Read Online Love in the Time of Cynicism by Jani Berghuis - Free Book Online Page A

it. Soap, perfume, makeup, hair products, the works.
    She’s a mixture of the two parents more than any of the others I’ve seen. She’s got her mom’s voluminous honey blonde hair and freckles but her dad’s brown eyes and tan skin. Her crooked teeth are caged into multi-colored braces and she’s wearing what could only be described as the outfit of an underage stripper. Too-short shorts and a black halter top with an obvious stuffed push up bra. She’s like a tiny Amanda but looks much nicer. She’s squinting with one contact in, makeup smeared and smudged over her skin, and she glares at Rhett and me the moment we walk in.
    Rhett goes protective before she can get a word in. “Oh my god, Tannis, there’s no way you’re wearing that to school on my watch.”
    “I can’t get my other contact in, can you help me please?” Her words are slurred and marred by the dental gear and embarrassed tears fall quickly down her overly-blushed cheeks. I feel for her, really, after living through my longer than necessary awkward pre-teen years. I too wore thick coats of goop and tried to crimp my hair until it burned to distract from my height and lack of curves.
    “Get that crap off your face and come to breakfast.”
    I turn to him as she cries some more and tries to shove her contact back on her eye. She fails and I sigh heavily, “Rhett, I think you should let me handle this one. Woman to woman.”
    He stares guardedly at his little sister, wanting like any good older brother to protect her innocence and all that jazz. But he concedes. “Good luck.”
    I shoo him out of the small room as the scent of bacon wafts in from the kitchen. He shuts the door behind him and I lean against it.
    Tannis sniffles and slumps down on the lavender toilet lid cover. “Who are you?”
    “Your fairy godmother,” I explain with the straightest face possible. “Here to bring you makeup tips and bra advice. Not something I ever thought I’d do, but I see now that the situation demands it.”
    She looks at me dubiously, half squinting, and asks, “ You know something about makeup?”
    “More than you would expect from someone who doesn’t wear any.” I pause, grab some wipes from the counter. “Pro tip: the less, the better. Blush is for middle aged women with self confidence problems and lipstick is for the elderly who won’t get yelled at for wearing it.”
    She laughs quickly and swats at her tears. I lean forward awkwardly and wipe off the foundation, blush, lipstick, and running mascara until the cloth is thick with makeup.
    “Try again, Tannis.” I give her a reassuring smile. “This time with brown eyeliner and pink lip gloss. And never draw on your eyebrows again. It’s tacky. I also recommend taking the tissues out of your bra and putting on a sweater, but that’s just my sensible side talking.”
    “ You’re wearing a tank top,” she argues.
    “I’m also three and a half years older than you. And my shirt contains about four inches more fabric than yours. How about you change, wash and reapply your face, and then come out to eat breakfast with the rest of us?”
    “Can you help me with my contacts first?”
    “Why don’t you wear your glasses? They’d look great on you. Plus, guys dig girls with glasses.”
    “How would you know?”
    “For your information, I wear glasses and am currently in the process of reeling in my next boyfriend.”
    She giggles conspiratorially, “You want to date Rhett ? He’s so guh-ross !”
    “He’s alright, but I’m only saying that because there’s a two hundred percent chance he’s listening outside the door right now.”
    Rhett’s deep, not at all remorseful voice leaks under the door. “Caught me.”
    “Go away, big brother.” Tannis rolls her eyes. “We’re having girl talk.”
    “Very important stuff,” I add with a smile glued on my lips. Rhett’s family, though loud beyond measure, is great. I’ve never seen any families around here love each other and