Madame Zelda: Trading Up....Trading Down

Chapter 4
Chapter 4

After what seemed like forever, Marsha finally re-emerged from her bedroom.

’Me and Debbi’s going out tonight. Don’t wait up for me’ Marsha said as she ran out the door.

’But......’ Staci yelled, but was too late. She saw Marsha running down the sidewalk and soon out of view. Staci didn’t like all the mystery. It was beginning to worry her. Her formerly responsible mother was now unpredictable and terribly inconsiderate. Staci couldn’t believe that she would run out the door without telling her where she was going to be! Staci decided to kill some time and take her mind off of Marsha by cleaning the house. It was the perfect opportunity to try out the new vacuum!

The downstairs didn’t require much work. Some dusting and straightening and it was quickly finished. She then moved upstairs. Upon entering Marsha’s room she saw what looked like a disaster area! Clothing littered the floor. In one spot would be a shoe with its mate no where nearby. A few ’teen’ magazine’s were strewn about. Some of them had pictures removed. Others had ads circled. The phone cord was stretched to its limit and the phone was lying on the un-made bed. Staci started picking up the clothing and matching shoes and socks with their mates. Most of the clothing was hers.... although she could never wear it now in her current ’condition’! Marsha had grabbed most of Staci’s summer clothing and brought it to her own room. Short tops ....cut-offs.... Tank tops.... T-shirts.... all could be found on the floor or piled in the chair. Staci saw that Marsha had taken her favorite jeans and cut the knees out and then had bleached them. She was a little peeved that Marsha had ’ruined’ a perfectly good pair of jeans! She then opened the closet to see that Marsha had shoved all her ’old’ shoes and clothing into the corner. A few short dresses of Staci’s hung in their place along with a few items that she had never seen before. Staci shook her head in disgust and began cleaning and straightening the room.

After cleaning Marsha’s room she moved on to her own room. It was in fairly good shape. The few items of clothing that she had ’borrowed’ from Marsha were neatly folded on her bureau. Upon opening her own closet (Something that she had not had a reason to do since the ’Trade’) she could see where Marsha had hap-hazardly rummaged through her things! She didn’t mind Marsha wearing her young clothing but wished that she could have been more respectful and neat with them.

After cleaning all the rooms and thoroughly cleaning the shower, Staci could only watch TV and wait for Marsha’s return. In only a short while in front of the TV, Staci was fast asleep. At around 1 AM Staci was awakened by the lights of a car pulling out of the driveway. She squinted to make out the car but couldn’t. The one thing she could tell was that it wasn’t Debbi’s car! She closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep as Marsha gingerly entered the room. It was obvious that Marsha was being extra quiet.

’ohhhh I thought I heard someone....’ Staci said pretending to just wake up. ’How was your evening?’

’It was cool.... We had a great time....’

’Did Debbi bring you home?’

’Ummmmm yeah errrr uhhhhh, like, what is this... 20 questions? Geez! Gimme a break! I’m home...Look...Safe and Sound! I’ ve not been, like, raped or murdered or anything!’

Staci bristled. She could tell that Marsha was avoiding the subject, but she knew she didn’t have right to ’question’ her mother’s motives. Even if her mother was now younger than her! Still, she was worried about her.... ’Marsha, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to know about your evening. We never really talk anymore....’

’Yeah, welllll I seem to remember, like, this one girl, Staci, that never wanted to talk to her ~mother~. So now, like, you wanna be best friends or somethin? I only have a few days left and I don’t wanna be hangin’ out with some old..... errrr ya know!’

’But, it would mean so much to me! We could spend tomorrow together. Talk, get to know each other better.’

’Geeeez.... Like, we really have anything in common? As if! Me and Debbi have plans tomorrow afternoon anyway!’

’How about in the morning then?’ Staci asked hopefully.

’Ummmm I dunno.... Ummmm I kinda wanted to sleep in.... ’

’You could still sleep in, and we could have lunch. I’ll get you up at 10 so you can get ready.’

’TEN? YUCK! I said I was going to sleep in!’

’That IS sleeping in!’

’OK...Yeah...whatever.... I’m gonna crash...Later’

Marsha kicked off her shoes and trekked up the stairs to her room.

Staci felt good to spending some time with Marsha. Although she had much more she had planned on buying with Marsha’s credit card, it didn’t seem like such a good idea anymore. She also hadn’t spoken with Jeff in a while. It just didn’t seem as important anymore. She started making plans for her and Marsha’s lunch the next morning when a screaming teenaged voice sliced throught the air.....

’HEYYYYYYYY....My room!!!! You’ve been in my room! Where’s all my stuff???? You don’t have a right to be in here!!!! I HATE you!...’ The door slammed and Staci could hear sobbing coming from the room.

She walked upstairs and stopped outside the room. ’I just straightened things a bit. I didn’t go through any of your personal stuff’ She knocked on the door. ’Mom? Marsha? I won’t do it again.... I promise. I’m sorry. I didn’t think....Is it OK?’

Sobbing, Marsha answered ’Just leave me alone!’

’OK, I’m sorry. Really I am. I’ll see you in the morning, Hon’ Staci recoiled as soon as the words came out of her mouth. She had just called her mother ’Hon’!

Staci, once again was up bright and early. She got herself ready and did her best to make her 39 year old body look its best. As soon as the clock read 10 AM she knocked on Marsha’s door to get her up.

’What? Go away!’ Marsha sleepily grumbled ’It’s ~too~ early!’

’Come on. Get up sleepy-head’ Staci said sweetly. ’You don’t want to be late getting back do you?’

The door slowly opened and Marsh stood there, hair disheveled, barefoot, and wearing only a T-shirt. ’Do we have to do this?’ she said as she yawned.

’It’s important to ME. Now, hurry up and get ready! Please!’

’Oh, OK....’ Marsha replied hesitantly. ’I’ll be down in like a minute.’ After MANY minutes, Marsha came down the stairs. ’I guess I’m ready.... Let’s get this over with’

Staci looked her over. Marsha had on cut-offs and a tank top. ’Is THAT what you’re wearing? I thought we’d go somewhere nice.’

’Get real. I don’t even wanna do ~this~. This is fine for wherever we go...’sides, I don’t wanna go to one of those fancy places with all those, like, stuffy old people!’

’I’m sorry, we’ll go wherever you want. Let’s get in the car. Time is ’a wastin’!’

’OOOoooh....’

’What?’

’The car.... It’s so yucky! Debbi’s mom has got a really cool car with T-tops and stuff. It’s got a killer stereo and everything. This one is so...~boring~. Maybe we can get a cab?’

’No. This car will be fine. It will get us where we want to go. It’s a lot safer than a car with T-tops too! Hop in.’

The two got in the car. Marsha immediately slid down in the seat and put her feet up on the dash.

’Do you ~have~ to sit like that?’

’Like what?’

’It’s not very lady-like....that’s all’

’~Whatever~ let’s just go’ Marsha said as she turned her head sideways and made a face.