Lifted Up by Angels by Lurlene McDaniel Page B

her anymore. Leah knew that would make her miserable.
    “Also,” Charity continued, “I cannot buy any different clothes. I will have to borrow them. And I have seen how many beautiful clothesyou have. I was hoping you would let me borrow some for that night. Because it means so much to me to look pretty.”
    Leah felt boxed in. But she knew she wouldn’t refuse Charity. “Sure. If that’s what you want.”
    Charity’s face broke into a bright smile. “Oh, Leah, thank you. I knew you would help me. You are a true friend.”
    Leah hoped she was doing the right thing. “What if your parents find out?”
    “Who would tell them?”
    Leah could think of several who might let it slip—not to hurt Charity, but to hurt Leah. Still, she’d already said she would help. “Have Ethan bring you by my place this weekend. We can go through my closet and try on some stuff. See what you like. And what looks good on you.”
    “Yes. Yes,” Charity said. “And makeup too.”
    Leah took a deep breath. “Sure. And makeup too.”

T WELVE

    O n Saturday, Ethan brought Charity over to Leah’s apartment. When Ethan had left to do errands, Leah and Charity sorted through Leah’s closet. “I left most of my stuff back home,” Leah said, tossing pieces of clothing onto the bed. “And with working every day, shopping hasn’t been high on my priority list.”
    Charity only stared wide-eyed at the heaps of tops, shorts, skirts and slacks.
    “Oh, this is cute,” Leah said, holding up a colorful striped T-shirt and matching shorts. “Try it on.”
    “I do not think I would feel comfortable in shorts,” Charity said.
    “What am I saying? Of course you wouldn’t. How about this?” Leah held up a pair of white jeans.
    “I don’t know.” Charity fingered the material.
    “Try them on.”
    Charity slipped into the bathroom to change.
    “You look great,” Leah said when her friend emerged.
    “They are tight.”
    “But you have a cute figure. They look good on you.”
    Charity viewed her backside in the full-length mirror hanging on the bedroom door. “This is not the way I wish for everyone to see my bottom.”
    Leah giggled. “All right. We’ll try something else.”
    Eventually Charity settled on a long, colorful peasant skirt and a cotton top. Leah even owned a pair of sandals that matched the outfit and fit Charity. “This is perfect,” Charity said after spinning in front of the mirror.
    Leah leaned back on her elbows on the bed. “You look terrific.”
    Charity’s eyes sparkled. “I did not want towear plain jeans like so many of the other girls will wear. I want to look different. Special.”
    Leah jumped up. “Time for hair and makeup.”
    Leah sat Charity on a chair, took down her thick hair from the bun at the nape of her neck and brushed it out. “How about a French braid?” She worked quickly, then tied the end with a red ribbon. Next she artfully applied blush, powder, mascara and pink lip gloss to Charity’s smooth skin.
    “What do you think?” Leah stepped back and let Charity see herself.
    Charity stared at her image. “I can hardly believe it’s me.”
    “It’s you, all right.”
    “My friends won’t know me.”
    “I thought that was the point.”
    Charity turned to look at Leah. “Will you help me dress on the night of the fair?”
    “Sure. Now it’s time for you to help me,” Leah said. “I don’t have a sleeping bag. And I don’t know what’s expected of me on this campout.”
    “Ethan and I will bring you a sleeping bag. We own several. As for the party, here’s what Iknow about it. After the fair, we will all ride over to the Yoder farm and build a campfire. Everyone will bring food to cook and share. The sleeping bags are for those who wish to sleep. But few sleep. Most stay up all night.”
    “What should I cook?”
    “I will bring enough for both of us. My sister Sarah has told me that mostly everyone eats, talks, visits. Some will bring radios, so we will dance. In the