Chapter Text
Boys got to have all the fun. Kimberly, age 12, with greasy bangs and rows of metal between her teeth, never let that fact stop her. If she wanted to jump in a muddy puddle in her Sunday clothes, she would. Hang off of trees in impious ways? Without a second thought. Terrorize the neighbors with her blasphemous pop music with Catholic undertones? Goes without saying. Much to the dismay of her parents (And the rest of the town), Kim radiated everything a little girl should’ve been. Confidence gave way to influence with each stunt she pulled. Miss Censordoll called it a “Whorish epidemic of revolting proportions” the week Kim's peers came to school with braided hair and gloss. Artificial raspberry being the first taste of personal freedom until the teachers had to eventually confiscate the makeup and hair clips. She always thought it was absurd. Nevertheless, this was Moralton, and girls with a chip on their shoulder would be made into godly women. Scrutiny instilled into their carved hearts before they could even utter the word “autonomy”.
Most girls her age got sent to Pious Scouts to further that agenda, in Kim's case, she was chucked. Much like the inedible slop steaming on her tray at said sleepaway program. The smell of oak and old carpet overpowering the mystery meat being served. She sighed toying at it, her chin held up by the other hand. All the other girls were in their own flocks in the dining cabin. Meanwhile Kim sat very intentionally on her own, far away from the up-in-their-own-ass super-protestants that can't take a joke. Sure, there were some obvious social hierarchies working early here, but Kim’s table wasn’t quite at the bottom of the food chain. The ones that sucked were the ones that were in good favor somehow, and the kids that didn't suck ate elsewhere on camp grounds. Faraway. Preferably out of site. It was exciting to think about what those girls did to deserve such treatment.
“It was Kimberly, right?”, a particularly loud pop accompanied the chubbier blonde sitting beside her. Kim did a double take, how long had she zoned out?
“I guess?”
“You guess? Did you forget?”
“I dont think so.”
“Wait so…It IS Kimberly? Cause this is making my brain hurt.”
“Um, No. It’s, like, my normal name. You know like when you go to the doctor and stuff. No one really calls me Kimberly except my Mom. Its like--”
“Too adulty? Oh my gosh, I know! I get the ick when people call me Nursula. Like, ew! It sounds so hag-like.”
“Frilly. Was gonna say it’s too frilly, but you know what? Adulty is totally the right word.”, Kim smiled. She didn’t think there’d be a blonder blonde to ever blonde, but here she was in all her optimistic glory. That thing they say about your friends being assigned once you plant yourself at a cafeteria table? Completely true.