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the look I want,” Maddie said softly.
    She studied the size of the girl’s arms and legs, and then stood and looked at hers in the mirror. She had a long way to go before she’d be that thin. But each time she turned away food, like the ice cream and potato today, she felt stronger and more successful. She’d just have to press on and ignore her parents and little brother. What did they know anyway?
    She carefully pulled the picture out of the magazine and placed it on her bulletin board. Tomorrow she’d try to apply her make up like that. And maybe her mother would take her shopping again. She needed more sophisticated tops, and her shorts were all way too long.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    When Michelle looked up at her daughter the next morning, she had to do a double take. A thick swash of black eyeliner on each lid, along with shorts that had been rolled up to her rear end, gave Madison a completely different appearance.
    “What?” Madison asked innocently, clearly aware of Michelle’s stare.
    “You look…different,” Michelle replied tentatively, not wanting to put her on the defensive.
    “Oh, that. Yeah, it’s time your little girl grew up, don’t you think?”
    Before Michelle could answer, Caleb walked into the room. “Hey Mom, can I have a ride to the park this afternoon? Some friends are meeting for kickball.”
    “Will there be any adults there?” she asked.
    “Buzz’s big brother and his friends are going to be playing basketball on the courts near us.”
    Since Michelle knew the older boys from church and deemed them responsible enough to keep an eye on Caleb and his friends, she agreed. “But it’ll have to be after two-thirty. I’m working in my classroom until then.”
    “Sure. No problem.” Caleb grabbed a muffin from the counter and sat down with them. “What happened to your eyes?” he asked Madison.
    “It’s called make-up, dummy.”
    Michelle gave her a warning look.
    “Well it looks weird if you ask me,” Caleb replied.
    “No one’s asking you.”
    “That’s enough, you two,” Michelle cut in. Then turning to Madison, she asked, “What are your plans for the day?”
    “I was hoping you could drop me off at Fashion Depot on your way to school. Lucy said she’d meet me there.”
    “It’s not exactly ‘on the way,’ honey. What are you planning to shop for?”
    “School clothes. I didn’t get that much in Portland.”
    Michelle nodded. “Okay, I can give you a ride and a little cash, but you’ll need to be ready to go in about fifteen minutes. I have a department meeting at ten.”
    “No problem,” Madison replied, standing and grabbing a cup of coffee.
    “Coffee?” Michelle asked, trying to contain the shock in her voice.
    “Yeah. I’m skipping breakfast to finish getting ready,” she replied as she walked away.
    “Madison is really getting weird, Mom,” Caleb observed.
    Michelle smiled. “Part of being a teenager, buddy.” But inside she felt as baffled as Caleb. Should I make Maddie remove that thick eye makeup before we leave? And what about those shorts? she thought. Should I have her roll them back down?
    All of this was new territory, and Michelle wasn’t sure she was completely ready for it. Glancing over at Caleb, she also began questioning their decision to leave him home alone while she worked on her classroom for a few hours. Steve had promised to drop by during his lunch break, and her mother was nearby, but was eleven really old enough?
    “Don’t forget what we discussed with your father last night,” she said to him.
    “Yeah, yeah. Don’t answer the door for anyone, don’t play in the front yard, stay off the computer. I got it, Mom. Besides, Dad gave me that list of chores to do so I can earn money toward my new skateboard. I’ll be busy weeding out back and straightening up the garage.”
    “Okay. But you know you can call your grandmother anytime. She’s home all day, and your dad will be here for lunch.”
    “Got it, Mom,” he