The Kiss My Ass Badge? Eh, it would be logistically difficult to pull off.
The Tattoo Badge? Nah. I still hadn’t decided what artwork I wanted to live with forever.
Karaoke Badge? Never.
At the thought of singing by myself, my hands grew clammy and my pulse sped up.
Wait. Wasn’t a part of this project doing things that made me grow?
If so, that’s the thing you need to do, Vivian.
The next night I decided to spring my idea on the group during Wine Down Wednesday. I dragged my camp chair out to the cul-de-sac early. Mitch had returned home whistling, and I didn’t want to be anywhere near him. I was hoping Abi, Rachel, Mom, and I could brainstorm ways to make his life uncomfortable, but first I wanted help with tomorrow night’s project: Ladies’ Night at Sal’s Singalong.
Mom came out next with a smile that was entirely too smug.
“What did you do?” I asked.
“Nothing.”
“Oh, you did something.”
“I took advantage of your not being in the house to revisit my years-ago chat with Mitchell.”
“And?”
“Nothing to note at this time. This story is still developing.”
I opened my mouth to ask more, but Abi was headed down the driveway with her camp chair slung over one shoulder and a manila folder in her hand.
I swallowed hard. God, I hated manila folders.
“Hold this,” she said, handing me the folder while she set up her chair.
“Is this?” I asked, a boulder of a lump now in my throat.
“Yep.”
I started to open the folder.
Mom put her hand on mine. “Just wait for the wine.”
“Glad you could join us tonight, Heidi,” Abi said to my mom.
“Glad that you’ll let this old lady hang out with you.”
Abi chuckled. “Now, Heidi. You aren’t old.”
My fingers itched to open the folder, but Mom’s advice was sound. Per usual, the person who brought the wine was tardy. Might as well broach my other subject matter. “So I had an idea for my next badge, and I would like for all of you to join me.”
“Oh Lord,” Abi said. “Do I want to know?”
“Karaoke.”
Both Mom and Abi looked at me as if I’d lost my mind.
“Look, I’m actually going to call it the Spreading My Wings Badge because karaoke is something I’ve always been too scared to do. So I’m going to try it.”
“Vivian, I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Mom said.
