Piercing

Piercing

“You can’t,” my mum said.

“I’m sixteen and it’s what I want.”

“Well,” she argued, trying another tack, “what about when you get a cold, a head cold.”

“What about it?” I screamed across the kitchen, ignoring my little sister’s hasty exit.

“When you sneeze, surely it could be… well, messy.”

“Oh, that’s gross!” I said but still I was determined. “It won’t be like that.” I was trying to calm down. My hands were fisted at my sides but I tried to keep my voice calm. I was, after all, almost grown. “I really want this.” I looked into my mum’s eyes and noticed they were stormy grey and not grey blue, a sure sign she was upset.

“If you do…”

I grinned. “Thank you, thank you…” I said flying across the room and giving her a massive hug.

She pushed me away but not unkindly. “If you do then you look after it and should anything go wrong then it’s up to you to sort it.”

I nodded and gave her another hug.

“When?” Mum said sounding very resigned.

“The weekend?”

Mum nodded. “I still don’t understand though why you want your nose pierced.”

“It will look cool.” I said walking into the corridor. I ignored it but I heard her mutter under her breath.

“Could’ve fooled me.”