Art by Jasmine Nguyen Agatha Pennington wiped a layer of sugared violet frosting from her pink trimmed apron in a secluded corner of the kitchen. The cake shop must be in tip-top shape for the arrival of the Volunteer.  Constance Pennington, the frontman of the sisters’ business, poked her head of frizzy grey and black hair into the kitchen. She donned the same frilly apron, this one trimmed with blue. There was a speck of a red stain on her shoulder, but there was no time to change.  “Aggie,...

Art by Liz Nedelescu “It’s a sunny day in Houston, Texas! The temperature is 96 degrees fahrenheit and the humidity is at-at-at-“ The crank radio fizzled out on Patty Rink’s backstage vanity. Her mother, Sarah, banged against the side with her slender fist. “Oh not again, we’ve gotta get your father to fix the damn radio, Pat. How else are we gonna listen to the pre-pageant broadcast?” Patty touched a freshly pink-painted hand to her updo, feeling the crunch of her blonde curls and the clink...