The Mall, Winterhead, Massachusetts, Saturday
"I hope you know what you're doing, sweetie."
"Of course I do, Mom," Jill said, tugging at the ends of her hair. She hadn't gotten it cut recently, and it was starting to get kind of overgrown and unattractive. At the same time, she really didn't like having shorter hair and was putting off getting it cut. Her mom had suggested she wear the wig, but that was so not happening. They were wandering through the luggage section at JC Penney because Jill had broken her mother's best suitcase. It turned out you couldn't fit the entire contents of a bedroom in it. Go figure.
"And when do you plan on telling us where you're going? Or are you just going to leave us in the dark for good?"
"I'll tell you, Mom, just as soon as I figure it out." At the end of the aisle was a huge red Samsonite. She paused to examine the lock on it. "I have two good options." Her mom snorted. She hated both options and never tired of reminding Jill of how "unworkable" they were. She'd be happy if Jill stayed in Winterhead for the rest of her life, and that was not an option. Jill thought she would have realized that when she sent her to boarding school, but apparently no. She pointed to an even bigger suitcase, a blue Samsonite. "How about that one? I think you could fit a body in there." Her mom looked at the price tag, then kept walking. "Mom!" Jill called after her, and Mrs. McTeague paused. "Suitcase or no suitcase, I'm still leaving. You know that, right?"
Her mother sighed and waved over a salesperson. "We'll take this one." She gestured toward the blue suitcase.
One decision down. Five million to go.
((Most of this entry modified from ReCycler by Lauren McLaughlin.))
"Of course I do, Mom," Jill said, tugging at the ends of her hair. She hadn't gotten it cut recently, and it was starting to get kind of overgrown and unattractive. At the same time, she really didn't like having shorter hair and was putting off getting it cut. Her mom had suggested she wear the wig, but that was so not happening. They were wandering through the luggage section at JC Penney because Jill had broken her mother's best suitcase. It turned out you couldn't fit the entire contents of a bedroom in it. Go figure.
"And when do you plan on telling us where you're going? Or are you just going to leave us in the dark for good?"
"I'll tell you, Mom, just as soon as I figure it out." At the end of the aisle was a huge red Samsonite. She paused to examine the lock on it. "I have two good options." Her mom snorted. She hated both options and never tired of reminding Jill of how "unworkable" they were. She'd be happy if Jill stayed in Winterhead for the rest of her life, and that was not an option. Jill thought she would have realized that when she sent her to boarding school, but apparently no. She pointed to an even bigger suitcase, a blue Samsonite. "How about that one? I think you could fit a body in there." Her mom looked at the price tag, then kept walking. "Mom!" Jill called after her, and Mrs. McTeague paused. "Suitcase or no suitcase, I'm still leaving. You know that, right?"
Her mother sighed and waved over a salesperson. "We'll take this one." She gestured toward the blue suitcase.
One decision down. Five million to go.
((Most of this entry modified from ReCycler by Lauren McLaughlin.))