Lizzie sprang from the bed at the first rays of dawn, before the alarm clock went off. The day of the pep rally was here at last! After years of wishing and weeks of training she finally got the chance to show everyone what she could do.
The green-and-white uniform hung from the closet door, still draped in the plastic dry cleaning bag. She hadn't tried it on since the fitting, afraid of staining the uniform before everyone in school could see how great she looked in it. She thought of Joseph Pryde-the cutest boy at Seabrooke Middle School-sitting in the bleachers, gaping when he saw her. Afterwards, he would find her in the hallway to ask her to the homecoming dance. She would make a big show of deciding before accepting. The other girls would die from jealousy.
"Prudence, hurry up and get ready for school!" Mom called from the other side of the door.
"Mom, I told you not to call me that," Lizzie snapped. "Nobody calls me that name anymore."
"It's your given name. If your grandmother heard you talk about her name like that-"
"Mom, please, I have to get ready. There's a big important thing at school today and I have to look my best."
"All right, but be sure you get something for breakfast before you leave. You're going to be skin and bones if you don't eat something."
"I know, Mom. I promise I'll eat something." She waited a moment to make sure her nosy mother left before she took down the uniform. She peeled away the plastic, running her hands along the soft fabric. Her fingers traced the letters 'SMS' on the chest, filling her with pride. Today she would become a part of the school's history, her picture with the other junior varsity cheerleaders in the yearbook that people would be able to see for years and years to come. Someday she could show it to her children-who wouldn't have ugly names like Prudence.
She pulled the plastic back over the uniform to protect it while she took a shower and did her makeup. She hung it up over the closet again so Wendell couldn't reach. It would be just like her bratty little brother to mess up her uniform on the most important day of her life.
After showering and blow-drying her hair, she sat down at the vanity to look into the mirror. What should she do with her hair? How much makeup should she put on? For a moment she considered phoning Helena, the head cheerleader, but she didn't want to seem nervous. They might decide to replace her with someone else like that horse-faced Becky. No, she would have to make these decisions herself.