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Certain things needed to go as one got older.
Claudia, in their group of friends, was the first to realize this which was in part why she distanced herself from Kristy who was honestly struggling with the growing up phase of her life and making that transition—the fact her father left at that crucial time when that growing up phase of her life started didn’t help.
Yet, on the other hand, Mary Anne was taking the growing-up phase of her life the best, albeit she too found herself held back by her father—in this case, an overprotective father who didn’t seem until recently ready for his little girl to grow up. So, when Mary Anne announced the fact she could “do” something with her room after being allowed to “do” something with her appearance, well—
Claudia was excited.
It was yet another step in growing up for Mary Anne and her becoming a young lady.
Hearing her father backtrack—
“It’s so stupid!” Claudia muttered to nobody in particular, and yet as she leaned against the kitchen counter there was sure to be someone who overheard as she soft-footed around the kitchen.
“What is?”
“He said that Mary Anne could change some things in her room, but now he’s against it. He even kicked us out. Dawn’s mother as well, but if Mary Anne can update her appearance so that she no longer looks babyish, why can’t she update her room as well. She’s not a little girl anymore, and that border is hideous!”
“That room—” Mimi spoke softly as if lost in a memory. “I remember going to see the nursery right after they finished decorating it. Are you talking about that border?”
“Well, the border might be fine—” Claudia paused. “Wait? By they, you mean Mary Anne’s mom and dad? Not just her dad?”
“Correct.”
“But, it’s not as if her mother would want the room to stay the same as Mary Anne got older. That was never the intent.” Claudia looked at her hands. “And, Dawn’s mom isn’t trying to replace Mary Anne’s mother. She’s just—”
“Wanting to make sure Mary Anne has all the experiences growing up that Mary Anne’s mother would want her to have?”
“Something like that.”
“Mary Anne’s father has never been very good with change.”
“That’s for sure. I mean, look how long it took him to let Mary Anne change her clothes! It took her showing how grown up she is to get him to change his mind.”
“And now she looks like the young woman her mother would want her to be.”
“What her mother wants her to be---” Claudia sighed. “Wonder how to convince him about this, this time. I mean, we’re the only ones who see her room, though I doubt he’s going to let any of us in there.” She pushed herself up. “Actually, knowing it was the nursery makes me want to do a collage or something with some of the old materials even though I know he would never let me because that would be a great way to repurpose and refresh her mother’s idea. Make it go from a nursery to an older girl's room.”
“Well, you could ask.”
“He kicked us out of the house,” Claudia leaned into her hands. “Plus. I might let the word babyish slip out, and that would really not sell it.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something, but don’t give up on him. He might not like change, but he—well, that doesn’t mean he’s not against it. It just means he’s got to get used to it.”
“Still. He and Dawn’s mother were dating, so that’s a major level of awkward.”
“Which might also—”
“I know! He doesn’t want Dawn’s mother to replace Mary Anne’s mother, but that’s not it. I mean, it’s not as if Dawn’s mother expected him to replace her father.”