I tell her, and run to give Leigh
a mega mojo hug. [Good trick,
with Heather hanging on to her
like a monkey to a tree branch.]
Shut the hell up, I silently shout
to the bitch who lives in my brain.
Out loud I say, “God, I’ve
missed you. You look great.
Must be…” [the extra five
pounds or maybe the one
hundred twenty pounds
cemented to your right arm]
“…did you change your hair?”
Don’t be silly. My hair has
looked exactly like this my
entire life. Although it is a
little bleached from being
out in the sun this summer.
Heather tries to tell me
it’s bad for my skin, but I’m
not always so good at following
orders. Oh! I almost forgot
to introduce you. Kristina, Heather.
[Following orders? Can you
believe that?] I stow Bree and
give Heather a wary once-over.
“Good to finally meet you,” I
venture. “Leigh has told me so
little about you….” That
was mean, okay? [Not really.