Trying To Adapt

 

2024-07-06 “Trying To Adapt”  by  Emma

TRYING TO ADAPT—”Sweetie,” Jenn said to Emma, “shorts and tank tops are pretty commonly worn for just hanging around. Even going shopping.”

Emma looked out the window of the car as they rolled down I-22 toward Birmingham, Alabama. She shook her head and looked at what she was wearing.

She sighed. “I feel like I’m exposed.”

She’d caught Merritt looking at her more than once. It wasn’t like a bad way, like how boys looked at her sometimes in Vicksburg. But she wasn’t hardly wearing anything. What Jenn called a tank top was barely a camisole, and she’d ‘ve never worn a camisole out where people could see her.

Jenn had underwear under her t-shirt. It was a bra. But Jenn’s chest was a lot bigger. Emma had asked if she should have a bra, too, only smaller. Jenn had said she should, but it could wait until they were done driving so much.

But about the outfit being regular, like Jenn had said, Emma guessed it was. They’d stopped at a place that sold breakfast wrapped in colorful paper to get some sausage biscuits. There’d been these three girls there wearing shorts and tank tops, too. Emma had looked around and nobody seemed to think much of it.

Emma felt like she’d just have to adapt what she thought about clothes. There weren’t even any bloomers any more, and camisoles were for fancy dresses or just worn like a shirt. 

Emma felt like she had a lot of adapting to do. Merritt said they were driving at over a mile a minute. The car was as cool inside as anyone would want it to be. Emma just had to sit back and accept it.

About then, Merritt said, “Hey, let’s hit that rest stop.”

“Rest stop? I ain’t tired, to be honest.” Emma replied.

“It has toilets,” Jenn said.

Emma decided she’d just play along until she understood. She followed Jenn inside and there were rooms with toilets in them, like Jenn had said. Emma took care of her bladder, then went back to the car. 

She got there before Merritt, and it was locked, so she slipped off her shoes and sat down. She thought it would be alright; she’d seen some other girls walking around the rest stop barefoot.

“I’ll just have to adapt,” Emma said.