School of Charm (17 page)

chapter twenty-three

I
RAN BACK TO THE LOCKER ROOM AND CHANGED
into my sparkly bathing suit for the talent competition. I was excited to wear the special outfit Mama had made, but when I saw the other girls in their magnificent costumes, silky material and glitter up and down dresses and body suits, I felt silly in my simple homemade costume. But Mama had done her best.

Luckily, Grandma had insisted we bring long robes to cover ourselves up in case we wanted to go into the audience and watch the competition. I put mine on so I could watch Ruthie.

“Look at this!” said Jack Taylor. “We have another Anderson sister in the competition. This time it's Ruthie Anderson in the first-ever Little Miss division.”

Ruthie stopped and waved at the audience. She covered her giggle with her gloved hand. I chuckled, watching her.

Jack knelt down beside her. “Why do you want to be the first ever Little Miss Dogwood?”

She locked her hands behind her back. “Grandma said I should join because I'm so precious.”

The audience laughed and I saw Grandma looking around, forcing her frown into a smile.

Ruthie grabbed the mike from him, remembering her line. “And because North Carolina is a beautiful place and the dogwood is a beautiful tree and I want to tell everyone how much I love them!” Sure enough, she sounded like she'd been living in North Carolina all her life. Just like Charlene. And then she turned on that big old smile.

“Well put,” said Jack. “Can I have my mic back now, darlin'?” He held out his hand and grinned at the audience.

“Sure. Let me show you my talent. My sister Chip, I mean—
Brenda
—taught me this.” With that, Ruthie put her nose to the stage, stuck her rump in the air and shook it back and forth. Then she rolled over in a perfect somersault. She stood up and threw her hands in the air while the audience howled.

I wondered what color Grandma's face was: white or red. I couldn't tell. Her hands were covering it.

“Thank you, Ruthie Anderson. And that was a little bonus, ladies and gentlemen, because the Little Miss contestants aren't even required to have a talent portion.” Jack raised his eyebrows.

Ruthie skipped off the stage, blowing kisses and waving.

I ran backstage where Mama was waiting for Ruthie. Finally, Mama was smiling.

Charlene was not. “They are going to take points away from my score because I'm related to you two. I just know it! Ruthie acted just like Chip out there.” Her fists were planted on her hips and she was wearing her talent gown, a white dress with silver sparkles. She looked beautiful but mean.

She looked like Grandma.

Ruthie started crying and Charlene stomped off.

Mama smoothed Ruthie's hair and kissed her. “I thought you were wonderful. You were just being you, Ruthie. And we love who you are.”

Mama smiled at me and led Ruthie to sit back down in the audience. Heads turned to watch Ruthie go by. I could just imagine Daddy laughing, too, saying, “Would you look at that little one? Would you look at my girl?”

What would he say about me?

I sat down next to Mama and Ruthie to watch Charlene's talent segment. I had to admit, she sure could sing.

When Jack Taylor introduced her, his big smile returned. “Let's welcome back Miss Charlene Anderson, sister of the delightful Ruthie and Brenda!”

Charlene's grin slipped a bit, but she forced it up.

“What will you be performing today?”

“I will be singing, Mr. Taylor, but I have a last-minute change in my selection.” She looked down at the floor, all sad.

“Oh?” He sounded confused.

“Yes. In light of yesterday's tragic death of the King himself, Mr. Elvis Presley, I would like to honor his memory with a song. A song that is precious to the hearts of so many. Especially my mama.”

The piano started playing, and Charlene began singing “Love Me Tender.” The audience murmured and Mama's hand hovered over her mouth.

Charlene's voice wobbled a bit when she saw Mama press both her hands against her face. But she closed her eyes and kept on singing, swaying to the song, clenching her hands in front of the microphone.

“Thank you. Thank you very much,” Jack said quietly when she finished. Charlene nodded like she had performed some important duty, and went backstage. She got a real nice round of applause. I couldn't tell if it was out of respect for Elvis or Charlene.

I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable about my own talent, wondering if I could do it. And not just because of my ankle. I was okay at the baton, but it wasn't something I loved. I wished I had something like that. Something I loved so much it could squeeze any bad feeling out of my heart.

People sat up, interested, when it was Dana's turn. The audience went silent as she walked out in a traditional African dress of vibrant oranges, yellows, and browns. Even I knew it was not a pageant gown.

“Miss Jameson is back. And I'm told we have another singer,” Jack said.

“Yes, and this song is in honor of the real king. Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior, whose light has not been dimmed even though he is no longer with us.”

