Dare to Be Different (16 page)

“Of course I can, Lindsay. I’m so sorry that I pressured you and made you feel like you would lose our friendship.”

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault that I did what I did. But if we are going to be friends, I just need to know that I can be myself 100 percent and not have to pretend I’m someone I’m not.”

“It’s a deal. Lindsay, I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too.”

The four girls hugged each other for a long time. It felt so good to be back where they belonged—together. The bell rang, signaling the start of the school day, so the four girls walked together, arm in arm, up the stairs to the school. Lindsay watched their reflection in the front doors of the school. What she saw there were the same four girls whose reflections she had seen in that same door on the first day of school—only now they were wiser and stronger. Lindsay smiled at the thought of all they had been through and grinned even wider when she realized how far they had yet to go together. God was good.

I,
(include your name here)
, have read the story of Lindsay Martin and have learned from the choices that she made and the consequences that she faced. I want to make choices that lead my life down the path that God has for me. I promise, from this moment on, to think before I act and, in all things, to choose God’s will over mine. Specifically, I will honor my parents and avoid disobedience, even when I don’t think my behavior is really wrong.

Father God, I don’t know everything, and I can’t possibly have everything under control. Please help me remember the lessons I’ve learned as I’ve read this book. Help me to honor my parents and serve You by making right choices and avoiding questionable situations. It is my desire to be a witness to others about Your grace and love. I know I can’t do that if my behavior is questionable. So if I get in a tight spot, please help me to find a way out and give me the strength to do what it takes. I know that You have everything under control, so I submit to Your will. Amen
.

Congratulations on your decision!
Please sign this contract signifying your commitment. Have someone you trust, like a parent or a pastor, witness your choice.

________________________________________________

Signed

________________________________________________

Witnessed by

ALL THAT GLITTERS

This book is dedicated to my daughters,
Natalie and Emily. Your sweet spirits and love for
Jesus inspire me to live my own life of faith. I pray
that this series of books will help you plan ahead
and make commitments about the choices you will
face. I’m so proud of you both, and I love you more
than you could ever know
.

—Mom

Chapter 1

A fancy sports car on one side and a shiny, brand-new SUV on the other, Drew and Dani leaned forward eagerly as their mom slid her car into a parking spot at the mall. More than any other year, shopping for school clothes this year was a very important task. Dani and Drew, identical twins, were starting the ninth grade—the first year of high school. They knew full well how important their first impression was—well, at least Drew did. She had spent most of her summer planning and researching fashion trends, hairstyles, and makeup tips by reading fashion magazines. Not that it would do her much good, she often thought. Their parents didn’t allow them to wear makeup; and her long, straight, dark hair looked
just like her sister’s and was cut and styled in the same style they had always had.

“Mom, I think it’s time for a change,” Drew announced as they walked through the parking lot toward the mall.

“What kind of change?” Mom asked hesitantly.

“You know, change isn’t always a bad thing.” Drew thought her mom might need some convincing. “Change can just be a part of growing up and a sign that a girl is secure and comfortable with herself.”

“Yes, Drew, I’m aware of that. Why do I have a feeling that I’m not going to like what you’re about to suggest?” Mom sighed good-naturedly and looked at Drew’s sister, who shrugged her shoulders, not knowing anything about the big change that her twin was proposing. “Well, let’s have it. What have you got cooked up?”

“Oh, it’s really not a big deal, Mom. I’d just like to get my hair cut.” Drew pulled a picture of a hairstyle out of her pocket and showed it to her mom.

Even Mom had to admit that the softly layered style would cascade to a very flattering place just below Drew’s shoulders. She looked
at Dani and raised her eyebrows. “Do you want your hair cut like that?”

“No, Mom, you don’t understand,” Drew interrupted with a slight whine, nervous that she wasn’t getting her point across. “If Dani cuts her hair like that, too, then I don’t want to. This is how
I
want to look … by myself. I want to make a change, even just a slight one like my hairstyle, to separate myself from just being ‘one of the twins.’ I want to be an individual. I want to be Drew.”

“Ah, I see, now.” As the mother of twins, she had always known that this would happen one day and, she had to admit, high school was a reasonable time for it to occur. It pained her to think of her baby girls reaching such an independent place, though. “How do you feel about that, Dani?”

“Well, to be honest, I really don’t want to change my hair. And I like being ‘one of the twins’, as Drew put it. I guess I don’t see how that’s a bad thing. Why would changing your hair to look like a picture of someone else make you an individual anyway?” she asked pointedly, turning to Drew.

“It just gives me the chance to express myself and be different than I have been.”

“As long as you really mean ‘different than you have been’ and not just that you want to be different than me.” Dani sounded hurt.

“Aw, sis, I love you. Nothing can change that we’re twins. That will always be a part of us. We’re just talking about a haircut here.”

“I guess you’re right.” Dani laughed. “Let’s go get your hair cut so we can all get used to it while we try on clothes.”

First stop: Shear Expressions for a new hairstyle. Luckily, there was no one ahead of her, because Drew was too excited and impatient to wait. She took her seat in the shampoo chair, and the stylist began to lather up her hair. After the shampooing was finished, she patted Drew’s head dry and moved her to the station where she would be cutting her hair.

