A Foot Taller and a Year Older

The mall was almost empty that Thursday night when the two girls made their third shopping trip of the week. Kate pretended to sort through dresses while her younger sister Marissa complained about the selection. This dress looked like someone vomited Mardi Gras on your shoulders, while these cottage-cheese sleeves belonged in a horror movie wedding. Though Kate murmured her agreement, her mind was on the unanswered text message nesting inside her purse that she'd been too afraid to read. It was from Sean.

“Well, are you ready?” Marissa stood on her toes, craning to reach her sister's eye-level.

“You haven't found a dress yet.” Kate had been ready to leave for the last forty-five minutes, though. Her feet were aching and the dresses were starting to blur together in her memory.

“It's okay. It took you a while to find your prom dress last year, right?” Kate nodded, though she had grossly exaggerated her own experiences. You could call it the fourth store if you counted the first two that she had merely driven past. Marissa rubbed the hem of a silky sleeve in between her fingers and said, “They look so pretty on the models. Even on the hangars.”

“And we'll find one that looks even better on you. But we can go now if you want.”

“You aren't buying your dress tonight?” Kate had put a dress on hold earlier, sleek and purple with a haltar top. It had been one of Marissa's finds, but she'd been unable to find that style in her size so she'd insisted that Kate try it on.

“We'll get it later. Don't you want to buy our dresses at the same time?”

“Like we got our ears pierced at the same time?” It was one of their favorite jokes now. It had been Marissa's idea to surprise their mom that past summer, but she'd made Kate go first. Kate had cried, and so Marissa had cried too and refused to get her ears pierced after all. The embarrassed teenaged girls ducked out of the store, already laughing at their own melodrama before they'd even reached the parking lot. When their mother came home from work that evening, the tiny silver nobs in her oldest daughter's ears made her furious.

“Mama, relax. It's just earrings. It's not like I got a tattoo or something,” Kate had said.

“But without my permission? What kind of example does that set for your younger sister?” It was one of the worst, and only, arguments Kate had had with their mother. Marissa had pouted for days, and apoligized for causing the entire ordeal, but she never confessed to their mom that she'd been involved.

As Marissa drove them home, still insistent on taking advantage of her three-month-old license, Kate finally pulled out her phone to read the text message. She'd already guessed what it would be, though. Got an answer yet?

“Who's that from?” Marissa jerked her chin towards the phone.

“Mark wants to know if I'll be at rehearsal tomorrow.” She casually shielded the screen from her sister’s gaze.

“Why do you have to be there? I thought you were an extra or something.”

“I'm the neighbor. Remember? My name's Sarah.”

“I just can't believe you have rehearsals on Fridays. You theater kids are hardcore.”

“What, SGA doesn't meet on Fridays?”

“There'd be a revolution if we tried to cut into the weekend. I think Andrew would resign as student body president.”

“Cute Andrew? We wouldn’t want that.” Kate glanced at her sister from the corner of her eye to see if she’d caught the jab.

“Yeah, yeah. Text Mark back already.”

