LUCY
‘This is MEGA-fun!’ Megan cries,
copying Shazza as she teaches everyone to moonwalk around the
lounge. I feel as if I’ve stepped into a time warp.
Shazza’s wild clothes and hair fit in perfectly now
she’s given everyone eighties makeovers – complete
with side ponytails and bright make-up – while Michael
Jackson struts around on YouTube on the TV.
How does she do it? If I tried to throw a party, no one would
come, and anyone who did would think it was uber-lame –
especially if I chose an eighties theme! But everyone loves
Shazza, and Megan seems to be her new best friend – and
mine too.
‘Come on, Lucy!’ Megan calls. ‘It’s
better than Just Dance!’
‘What’s Just Dance?’ Shazza asks.
‘You know, the Wii game?’
‘The
wee game
?’ Shazza looks horrified, and
I laugh. As I join in with everyone moving in sync, I finally
feel like I belong. If only Kimmy was here, everything would be
perfect.
Suddenly the doorbell rings.
‘Pizza!’ Shazza cries, and everyone cheers as I
hurry to get the door.
But it’s Kimmy!
‘You came!’ I beam.
‘Yeah,’ she mutters. ‘I got your text . .
.’
‘Woo! Madonna!’ Megan cries as ‘Material
Girl’ starts playing and everyone instantly starts doing
the dance moves Shazza taught us earlier.
‘
What
is happening?’ Kimmy looks around
uncertainly. Her eyes widen as she spots Shazza.
‘Come on, Kimmy!’ I smile. ‘The moves are
really easy – or I’d never have got the hang of them!
You just put your arms like this, then—’
‘I’m OK,’ she interrupts, backing away from
me. ‘This is more of a
blonde
song anyway. Can I
have a drink?’
‘Course,’ I say, frowning as I follow her into the
kitchen. ‘What’s the matter?’
She rounds on me. ‘What’s the
matter
? You
throw a party without me, and then
you
ask
me
what’s the matter?’
‘I didn’t know about the party!’ I protest.
‘Mum organized it!’
Kimmy raises an eyebrow. ‘Since when does your mum
organize surprise parties?’
‘That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you
– she’s changed!’ I say, pouring cherryade into
plastic cups.
‘No kidding – she’s really got into the
eighties theme, huh?’ Kimmy says, eyeing suspiciously the
neon-pink drink I’ve handed her.
‘You have no idea!’ I shake my head. ‘Kimmy,
she says she’s
from
the eighties!’
‘Well . . . she
is
!’ Kimmy shrugs.
‘No, that’s not what I mean—’
‘So that’s what’s going on?’ she
interrupts. ‘Your mum decided to get a makeover so you got
one too?’
‘It’s more than just a makeover!’ I
protest.
‘That’s what I’m worried about!’
‘Me too!’ I cry. ‘I mean, it was great at
first, but now I’m getting worried because it’s
lasted longer than a day, and what if—’
‘What has?’ Kimmy frowns. ‘Your hair dye?
Was it meant to wash out?’
‘What? No!’
Why doesn’t she ever
listen?
‘Mum’s weird behaviour! I’m really
worried about her!’
Kimmy rolls her eyes. ‘Don’t be. Dad says everyone
goes a bit wild after a divorce. It’s normal.’
Normal?!
I stare at her, confused. Hasn’t she
heard a word I’ve said?
‘But that doesn’t explain
your
weird
behaviour,’ she adds.
‘Huh?’ I blink in surprise. ‘
My
weird
behaviour?’
‘Yes! Your bimbo makeover’s one thing,
but—’
‘My
what
?’ I gasp, my whole body bristling.
‘Just because I’ve dyed my hair doesn’t make me
a
bimbo
! Is that what you meant when you called that
Madonna song “blonde”?’
‘Material Girl?’ Kimmy scoffs, dumping her
untouched drink in the sink. ‘Life’s about more than
clothes and shopping, Lucy. Or at least it should be.’
‘Kimmy, it’s just a song!’ I scowl at her.
‘It’s classic Madonna! We used to dance to
“Holiday” all the time!’
‘Yeah, goofing around, changing the words and taking the
mickey!’
