RELUCTANT PRESS

full French curls with little tendrils around the face. I have a pink satin bow that will go at the back."

As my mother said this I turned to look in the mirror. I had been fuming so much when she set my hair that I had not paid any attention to how she had done it. Now I could see under the net a line of tightly wound pin curls curving from in front of one ear across my forehead to the other ear. I could envision the little corkscrew curls hanging toward my face that these would produce. So if my mother was correct about my hair was she also actually planning to have me wear the same clothes tonight?

I was mad as hell at her for embarrassing me but now found I was getting excited about wearing the pretty dress she had so vividly described.

"Oh my, that sounds so wonderful. I'd just love to see you all dressed up, Danielle."

"So would I!" Mrs. Raiche exclaimed from the next chair. Mom finished Mrs. Winston's set and had me get her ready for the dryer ear pads, hair net, seat her under the dryer and provide her with some reading material. I then rinsed the color solution from Mrs. Raiche and assisted with her set.

"You two are such characters, pulling a stunt like that. So, tell me, why did you set Dani's hair? she asked, seriously. "Why Doris, weren't you listening? I just explained why!" answered my mother.

"Oh come on! Tell me the truth. Dani, why did your mother set your hair?"

I could not think of an excuse so I just said, "I've been

told never to contradict my mother!"

Mrs. Raiche sighed in desperation.

"Oh, you two! Like mother, like son. Or should I say 'daughter'?"

"Whatever," Mom answered nonchalantly and I saw a puzzled look on Mrs. Raiche's face.

"You know, funny as it sounded, I could not help but wonder how you would look in a dress with your hair all done up, Dani. Mrs. Winston is right. I'll bet you would make a very pretty girl! Have you ever dressed up?" she asked, the county's greatest gossip looking for some juicy material.

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RUFFLES & CURLES

By Kammi Morton

I was afraid my blushing would give me away and found I could not say "NO!" fast enough to be convincing.

"Why of course, Doris," my mother responded quickly. "Haven't you seen him on TV in the state beauty pageant? He was third runner-up! And he models for Davidson's all the time. He's a real knockout on the runway wearing all the latest fashions."

"All right, all right! I can see that I'm not going to get anywhere with you two. But I do think that you'd look cute in a dress, Danielle!"

I managed to get under the dryer enough times that my hair was dry by the time the last customer left. Fortunately, we were ahead of schedule as it took my mother over half an hour to comb me out and arrange my hair just as she had described earlier. I was in awe as I looked at myself in the mirror. I loved it! The slightest movement of my head would make all the springy curls around my face bounce.

Then I helped my mother put her hair in a French twist and teased the top.

We rushed home and I did my nails in the car a bright red! It was the first time I had done my own nails and I felt pretty proud of the results. With little regard for modesty we undressed and bathed, passing each other in the bathroom and bedrooms as we got ourselves ready. Mom took a quick bath while I shaved as close as was possible then I took my bath while my mother applied her make-up in front of the bathroom mirror. I had to let mom do my make-up but decided that it was time I learned to do this myself also. At last, we were ready for the final touches. "Danielle, would you mind helping me with this?" "This," was her corset. She told me that my father used to love to lace her in and so, with shaky hands, I followed my mother's instructions and secured her in the formidable looking garment. I suspected that "Danny" would not have been allowed to get involved in such an intimate experience but it was all right for "Danielle".

Mom, in her slip, held up the mysterious merry widow. I could see that it was similar to a corset but much prettier with the shiny satin and lacy garters.

"Here we go!" Mom declared as she stood behind me and wrapped the thing around my waist. She pulled it snug and I

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