Her reply was succinct. Not yet.

~~~

When the final bell rang on Friday, Kate walked dutifully to the auditorium where rehearsal was normally held. Marissa would pick her up in an hour. She’d taken the truck to go shopping by herself while Kate was in rehearsal. Maybe she'd have more luck when she wasn't comparing herself to her sister. There were a few dresses she might have bought if she hadn’t made Kate try them on as well. Like the red dress. Marissa had been excited about it until she saw it on her taller sister, and changed her mind.

She was surprised to find the house lights on as she walked onto the stage. The single figure seated in the front row raised his head and pulled off his headphones as her footsteps echoed through the empty space. “What are you doing here?” Sean said.

“Waiting for Marissa to pick me up. What are you doing here?”

“I thought I'd go over some lines. I know them, you know, but the dress rehearsal is next week and…” She sat down on the front of the stage, letting her feet swing, waiting for him to finish. “I don't know, I guess I want to be sure.” She nodded, studying the lights above her head. Last year's seniors had organized many a fundraiser to be able to purchase them, but that was during Marissa's guitar phase and Kate had to drive her to her lessons instead of attending the theater club's meetings. It was another of Marissa's spontaneous decisions with a shelf life of no more than four months.

Sean set his script aside and leaned forward. “So...how long are you going to make me wait?” Kate wouldn’t look at him.

“I don't know.”

“I can't wait forever.”

“I know.”

“But you don't know.”

“Not yet.”

“Why not?” Kate shrugged, sliding off the stage onto the floor. Hands jambed in the pockets of her sweatshirt, she passed him and headed down the side aisle to the back of the auditorium. Jogging to catch up with her, he said, “I mean, I really enjoyed going with you last year.”

“Me, too.” They’d made fun of the prom king and queen, made up ridiculous dances and pretended to sing along with the songs they didn’t know. When prom was over, they hung out with some of the other theater kids at Mark’s house playing Mario Kart until one in the morning. Kate's mom had been irritated that she'd stayed out even that late.

“And if you'd like to go with someone else, that's fine. I just need to know.” She shook her head. “So would you go with me if Marissa already had a date?” She didn't stop walking but her shoulders stiffened. “That's it, then. That's why you won't give me an answer.”

She pivoted to face him, and said, “My math teacher called me Marissa again.”

He groaned. “It's not going to work. You can't change the subject.”

“I'm a year older, a foot taller, and I have red hair.”

“He teaches both of you at different times. It was just a mistake.”

“Freshman year, no one knew my name.”

“I knew you.”

“Only because we were lab partners. Then Marissa gets here and people think they know who I am. All they really know about me is that we're related.”

“You guys eat lunch together every day. I think I'd figure it out, too.”

“I don't look a thing like her.”

 

“Actually, you have the same chin.”

Sean, her best friend, who'd encouraged her to join the drama club despite her stage fright, the only reason she’d passed biology freshman year, the kid who would get the teacher’s attention when they didn’t hear her whispered question, was arguing with her. Why didn't he get it? “If we're so similar, take her to prom, then. You won't be able to tell the difference.”

Knowing Sean's stubborn streak, she should have expected him to follow her to the truck later when Marissa pulled into the parking lot. Marching right up to the driver's side, he rapped on the window until Marissa rolled it down. “Wanna go to prom with me?” he said, the tips of his fingers tucked in the pockets of his skinny jeans because they were too small to fit his whole hand.

“Sure, why not?” His only answer was a sharp nod before he turned and walked back into the building. He didn't even look past Marissa to where Kate was buckling herself in and pretending not to listen. As they were pulling out of the parking lot, Marissa turned wide eyes on her sister. “What was that all about?”

“Don't know. Did you find a dress yet?”

“Not yet. Are you ready to go buy yours?”

“Not yet.”

~~~

When Marissa rapped on her door on Sunday, Kate was laying on her stomach, feet crossed in the air, her laptop swimming in a sea of paper before her. “What are you working on?”

“A history essay.”

“Oh, I thought you'd be memorizing lines or something. That play is soon, right?”

 “Next week. I'd be in trouble if my lines weren't memorized yet.” Marissa nodded and muttered a vague response. “You're still coming on opening night, right?”

“Sure. Listen, there's something I need to ask you. Sean's your best friend, right?”

Kate sat up, swinging her feet over the edge of the bed. “I mean, yeah, but I'm totally cool with you guys--”

“No, it's not that. I mean, I have a problem.” After a moment's hesitation, Kate gathered all of her papers and dumped them on the floor, clearing a space for her sister. Once Marissa had settled onto the bed, feet tucked beneath her, she announced, “So this morning, Andrew called.”

“Cute Andrew?”

“Yeah, Cute Andrew. And he asked me to go to prom with him.”

“But you're already going with Sean.”

“Yes, but well...I sort've told Andrew I could go with him.”

“Marissa!”

“I know. I don't know what to do.”

“Tell him you're already going with someone else.”

“But I told him I'd go, and I really want to. I just didn't think he'd ever...that there was even...I mean, I don't know how many chances I'll get...Will you talk to Sean for me?”

Kate blinked hard, analyzing her sister's eyes for some proof, even a half hint, that she was joking. “No way. This is your problem. You made the mess. You can fix it.”

“Please? You're my older sister. You're supposed to help me get out of crap that I get myself into.”

“Yeah, well, as the responsible one, I'm holding you responsible for your own mistakes. Now, I've got work to do, okay? Go sort out your own life.”

Marissa's angry footsteps could be heard all the way down the hall until she slammed the door to her room. Flinging herself onto her back, Kate released a groan of frustration. Maybe she would boycott prom. She had enough to worry about, with schoolwork and college preparation and the show opening next week. It wasn't fair of the future to encroach on the present, wedging itself between them. She almost stood to chase after her and offer to help with damage control. But Marissa wouldn't always have her to rely on. She pulled out her phone to call Sean, then realized that wasn't any better. Biting her lip, she glared at the papers stacked on top of her laptop, a mountain of deadlines.

