my kid sister.
"Well if I don't get to do anything to celebrate my little sister, I'm going to have lunch with Joy and Payton. You're welcome to join." I, at least, would not waste a bright, sunny June Saturday. I knew that summer 2019 might be my last with both my friends. Joy was already working full-time and Payton's internship would surely lead to bigger and better things - and cities.
"We'll see," she chuckled. Polly got along with the three of us, but kept her distance for some reason. I don't think we ever intentionally pushed her away, we were just a bit intimidating whether at school or at home.
I thought about why Polly never came out with us as I took my breakfast back to my room. Everything must have started with Payton. We looked like a walking dumb-blonde joke, Payton the blonde, Joy the redhead, and me the brunette. I think Payton was keenly aware of being twisted into a joke, so in middle school she became not just the smartest person in class, but also the hardest working. She was a blonde bombshell and that annoying girl who made everyone know that she had every answer in class. Between her and glamorous Joy, joining our group meant feeling both ugly and stupid. I am pretty enough, but if they didn't love me so much, I would have felt that way.
I texted them "Lunch today?" and Joy responded, "Isn't it Polly's bday? Let's meet at your house and take her shopping." I was surprised she remembered - Polly wasn't on social media. "Pick me up at 11 Joy," Payton responded and our plan was set.
* * *
"Alright, where's that birthday girl," Joy shouted as I opened the door for them. Her long, yellow floral sundress seemed to flutter across my foyer as she blitzed past me, her ankle boots announcing her presence as loudly as her voice. Joy was our fashion leader and had the big personality to match her flashy clothes. The expensive boots and thigh-high slits contrasted with my simple blue and white maxi skirt and black flip flops in the same way our personalities contrasted. She was high fashion. I put myself together, but much more simply.
I motioned Payton ahead of me and admired the long, tan legs coming out of her white pleated miniskirt. The skirt was so short and loose that a small breeze could seemingly expose all of her. Her beauty put me in a momentary trance as she walked past.
"Polly's in her room," my mom said to break my trance. "I'm going out for a bit, Carly, don't stay out and forget your sister's birthday."
"We're not going to forget, Linda," Payton said to my mom.
"Yeah we're here to celebrate her!" Joy told my mom with a wink. Even just talking to my mom, Joy oozed glamour, personality, sexiness.
"That better not mean alcohol," my mom mumbled to me as she went out the door. She knew alcohol wasn't our vice, but we were still underage so she always reminded me.
I followed my friends to my sister's room. "Happy birthday!" Joy cried, opening Polly's door without warning, though Polly must have heard her downstairs.
"Thank you," Polly smiled, still under the covers, her face slightly red.
Joy took a hop and sat at the foot of her bed. "We're taking you shopping."
"Thanks, but you guys know I don't care much for shopping."
"Come on," Payton said. "Everyone likes pretty clothes and spending time with fun college girls. Doesn't mean you'll become that," she added with a motion towards Joy.
Joy stuck her tongue out at Payton. "Even though I'm going to have to slap her, she's right. Let's go, it's just hanging out and finding stuff we like."
"Alright," Polly acquiesced, "But get out of my room first so I can change."
After Polly had pulled on jeans and a t-shirt, we all piled into Joy's truck. Payton and I sat in the back, ostensibly in deference to the birthday girl but really at Joy's insistence. We browsed a few stores at the mall, but Polly shopping was really me and Joy bickering. The clothes Joy picked were too sexy for quiet little Polly - if we were going to help her shop, we had to upgrade what Polly was comfortable with.
But Joy did not seem to understand. On hot days, Polly wore baggy shorts, so I picked a pair that showed a little more leg but kept things appropriate. Joy picked out cutoffs that even Polly's tiny ass hung out of. Polly didn't own a casual skirt, so I had her try on a flattering knee-length gray skirt with a small slit. Joy found the tightest bright red skirt in Polly's size that barely came to her mid-thigh. Polly dutifully tried everything on and let us all see, but rejected everything. Payton stood back and watched us make fools of ourselves.
Our disagreements came to a head when we each presented Polly with a shirt at the same time. Mine was just a white v-neck T with a small decorative breast pocket. Joy chose a low-cut top with criss-crossed laces down the opening. "Joy, you're wasting her time," I exclaimed.
"Your sister's hot, she should push the envelope a bit," Joy retorted.
