information could prove very detrimental to Heidiâs social position. Doreen had to participate. That was the only way. Otherwise Heidi could lose everything.
An elegant woman clicked by in skinny jeans and a glittery top, led by three Pomeranians. Doreen stepped aside to let her pass, and Heidi saw her straighten her posture slightly. She even turned and watched the woman after sheâd gone by. Heidi smiled, exhaled. Anyone could see the longing in Doreenâs face. That woman had stepped right out of Roland Gibbonsâs world. But it could be their world, too. Doreen and Heidiâs.
âI hear what you are saying, I do,â said Heidi, taking Doreenâs arm. âBut, Dorie, you want to excel at Chandler. Socially, I mean. Donât you? Thatâs what I thought. The unfortunate truth is that all entrances into high society are very closely guarded. Thatâs the bad news. The good news for you and me, Doreen, is that the guards are superficial, but stupid. It is easy to get past, the only requirement is that you look the part. So, the way I think of it, the Arthritis Foundation is making a kind of unknowing investment in me. By giving me the trappings of wealth, they are making it possible for me to join the ranks of high society. So that one day, when Iâm an adult, I can spend the five grand or whatever may be required to don a designer gown and help the suffering millions. Make sense?â
âI guess.â
âPlus, itâs fun. Trust me.â
âBut, wait, sorry, just one more question. If we are just going to steal the stuff, why come here? Why not just go to Bloomingdaleâs or something?â
Heidi sighed. âFirst of all, I would never go to Bloomingdaleâs. Second, these places have the same designer labels as the best stores, but everyone in there is a volunteer. There is practically no security at all. Itâs so easy, Doreen, youâll wonder why everyone doesnât do it. Now letâs go. We have a lot to get to today.â
Doreen resumed her pace beside Heidi. âHey, you know what? Iâm happy to go along. Seriously, youâll get no judgment from me. But maybe Iâll just observe for a while. Would that be okay? Iâll just browse and not, like, take anything.â
The girlâs resolve had shaken, but she would go along with the program, all right. Heidi was sure of that.
âDo what you want, Doreen. Just be quiet about it, cool?â
âYeah. Right. Cool. You got it.â
The clothes. The shoes. The scarves. Everything was so, so tempting. And Doreen looked perfect in everything.
âWeâll donate, wonât we? When weâre older,â said Doreen as they walked between the Cancer Foundation and AIDS Research, her step swinging from the mint-condition Roger Vivier heels sheâd worn out of the store.
âOh, weâll save the world, Doreen,â Heidi said. âWe just need a little boost first.â
âDoreen, you are a natural. Better than I ever expected. You see,â said Heidi, âwhen you look and act like you are in your rightful place, you are treated accordingly. It is simply the difference between feeling grateful and feeling entitled.â
Doreen and Heidi sat at a little table in the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton hotel. Their haul of stolen clothes surrounded them, in shopping bags from real designer boutiques. Heidi had brought the bags along to transport their loot and add to the overall effect. And it worked. The girls looked exactly like a pair of society ladies relaxing after a tiring day of shopping.
Heidi leaned forward provocatively and lowered her voice. âDo we have a room here? No. Can we afford a meal or a cocktail? No. But for a couple of dollars we can sit here all afternoon, drinking Diet Coke and feasting on free snacks. We can speak intimately with one another about things nobody else will understand, we can allow ourselves to be admired. And
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