Let's Go Thrifting

Date: September 13 The first few weeks of school flew by fast. Hazel could barely believe all that had happened. Like everyone, she was pumped about Homecoming and Spirit Week. Today was "Tourist Day" and even Nico was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses. In fact, the only person not wearing the same type of shirt that Principal Duwine likes to wear was Drew. She had somehow thought it was "Taurus Day" And was wearing a horns on her head.      At lunch that day, Hazel's friends were all discussing their plans for Homecoming.     "Can someone please go with me?" Rachel asked. "I heard that Octavian is going to ask me to go in fifth hour and I want to avoid that."     Everyone laughed.       "I'm going with Reyna, so I cannot," Jason said. "Piper, you don't have anyone, right?"      "I'm not going to the dance," Piper said. "The first debate tournament is Friday."       "But you'll be going to the party at my house on Saturday, right?" Connor asked.        "If I do well, I might not get home until 8 or 9 Saturday night," Piper said.      "The party doesn't start until 9 and we won't kill you for being late," Travis said. "We're inviting the entire junior class."      "Well, I guess I'll be going, but I cannot save you from Octavian," Piper said. "Sorry, Rachel.      "I'm going with Jacob," Hazel said.       "I'm going with Katie," Travis said.        "And I would never go without my Wise Girl," Percy said.        "Because you're not an idiot," Annabeth said.        "Well, Nico doesn't have a date," Percy said.       Nico glared at Percy and Jason said, "Give him some room, Percy. I don't think he wants to go."     "I'd rather sleep in a graveyard than go to Homecoming," Nico said.      "Well, Leo, Will, and Frank don't have dates," Percy said.      "Percy, you're really bad at matchmaking," Silena said. "Rachel, how about you go with Beckendorf and me?"     "That sounds great," Rachel said with a grin. ****     Hazel rubbed her wet hands on her shirt.  The hand dryer wasn't working. She made to leave the bathroom, but the sound of a girl sobbing stopped her. Hazel stood in the bathroom, feeling awkward. She walked to the only occupied stall.     "Do you need someone to talk to?" Hazel asked.     Hazel heard the squeak of shoes and she figured the girl was taking a peak at her. Evidentially, she was satisfied by what she saw because she opened the stall door. Hazel didn't know Calypso well, but they were in the same grade and Hazel knew that a lot of guys thought Calypso was hot, but an easy girl. She had dated a senior named Odysseus when she was a freshman and since then, she had had a string of boyfriends who were all older than she was, causing the other students to spread rumors about her.       "What's wrong?" Hazel asked.        Calypso wiped her face with one hand and breathed slowly. Hazel waited for the girl to gain composure.      "Everyone keeps talking about their plans for Homecoming, but there is no way I can go," Calypso said.     "Why not?" Hazel asked.      Calypso swallowed and said softly, "I don't have the money for a ticket or a dress or shoes."      "I can pay for it," Hazel said.      When Calypso shook her head, Hazel said, "I can take you to a thrift shop after school near my house. All the rich people donate their old clothes there. It will be fun."     "I can't," Calypso said. "My mom would be worried."     "You can text her," Hazel said.      "My mom doesn't have a phone," Calypso said and suddenly she was speaking rapidly. "My mom and me left my dad a couple days ago. We're living in a shelter right now. I don't know what we're going to do. I shouldn't be worried about not going to Homecoming when I don't know where we'll be sleeping next week."    "Use my phone and call the shelter," Hazel said, handing it to her. "You're going through a lot and I would love to see you at Homecoming."    Calypso thanked her and used her phone. ***      When school ended, Hazel asked Nico to drive Calypso and her the thrift store.     "Why do I have to be your chauffeur?" Nico asked. "I miss Jules-Albert."       Jules-Albert was Nico's chauffeur before he got a driver's license. He was French and always spoke with an accent. He never experienced road rage and he would have been the perfect driver if he didn't smell like a rotten corpse.      At the thrift store, Hazel led Calypso to the rack of dresses. Calypso tried on dozens of dresses, but none of them were right. Some of them didn't fit her right. Others looked too ridiculous or pretentious or frumpy.      "I give up," Calypso finally said. "Thank you Hazel, but none of the dresses are right."     "What about this one?" Nico asked, holding up a dress.       Calypso tried it on. When she stepped outside the dressing room to show Hazel and Nico, they both clapped their hands. It was a beautiful, knee-length white dress that resembled a Greek chiton.     "How can I thank you?" Calypso asked,     "By going to Homecoming," Hazel said.   "Come on, we still have to find you shoes!"