180 ‘overcomin oastactes Annie Wiggle-Do TE tw nr ad et bo gas test of maturity, a einal Blvd Wess “Look who's hereto see you, Brent rend" the mare ai She ed iresboking woman othe gl woman tothe gts beige Brenda huddle on her sie facing the wall Whe her othe othe he shoul she ple head cet her chest ab making body omar Nou ep he disappear altogether. oe ‘The ure patted the mother’ shoulder ronda stil not talking tous she dna ow voice Bronda’s mother bi her lip to keep fom cvng. oe sxmembared exact how tuly and happy Bends had Seo le thar aie that ad ot entation el She'd been one ofthe ment popular se hg sixth-grade class. opi gH in ‘When Bren fist akeed fom om her suger, he had taeda her ether. ya hs hapeat Now, she ikea fa No one wold ever want tobe he fen She ‘oveRooMns oostAc 9 woul never date, never have a boyfriend. Then, Brenda had just stopped talking “I wish I could bring her friends to vist hen” said Brenda's mother. “Is just too long a bus trip, though, about three hours each way.” ‘The nurse smiled, “Don't worry. We have a plan.” Shortly after Brenda’s mother let, two nurses wheeled ina stretcher. “Moving day, Brenda one sai cheerily, We need this bed for someone who's really sick, We've picked out the best roommate in the hospital for you." ‘Before Brenda could protest, the nurses had rolled her onto the stretcher and whisked her down the hall. The room was awash with light, posters and| music. “Here's your new roomie, Annie Wiggle-Do," one nurse told dark-haired teenager in the other bed. “She's just beginning to get better, s0 please don’t kill her with your omy jokes.” Fourteen-year-old Annie grinned. As soon as the ‘nurses let she hopped out of her bed and sat on the end of Brenda's “Tost my le from bone cancer” she announced, What happened to yours?” Brenda was s0 astounded she couldn't even form a word. “You're lucky," Annie continued, “You've sil got your knee. They had to take mine, hip and al, ee?" ‘But Brenda's eyes had already found the raw scar and ‘empty hip socket, Her gaze seemed frozen, like a magnet held it there. "Annie scooted back to her bed. ‘Ya lke to socialize, but ry boyfriend's due any time now, so Thave to get ready.” ‘As Brenda watched transfixed, Annie reached up and {ook off her har! Her head was completely bald “Annie giggled. “Oh, | forgot to warn you, the stuff theygave me to kill the cancer aso killed my hair. But check this out! My parents, my grandma, my boyfriend and one kids from schoo! all brought me wigs!” From her bedside stand, Annie removed a tan wigs. Brown wigs and blond wig haired wigs, curly wigs and st “That's when | thought up ‘Annie said. “Get it? ‘Any wig will do’ Annie Laughing at her ovn joke, Annie chose a curly bl ‘and arranged it on her head, She just managed to da fon some pink ip-gloss and powder beforea group of boi terous teens burst into the room. Annie introduce Brenda to them all. Her boyfriend, Donald, winked st Brenda and asked her to keep Annie out of trouble ‘Before long, Brenda began chatting with Annie and her friends. They didn’t make her feel lke a freak at alll One girl even shaxed with Brenda that her cousin wore an at ficial leg, played basketball and rode a motorcycle. By the time the nurses shooed all the visitors from the room, sda felt more like the old Brenda The girls talked into the night, Annie shared her dream of becoming a comedy writer. Brenda told Annie about her secret desire to act in live theater. “Ladies!” Anght nurse came in and shined her flashlight on Annie and Brenda, I's after midnight," the nurse scolded. What do you have to say for yourselves "Nothing, your honor,” Annie said, "We don't havea leg to stand oni They all laughed, but Brenda laughed hardest of al As the nurse’ footsteps faded down the hallway, Brenda snuggled under her blanket. “Night, Annie Wiggle-De she whispered. “I can hardly wait tl morning oon M. Mi