Trop De

Jeunesse

SUZANNE

REMEMBERED FONDLY: At 12 years of age, a sudden Halloween party invitation at the last minute. Desperate family. confab on what I should wear and that obvious and too-easy solution (if one has a sister), ".....could wear a dress and stuff of mine!" The mildest-ever, but to be expected, protest on my part, melted to nothing by:

Sister's -- "Anyone your age can be adorable in a cute dress!" (and) "As you like little girls so much you'd be sure to like yourself."

Mother's -- "Sis, do a squeaky-clean shampoo on our new little girl, tease it, do up a fluffy urchin on .....(sly, smiling long pause).....HER!" and "It WAS an all-boy party up to now."

•

Then......enough faintly-tinted lipstick, just enough rouge and powder for that girlish glow of health, enough light floral perfume to make a girl's presence known. A modestly party-ish satin-sashed eyeley cotton frock with skirt starched to a con- stantly-swinging spread. Precocious nylons to soften leg bruises. (Mother: "You're such a tomboy!") The last minute phone-call to the party giver, mother saying, "You can expect an unknown young lady do invite her in." Motherly last- minute instructions: "A young lady must always be conscious of her skirts."

When I at last entered the party room and my hostess let me put my coat, purse and lacquered, ribboned sailor hat in her bedroom, saying, straight-faced, "....and you may use this room to freshen up later -- no boys allowed." Silence, suddenly, from the boys as I took off my coat, entering my hostess' temporary powder room -- a louder silence as I came

-20-