22 TV FICTION CLASSICS

During a break in the morning activities, she slipped out to the garage to have a look. Sure enough, there were two perfectly beautiful mirrored vanities. So later that day she approached her employer and made her purchase request.

"Buy it? Oh my dear, please take it. I wouldn't dream of taking your money for it. You're like my family," Mrs. Richardson scoffed. She was always very generous and indeed did treat Karen less like an employee, more like a friend and confidant. She had known Alan since he was in diapers.

"But where will you put it? I've seen your room and it has that beautiful oak bedroom set."

"Well.. I want it for Alan's room," Karen blurted without thinking.

"For Alan? Really? I've never known any teenaged boys but Mark who needed a mirrored vanity in their rooms," She chuckled. Her son's hobby was widely known at the hotel.

"Well, you see," Karen didn't know how to answer, "with his long hair these days...uh, I took him to Ann's for a perm last week. ..and"

"A perm? You're kidding! A perm like Mark's? I've heard that some boys are getting perms. How did it come out?" Mrs. Richardson pressed on now getting more intrigued.

"Just wonderful!" Karen gushed. She had been so excited with the events of the other day that she was dying to share some of her happiness with this close friend. However, she had not planned to get so carried away. In a matter of minutes, Karen had given Amanda Richardson almost the whole story. Amanda seemed to be tickled pink.

"Oh, I wish I could have seen him! Your jumper apron?! With the yellow pantihose? He must have been a doll!"

"He was! I couldn't keep my eyes of him," Karen replied. "And the funny thing is he didn't really resist."

"I must see him," Amanda smiled. "I have an idea!" she added in a hushed conspirational tone.

Chapter 4

Alan had struggled a little that morning trying to get his hair to resemble the style that Ann had done that first day, but it just didn't seem to work. His mother seemed to tease the hair higher than Ann did and this looked somewhat more feminine. In any case, he was starting to get used to the routine.

Sunday night he experienced his first night sleeping on rollers. It was not too comfortable! Monday morning his hair was combed out by his mother and again she went a little overboard with the backcombing. Alan looked in the mirror and thought of his date with Cindy tomorrow.

"Mom, don't take this the wrong way but would you mind if I tried to get Ann to do my hair tomorrow morning? I'm meeting Cindy for lunch at noon and I want it to look just right.'

HAIR TODAY, GOWN TOMORROW -23

"Mind? Of course not. I think that's a good idea! I can tell that this Cindy is someone special," Mrs. Taylor replied as she fussed with some of Alan's curls in back. "Why don't I call her today for you and see if she can fit you in early tomorrow for a shampoo and set?"

"Gee, I'd appreciate that Mom!" He replied happily, then added, "One more little problem. . .I'm kind of broke at the moment."

"Well, how about if I loan you $50. When you get some work you can pay me back," his mother replied, then with a mischievous smile added. "I'm sure some work will come up soon."

Monday's job search came up a zero. Alan was starting to get worried. He felt bad that his mother had to work so hard to support him. She was even generous in funding his dates! If this relationship with Cindy would develop, as he hoped it would, he couldn't continue to mooch off of his Mom! Alan set a goal for himself that he would find work, any kind of work, before the end of the week!

Thanks to his mother's call, Ann was able to schedule Alan in for 9:00 A.M. on Tuesday. This would give him enough time to get dressed before meeting Cindy. Alan hadn't considered that Ann has some days busier than others. So, as she was in the midst of starting his hair a woman came in.

He felt very uncomfortable sitting before a stranger while having his hair set. She appeared mildly surprised to see him there, but it was then that he realized that it was Amanda Richardson, his mother's employer.

No comments were made as to why he was having his hair set on rollers. While Alan sat under the hair dryer another customer came

in.

He just watched as Ann undid Amanda's hair out of an elegant French braid. Finally, the timer on the dryer went off. Ann tilted the hood upwards and tested a curl for dryness.

"You're dry! Just sit for a minute and cool off. Oh, I thought you knew each other. I should have introduced you-Alan, this is Amanda--you know, Mark's mother."

"Pleased to see you again," Alan said politely with a flush to his cheeks.

"Alan, Ann told me that a picture of Mark convinced you to go for a perm...that's nice to hear."

"Yeah, I guess that's right," Alan replied. "It is a lot of trouble though...I mean looking after it and all."

"Oh, Mark doesn't mind anymore. He's very good at it. In fact, he's been letting it grow out a lot these past few months," she said almost proudly. "His band is in Europe for a while. He lead singer now and very busy. It's really not that bad. If he's in a hurry, he'll just tie it back in a ponytail. . .or braid it."

"Braid it?" Alan asked incredulously.