I waited for the piano or some sort of music to start, but all I heard was Dana's sweet voice, quiet at first then louder as she sang the words to “This Little Light of Mine.”

Her voice was strong and lovely and hung on all the right words, like not hiding her light under a bushel, and how she was going to let it shine all over the world. She held the last note so long I wasn't sure when she'd stopped. Then the clapping started, a loud thunderous clapping. It was the tall black man in the back again. Quite a few people stood up, until most everyone joined the standing ovation.

I stood up too, and I clapped my hands till they stung. Dana was never going to be my best friend, but we were closer than the first time we'd met. I was so proud of her for going out there and being herself, no matter who was looking down their noses at her. No matter if it cost Dana the crown. Watching her, the same good feeling bubbled up inside me like the day we first slathered mud over our faces in the pond. She was being herself and it was beautiful. Just like Miss Vernie had always told us. Just like Daddy had once told me too.

The crowd went on clapping for so long, they made the next girl in line wait to go out onstage for her talent. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Charlene stomp off to the locker room.

And I followed. I had some changes to make.

 

B
Y THE TIME
I'
D RETURNED, MY ROBE TIED TIGHT AROUND
me, holding what I needed, it was almost my turn. I saw Miss Vernie in the corner. She smiled at me like she knew. Like she knew what I was going to do.

I took off my robe and limped up the stairs behind the curtain. The lady with the clipboard squinted at me. “Why aren't you dressed for the talent competition?” she asked.

“I am.”

Her eyes swept over me and landed on the birthmark on my cheek, no longer covered up by makeup. “All right then. Go ahead.”

I went out onstage in my jean shorts and T-shirt and charm bracelet, holding Earl in his plastic bowl.

“Our second Anderson sister, Brenda, is back,” he said with a curious note in his voice. “I was told you had a baton act.”

“I have a different talent to tell you about. It's not something I can really show you. It's not really pageant material. Neither am I, really. My name is Brenda, but people call me Chip. I can climb trees, but sometimes I fall out of them. I can take care of flowers. Even turtles. This is my pet turtle, Earl. I found him, and I've been taking care of him because he was all alone.”

I showed Jack my bowl, and he made an exaggerated face like he was real interested.

“Anyway, my other talent is being myself. My daddy always told me he loved me just the way I was. I guess I forgot that. And I know Daddy's watching from heaven today. And I know he'd be disappointed in me, out here pretending I like dresses and twirling the baton. So I guess those are my talents, Mr. Taylor. Loving nature and being myself.”

Everyone was quiet. Even Mr. Taylor. “Those are very important talents. We certainly want our Miss Dogwood to be a nature lover. And to be true to herself. Thank you, Brenda.”

“It's Chip,” I said. “My name's Chip.” I stopped and looked out at the audience, a big smile on my face. Mama smiled back at me and set her hand over her heart. When I heard a tiny clink on the stage, I figured my ballet slippers had fallen off, even though I wasn't really, totally, standing on both feet. I was mostly standing on my right foot because my other foot was all wrapped up.

Miss Vernie was waiting for me backstage with a big hug.

But then Charlene burst between us. “You just ruined my chances of winning! I swear you are not my sister.” She pointed her finger at my wrist. “And take that dumb bracelet off. I bought one just like it at Woolworth's. All the stupid charms kept falling off.” She stalked away.

I looked at Miss Vernie, my stomach swirling. “Is that where you get the bracelets?” I figured it was some exotic, faraway place. Not Woolworth's on Main Street where anybody could get one.

She nodded and put her soft hand on my cheek. “It is, Brenda. But did you ever think it might not be the bracelet that's magic, but the person wearing it?”

I pulled back from her. My heart was in my throat. She made us think the bracelets were special. Important. Wasn't this just like Grandma tricking us about winning the crown? I crossed my arms and I could feel my chest heaving. I wouldn't look at her.

“Do you think you learned anything?” Miss Vernie asked. “
I
think you did.”

I blinked back fresh tears. “I did learn something each time a charm fell off, but how did that happen if the bracelet isn't magic?”

She stepped toward me, put her hands on my shoulders, and peered right into my eyes. “People who find my school are always searching for something. They're looking for the lessons to help them find it. Losing charms just makes sure they're paying attention, thinking about what they might be learning along the way. Because there's always a lesson if you're paying attention. And whether you think that's magical is up to you.”

Miss Vernie's warm blue eyes were fixed on me, and I thought of how sad and lonely I was the first day I went to her school. I didn't feel like that now. I looked at my bracelet, and I remembered the charms I'd lost and the lessons I'd learned.

