It was the first day of April, and Elly had slept late again. Her head hammered to the sound of loud banging in the studio below. “What the …?” Ugh. She threw the comforter off her legs, pulled on track pants, grabbed a blueberry wheat bagel from the fridge and headed downstairs, her eyes still glazed over with sleep. She pushed open the door and poked her head around the corner. “Uh, yeah—what is happening in here?”
Snarky Teenager’s voice came from above. “Don’t come over here yet!”
Elly looked around. “Where are you?” There was no one in the studio.
“I’m up here!”
Elly frowned. “I know your voice isn’t coming from heaven, because, well, that speaks for itself,” she giggled. “Totally kidding.”
“Whatever. Have I ever told you that your jokes are so lame? You and Kim both think you’re so hilarious. Come help me off this ladder.”
Elly pushed back the curtain in front of the window display that faced the street. Snarky Teenager was standing on the top ladder rung in the window, holding a hammer in one hand and sporting the world’s tightest jeans. Elly felt a grumble of annoyance in her chest. “What are you doing? I just designed that window!”
Snarky Teenager looked down at Elly with disgust. “You mean, it’s April and you have the daffodil display up? Yeah, that is not ‘designing.’”
“I’m not sure what you mean, but I’m pretty sure it’s meant to insult me.”
Snarky Teenager gave an eye roll. “Elly. The daffodil display—it’s just so cliché. You know I hate that display!”
Elly snorted, instantly realizing that the sound was very unattractive. Can you at least try to be cool? “News flash: You hate everything. It is not cliché; I don’t think you even understand that word properly.”
Snarky Teenager climbed down the ladder. She parked her hand on her tiny hip and peered at Elly. “You are so cranky in the mornings!” She wasn’t wrong. “Elly. I’m not trying to be mean, I promise. I’m just trying to be honest with you. We’re close, right? You’re kinda like my ‘store mom.’ I mean, I know you’re younger than that, but you totally dress like a mom….”
Elly circled her hand around. “Get to the point.”
Snarky Teenager gave a sigh. “Okay. Don’t take this the wrong way, but, I feel like your store is a little … outdated. I mean, it’s supercute and I love it, but I’ve been feeling lately that we either need to move out of this vintage cottage-chic thing or try, I don’t know, something else. I know that this is your style, but I think it dates our store. It’s very late-nineties Martha.” She pushed a perfectly straight strand of hair out of her face. “Go look outside. You’ll see what I’m talking about.”
Elly shot an irate look at her and stormed outside. There were two pimply teenage boys standing in front of the window, their pants sagging on their hips, their mouths open in delight. Elly waved them away. “Go on, go on, she’s not on the ladder anymore. Go find a Super Nintendo or something.”
They rambled away, muttering to each other. Elly walked back a few feet and looked at the window. Her eyes reluctantly took in the art before her. She backed up some more and gave a sigh. Oh no. It didn’t just look good. It looked incredible, much better than before.