Chapter 62

"Yeah, she is; isn't she?" "Yeah…she is." Corrine and Missy exit the bathroom; followed by Adele. Sarah, stunned by Adele's radiant beauty, releases Nadine's hand and takes a few steps towards Adele for a closer look. After a brief overview, Sarah enthusiastically compliments… "Whoa…looking good there, Adele." "Really?" "Uh-huh. You're gonna knock ‘em dead tonight." Again, Sarah feels as if she had spoken aloud the biggest gaffe possible; as she instantly bites down on her tongue, and hopes that Nadine will forgive her for such a…though totally unintentional…seemingly callous, impromptu remark. Of course, Nadine, nor any of the others present in the room, takes any offense over the commonly used phrase. And Adele herself feels deeply flattered over Sarah's comment. "Thank you, Sarah." Then she beseechingly inquires, "What do you think, Nadine?" "I think you look gorgeous. But the real question is, what do you think?" Adele walks over to the full length mirror standing in the corner of the room; then carefully examines her reflection from head to toe a couple of times before turning around to look back at Nadine. She proudly smiles. "I feel like a princess." Suddenly, at that very moment when Adele seems to have realized her own self-worth, it hits Nadine like an epiphany. Adele was more than just her best friend; the love she holds in her heart for Adele exceeds way beyond that point. No, she was much more than that. Nadine finally realizes that Adele is a special gift to her from God. Adele Wilson… was the ‘daughter' she would never live long enough to have herself. Since the first time they met back in September, Nadine has been ‘raising' Adele; installing self-confidence into her and teaching her how to socialize with her peers at school. Nadine had taken that introverted, socially-awkward, childlike teenage girl under her wing, and transformed her into a more confident, outgoing…and yes, even socially acceptable to some now at Roosevelt High…beautiful, young lady. True, she still has a long way to go; but at least, thanks to Nadine's guidance and belief in her, Adele now has the building blocks that she needs…and will help her along her journey. This is another sign to Nadine that there is indeed a God; and that He hasn't forsaken her. It was a lousy hand of cellular genes dealt to her that's taking her life away so soon. But it was God, in His infinite wisdom and love, who had saw fit to bless her with the opportunity to have ‘raised a child' before she dies. At least this is something special that she now knows she has accomplished during her short lifetime. And she is truly grateful to God for it. Nadine gets out of bed and walks over to Adele; then turns her back around so they're both looking into the mirror. Feeling overwhelmingly maternal now, Nadine, most lovingly, places her hands on Adele's shoulders; while gently leaning her head against hers. "You are a princess, Adele…" She slowly moves her hands down from Adele's shoulders, then tenderly wraps her arms around her chest and hugs her. "…and don't you ever forget that." After extensive perusals through the dozens of travel brochures on the ‘Aloha' state from Nadine's collection, the school gymnasium's decorated with a Hawaiian theme. There's a proliferation of cutout, cardboard palm trees and plastic Tike statues amassed along the gym floor's court borders. Pineapples sit on the tables' centers, along with exotic flowers indigenous to the South Pacific…some real, some artificial…which are also strewn about the room. Bright, colorful crepe paper streamers and balloons are hanging from the ceiling rafters and bleachers. Meanwhile, Hawaiian style music plays as several students and faculty members wearing grass skirts and leis attempt to perform a traditional hula dance. Mr. Trudeaux sees Adele, Sarah, Janice and Trish enter the gym, and goes over to them. "Good evening, ladies. My, don't you all look lovely this evening." Adele looks around the room, noticing how everyone there seems to be having a good time and enjoying themselves, as a frown forms on her face. She languishes, "This isn't right." "What isn't right, Ms. Wilson?" "Nadine…Nadine should be here. She should be at prom, too." Sarah, Janice and Trish, who are in agreement with Adele, exchange somber glances to each other. "Well…what do you propose we do about that, Ms. Wilson?" Adele slowly scans the gymnasium once again; and then her frown's suddenly replaced with a grin. "I know." Nadine really wishes she could be at the prom; and she's feeling a bit depressed that she wasn't able to go with Adele and the rest of her friends. She's listlessly lying in bed staring at, but not paying attention to, the TV; trying to envision in her mind how wonderful the prom must be…and that at least hopefully Adele's enjoying herself there. Nadine can't wait for Adele to come over tomorrow afternoon and tell her, in great detail, all about it. Corrine enters. "How you doing, Na?" Nadine answers with a monotonic inflection, "Okay, I suppose." "Hey; you've been cooped up in this room all day…what do you say we go out back? You up for a little fresh air?"