Free Out of the Blue by Sarah Ellis Page A

Megan. I think this is a good excuse for us all to get dolled up.”
    â€œYes!” said Betsy.
    Since Mum had started school, she hadn’t taken Megan downtown shopping once. Probably wouldn’t be doing it now if it weren’t for that gnat. But—a new dress. She hadn’t expected that. “What about Art Experience?”
    â€œWe’ll pick you up from the art school, then bus it downtown and hit those shops.”
    â€œOkay.”
    Betsy pulled the lace out of one of her shoes and tried to tie it around Bumper’s head. He gave a whine and retreated under the chair. Old Paint had had enough.

    The bus from the art school to downtown was crowded.
    â€œWhat are hem-or-rhoids?” said Betsy in a loud voice.
    People giggled. Megan clung to her pole and looked elsewhere. Life was more embarrassing since Betsy had learned to sound out.
    â€œA medical condition,” said Mum briskly. “Ring the bell, Betsy, our stop is coming up.”
    In the department store they escalatored up to the children’s-wear floor.
    â€œThis is fun,” said Natalie. “I love shopping, but Franklin is allergic to it.”
    â€œDoes he get a rash?” asked Betsy.
    â€œNo, he just gets mournful if I make him go into stores. He’s just not very interested in clothes or in possessions of any sort, really.”
    Betsy spied her dress on a model at the entrance to Rainbow Unicorn. It had green and cream stripes, with roses in the cream part. It had a big lace collar and lace around the cuffs. The fabric was soft and shiny.
    â€œNow that’s a party dress,” said Mum.
    A salesclerk appeared. “Lovely, isn’t it? A dress for a little princess. They’re on a rack right over here.”
    Oh, gack, thought Megan. She stared at the clerk, who wore a lot of makeup and was smiling, but only with her mouth.
    â€œLet’s see it on.” The clerk had the dress off the hanger and all of them in the big fitting room before anyone could say a word. “Call me if you need me. That’s going to look just charming.”
    Natalie looked at Megan and raised her eyebrows. Megan made a yucko face.
    But the thing was, the dress did make Betsy look like a princess, a princess in a fairy-tale book.
    â€œJust look at the buttons,” said Mum. A row of rose-shaped buttons down the front of the dress exactly matched the roses in the fabric. “Turn around.”
    Betsy extended her arms and twirled around.
    â€œThe cream will match my dress,” said Natalie.
    Mum nodded. “Dare we look at the price?” She pulled out her glasses from her purse and looked at the ticket. She gulped. “Oh, my goodness.”
    Betsy held herself around the waist as though to keep the dress on by force. “It’s a flower-girl dress,” she said. “It has flowers.”
    â€œOh, well,” said Mum, “when you put it that way.”
    â€œYea!” Betsy raised both arms like a prizefighter.
    â€œThank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
    While Mum paid for the dress, Megan and Natalie wandered around the racks. The salesclerk descended on them. “Are we looking for something for you as well?” she asked, staring at Megan.
    â€œNo,” said Megan.
    â€œYes,” said Natalie.
    The clerk heard the yes. She started whipping dresses up against Megan. Megan just wanted to escape.
    â€œI don’t think so. No, thanks.”
    â€œYou just can’t see the potential until you try it on.”
    By the time Mum returned with Betsy and a big shopping bag, the clerk was shepherding Megan and four dresses back into the changing room.
    â€œWe’ll wait out here,” said Mum.
    Megan took her time pulling off her clothes. She looked at the dresses. It didn’t matter which she tried on first. She hated them all. Try one and then get out of here. She was just pulling one over her head when the salesclerk burst in. “Need a little