I fold my arms tightly,
‘This is MEGA-fun!’ Megan cries,
copying Shazza as she teaches everyone to moonwalk around the
lounge. I feel as if I’ve stepped into a time warp.
Shazza’s wild clothes and hair fit in perfectly now
she’s given everyone eighties makeovers – complete
with side ponytails and bright make-up – while Michael
Jackson struts around on YouTube on the TV.
How does she do it? If I tried to throw a party, no one would
come, and anyone who did would think it was uber-lame –
especially if I chose an eighties theme! But everyone loves
Shazza, and Megan seems to be her new best friend – and
mine too.
‘Come on, Lucy!’ Megan calls. ‘It’s
better than Just Dance!’
‘What’s Just Dance?’ Shazza asks.
‘You know, the Wii game?’
‘The
wee game
?’ Shazza looks horrified, and
I laugh. As I join in with everyone moving in sync, I finally
feel like I belong. If only Kimmy was here, everything would be
perfect.
Suddenly the doorbell rings.
‘Pizza!’ Shazza cries, and everyone cheers as I
hurry to get the door.
But it’s Kimmy!
‘You came!’ I beam.
‘Yeah,’ she mutters. ‘I got your text . .
.’
‘Woo! Madonna!’ Megan cries as ‘Material
Girl’ starts playing and everyone instantly starts doing
the dance moves Shazza taught us earlier.
‘
What
is happening?’ Kimmy looks around
uncertainly. Her eyes widen as she spots Shazza.
‘Come on, Kimmy!’ I smile. ‘The moves are
really easy – or I’d never have got the hang of them!
You just put your arms like this, then—’
‘I’m OK,’ she interrupts, backing away from
me. ‘This is more of a
blonde
song anyway. Can I
have a drink?’
‘Course,’ I say, frowning as I follow her into the
kitchen. ‘What’s the matter?’
She rounds on me. ‘What’s the
matter
? You
throw a party without me, and then
you
ask
me
what’s the matter?’
‘I didn’t know about the party!’ I protest.
‘Mum organized it!’
Kimmy raises an eyebrow. ‘Since when does your mum
organize surprise parties?’
‘That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you
– she’s changed!’ I say, pouring cherryade into
plastic cups.
‘No kidding – she’s really got into the
eighties theme, huh?’ Kimmy says, eyeing suspiciously the
neon-pink drink I’ve handed her.
‘You have no idea!’ I shake my head. ‘Kimmy,
she says she’s
from
the eighties!’
‘Well . . . she
is
!’ Kimmy shrugs.
‘No, that’s not what I mean—’
‘So that’s what’s going on?’ she
interrupts. ‘Your mum decided to get a makeover so you got
one too?’
‘It’s more than just a makeover!’ I
protest.
‘That’s what I’m worried about!’
‘Me too!’ I cry. ‘I mean, it was great at
first, but now I’m getting worried because it’s
lasted longer than a day, and what if—’
‘What has?’ Kimmy frowns. ‘Your hair dye?
Was it meant to wash out?’
‘What? No!’
Why doesn’t she ever
listen?
‘Mum’s weird behaviour! I’m really
worried about her!’
Kimmy rolls her eyes. ‘Don’t be. Dad says everyone
goes a bit wild after a divorce. It’s normal.’
Normal?!
I stare at her, confused. Hasn’t she
heard a word I’ve said?
‘But that doesn’t explain
your
weird
behaviour,’ she adds.
‘Huh?’ I blink in surprise. ‘
My
weird
behaviour?’
‘Yes! Your bimbo makeover’s one thing,
but—’
‘My
what
?’ I gasp, my whole body bristling.
‘Just because I’ve dyed my hair doesn’t make me
a
bimbo
! Is that what you meant when you called that
Madonna song “blonde”?’
‘Material Girl?’ Kimmy scoffs, dumping her
untouched drink in the sink. ‘Life’s about more than
clothes and shopping, Lucy. Or at least it should be.’
‘Kimmy, it’s just a song!’ I scowl at her.
‘It’s classic Madonna! We used to dance to
“Holiday” all the time!’
‘Yeah, goofing around, changing the words and taking the
mickey!’
I fold my arms tightly,
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