Perfect Girl - Weebly

Perfect Girl - Weebly Perfect Girl - Weebly

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“Wow.” It’s all we can say. Who knew vegetables could taste so good? The next morning, my mother and I say good-bye to the woman who changed our lives. “Do you have to go?” I ask Aunt Marty. “I can’t hide in Delaware forever.” She cups my chin the same way she did on the day she arrived. “It’s worked for me,” Mom jokes. The three of us laugh. My mother actually looks pretty standing next to her sister. And Aunt Marty is as gorgeous as ever. Even though she’ll be moving into a much smaller apartment and—she insists—a much smaller life, my aunt Marty is every bit the goddess she will always be. “Thank you for the furniture,” Mom says, “and our colorful walls. I’ll pay you back.” “You don’t have to pay me back, Fay. I don’t need that stuff anymore. Besides, we’re family, remember?” “Still . . .” Mom’s voice trails off. I know what she’s thinking. She owes her sister so much. How can she ever repay her? How can I? “I’m only three hours away,” she says, her voice quavering. “Three seconds by phone.” Aunt Marty throws her arms around my mother and squeezes. “I love you, Fay.” “I love you, too,” Mom says. Then she adds, “My beautiful sister.” With tears running down her cheeks (though her 190

makeup somehow remains perfect), Aunt Marty turns to me. “Lovely Ruthie,” she says. We hug each other hard. I stand there and feel her heart beating into mine. The sense that she will always be part of my family fills me with joy. Tilting my head up, I whisper, “Thank you.” But it sounds unbearably lame. How can you thank someone for showing you yourself? Where you belong, the potential for who you can become? “My darling,” Aunt Marty whispers back, “thank me by being you.” Funny, that’s exactly what I plan to do. 191

“Wow.” It’s all we can say. Who knew vegetables could<br />

taste so good?<br />

The next morning, my mother and I say good-bye to<br />

the woman who changed our lives.<br />

“Do you have to go?” I ask Aunt Marty.<br />

“I can’t hide in Delaware forever.” She cups my chin the<br />

same way she did on the day she arrived.<br />

“It’s worked for me,” Mom jokes.<br />

The three of us laugh. My mother actually looks pretty<br />

standing next to her sister. And Aunt Marty is as gorgeous<br />

as ever. Even though she’ll be moving into a much smaller<br />

apartment and—she insists—a much smaller life, my aunt<br />

Marty is every bit the goddess she will always be.<br />

“Thank you for the furniture,” Mom says, “and our colorful<br />

walls. I’ll pay you back.”<br />

“You don’t have to pay me back, Fay. I don’t need that<br />

stuff anymore. Besides, we’re family, remember?”<br />

“Still . . .” Mom’s voice trails off. I know what she’s<br />

thinking. She owes her sister so much. How can she ever<br />

repay her? How can I?<br />

“I’m only three hours away,” she says, her voice quavering.<br />

“Three seconds by phone.”<br />

Aunt Marty throws her arms around my mother and<br />

squeezes. “I love you, Fay.”<br />

“I love you, too,” Mom says. Then she adds, “My beautiful<br />

sister.”<br />

With tears running down her cheeks (though her<br />

190

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