A Modern Day Persuasion (18 page)

Anne looked over at Carol and rolled her eyes. “For one thing, Elizabeth still likes him. I can tell because she takes forever getting ready anytime she knows he’ll be around.”

“You could look really nice, too, if you wanted.” Anne sent Carol a doubtful look. “Well, you could!” Carol began defending her statement, “Not that you aren’t nice looking now. But why settle for nice-looking when you could be allout amazing!”

Anne laughed, “And how is this transformation supposed to come about?” Anne was convinced her glory days were over and done with.

Carol didn’t miss a beat in responding, “I’m glad you asked. I was thinking a cute haircut…some new makeup and an updated wardrobe. Don’t you think it’s about time you spend as much effort on yourself as you do with your greeting cards?”

Anne had a feeling Carol’s speech had been rehearsed. Looking at herself in the rear-view mirror, she wondered if once again Carol was right, and perhaps it was time for a change.

Chapter 34

Four days later, Anne found herself sitting nervously in Elizabeth’s Mercedes outside a popular Los Angeles shopping center. Carol had managed to secure Anne an appointment with one of the best reputed hair salons in the city, thanks to Missy Dee. When Anne considered the source of the recommendation though, it didn’t give her much confidence. Instead of being pleased, Anne refused to budge from the car.

“After all the strings your cousin Missy Dee pulled to get you into the hottest salon in town, you, young lady…” Carol scolded, “…are going to keep the appointment and at least have the courtesy to hear what the stylist has to say.”

Somehow, Carol managed to persuade Anne to leave the safe haven of the car to venture inside Hair Extraordinaire. Once indoors, Carol triumphantly informed the receptionist of their arrival. Soon after, the two were escorted to a stylish hair station loaded with the latest magazines containing popular hair styles. Also of interest were advertisements for hot new hair dyes, showing colors which ranged from normal to downright bizarre. Anne felt herself becoming hesitant again. After all, a dye job was nothing to sneeze at, and Anne was not one to do anything drastic.

Carol did her best to calm Anne’s trepidation, extolling all the praise she’d heard regarding the stylist. Anne became
bolstered by the artist’s reputation, and her confidence once again soared until she laid eyes on Roberto.

Wearing what looked like a psychedelic ice-skating outfit from the 70’s and having up swept hair similar to the Joker of Batman fame, Roberto sashayed his way towards Anne. He looked like a man on a mission, carefully circling her at least three times, tsk-tsking each time he passed by Anne’s wary face.
So much for this being a boost to my morale
, Anne mused glumly.

At last, Roberto spoke. He was adamant Anne was in desperate need of a new hair color. Anne found him to be quite persuasive and soon Roberto’s enthusiasm started to win her over. She began envisioning a new “Anne” with perhaps a darker, richer brown hue or maybe even a sprinkling of blond highlights.

Roberto leaned closer to Anne so that they were cheek to cheek gazing into the mirror. Anne froze at his invasion of her personal space. His breath reeked of anchovies—something which had never been a favorite of Anne’s. Trying her best not to inhale, Anne was relieved when Roberto abruptly stood straight up to speak into an intercom for his assistant Lou Lou to come forth.

Within seconds, the helper arrived, startling them when she spoke from out of nowhere, “You know it sometimes takes Roberto a while for inspiration to hit.” His assistant looked in awe at the stylist as she offered this bit of information. “But when it does,” she continued, “You can be assured that it will be something out of this world! Look what he did for me!” Roberto flashed his assistant a look of pleased satisfaction as the girl now began to twirl in front of them in order to show off his workmanship.

Both Carol and Anne quickly assessed Lou Lou’s hair with horror. Long hair could be seen on the girl’s left side with bold blue stripes graduating to carrot orange at the top. As Lou Lou finished twirling though, they were astounded to see the assistant was completely shaved on the right side!

“I’m thinking…” began Roberto dramatically, causing silence to ensue. “Flaming red!” he declared cockily, nodding his head with satisfaction.

Anne looked frightened. “Red?” she squeaked out.

