RELUCTANT PRESS

picks. While this was going on she resumed her French tutoring, reading a sentence and having me repeat it over and over until I said it correctly.

I found myself getting an enormous erection, thankful that it was blocked from Susie by the back of the chair.

When I had finished her hair, we stopped the lessons and sat together on the couch. Susie asked about my life and for the first time I told someone all about myself.

"So you're going to be a doctor. That sounds so exciting. I'm planning on becoming a nurse."

I figured it was time to level with Susie, knowing that my continued lying would only make things worse.

"Well, I'm not so sure anymore. My grades are not all that good so I guess I may have to think of something else."

"Like hairdressing?" Susie asked, seemingly excited at that prospect.

"Maybe. My Mom would love to have me join her in the shop and that would keep me at home. She would be pretty lonely all by herself. And there is good money in it..."

"But?"

"It's just that I had my heart set on being a doctor. The thought of spending the rest of my life waiting on fussy old ladies in a beauty shop is just not what I had planned on." "WELL! I'm insulted," Susie protested with mock indigna-

tion.

"Oh, not you, of course. I loved doing your hair, but not everyone that comes into the salon is as beautiful as you."

I had no idea where I got the courage to speak like that but I was glad I did as I was rewarded by a long hug from Susie, even enjoying the feel of the prickly rollers against the side of my head.

"You're so sweet, not like all the rest of the guys I know. Can we be friends, Dan? Just friends?"

"Yeah, sure Susie. I'd love to be your friend."

I never really expected to be Susie's boy friend, and just knowing her was a major step for me. I knew that Susie was going steady with Jack Belotti, the quarterback on the football team, the captain of the basketball team, and the best hitter and pitcher on the baseball team. Who was I kidding if I thought I could compete with a guy like that?

It was time to leave and Susie walked me to the door.

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RUFFLES & CURLES

By Kammi Morton

"Thanks for helping me with my French, Susie. I really did learn a lot."

"And thank YOU for doing my hair. It's such a chore to put it up every night. Would you like to have more tutoring?" "Yeah, great. When are you free?"

"Tomorrow I have cheer leading practice so how about Wednesday? Same time and place?"

"OK," I answered, thinking that I would have to do some rearranging of my chores at home but thrilled at the prospect of being with Susie again.

-000-

At school the next day Susie came by my locker and said "See how nice my hair looks today, thanks to you Danny." She had been dis-

creet, for which I was thankful. On the one hand I wanted everybody to know that Susie and I were friends but knew that it was better for her that

it was not known. Jack Belotti had a terrible temper!

I could not wait for Wednesday afternoon so I could be with Susie. Whenever I saw her in school, she would wink at me conspiratorially.

On Wednesday I arrived at Susie's at two forty-five, breathless from running from my house.

I was disappointed when her mother answered the door, thinking that this would ruin the afternoon.

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