Drew struggled to get her hand into the front pocket of her jeans so she could show the stylist the picture of the haircut that she wanted. “Um, Drew, I didn’t realize that your jeans were getting so tight. We’re going to have to be sure to buy some new jeans today.”

“Mom.” Drew laughed. “This is how I bought them. I want them this way.”

Mrs. Daniels looked at the stylist, obviously
a mom herself, and shrugged her shoulders. “I know,” the stylist said, “it looks uncomfortable to me, too.”

“This is what I want.” Drew showed her the picture, ignoring the comments about her jeans.

“Oh, that’s going to be easy enough and beautiful, too. We’ll just take this hair of yours and cut some layers into it. We’ll probably need to take off about three inches, but you have plenty of length, so it won’t even be that noticeable. Are you doing the same cut?” The stylist turned to Dani.

“Nope, not me. I’m staying just like this.”

“All right then, let’s get started.”

Thirty minutes later, with dark hair in little piles all over the floor around her, Drew was staring into the mirror in front of her, getting her first look at her new self. She was stunned by what she saw. After looking at her sister for so many years, she was used to having a walking mirror right beside her. But now, as they both gazed into the mirror and took in the changes, they realized that a simple thing like a haircut signaled major changes afoot. Dani was sad when she saw the differences between them, but Drew was thrilled with her new look.

“I
love
it!” She spun around to the right and then to the left and watched her hair bounce in waves around her shoulders. “It moves, and it’s free.” She didn’t miss the long, thick straight locks a bit. “It has personality. Thank you so much. You did a perfect job,” she said to the hairdresser.

“I’m so glad you like it. I think it looks great, too.” Both the hairdresser and Mrs. Daniels were a bit more reserved out of sensitivity to Dani.

“Mom, what about you? Do you like it?”

“You look beautiful, dear. Very grown-up.”

“Now I’m ready to shop.” Nothing was going to contain Drew’s excitement as they left the salon; she was thrilled.

“We need to be wise now, girls. There is a limit to today’s budget. My question is whether you want to split the money and each get your own clothes—or do you want to pick things out to share and get more that way?”

Drew was trying to be more of an individual, but even she could see the logic behind pooling their resources and sharing the clothing allowance; and she knew that Dani would agree. But Drew did have one trick up her sleeve that she decided to save for later in the day.

They spent the day trying on clothes. It helped that both girls were exactly the same size and basically liked similar things. By the end of the day, they had successfully managed to supply their wardrobe with all of the basics they would need for ninth grade, including new winter jackets, jeans, tops, sweaters, belts, socks, pajamas, undergarments, accessories, and shoes. They were exhausted by the end of the shopping trip, and Mom was more than ready to leave.

As they were walking toward the exit door, Drew said, “Mom, you mentioned that you have grocery shopping to do. Would it be all right if Dani and I stay here and meet up with you when you’re finished? I have a few things I still want to look for.”

“I suppose that would be okay, but I’m done with dishing out money today. So what are you looking for, and what will you do once you find it?” Mom laughed.

“I brought some of the money I saved from babysitting this summer, and I really want to use some of it to get a few unique shirts or something that will be just mine—you know, signature pieces. I promise I won’t spend it all.”

“Oh, I see. This is part of your search for
individuality? Is that it?” At Drew’s nod, she continued, “I don’t see anything wrong with that. But, Drew, just remember what your dad and I allow and how we expect you to dress. No supertight jeans, no shirts that show your belly, nothing with a saying or advertisement that your dad and I would find inappropriate. Think of it this way: nothing that I wouldn’t let you wear to youth group. Deal?”

“Got it, Mom. Thanks, you’re the best.”

After they discussed their meeting time and location, Mom left the girls to their shopping. Dani wasn’t too happy about it, though. “Why couldn’t you have done this while we were shopping earlier?”

“Because I wanted to finish the shopping for our stuff, and then I would know what I still needed.”

“Oh, sis, there’s nothing else that you
need.”

“I know, that’s what makes this part so fun. It’s all about what I
want.”

Dani sighed and suggested they get started before they ran out of time. With her own money, Drew selected two snug plaid shirts to wear over a tight black T-shirt that she found. The flannel shirts barely reached her waistband, but the T-shirt was long enough, so she thought it would
pass. She also selected a cropped denim jacket that was covered in studded rhinestones. Dani liked the jacket, but it wasn’t really her style at all. Drew also picked a few cropped sweaters that, if worn alone, would be way too short for her mom’s approval, but with a T-shirt or tank underneath, would probably get by. Her favorite and most expensive purchase was a black leather belt with a big silver buckle covered in rhinestones in the shape of a big rose. Her signature piece.

“Well, one thing you won’t have to worry about,” Dani assured her, “is me bugging you to borrow any of the things you bought. They’re all yours.”

Their time was up so they hurried to the exit door to find Mrs. Daniels already waiting there for them. As they slipped into the car, she asked, “Well, was your search successful?”