Closing the Gap

FICTION

Susan Calif.

Taking the curlers out of my hair while answering the phone that evening was not the easiest job, but it was my best girl friend on the line and she had a problem so I didn't mind, too much, the interruption of my beauty evening. When I get hooked on doing my hair, my nails, my all-over; Rock Hudson better not dare interrupt me but then Meg had an interesting problem. A boy.

"Zelda (that's me), Pauly has come home after a year of playing Hip- pie out in California. Daddy and Mom won't let him in the house until he cuts that long Hippie hair, dresses in decent clothes. He is my brother-but my parents won't even see him."

"Their older generation is gaping!" I had to answer. "Should he stop living because he has long hair? I think some boys look cute in long hair. But Meg-what can I do!?"

"Well... I was thinking. You don't have to go back to college until January. Your parents are away for a month. Couldn't he crash on your sofa downstairs for a while?"

"Crash Meg? You're sounding like a Hippie. Remember I'm just a middle-class girl like you, in a middle-class neighborhood. What would the neighbors think-seeing me living with a boy while my folks are away."

"But you always liked my little brother Paul-want him to sleep hungry in the streets tonight?"

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