1 - Material Girl

~Holly’s Point of View~

~Twenty Five Years Ago, Suburbs of Portland, Oregon~

I can’t believe mom forgot to get me from school … again. I know she’s got a lot on her plate but come on! 

Trudging down the sidewalk with my heavy backpack weighing me down, I tried to avoid the mud puddles. Thankfully by the time school ended the rain had quit but it had been pouring ALL day. Now I had nearly a two mile walk home and it was chilly. And muddy, there weren’t exactly sidewalks along the entire way.

My mom was a night shift nurse at the hospital so I rarely saw her except when she picked me up from school. She worked seven at night to seven in the morning but often went in early. The fact that she didn’t show meant she either got doing something else or didn’t set her alarm.

I’d thought about going into the office and calling home but if she needed to sleep that badly I guessed I should leave her alone.

It just made my already bad day worse. First dad was late dropping me off, then we had a pop quiz in math I’m sure I didn’t pass. I must have read the lunch menu wrong because I thought we were having pizza so I didn’t pack lunch. But no, it was sloppy joes and they smelled disgusting. Then I took a kick ball to the face during recess.

So I was cold, had a goose egg on my forehead and my new Mary Janes were muddy. At least I looked cute in my new easter dress. Mom didn’t want me to wear it to school because it was meant for church this weekend, but I just had to. Since I hadn’t planned on walking home I hadn’t bothered with a coat, just another great part of my day.

I sighed as car after car drove past, ignoring me. Not that I wanted to get in a car with a stranger.

I couldn’t wait to be a grown up, have my own money, my own car. Be able to go where I want when I want and eat all the good things. 

Out of nowhere a car swerved a bit toward me, catching me off guard. Instead of running in the opposite direction I completely froze. 

BEEEEEEP

SPLASH

“Oh!! No! No,” I shouted, covering my face as a dirty puddle splashed in my face. 

The car didn’t stop, and I didn’t get a good look at it. 

“Jerk,” I shouted.

I gaped down at my pretty light blue dress, covered in wet mud. Tears pooled in my eyes and my lip quivered, this was just one thing too much today. I’m not a crier, I never cry. But ruining my dress … broke me.

I sobbed, trying to wipe my face. I hate … everything and everyone. 

Since I was soaked and tired I found a curb and sat on it, sobbing even more. I was loud and ridiculous, but I just didn’t care. I’d sit here all night and sob just because I had to. How could I go home and show mom my dress is ruined? She warned me not to wear it, and I knew we didn’t have the money to replace it. I was in so much trouble.

“Hey, you okay,” I heard, making me look up.

I made a face, not particularly wanting anyone to see me like this.

“Just fine thank you,” I said, wiping my tears.

He was a boy not much older than me, he looked familiar, I think he was in fourth grade. He had dark brown hair and eyes, and very … very nice clothes. He’d probably run and gossip to all his friends about the girl covered in mud. She can’t even get a ride home.

I could have qualified to take the bus, we lived far enough away. But mom said this was always our quality time. Yeah, right.

“Doesn’t look like you’re fine. Let me help you, need a ride,” he asked, holding out his hand.

My eyes moved to the black car parked nearby, it looked really expensive. Certainly way nicer than my mom’s van and my dad’s truck.

“I’m just fine thanks and I don’t take rides from strangers,” I said, getting to my feet without his help.

“Aren’t you Holly? My little brother Robert is in your class. I’m Slade. So there, I’m not a stranger,” he said, smiling.

Robert the richy rich kid? While I did know him, he certainly wasn’t my friend. He was a complete snob.

I stuck my nose in the air.

“I don’t need your help,” I said, moving to step forward and tripping over my own feet. 

His hands moved to my arms and he held me, my breath caught and I felt lightheaded. Finally I blew out the breath and felt better.

“Come on, my car’s right here. Let me get you home,” he said, as our eyes met. 

His face was close, and he smelled good. Was he wearing cologne like my dad does?? He can’t be more than 9!

I relaxed my shoulders and started to wonder why his mom or dad didn’t come over and talk to me. Try to help me. Seemed weird.

“Fine but straight home,” I said, as his hands fell away.

He held out his elbow to me and I nearly snickered. I’d seen older men do that but it seemed silly for him to. I looped my arm in anyhow, surprised he’d want me messing up his nice soft green jacket. Like his car, it looked expensive.

