Life With Stef

I'm Stephanie Pixley. I'm twelve years old, practically an adult. There is only a week left until school starts and I still haven't gone shopping for school clothes. Not because I haven't wanted to either, no one has taken me. "Mom. Everyone else is ready for school. When are we going shopping?" I asked.

"Maybe tonight after dinner," Mom replied. "If we have time."

There goes that 'if' again. Well, 'if' I have to wear the same clothes I wore last year, I'll just die. "Robin's mom took her out to buy new clothes three weeks ago," I pleaded.

It was as if I could hear the clock in my head. Tick...tick...tick... I knew time was running out. I had to convince Mom how serious this situation was. "None of my jeans fit," I told her. Well, some of them didn't fit. It wasn't exactly a lie. "I think I grew at least an inch this summer."

"Yeah, around the waist," my younger brother, Dwight chimed in.

"You, dweeb," I responded to his snide remark. Brothers can be such a pain.

"The two of you need to behave yourselves. You're not making it any easier to get dinner ready. Now, set the table and stop fighting," Mom instructed us.

I knew I was losing this battle. So I went ahead and set the table in total silence. Maybe Mom could see my disappointment. "Perhaps," Mom began, "tomorrow we could go after I get home from work."

Then came the hitch. There always was one. "If you have your chores done. Be ready to leave when I get home."

Yes. Finally. Now I can look forward to going back to school. Clothes make a definite statement about you. The last thing I want people to call me is 'uncool'.

After dinner, I couldn't wait to call my best friends. With three-way calling, I could talk to both Robin and Darla at the same time. I dialed Robin's number first. Her dad answered, "Hello."

"Hello. May I speak to Robin please?" I asked politely. Parents seem to like that sort of thing.

"Just a minute," he replied and began hollering her name. I twirled a strand of my sandy-blonde hair between my fingers while I waited for Robin to come to the telephone.

"Hello," Robin answered.

"It's me. Hold on while I call Darla," I told her. In a few minutes, Darla was on the line too.

"Guess what?" I asked.

"What?" asked Robin and Darla.

"I'm finally going shopping tomorrow. I can't wait," I told them.

"Wow," Robin said.

"How did you finally talk your mom into taking you?" Darla asked.

"I told her I had outgrown all my stuff from last year. She finally agreed to take me," I said proudly.

They told me all about their new school clothes and asked me what I was going to buy. I told them what all I wanted. I wasn't quite sure Mom would let me have the new jeans that are in style. I especially like them because they don't make you look fat. Yuck. I don't want to look fat. However, the pants are definitely 'in'. Robin got a pair three months ago. Darla's mom bought her two pairs already.

Over the phone, I could hear Darla's mom hollering. "I have to go. I still haven't finished my chores," Darla informed us.

"Bye," Robin and I said at the same time.

"Bye. I'll call you tomorrow Stef," Darla said before hanging up the phone.

"What a bummer. I hate doing chores. I'm glad I don't have as many as you two have. My mom does most of the housework. Sometimes I have to help cook, but that's about it. Like I really need to learn," Robin said. "I'm going to marry a guy who can cook. That or he better plan on eating out all the time."

"A guy cook. Yeah, right. My dad can cook, but my brother won't learn how. He says he isn't going to do girl's work. Mom always tells him it's okay. He doesn't have to learn. It's not fair," I told her.

"I thought you liked to cook," Robin said.

"Well. Yeah. Sometimes, if I'm in the mood. But not when I have to, it isn't any fun when they make you help," I told her. You would think even she knew that. Parents always take something fun and make it work.

"Stephanie, it's time to get off the phone," Mom said.

"I gotta go. I don't want to make her mad or she won't take me tomorrow. Bye. I'll call you after I go shopping," I promised.

"You better," Robin threatened. "I want to hear about all your new stuff."

After I got off the phone with Robin, I got ready for bed. It was hard to sleep. All I could think about was going shopping. By the time I finally fell asleep, it was late.