Criss Cross

As Debbie flips through her sister Chrisanne’s magazine, she wishes something in her life would change. She’s wearing Chrisanne’s sweater and lip gloss and toying with her necklace. The magazine shows different ways to change your look and become someone different, but Debbie wishes she could just be herself. Suddenly her necklace unclasps: She wrapped it too tightly around her finger. She reclasps the chain and continues paging through the magazine.

Elsewhere in Seldem, Hector listens to his sister, Rowanne, move through her bedroom. He peeks inside, smiling at her as she gets ready to go out. He and Rowane have similar features but look nothing alike. He catches his reflection in the window, removes his glasses, and wonders how he might change his appearance. Rowanne emerges and invites Hector to join her at a coffeehouse event at Arland Community College.

Hector is surprised by the community college. It looks different than expected. Inside, the siblings meander to the space set up for the event. They join Rowanne’s friends and listen to the performers. Hector feels annoyed by a boy “named Chip or Skip” when he shows Rowanne attention (15).