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Razorburn

Andrew Olson

    Justene searched the bus for her best friend Abby. She saw Abby waving to her, and quickly slid into the seat as the bus jerked forward.
    “You like my nails?” Abby asked, showcasing them to Justene. They were painted a dark shade of blue, but sparkled. They matched her blue, star-shaped earrings and blue socks. Justene’s Mom wouldn’t let her pierce her ears or paint her nails until next year, when she would be in sixth grade. Abby painted her nails a different color every week. Sometimes on the weekends Justene would help Abby paint her nails.
    “Do you think Bobby will like them?” Abby asked. Of course he will, Justene thought, all the boys had crushes on Abby, even the ones who came to school with manure on their boots and unwashed hair.
    “I don’t know. Maybe.”
    “Well, Bobby told me that his favorite color was blue last Friday in the tires.” Justene’s face flushed as she looked out the frosted window. The tires were a bunch of old tractor tires stacked up behind the recreation building. Some of the girls in sixth grade said the boys sometimes went pee in the tires when they didn’t want to go back inside during recess. Justene had also heard from Sarah that Abby had kissed Bobby in the tires. She thought about Bobby peeing in the tires and her cheeks warmed again.
    “Abby...” Abby looked at Justene and a small smile appeared on her face. Justene leaned in and cupped her hand over Abby’s ear, her bottom lip brushing against the blue earring as she whispered, “did you kiss Bobby in the tires?” Justene could feel Abby giggling they were sitting so close. Abby quickly cupped her own hand over Justene’s ear.
    “Yeah, me and Bobby are dating.” Abby flicked one of her long bangs back, just like her mother. Justene wished she could be more like Abby–more grown up, that’s what all the boys liked, and it seemed like so much fun, putting on nail polish and makeup, matching clothes and earrings. The bus pulled up to school and girls walked to their homeroom.
    Their homeroom was bustling as Mrs. Zimmer was sick and Principal Reed was going to substitute for the first half of the day.
    “Please, please, everyone get situated and get in your seats.” Abby looked at Justene and they both giggled. Some of the sixth grade girls had said Principal Reed would give girls quarters to rub his shoulders. When he walked down the hallways, the coins would jingle in his pocket. Abby flung off her boots and went to show Bobby her nails in stocking feet. Justene couldn’t slip her boot off and sat down to pry it off. As she rolled up her jeans to get the boot off, Principal Reed walked over. Justene pulled the boot off.
    “I like a girl with hairy legs.” Principal Reed said as he gently touched Justene’s shin. Justene quickly covered her leg and quietly sat down in her seat. She looked at Abby who sat a few desks in front of her. Justene knew that under those blue socks, Abby had smooth skin. Rubbing her foot over her leg, Justene felt warm and ashamed. She stayed on the swings for recess, and let Abby talk about Bobby the whole ride home. When she finally got to her house, Justene ran inside and locked herself in her parents’ bathroom. She ran the bathtub and took out her mother’s razor and cream. Justene began shaving her legs, small droplets of blood swirling in the bathwater.

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