have　a　way　of　making　you　look　like　a　homeless　person。　A　glamorous

one；　in　Serena’s　case。

She　hadn’t　had　a　haircut　in　over　a　year。　Last　night　she’d　worn　it

pulled　back；　but　today　it　was　down　and　looking　pretty　shaggy。　Her

boy’s　white　oxford　shirt　was　frayed　in　the　collar　and　cuffs；　and

through　it；　her　purple　lace　bra　was　visible。　On　her　feet　was　her

favorite　pair　of　brown　lace…up　boots；　and　her　black　stockings　had　a

big　hole　behind　one　knee。　Worst　of　all；　she’d　had　to　buy　all　new

uniforms；　since　she’d　thrown　hers　down　the　garbage　chute　when

she’d　gone　away　to　boarding　school。　Her　new　uniform　was　what

stuck　out　the　most。

The　new　uniforms　were　the　plague　of　the　sixth　grade；　which　was　the

year　Constance　girls　graduated　from　a　tunic　to　a　skirt。　The　new

skirts　were　made　out　of　polyester　and　had　pleats　that　were

unnaturally　rigid。　The　material　had　a　terrible；　tacky　sheen　and　came

in　a　new　color：　maroon。　It　was　hideous。　And　it　was　this　maroon

uniform　that　Serena　had　chosen　to　wear　on　her　first　day　back　at

Constance。　Plus；　hers　came　all　the　way　down　to　her　knees！　All　of　the

other　seniors　were　wearing　the　same　old　navy　blue　wool　skirts

they’d　been　wearing　since　sixth　grade。　They’d　grown　so　much　their

skirts　were　extremely　short。　The　shorter　the　skirt；　the　cooler　the

girl。

Blair　actually　hadn’t　grown　that　much；　so　she’d　secretly　ha