4 Extraordinary Hi Mom Dad I said dropping into a chair at the kitchen table Hi honey What do you want for Mom’s voice trailed off as she looked up from the lunch she was pack ing Her mouth dropped open and her eyes got big and round Pansy Louisa Smith What in the world have you done with your hair Dad peered at me from over his newspaper Then he choked on his toast I ran my fingers down my neck which felt pretty good without all that heavy hair against it I’m giving it to Locks of Love To help girls who lost their hair from cancer Silence Dad wiped crumbs from his mouth and cleared his throat Mom was still staring at me like I’d dyed my hair in rainbow colors and gotten a Mohawk But all I did was cut off my ponytail I poured myself a glass of orange juice Remember when I was going to cut my hair back in March Of course honey Mom said her voice softening You and Anna planned it together Well I finally did it I said I promised Anna I’d do it and it’s not nice to break a promise Mom nodded then popped a bagel in the toaster She and Dad gave each other The Look which they’d been giv ing each other a lot this summer It meant I’m worried about Pansy Maybe she needs to talk to a psychiatrist
Miriam Spitzer Franklin 5 Mom had asked more than once if I wanted to see a doctor to talk about things I’d told her no that I was defi nitely not interested in talking to some stranger I hadn’t convinced them though They didn’t think I could hear them from across the hall but it wasn’t so hard to figure out they were talking about me in hushed voices in their room at night While the bagel was toasting Mom smoothed my hair with her hand and gave me a hug Are you all right I’m great It’s the first day of fifth grade And I’ve always wanted to give my hair to Locks of Love so I thought today would be a good day for it But why didn’t you tell me Mom set the bagel on the table I would have taken you to the salon There are people who cut hair for a living you know I tucked a loose strand behind my ear I like my hair the way it is Well except it makes my neck look funny Do you think my neck is too long Dad laughed You have a lovely neck Mom said with a smile Then she picked up her phone and checked her schedule like she did every day I have to show a couple of houses this morning but I’m free all afternoon I’ll call my hairdresser and see if she can fit you in after school What was the hairdresser going to do glue my hair back on my head Mommm I already told you I think it looks perfect
6 Extraordinary Ellen why don’t we talk about this later Dad said to Mom It takes guts to be a true individual Thanks I said I sat up a little straighter in my seat A true individual That’s what I needed if I was on my way to being extraordinary Dad winked at me Mom sighed and set her phone down So we were thinking Dad said glancing at the clock Do you want me to give you a ride on your first day A ride I looked up from my bagel To school Sure Dad said but he looked away busying himself with folding up the newspaper Since it’s your first day of fifth grade and all Oh The first day of a new school year without Anna is what he meant The old Pansy would have taken him up on it Instead I said I told Andy I’m meeting him like always Oh okay Dad said We were just wondering No I mean yeah I’m fine I glanced up at the clock Cutting off my hair had taken longer than I thought I gulped down the last of my breakfast and ran to the shoe basket next to the door I strained my ears to hear my parents conversation as I slipped on my shoes but couldn’t make out their words I was sure they were talking about me Bye Mom Bye Dad I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door Luckily Greenview Elementary was
Miriam Spitzer Franklin 7 only a few blocks away I took off in a run hoping Andy Anna’s twin brother hadn’t left without me I spotted him as I rounded the corner He was waiting on his front porch glancing at his watch as he paced back and forth Hey I stopped to catch my breath Sorry I’m late Mrs Liddell stuck her head out the door Hi Pansy Hi Mrs Liddell How’s Anna doing today Mrs Liddell smiled Great She’s already had a big breakfast and she has a therapy appointment this morning Oh wow I love your new haircut Thanks I cut it this morning This morning Her eyes opened wide You did it yourself Mom we gotta go Andy said Mrs Liddell gave Andy a hug and he squirmed away as fast as he could Come on Pansy he said hopping off the porch Have a great day Mrs Liddell called to us When we got to the end of the driveway I ran my hand over my short hair and smiled at Andy So what do you think Do you like it He stared at me for a minute Then he shook his head No You look weird I rolled my eyes and started walking again faster this time You’re just like my mom She tried to make me an appointment this afternoon with her hairdresser
