*Scintillating chimes blow in the wind*
The year was 2006……
You’re in the mall, striding ahead of your mom so that no one will guess you’re together. Hopefully your homeroom crush isn’t here. Your sparkly jelly sandals are really uncomfortable and make loud clacking sounds with every step, but they’re sparkly and that’s all that matters. Plus, you’re wearing really comfortable gauchos that make up for it. You pass by Build-a-Bear and almost feel a magnetic pull, but realize that you’re too old for stuffed animals now. You secretly wish it were still socially acceptable to have your birthday party there. You remembered when you turned seven and they let you sashay on the check-out counter and all your friends and their new furry friends serenaded you. Good times. But now you’re in the fifth grade. Top of the school. Your best friend is having her birthday at Club Libby Lu in a few days and you still haven’t picked out the perfect present. You’re so excited that you finally get to experience the pop-star makeover that mom would never let you get otherwise. Those Britney-inspired outfits and all that glitter! A dream come true.
It’s going to be a cool party and all the girls from your class will be there. You want to make sure the present is something everyone will want. You decide to stop by Limited Too. Mom doesn’t let you shop here too often. She says it’s expensive. But you love everything. You get their monthly catalogs sent to your mailbox and make sure to circle your favorite outfits on every page. You walk into the store and Play’s “Us Against the World” is playing. You jump up and down. This song is so catchy. As you’re browsing, you come across a pink poncho just like the one you saw Hilary Duff wearing. Your mom says that ponchos used to be popular when she was in school. You cannot imagine your mom wearing trendy clothes. Your mom wonders if your friend might like a doll better. “Don’t you girls like to play with your Diva Starz or Polly Pockets?” Ugh, mom is so behind. Those were so third grade. “What about those scary looking dolls with the big heads…” You have no idea what she’s talking about. “Oh, you know…those…Bratz!! The Bratz Dolls!” Ugh, mooom. You have to explain that you’re too old for those now. It’s all about online games like Stardoll and Neopets. Although, you do still play Putt-Putt and Freddi Fish when you’re bored.
You finally decide to get the poncho. While waiting in the check-out line, you pick up a few accessories to throw in the bag. A pack of Lip Smackers lip gloss in different flavors and some glittery gel pens. You ask your mom if you can get some stick-on earrings for yourself since you’re not allowed to get your ears pierced yet. All your other friends have already gone to Claire’s to get the real deal. She lets you get the stick-ons. On the way back to the car, mom lets you get an Orange Julius. What a day. You’re finally tall enough to sit in the passenger seat. You’re not tall enough to be shaded by the sun visor. You pull out your sunglasses with pink lenses and studs on the rims. Your Jump5 CD plays over and over.
You went to the birthday party sleepover and it was a success. Club Libby Lu was all that you had imagined and you still have glitter in your hair, even now. You ended up trying some DIY facial recipes from the “Spa Fun” American Girl book. The eggwhites froze your face and you tried not to laugh while playing Mad Libs. Your friend loved the poncho. She recognized it immediately. She also got an Easy Bake oven, the new Conair hair braider with a beads kit, and some Lisa Frank arts and crafts items. You all tried out the Easy Bake oven, but got impatient and decided to eat some Loft House sugar cookies instead. The good kind with the pink frosting and sprinkles. You ended the night with a few rounds of DDR battles and a few Mary-Kate and Ashley movies from the local Blockbuster.
You woke up in time to catch Sunday morning cartoons before all the moms came for pick-up. A few of the girls argued over who would be Sam from Totally Spies, so you changed the channel to Hey Arnold. Your friend’s brother started playing with his Tamagotchi and it was extremely obnoxious, so you all went outside to play Skip-It. It wasn’t long before he and his friends came out with their Nerf Guns. You were never so happy to see your mom’s Odyssey pull into the driveway. You hugged everyone goodbye, hopped in the car, and quickly dumped out the contents of the goodie bag. A mood ring, two new Livestrong bracelets to add to your collection, a Fruit Roll-Up, a fuzzy pen, and a velvety snap bracelet. It had been a good weekend. Now you just had to wait for those photos to develop.