Earth to Skye

1

1“Skye, I have to ask you to take off that dog collar.”

We were ready to get out of the car at the Santa Monica promenade and Mom (aka Kath) was having a fit over the studded choker. It was probably really about the black corset and the fact that Skye’s boobs were popping out. And that we were both getting prettier and looking more like young women.

“It’s just a necklace.”

Skye’s flirty charm didn’t work on Mom. “You have to remove that choker or I’m not dropping you guys off.”

I was surprised because my mother always let me wear whatever I wanted, but then again, I didn’t have big boobs.

“Why do you care what we wear?” I asked.

“Don’t argue with me, Livi. I simply don’t like what it says.”

“It doesn’t talk,” Skye looked straight at Mom, testing her.

“It’s just fashion,” I said.

“It advertises something to older men,” said Mom. “Like you’re ready to be on a leash.”

“Mo-om. It’s not that bad. She’s not a sadomasochist.”

You can’t really shock my mother. But she did get flustered.

“Olivia, stop defending Skye.” My mother only called me Olivia when she meant business. “It’s absolutely not okay with me. Sixteen-year-old girls don’t need to be drawing the wrong kind of attention.”

Skye took off the choker, threw it in her purse and opened the door.

“I wish I were a marshmallow,” said Skye. It was her favorite nonsensical smart-ass saying, which even I didn’t understand.

“Excuse me?” said Mom, as we were getting out of the car. “What on earth does that mean?”

“Thanks, Mom,” I intercepted. “See you at five?”