I Can Make This Promise: Chapters 3–10

There are lush pink peonies, their petals delicately ruffled, like the folds of a tulle tutu.

There are lush pink peonies, their petals delicately ruffled, like the folds of a tulle tutu.

I’m sketching an outline of this one flower in the garden. Its blooms are my favorite shade of purple: bright and soft, like lilac but not. Its petals are spread out in the shape of a star. Little yellow sprigs pop up from its pollen-filled middle.

Serenity is examining my drawing pad, her brows furrowed in concentration.

“Okay,” I say, treading carefully. “Well. We can keep brainstorming.”

“We can go back to the Rapunzel-inspired story,” Serenity suggests. “The princess trapped in a tower.”
“But that’s cliché and overdone, too.”

“We’re challenging ourselves,” I say optimistically. “And it will make our film the most unique.”

“Hey, you know what we could do? We could go to my house and make our own Popsicles.” My two best friends gawk at me.

“You know how to make your own Popsicles?” Amelia asks. Her voice is a little scornful, like she’s mad at me for withholding this information.

Cardboard boxes and plastic storage bins are stacked everywhere in haphazard piles.

“What the heck?” she says. “That’s a huge computer.”
“Vintage,” Amelia agrees. “Super weird.”

Together, they both look up at me. I can actually see their pupils dilating.

For a split second, the world seems to tilt on its axis, like it’s about to roll right off its designated ring in the solar system and float aimlessly into outer space.

I’ve never given my name much thought. I know what it means (“prosperous in war,” which has always seemed a bit odd to me).

I want to dig through the dirt, climb through these tangled limbs, inspect this gnarled trunk.

His hair is mussed, his necktie is loose, and he’s already shrugging out of his sport coat.

A bead of condensation drips down the side of my milkshake, settling at the base of the plastic cup.

A warm breeze wafts through the open windows behind my parents, shifting the white cotton curtains.

“Maybe I could get a job,” Mom offers gingerly. “And you could take some well-deserved time off.”

“True.” Dad’s voice goes soft and solemn. “That’s very true.”

“Well, honey. You have a vintage name. It’s classic. Timeless.”
My stomach plummets. “Is that why you chose it? Because it was...vintage?”

“So, you wanted me to be ‘prosperous in war’? That’s the literal meaning of it.”

Beach towels are strewn across the lumpy seashore, striped umbrellas and plastic pails anchored beside them.

“How could they not love the little fellow?” Mom croons. “He’s such a great muse for the film project.”

“How could they not love the little fellow?” Mom croons. “He’s such a great muse for the film project.”

“That was different, sweetie,” Dad says. “That was a real animal. A wild, feral animal.”

And I promised I’ll wait, but the anticipation is killing me.

“No. The process of getting braces is painless.”
I frown, skeptical. “I thought they’d make my mouth sore.”

“Here, let me clean you up.” She rinses and dabs around the inside of my mouth, removing the residue and remnants.

Her voice is warm and honeyed, but her hooded gaze is purely clinical. Like I’m a frog she’s about to dissect on a lab table.

But in your case, you also have a slight overbite. The top row of your teeth is protruding slightly over the bottom.

But your braces will serve as a preventative treatment, to ensure your overbite won’t become problematic. People with overbites are more susceptible to tooth decay, and they are at a considerably higher risk for developing gum disease.

But your braces will serve as a preventative treatment, to ensure your overbite won’t become problematic. People with overbites are more susceptible to tooth decay, and they are at a considerably higher risk for developing gum disease.

“I understand if you’re a little scared. It’s perfectly normal to get cold feet before the procedure. But I promise, the results will be worth it. You’re a big girl. You’ll do just fine with braces.”

I’m wearing shorts, and my exposed skin is starting to sweat against the leather seat, all clammy and sticky.