“Yes, and not just any red,” he said about two inches from Anne’s face, causing her to get a mouthful of his disturbing breath. “I want you to stop traffic, so it’s got to be stop-sign red! The highlights will be white, and I will cut cute, chunky layers up to…here,” he motioned to Anne’s jaw line.

Roberto looked pleased that Anne appeared speechless—not that she wasn’t, but at the moment it was his breath that was overpowering her. Anne felt like a prisoner of war, watching helplessly as Roberto started embellishing to his assistant all the supplies he needed in order to accomplish his vision for Anne’s brilliant new look.

Desperate, Anne mouthed
Help
! to Carol through the mirror.

Carol, also in shock, wisely acknowledged Anne’s SOS call and plucked up her courage to say something to the overly enthusiastic hair stylist. “Ah, hmm…Roberto…” she began hesitantly, “I think Anne is picturing something more…ah… subtle.”

Roberto wheeled around to look at Carol, his face a mixture of injured pride and anger at his genius being questioned. His assistant looked aghast and stepped towards him protectively, placing a hand on his shoulder to show Roberto she still believed in him.

“You do not like my ideas?” he huffed.

Carol tried to soothe him, although there really was no way of beating around the bush. “Oh…it’s not that, it’s just… Anne’s a little old-fashioned.”

Roberto lowered his eyes and nodded. “Fine…I don’t work with people who don’t trust me.” With that, he raised his hands in surrender and walked away with a dejected air.

Bewildered, Anne looked to Carol for confirmation that this wasn’t just some planned television prank. Horrific
visions of herself being featured on
Candid Camera
flashed through Anne’s mind.

Shrugging, Carol whispered, “Apparently, Roberto doesn’t like to be questioned.”

His assistant who remained shook her head disapprovingly at Carol’s comment. “He’s a genius! Only a fool dares to go against Roberto,” she declared, her voice a mixture of utter contempt and admonishment.

“Lou Lou!” Roberto called from across the parlor, sparing them from further chastisement by the assistant who eagerly turned to see what Roberto wanted.

What Carol and Anne observed next made the whole situation seem even more surreal. Roberto was clearly sulking, having seated himself in what could only be described as a king’s throne. The ornate piece of furniture was about six feet tall with plush velvet fabric and costumed beading set in the elaborately carved wood.

Roberto’s assistant hurried anxiously to him, begging to know what she could do to comfort him.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Carol said with disbelief, looking towards Anne who could only suppress a smirk. Carol nudged Anne, “Girl, you owe me big time for saving you!”

“I don’t see where I owe you anything,” hissed Anne in a whispered breath, “I didn’t even want to come here in the first place!”

“In that case,” taunted Carol, “Perhaps I should get Roberto’s attention and tell him you’ve changed your mind?” She began to raise her arm in pretense to catch Roberto’s eye.

Anne panicked and held Carol in check, “Okay, okay, I owe you! Just save me from being a flaming stop sign with a crew cut!”

Lou Lou’s voice cut through the salon, “Quick, get me a paper sack! Roberto is hyperventilating!” Anne and Carol
turned simultaneously to observe his frantic assistant trying her best to calm the distraught Roberto.

“Oh dear! I feel terrible!” Anne exclaimed.

“Bad enough to let him have his way?” teased Carol.

Anne reared her head up quickly, “Not that bad!”

A sack was brought pronto to the distraught stylist, and soon Roberto began to settle down once realizing he was once again the center of attention. He even dared to hope that all the hoopla might cause Anne to relent and beg him to do her hair after all. Unfortunately for Roberto, this was something Anne would never do in a million years. As if sensing Anne’s thoughts, Lou Lou sent a mean stare in their direction.

Anne tugged on Carol’s hand, “Let’s get out of here quick before Lou Lou comes back or an ambulance arrives.”

Carol didn’t have to be asked twice. Grabbing their bags, they bolted through the front doors, managing to suppress their laughter until out of earshot.

Once safely in their vehicle, Carol relaxed in her seat and sighed, “I hope the salon doesn’t hold us responsible for any counseling Roberto will need.”

