Free Pale Phoenix by Kathryn Reiss

outskirts of Boston. Abby sat up front next to Helen and chattered excitedly, her pale face flushed. She seemed childishly eager, thought Miranda, to shop for the new clothes Helen had promised. Miranda sat in back with Susannah. She had invited her friend along after Helen made it clear there was no getting out of this shopping expedition. Miranda hoped she and Susannah could slip away and browse in a bookstore or something while her mother and Abby bought out the junior department at Macy's.
    "You need a new pair of jeans and of course underwear and socks," Helen told Abby: "Also a skirt or two. And what about a new nightgown? Miranda's is really too big for you. A heavy flannel nightgown would keep you cozy in this weather."
    "You make it sound like I sleep out in the snow, Helen," objected Abby. "I always feel warm at your house. It's so cozy and ... and safe."
    "I'm glad." Helen took one gloved hand off the steering wheel and reached over to pat Abby's knee.
    Miranda crossed her arms across her chest and stared hard out the side window. Her head was aching again. She watched the bare trees blur as their car zipped past.
    "What about you, Susannah?" asked Helen. "Are you up for some fashion shopping?"
    Susannah leaned forward, laughing, and brandished her mother's credit card. "I'm armed and dangerous!"
    Abby giggled softly from the front seat. She seemed unusually animated today, more like a normal teenage girl than before. But Miranda suspected Abby was anything but normal. She dug her elbow into her friend's ribs. She couldn't bear to have Susannah falling in with Abby's high spirits. She needed Susannah to sustain
her.
But her friend was acting like a traitor now, leaning forward to discuss with Abby the best color choices for people who had blond hair, as both of them did. Miranda fingered her own dark curls and frowned out the window until they arrived at the mall and parked.
    Inside the department store, she sat outside the dressing room and rubbed her throbbing temples while her mother and Susannah dashed all over the place to find items for Abby to try on. They chose cotton turtlenecks, colorful sweaters, and skirts, handing them to Abby when she peeked around the concealing curtain. Helen wanted to come in to help, but Abby wouldn't let her.
    "Oh," she said in wonder, coming out to model the first outfit, "Is it really me? I look like a whole new person. Don't you think? Now I feel like a real modern-day girl!"
    "You look like a
fashionable
girl, that's for sure," said Helen. "And very pretty, too. The bright colors make you look less pale. Now, try on the other things. And before we go, I'd like to find you a winter jacket. The beige one you have is really worn quite thin."
    Miranda waited quietly while they trooped out to search for a coat. After about ten minutes they came back to the dressing room in triumph, and Abby modeled a thickly quilted denim jacket. "What do you think?" Helen asked Miranda.
    "It's fine." Miranda gave Abby a small smile. The pale girl beamed at herself in the mirror. She seemed astonished at her transformation.
    Miranda stood up from the little stool and picked up her own coat. "Can we go now?"
    "I still want to get Abby some underwear and a nightgown," said Helen. "And a pair or two of shoes. The ones she has now are worn out and unsuitable for the weather."
    "You can wear your new things to the Valentine's Dance, Abby," said Susannah as they left the dressing room. "You
are
going to that, aren't you?" Carrying the other clothes, Helen walked over to the saleswoman to pay.
    "Oh, no," said Abby. She stopped before a full-length mirror and turned this way and that, admiring her new jacket.
    "Why not?" pressed Susannah. "It could be fun. Mandy and I are on the committee to decorate the gym. It's going to be so pretty. You haven't really gotten to know any of the kids, Abby. This would be a good time."
    Helen beckoned to Abby. "Come over here, Abby. The salesclerk needs to see the tag on