14 TV FICTION CLASSICS

The whole idea had been triggered when she had bumped into Mark at one of her recent hair appointments. He had been away a lot and hadn't seen him for years. To say the least, she had been a little shocked to watch as Ann removed Mark's rollers and proceeded to comb his hair out into a cute, curly bouffant. Even more so when she pinned the back hair upwards with some bobby pins.

Once the young man had left and Ann and she were alone, Karen admitted that she wished that Alan could learn to take care of his hair like Mark. Karen Taylor was intrigued and got her idea right then and there!

She knew that Alan always went out for a run before bed on Fridays. His run was always followed by a shower. So when she heard the water shut off she waited a few minutes then walked over to the bathroom door.

"Alan, after you get your pajamas on, come over to my room and I'll set your hair for you," she called through the closed door. "Mom, I'm not wearing anymore silly hair rollers! So thanks, but no thanks," came the muffled reply.

His mother smiled a knowing Cheshire Cat grin, "Whatever you want dear," she responded and went back to the living room. Minutes later she heard the blow dryer whirring in the bathroom. Karen Taylor casually flipped through the day's newspaper waiting for Alan's reaction. It came minutes later.

She heard the bathroom door open and Alan's footsteps coming into the living room. Alan stood there in his bathrobe and slippers, an unhappy scowl covered his face.

"Just great!" He growled in a somewhat defeated sounding voice. His mother couldn't suppress a giggle as she looked at his hair. It looked something like sheep's wool badly in need of shearing. Frizzy and kinky curls all over! She tried to keep a straight face as she asked,

"Something wrong?"

"What do you

think?"

"Well, I'd say your hair looked better this morning."

"So this is the way it will always look after I shampoo it?" Alan asked pointing to his mop.

"Of course not," his mother replied. This sent a look of hopeful anticipation across Alan's face. However, the look was blown away as his mother continued,

"It will look as good as it did yesterday if you set it." "But we don't have a hair dryer," Alan pointed out.

"I know, but I've found that by putting my hair up at night, it's dry by morning."

"You mean sleep on rollers?" Alan moaned.

"Well, tough guy. You can sleep on rollers, or you can set it in the morning. But then you'll have to keep them in until mid-after-

•

HAIR TODAY, GOWN TOMORROW -15 noon. I guess on some weekends that will be okay since you help me with the housework tomorrow anyway.

"Well.. .OK," he replied in a defeated tone of voice. He was still thinking about Cindy's comment about his 'hot looking' hair, then finally asked. "Will you set it for me tomorrow?" Karen Taylor imagined she could hear a large crowd cheering as if the hometown had just scored a touchdown.

"Of course, sweetheart. I've already bought you your own rollers and accessories. In fact, I'll do my hair tomorrow as well," she beamed with motherly love.

That night Alan had strange restless dreams. It was undoubtedly from the new hairdo. He dreamed that he was in Ann's salon chair but it wasn't clear what she was doing to him.

..

Alan woke with a start. . .his heart was pounding and his bedsheets were damp. It had seemed so real but he couldn't remember what happened. He tried to interpret the dream/nightmare. maybe Alan was confused by all the new attention. The prospect of calling Cindy to arrange a 'date' was exciting. She liked his hairdo. .um, hairstyle. If she saw him now, he'd probably be worse than invisible. Better fix that.

Alan's mother heard the shower running again as she sat in front of her vanity finishing the setting of her own hair. Another complete set of rollers was waiting in front of her. Having finished the last roller, she picked up a pretty silk kerchief and carefully tied it over her curlers and into a bow at the nape of her neck.

The kerchief was covered with red flowers on a green background. In front of her a second silk kerchief lay. It had pink flowers on a bright yellow and black background. Time to push things a little step farther. Karen Taylor smiled in anticipation."

Fifteen minutes later a resigned Alan sat in front of the vanity as his mother taught him how to set his hair.

"That's right. Make sure the section is not too big and combed through smoothly," Alan's mother directed as she watched her son somewhat awkwardly section and wind another roller against his scalp.

"Now remember what side of the roller the clip goes. If you put it on the wrong side, the roller will flop all over the place." She had to help with the back but she was happy with his first attempt. She imagined that it was just like the first time her mother had put her through the same paces.

"Very good, you'll be doing this yourself in no time," praised his mother surveying her son's head now so neatly covered in curlers. "Now take this and unfold it," she continued as she handed him the silk kerchief. Alan followed her instructions without question. He had always seen his mother wear such a kerchief when she had her hair up during the daytime.