Chapter 9 Abstract me

Becka was in the kitchen with Darla one cold morning. They were about preparing breakfast. "What are we eating this morning?" Becka asked, sitting on a stool. Darla looked out the window. "I don't know." she replied. Becka thought of it for a moment. "What about pancakes and maple syrup?" she suggested. Darla shook her head. "Scrambled eggs and bread. What of that?" Darla asked. " I think that is okay." Becka agreed. They began the preparation. Darla went to get eggs in the fridge. "But, Darla, I don't know how to prepare that." Becka said. Darla smiled at her. " I'll do that then.

You can make the tea." she answered, turning on the stove.

As the duo were setting the dining table, Scarlett and Bel came downstairs. " Good morning, girls." Becka said as she sighted them come into the kitchen. Scarlett was carrying Sandra. " Wow! Scrambled eggs and bread!" Scarlett said happily, placing Sandra on the high chair. Becka placed the meal on the table and breakfast began. " I think we should go shopping today." Scarlett suggested as they discussed a rock concert coming up. " Shopping? I thought.. we've got enough food to last us for long." Becka asked, wrapping her fingers around the warm mug of tea. " I mean shopping for clothes." Scarlett rectified. Becka stared at her. She had no money to buy clothes. The three of them could go shopping and kindly leave her alone. Darla understood the look on her face. " Don't bother, Becka. We'll take care of that." she said, putting her hand on Becka's shoulder. Becka relaxed and smiled. Thank goodness, she wouldn't be left out.

After breakfast,the girls got dressed and were ready to leave. Becka thought of her baby, and didn't want to go. The other girls persuaded her. Scarlett offered to push Sandra in the pram. Darla locked up the house and they boarded a cab going to Girls' Choice. At the clothes shop, Becka felt left out, however. Darla, Scarlett and Bel were picking shorts, crop tops, leggings and gowns that fitted so close like second skin. Becka didn't feel like wearing all that. The blouses, skirts and trousers that she chose were okay by her. "Just look at this, girls." Becka said, having the girls look at her in a royal blue gown in the dressing room. It seemed so nice and befitting to her. Worst of all, the girls laughed sarcastically at her. "What's..wrong?"she stuttered. " You look so ridiculous!" Darla said amidst laughter. Ridiculous? Becka asked herself. "Look at me, Beck. Can't you see how chic I look in this?" Scarlett said, showing off a tight fitted gown that was far above her knees.

Becka looked at them, frustrated. Bel came to her rescue. She chose an outfit. "Try this, Beck." Becka took in a deep breath as she surveyed it. Just as the same Scarlett had chosen. She wore it and took a look at herself in the mirror. The dress was mainly made of matching ropes; so complicated at that. Nonsense, she thought. "That looks great!" Darla commented. Scarlett and Bel agreed. That made Becka feel stupid. She shook her head. "I can't wear this." Becka said, obviously making Scarlett feel offended. "Well, if you think they're not good enough, pick your choice." Scarlett said, turning away. "What about this?" Bel called out from the corner of the room, waving the dress at Becka. "That should be nice enough, Beck. Don't be silly." Darla whispered and laughed. The dress was a pink gown with elaborate embroideries on it. But, it was short- far above the knees. Becka collected the gown, anyway. She didn't want to make the girls feel angry at her, so she chose it. "It's a beautiful outfit." Becka managed to say.

About thirty minutes later, they were back home, trying their new outfits again. Becka sat on a stool and watched the girls giggle happily about their clothes. What's wrong with me? she thought. She used to dres worse than these girls. But now, she didn't understand why she detested all the things she used to do. Maybe it was the birth of her baby- things had really changed since then. She heard the girls laugh wildly, so she looked up. The tight fitted dress Bel was wearing had torn by the side. Becka laughed. Bel wasn't as slim figured as the rest,and she didn't like it. Bel always loved to stuff herself into slimmer outfits. Most times, the outfits always got torn before she had the opportunity to wear them to an outing. "Gosh!" Bel exclaimed, pulling the dress off. A phone rang. It was Bel's. Becka noticed, as Bel talked to someone on the phone, that all colour had drained from her face. Bel stuttered, and then hung up. She whispered to Scarlett. Scarlett's eyes widened, "Let's go there." . Becka tried to guess as she watched the duo get dressed and leave the house hurriedly. "What's that?" Becka asked Darla. Darla laughed.

"I overheard Bel saying that someone had just called her to say that her boyfriend was out on a date with another girl." she answered, sitting beside Becka. "That guy should quickly get away, better for him. Bel would beat him to pulp." Becka put in with a quick laugh. "Bel is a tough girl, you know." Darla added, laughing with Becka. Becka tried to imagine how Bel would confront the guy. Well, she was a lot bigger than her boyfriend in size, so she would likely beat him up. If she couldn't, the girl he went out with was in trouble, she thought to herself. "Bel is so stupid. She replied too much to those guys. That's why they take her for granted and pick another girl. It's usually so painful for her, but she makes the same mistake over and over again." Darla said, looking blankly into space. "Yeah." Becka agreed. Bel had always thought a guy would love her so much that he would never leave her. Opposite had always been the case. "You know that Bel hijacked Sam from one of her old friends. Bel doesn't like a guy that hops from one girl to another like a fly. But the truth is that any guy who hops from one girl to her would surely hop from her to another." Darla hissed and giggled. Becka smiled.

She got up and went to the kitchen to find something to eat for lunch. She went to the fridge and scanned through it. Homemade soups, bread, muffins, steaks, pancakes, cans of peas and sweetcorn, sauces, fries, whole chicken, waffles, seafood were staring at her. She took a plate of fries and a can of cola. She sat on a stool and enjoyed her lunch. Darla came in. "What of Sandra?", Becka asked. Darla had been carrying Sandra in the room. "She's asleep now." Darla answered, sitting on a stool in the kitchen. "Becka, why did you prefer all those ugly clothes at the store?" Darla inquired. Becka frowned. "I didn't like those ones that you guys chose, that's all." she answered. " But, you had some of those clothes when you came here." Darla insisted. "I don't like them now. I prefer the ones I chose." Becka said stoutly. They heard the door of the sitting room creak open. They went to the sitting room. Bel was there, face white and ashen, obviously defeated. Suddenly, Bel fainted. Everyone rushed to meet her. "This is one of the things I'm saying." Becka whispered to herself.