appointment?â
âSorry, yes. My name is Kat.â
âKat! Of course. Weâve been expecting you. Can I offer you a cappuccino?â
âUh, sure. That would be great.â
âLovely. Right this way.â
My hands and feet are soaked as someone washes my hair and massages my scalp. A surprising amount of my long hair is cut off right after; perhaps six inches. They, then, strip the many layers of old, cheap colour out of my hair, followed by a new base colour, which sits on my head while I receive a full manicure and pedicure. Iâm told itâs a more vivid version of what I have already, but that the highlights and lowlights will give it much more depth. They wrap select pieces in tin foil, and refresh my cappuccino. They give me a facial, pluck my eyebrows, then add cucumbers to reduce swelling. My nails are finished with French tips, complete with a little crystal on each one. My hair is rinsed, the cut is finished, blown dry, and put in the same large curlers that girl the other night must have had in. When all is said and done, I feel as if Iâve been through a car wash, but I only have to look in the mirror to feel energized again. I look gorgeous. I call Stephen right away.
âHello, Stephen?â
âYes, Kat?â
âThank you, thank you, thank you!!â
âI take it, you liked the present?â He chuckles.
âYou wouldnât believe how good it looks!â
âWell, you looked lovely before, so I can only imagine!â
âI canât wait to show you. Thank you so much, Stephen.â
âYouâre very welcome. Iâm so glad you like it. Do you feel like going out tonight?â
âI would love to.â
âOn behalf of your new hairdo, letâs say something formal this time?â
Good thing I have a couple dresses in my closet from high school proms past. Hopefully one still fits, I think, as I step into a flowing midnight blue number. I barely can zip up the bodice, but I manage to after a few minutes of trying. The only thing that I can feel busting out is, obviously enough, the bust. I look in my full length mirror to see how bad the damage is, and almost fall down at the magnificence of my own cleavage. Well, at least I still look the part. I actually put on some lipstick.
Pulling up in a full length limo this time, I just shake my head at Stephen. âYou really donât have to do this every time,â I tease.
âOh, let me. After all, we are still in our honeymoon phase. I still feel the need to impress you. Win you over.â If only he knew.
âTsk, tsk, Stephen. You know Iâm not one of those girls.â
âI know you are not. Just the opposite.â
We pull up to a bustling upscale club, with greeters in full tuxedos, tails, and white gloves. We step out of the limo, and I notice that Stephen is in his classiest suit yet. He takes my hand to help me out of the car, turning to take me in.
âWell, you are a vision. How did I ever get so lucky?â I smile graciously in reply.
âYou look very handsome yourself, Stephen.â
âShall we?â He says, offering the crook of his arm. I feel people on the street stop and stare at our odd pairing, but it might be our formal wear; it could be anything, I suppose. I never seem to notice any leering beyond the doors of these expensive venues; perhaps because people are either in similar situations, or are paid to look the other way. Whatever it is, it ends when we cross the threshold, and are lead to a table. Not that weâll be sitting for long. The club has a half orchestra, pumping out hot jazz tunes. The dance floor appears to revolve with patrons spinning choreographically along the edges. I didnât even know something like this existed anymore.
âA drink to start?â
âYes!â I yell over the music. âI might need some liquid courage to get up there!â
âNot a problem! I used to take