Anne shook her head and looked to the ceiling. “Hairstylists,” she said with mock exasperation.

Chapter 35

Early Monday morning, Anne was once again sitting in a styling chair, but this time at an Aveda Salon. Her hair had been washed, cut, and was now covered in layers of foil while the two selected hair colors set in. Carol wouldn’t stop at these few changes either: once Anne’s hair was complete, Carol had arranged for the salon’s makeup artist to give Anne a complete new look, including a facial.

Despite Anne’s initial misgivings, she found herself getting excited to see the finished outcome. Nearly three hours later, after all tasks were done, Anne studied herself in the mirror and had to admit she was pleased. She barely recognized the radiant woman staring back at her in the mirror. Her once single-length long hair was now layered, starting at her shoulders. The colorist had added deep mahogany highlights to Anne’s hair which added a beautiful sheen. Her locks felt so light and silky. Anne made the salon team laugh as she swung her hair about as if she was in a hair product commercial.

As to her makeup, the artist showed Anne how to accentuate her eyes without making it appear as though she was wearing tons of makeup. That pleased Anne, as she preferred a more natural look. Anne liked how feminine she felt, and wondered why she had stopped doing the little things that made her proud to be a woman—like taking the extra time to style her hair long rather than scooping it into a ponytail,
or accentuating her eyes to make them stand out. She felt empowered and didn’t want the day to end, so when Carol suggested the two enjoy lunch together and then afterwards hit the stores, Anne didn’t have to think twice.

Carol felt quite smug when she noticed Anne catching the attention of several guys in the restaurant as the duo made their way to the table. After all, it was Carol who was the instigator of this beauty transformation.

“Anne, you look years younger,” Carol said when perusing the menu a moment later. “We must find clothes to match your new look!”

Anne nodded excitedly, blushing at the admiring eyes watching her from the various tables around the establishment. It felt good to be noticed. Especially after the bruising comment made by Rick to Mary about how he’d barely recognized her.

Ordering a Caesar salad and a cup of soup, Anne refreshed herself. She needed to gear up for what would likely be a long session of shopping therapy with “Dr.” Carol.

Seven full shopping bags later, Anne collapsed into the driver’s seat beside Carol. Anne needed a breather before taking on the evening’s California traffic.

“I had a great time today, Anne,” Carol looked over to smile sweetly at her god-daughter.

“Me, too,” Anne smiled back. “Thanks for setting everything up. I really needed this.”

Carol placed her hand on Anne’s arm, “I know.”

Anne felt the tears sting her eyes, but kept them in check. “Time to hit the road?” she asked. Carol nodded and Anne started the engine.

After Anne dropped Carol off at her hotel, she made her way back home wondering if her family would notice the change in her appearance. As she came in the front door, Anne could see her father attempting to arrange his tie in the hallway mirror. Her mother had always taken care of this
task for her husband, and even though it’d been years since Emma’s passing, her father had yet to master this art.

Hearing Anne enter, her dad glanced over, quickly doing a double take. Turning to give his full admiration, he smiled. “My, my…you’re looking very nice.”

Anne put down her purse and shopping bags, reveling for once that her father was actually pleased to see her. Surprisingly, she now felt shy and tucked one foot behind the other, unsure of how to reply.

Walter was about to say more, but Elizabeth’s voice interrupted him. “Dad, I hope you’re just about ready. We’ll need to leave in five minutes or we’ll be late,” she commanded from the upstairs hallway.

Refocusing his efforts to the untied tie, Walter turned his attention back to the mirror and continued to fidget with it. Anne sighed, sorry that the moment had been lost but seeing her dad needed help, chose to assist him.

“Where are you going?” she asked as he lowered his hands in surrender, allowing Anne to work her magic. She had memorized the intricate folds her mother used all those years ago.

“Didn’t you get my call earlier?” her father said with exasperation. Before Anne could answer, he explained, “Missy invited us to attend the premiere showing of her new movie. You’re to come too, so you’d better hurry. Missy doesn’t like to wait.”