My heart stopped spinning and I felt like it was filling up with something warm and soft and bright. I smiled. “I think it
is
magic, Miss Vernie. And I bet Charlene didn't learn a thing.”

“Probably not,” she said, shaking her head. “It doesn't work for just anyone, you know.”

I nodded. Turns out, most of the things I learned at Miss Vernie's School of Charm didn't have much to do with the pageant, and that was fine. But nothing had taught me how to fit in with my family, and nothing had helped settle my heart back into place. Maybe I was just going to have to get used to that feeling.

chapter twenty-four

I
CHANGED BACK INTO MY GOWN LIKE ALL THE OTHER
girls had and then I left my turtle with Miss Vernie. After a little while all the contestants were called back onstage for the judges' decision. We lined up by division, except for Ruthie, who ran over to me and held my hand.

“We're going to start with our Miss Dogwood division,” Jack Taylor said. “We had fifteen wonderful contestants this year. The judges truly had a difficult time picking a winner. So we will start with our runners-up. In third place, Miss Charlene Anderson, one of our newest North Carolina residents.”

Charlene froze and then smiled. Her eyes were big and blank. She walked up to Jack Taylor, who placed a small crown on her head. She stood off to the side, still smiling in that weird way; it was exactly how Mama smiled in that runner-up picture of hers.

“Our second-place finisher was very close in points to our first-place winner. We want to say congratulations to Miss Dana Jameson!”

All the hardness fell off Dana's face. She walked, in what felt like slow motion, to the front of the stage. Jack set the crown on her head, placing it high on her Afro. Loud pockets of cheers came from the crowd. Dana stepped next to Charlene, who gave her another fake smile.

“And finally, Miss Dogwood 1977. Miss Michelle Dawson!” She was the tall black-haired girl who Charlene had frowned at the entire time.

Michelle walked out like she'd been expecting the crown all along. Her hands cupped her mouth, and then she kissed Jack Taylor on the cheek. He slapped his hand over the spot and pretended to stumble back in awe. The audience laughed and cheered.

Once the winners had given each other fake hugs, smoothed their sashes, and settled down, Jack addressed the crowd. “Now for the Junior Miss division.”

Please be Karen
,
I thought.
Please be Karen.
I knew I didn't have a chance anymore.

But he didn't call Karen's name. It was another one of the girls. My heart sank a little. To me, Karen would always be number one, but I doubted the judges would've placed her higher than third.

“And in second place, a contestant whose beauty showed inside and out, Miss Brenda Anderson! I mean, Chip!” Jack Taylor corrected.

I blinked and shook my head, like maybe I was hearing things wrong. But Jack Taylor was staring at me, waiting. I was stuck to the stage floor until Karen pushed me. I must've floated up there because I don't remember walking. Jack set the crown on my head. It slipped off and we both bent to pick it up. We bonked heads and everyone laughed. But I didn't care. I wasn't nervous Brenda Anderson trying to be a beauty queen. I was just Chip, being herself.

I clapped loudly for the pretty girl who had gone on before me and who'd won the title. She really was beautiful, and I bet she'd win the Miss division the next year.

“And finally it's time for the very first Little Miss Dogwood.” He opened the envelope and shook his head. “Those Anderson girls. Ruthie Anderson is our Little Miss Dogwood.”

Ruthie did another somersault, landing at Jack's feet. She jumped up, reaching for the crown. And when he put it on her head, she ran over to me. A hurt look flashed in Charlene's eyes.

“And there you have it! A very memorable, very special Miss Dogwood pageant,” Jack said.

We filed off the stage and the newspaper photographers and TV station reporters were lined up, waiting to interview the winners. We all posed for a newspaper picture. The big flashbulb blinded me as I stood there with my little crown.

When the photographer was done, I looked for Dana to congratulate her. But she rushed past me and a picture fluttered from her hand. I picked it up and examined the old black-and-white photo of a very pretty woman with blond hair sitting on a picnic blanket, smiling.

I chased after Dana, carrying the picture, but I stopped when I saw her talking to the tall black man who had clapped so loudly for her. He talked to her for a few moments and then hugged her. And I saw the last charm fall from her bracelet.

I walked over with her picture. “You dropped this. And your charm.” I pointed to the ground.

She looked at her bracelet and smiled. “Dad, this is my friend Brenda from Miss Vernie's.”

“Chip,” I said, holding out my hand.

He shook my hand. “It's very nice to meet you. Hope that ankle of yours gets better soon. That charm school sure did teach you two a lot. And you both got a crown.” He grinned at us again. “I'll be right back, baby, I'm gonna go pull the car up.” We watched him walk away.

