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Chapter 5
Therewasaslittlepityinhereyesasyou’llfindinapanther’seyes.
"NextFriday,"Isaid.
"Well,Iwishyou’dhurryup.I’msickofbeingpoor."Andsheslippedquicklyout.Alisteneratdoorstoo.Idoloveher,andthat’soddbecausesheiseverythingIdetestinanyoneelse—andIadoreher.
Nonewspaperforme.Ihadn’tevenunfoldeditwhenMargieYoung-Huntarrived.Shewasdoneup—hairdresserdoneup.IguessMarywouldknowhowit’sdone,butIdon’t.
Inthemorningtheout-of-coffeeMargiewassetformelikeabeartrap.ThesameeveningshedrewabeadonMary.Ifherbehindbounced,Icouldn’tseeit.Ifanythingwasunderherneatsuit,itwashiding.Shewasaperfectguest—foranotherwoman—helpful,charming,complimentary,thoughtful,modest.ShetreatedmeasthoughIhadtakenonfortyyearssincethemorning.Whatawonderfulthingawomanis.IcanadmirewhattheydoevenifIdon’tunderstandwhy.
WhileMargieandMarywentthroughtheirpleasantlitany,"Whathaveyoudonewithyourhair?"..."Ilikeit"..."That’syourcolor.Youshouldalwayswearit"—theharmlessrecognitionsignalsofwomen—IthoughtofthemostfemininestoryIeverheard.Twowomenmeet.Onecries,"Whathaveyoudonewithyourhair?Itlookslikeawig.""Itisawig.""Well,you’dneverknowit."
Maybethesearedeeperresponsesthanweknoworhaveanyrighttoknow.
Dinnerwasaseriesofexclamationsabouttheexcellenceoftheroastchickenanddenialsthatitwasedible.