When he opened the back door I peeked inside. It smelled new, and I only recognized the scent because my aunt had just gotten a new car and brought it by to show off.

“I’ll get the seat wet,” I said, making a face and looking at my shoes.

A hand moved in front of my face and he held my chin, moving my head back up.

“It’s leather, it’ll be fine. Besides it can be cleaned, come on you’re cold,” he said, motioning for me to move. I made a face but hurled myself in, moving to the far side to make room.

“Where to sir,” I heard, making me look up.

Sir??

“What street are you on,” Slade asked. 

“Isn’t that your dad,” I said, holding up my hands.

He laughed.

“No, that’s Todd. He’s my driver,” he said, matter of fact.

Your … driver. 

My hands fell onto my thighs and then I raised them back up realizing how wet my dress was and I could already hear my mom yelling.

“Should we get you a new dress first,” Slade asked.

I laughed. Then I realized he meant it.

“This dress was thirty-seven dollars, I doubt you have that in your piggy bank,” I said, frowning.

My mom had gotten it in the next size up hopeful I’d still be able to wear it next year too. We often shopped at second hand stores so for me to get a new dress at the actual mall was a big deal.

“Not a problem. Where’d you buy it,” he asked, as he waved for his driver to go.

An hour later I was in a new clean dress, with new shoes and socks eating a cheeseburger at the mall food court. His driver sat at a nearby table and I just couldn’t believe their whole relationship. Slade did what he wanted and the grown up didn’t question him at all. Slade had even gotten the sales girl to get me a warm cloth to wipe my face and she got me a hairbrush. People just … did what he wanted, it was bizarre. He was a kid!!

“You really sure your parents won’t be mad you spent all this money on me,” I asked, reaching for my milkshake. 

“Nah, not a chance they’d even notice. My parents are in Italy right now anyhow,” he said, slurping his soda.

Italy??? 

He said it so casually, like it was no big deal. Who is this kid??

“So uhm, when we were in the department store I got you something when you weren’t looking. My mom always says accessories make an outfit, you definitely need a little something to go with that,” he said, handing me a small box. 

I took it, unsure what he meant. I lifted the top and there were sparkly earrings, little flowers made from … diamonds?? My mom had let me get my ears pierced last year for my birthday after I’d begged her for months. But I had tiny silver hoops, we couldn’t afford actual jewels!

I gasped, knowing these had to be expensive. 

“I couldn’t possibly take these,” I said, closing the lid. They were so pretty though. My mom barely had any nice jewelry.

“Take them, really. I want you to have them, I guarantee they’ll bring out your eyes,” he said, reaching for a french fry off my plate. He’d devoured his almost right away. 

I just shrugged and put them in my bookbag.

By the time we pulled up in front of my house I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Slade had been my hero today and I just couldn’t possibly thank him enough. 

“Maybe you could come by sometime? My brothers aren’t around much, they're more into sports,” he said.

“Who’s watching you while your parents are gone? Don’t you have a babysitter or something? A relative,” I asked.

He shrugged.

“We have staff like Todd,” he said, waving his hand.

Staff.

Right.

“I uhm, I don’t know. Wouldn’t that be weird? You’re a boy,” I said, pointing out the obvious.

“Thank god for that. I wouldn’t have made a pretty female,” he said, making me laugh.

Then we both laughed, and so did Todd. 

“I couldn’t possibly thank you enough Slade. Really, you just don’t know how bad a day I had, it’s been awful. You’re my hero,” I said, giving a shy smile.

I resisted my body’s urge to hug him, I was a big hugger.

“Then come over tomorrow, we could go swimming,” he said, smiling back.

I looked out the window quickly and back at him, making a face.

“It’s like cold out,” I said, laughing.

“The pool is in the house. So how about it? You could just pack a suit and come home with me,” he said, nodding.

The pool is in the house. 

Yeah … and how would I explain that to my mom?

“I’ll have to see what my mom says. But … thank you again Slade, you’re pretty great,” I said, opening my door. 

“You’re pretty great too. Convince her okay? I can give her the phone number there if she needs it. I’ll see you tomorrow, you can sit with me at lunch if you want,” he said, waving good-bye.

I had two friends I always sat with, my only friends. I just nodded and waved, not sure what to say. I didn’t look back, I just ran onto the porch and blew through the door, a big dumb smile on my face.