I Missed Myself

The spell broke when she filled a purse up with a lipstick, compact, and tissues and told me it was time to go. “Go where?” I asked.

“It’s time for a late lunch and some shopping.”

“I’m not going anywhere like this!”

“Do you think I went to all this trouble for nothing? You are taking me to lunch, and then we girls are going to do some shopping. Understood?”

What could I say? Angela had been so nice to me, and I did desperately want to get out of my apartment. But looking like this? What would people say?

“Don’t worry, nobody is going to recognize you,” she said, as if reading my mind. “You are 100% girl now, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we got picked up. Only kidding!” she added when a look of panic came over my face. “I’m not about to share you with anybody. Now let’s go.”

My knees were shaking as I put my keys into my purse and slung it over my shoulder. I followed two steps behind her as we walked down the hall and waited for an elevator. When the elevator doors started to open, I must have jumped. “Relax,” she whispered as we went inside. There were two guys in it, who I knew casually from the health club, and I stared at the lights indicating the floor numbers as we rode down in silence. When the doors opened, Angela stepped outside, and I stood for a second before I realized that the guys were waiting for me to leave first. I hurried after Angela and caught up with her as another guy was holding the front door open for us.

“Didn’t you used to wait for the ladies?” she asked as I fell in alongside her. “It’s nice having guys open doors for you.