She started setting her workspace back up. In a few minutes, Marissa's anger would have evaporated and then she'd seek Kate out as she always did and they'd talk through things more reasonably. In the meantime, Kate had enough to worry about.

~~~

That Wednesday was the final opportunity to prepare before opening night. They would perform Thursday, Friday, and twice on Saturday, but this was dress rehearsal. The last chance to get it right before the real thing.

She was in costume waiting backstage for her first scene, wearing a floral print dress, an apron, and a pair of sensible black pumps. Empty frames balanced on her nose and her hair, twisted into a strict bun, was dusted with baby powder. 

Sitting on a chair that was needed for the second act, she mentally rehearsed her first line, absorbing her new identity. She would knock on the door, it would be opened, and she would be asked, “May I help you?” Then she would answer, “Good evening. I'm your neighbor, Sarah. I saw your flyer and...I found your cat.”

Sean found her in the half light among the waiting props and scenery, mouthing her lines to her hands where they were folded in her lap in an effort to hide their shaking. She could have been praying. He hesitated a moment before whispering, “Hey. Nervous?”

“Don't say that word.”

“Sorry.” The actors on stage were in the middle of the break-up scene and their voices rose with the tension. “Are you mad at me?”

When she lifted her head, the scent of baby powder reached him. “No, why would I be?”

He leaned against a dresser. “I told your sister I couldn't go with her after all. I explained everything. She understood.” So Marissa had escaped consequences again. Kate felt a wrinkle of anxiety smooth itself out of her forehead, even as a twinge of annoyance clinched in her jaw. “Look, I was being stupid. I’m sorry I overreacted. Let's just go and have fun, okay? Still friends?”

Her hesitation was almost long enough to worry him. “Marissa's going with Andrew now.”

It took him a moment to process the unexpected answer. “The kid who's been tutoring her in math? Hmm. Wait, so if Marissa has a date...?”

The stage manager appeared at her elbow and handed her an empty cardboard box, which she was to treat as though it contained the carcass of a dead cat. “You're on in five,” he whispered.

She stumbled to the edge of the shadows and waited for her cue before she walked into the blinding lights on the stage, rapped on the door growing upright out of the floor like a solitary tree. She had already caught a glimpse of the actor on the other side, but she had to pretend she hadn't seen anything.

The door opened. “Hello. May I help you?”

Kate took a breath to deliver her line. I'm your neighbor, Sarah. But she couldn't convince herself. She wasn't buying it.

“Hi, yes. I'm Sa--Kate. I'm Kate, Marissa's sist--older sister. I'm the tall one, the redhead. I wake her up every morning and fix her coffee and her breakfast and make sure she leaves for school on time. I don't...usually do stuff like this, talk in front of people, but she always does and I just wanted to be seen for me, for once. I work hard and people say I have a future ahead of me, but I have no idea what that future might be. All I know is I'm going to buy a prom dress.” The actor's eyebrows cinched together, uncertainty leaking into his eyes. Silence expanded throughout the room like an airbag that deployed unnecessarily, and instead of saving anyone's life, only managed to bruise their face. Someone had to fix this. The show must go on. A ghostly backstage whisper said, “What?”

“And here's your cat.” She shoved the empty box at the boy, and strode off.

Backstage was always much darker when she had come directly out of the spotlight. The momentary blindness was more frightening than being centerstage. Disoriented, she stumbled into the secrecy of the shadows and someone nearby whispered, “You'll get it next time, Skate.”

“Sean?”

“Yeah?”

“Prom?”

“Definitely.”

And on opening night, she delivered her lines perfectly. The only hiccough in her performance was that she forgot the box, and had to ask the neighbor to wait while she brought the cat.

Marissa was there, as promised, after the curtain closed and bows had been taken. She skipped up to her sister with a bouquet of flowers. Her broad smile faded as the two stood without words. “Well...I guess, should I compliment you or something? Tell you what a great performance it was? I don't know what you say in theater. You broke a leg?”

Kate bit her lip to hide her smile. “You say break a leg before a performance, to wish people good luck. It's a little late for that.”

“Oh. Well, then, what should I say?”

“You don't have to say anything. I'm just glad you came.”

“Mom said she's coming tomorrow. Hey, did Sean talk to you yet?” Kate nodded. “Look, I get that you were trying to be nice or whatever, and you wanted to make sure I had someone to go to prom with, but you don't have to baby me so much.”

“But you are a baby.”

Marissa rolled her eyes. “No...I'm at least a toddler.”

Kate thought that was debatable, but instead of arguing she said, “So more prom dress shopping tomorrow? I'm ready to buy mine now.”

“Awesome, yeah! So are you ready to go home?”

Kate looked around the quickly thinning crowd. The majority of those left were encircling the stars of the show, congratulating them on their success, quoting their favorite lines. The cast had discussed going for a late-night ice cream run after the performance to celebrate. They would probably be out late, and tomorrow was still a school day. Her mom wouldn’t like it, but she thought just this once she could afford to relax.

“No, not yet.”