Erin and Hailey were both content to watch TV without exchanging a single word between them, and only spoke when Hailey’s mother told them to get ready for bed.
“Come on, let’s go brush our teeth and put on PJs,” said Hailey.
Erin replied with a brief, “Okay.”
Hailey could not resist the opportunity for horseplay when brushing her teeth, attempting to talk with her mouth full of foam. This elicited the first smile she’d seen Erin wear. They finished up and went to their bedroom to change.
Hailey hesitated only momentarily before changing in front of Erin. She’d never had someone share a room with her before, so she wasn’t quite sure on the etiquette of two eleven-year-olds undressing in front of each other at home.
However, she surmised that it would be acceptable; she’d changed in gym class with other girls her age, and in swimming pool locker rooms with women much older than her stripping for much longer than it took to change from day clothes to pajamas.