“Your dad sure claps loud. I could hear him over everyone.”

Dana grinned. “He was real proud of me even though I didn't win.”

“You came in second. That was great.”

She nudged me with her elbow. “So did you. You really surprised me, walking out there with your turtle, girl.”

“When I saw you up there being yourself, I knew I had to do the same thing. That's what Miss Vernie always said. Why wasn't I listening?”

“Guess sometimes it takes a while to know what's right.” Then Dana smiled at me. For the first time, she really smiled at me.

I handed her the picture. “Who is this?”

She took it, letting out a big sigh. “That's my mama. But you'd never know it. She looks more like you than me.”

I shrugged. “I don't look like my mama either. Not at all.”

“That's why I joined the pageant.” Dana rubbed her thumb over the picture. “I wanted to compete with white girls like my mama 'cause no one thinks someone like me could. I wanted to show her—I wanted to show everyone.”

“Well, I was wrong, Dana. Everyone was. This was the perfect pageant for you.”

She looked back at the picture. “I used to think that's why she left—'cause she couldn't see herself in me. But my dad and I had a long talk the other day when I was showing him my dresses for the pageant. We'd never really talked about why Mama left. Daddy just always told me she had to leave. Turns out, she thought life would be easier for me and dad without her. Not everyone was real happy about them getting married. She didn't leave because of me. I suppose that's why I lost my heart charm. Being up there onstage, holding my head high . . . well, the pain doesn't hurt quite as much now.”

“I bet your mama would be proud of you, Dana. Just like I bet my daddy would be proud of me. I'm glad we were in Miss Vernie's school together.”

She wrapped her arm around my shoulder. “Me too.”

I went back to join my family. Mama and Grandma and my sisters were waiting for me in a tight little knot as they fussed over crowns and sashes. I fingered my bracelet. The heart charm was still there. Sure seemed like I should've lost it. What else could I have to learn?

“Well, that was an unusual pageant,” Grandma said, tucking her purse under her arm. “Next year we won't be taking part in the Miss Dogwood Pageant. We'll head straight for the top.” She pointed her finger up to the ceiling. “Junior Miss North Carolina.”

Charlene pulled Ruthie in front of her and set her hand on her head. “What do you think, baby girl?”

Ruthie shrugged. “I liked this pageant. And we all won.”

I smiled at Ruthie and saw Miss Vernie coming toward us. “Congratulations, Chip.”

Grandma stepped in front of her. “I should report you to the authorities for running a school like that,” she said. “It's a sham!”

Miss Vernie's shoulders dropped. And so did her voice. “Nancy, I closed that charm school when my Charlie left.” She shrugged. “But people kept showing up. And people kept finding what they needed there. Still do.” She put her arm around me.

“I've never noticed a sign,” Grandma said.

“Seems like the only people who see it are the ones who need my school.” She pulled a charm bracelet from her pocket and handed it to Grandma.

“What's this?”

“Chip can explain how it works. Let's consider it a peace offering.”

Grandma turned red and refused the bracelet. But she didn't stare down Miss Vernie like I figured she would. Grandma was looking at the floor. “I wasn't the only one upset after the war,” she said. “I wasn't the only one who said those things to Charlie.”

Miss Vernie held up her hand. “I buried that heartache not too long ago.” She winked at me and smiled. The bracelet lay curled in her palm, and she pressed it into my hand. “I'll leave this with you, Chip. You all enjoy the rest of your day.”

Miss Vernie walked away, leaving behind her a sweet, comforting smell.

“Let's go home,” Grandma said.

“For cheesecake and china?” Ruthie asked.

Grandma shook her head. “No, we won't be celebrating this pageant. This pageant didn't follow tradition.”

I swallowed and bit my lip so I wouldn't cry. I'd been dreaming about that fancy dinner and sitting with everyone talking about the big day. Was this just because of me?

Mama stood up straight and narrowed her eyes. She pointed a finger at Grandma. “We are coming home with three crowns!” She held up three fingers. “My girls won them, and we are celebrating tonight. We are not skipping this tradition just because you didn't like how things were done. We feast like queens after pageants. That's what the Coopers do—and now the Andersons too.” Her voice was strong and a bit too loud. “And when you get home, you're going to let these girls pick out a doll like you promised.” She crossed her arms and nodded.

Grandma's faced turned white and she blinked at Mama. Then she nodded too. “Very well. Let's go home and get ready.”

I looked at Charlene and we shared a quick smile. Mama was back.