Chapter 2

It was a very warm day, as Carrie, Jenny and Nancy sashayed out to the Johnson's backyard. Indian summer they called it. There was just enough of a breeze to make it tolerable for physical activity and to remind Nancy just how much of her ass was not covered by her borrowed skirt. She shook off her feelings of unease and smiled broadly. She felt younger than her years and it was great to be included by the girls, since cheerleading was so much of a part of Carrie's life these days. At age 16, Carrie had developed a typical teen's chip on her shoulder and it seemed that too often she aimed her rebellious acts directly at her mother.

Ed, Carrie's workaholic father, was still a god to her. Her younger sister Rose, was someone that Carrie felt very protective of, even if she did not wish to spend much time with her. Nancy reasoned that there was a four years difference between the two girls, and that was a lot at their ages.

Nancy felt young and girlish when her daughter included her with her friends, and yet Carrie only did that on her own terms. She seemed to say, "Ok Mom, you can be one of us, but you had better behave yourself and not try to be my mother, or you're out." Nancy wished she could be a mom and friend but since she had to choose, she chose friend and hoped for the best.

Jenny broke in on her musing, "Now Nancy, lets start with some stretching and warm ups and work up to this slowly. You probably won't be able to do the complicated cheers with us, but at least you will be the third body until Helen gets here. I am sure you can at least pick up the basic cheers we do."

When Nancy just continued smiling and casually looked beyond the fences to the surrounding yards, Jenny continued exasperatedly, "Well Nancy, do you think you can do this or not?

"Look Jenny, I am sure I can keep up with you if you teach me the steps," Nancy complained. "But there is no need to get bitchy about it!"

'What makes these two think they can roll over me? Nancy thought to herself. 'I may not be a natural born leader but I will not be a doormat.' Yet despite her little pep talk she felt her eyes mist up. She always had difficulty accepting any criticism or disapproval.

"Mom, just do this, Ok?," Carrie demanded. "Don't make a big deal out of it. Jenny is trying to help you, so just do as you're told or go back in and we will practice without you."

Carrie was standing in her mother's face, hands on her hips, nostrils flaring slightly, defiantly daring her mother to knuckle under or be excluded from the in crowd. Carrie was slightly shorter than Nancy but she more than made up for it in attitude. Nancy shrank back and stifled a whimper.

"Yes honey, I will behave," Nancy said. She was speaking very softly now, reining in her rebellious tone and looking down at her shoes. She felt like she were the teenager and was being taken to task for being naughty.

Carrie continued to stare her mother down. This was all part of Helen's grand plan, but Carrie was enjoying it immensely. Her mom was ok, but like all adults she was too much in control of Carrie's life, too much of an authority figure, to truly be a friend. She was the person telling Carrie where she could go and when to be home after her dates with Todd. Carrie felt that Nancy was far too restrictive when it came to her boyfriend, and so, when Helen told Carrie that she could help her with that, Carrie was all ears.

Helen was a year younger than Carrie, but they were in the same class and Helen was the head cheerleader. JM High was big enough that they had a squad of nine girls, but there was a smaller nucleus of four, including Helen, Carrie and Jenny and one other; Mary Jane. Mary Jane was a sophomore who probably only made the squad because she was Helen's main squeeze. Helen was definitely the Alpha female in this club and Mary Jane was her subbie, but while she may have been submissive to Helen, she was a little edgy with everyone else.