A woman stood at the door of a second floor apartment and knocked. She felt her chestnut brown chignon as she waited for an answer. She nervously tugged on a short pink pleated skirt as the door opened.

................

At the door stood a man in his mid twenties. He looked at the woman before him in her pink skirt, pink blazer, overstuffed pink shoulder bag, and her large brown bun of hair. He looked further past her skirt to notice her nylon over the knee socks worn with black kitten heeled pumps. He smiled at her presence but quickly looked away.

"Deanna! You wore the outfit!" he smiled.

"Yes, but these socks are not me. They're more for a high school girl than one who just turned 34." she answered as she looked away.

"I gave you that outfit for Christmas! What inspired you to finally wear it now?" he inquired.

"James, I feel something is wrong. You don't call me anymore and you don't return my calls." quivered Deanna as a tear formed in her eye.

"I know, Deanna. I called you here for that reason." said James with a hint of finality.

Deanna's heart skipped a beat. The thing she feared most seemed to be upon her. Has James tired of her and now wanted to move on to someone his own age? Her thoughts raced.

James was younger than she when they met at a Christmas party at a bar. Deanna, lonely, a little overweight, shy, and very apprehensive didn't have many friends. Dates were hard to come by until this man entered her life.

Things were hot for a very short time. James was able to get Deanna to let loose a little. But it seemed the coldness of winter doused the flame. Deanna would never wear a miniskirt in public but did so tonight to rekindle the flame in this younger man's heart.

Her fearsome worry was interrupted by a ringing phone.

"Excuse me. I'm expecting this call." he smiled as he answered the phone.

..............

"James, you only have two hours. Pay or else!" said the voice on the other end of the phone.

"I know. Two hours. It's happening tonight. I'll pick you up at the bar later and I'll have what you need to see at Maggie's, OK? I'll have what you want, trust me!" he pleaded as he looked at Deanna and her very large pile of chestnut hair.

"That works for me. Don't try anything stupid. I know where you live." said the voice.

"I won't try anything." said James as he ended the conversation.

"Who is Maggie?" worried Deanna.

"Deanna, why did you have to do this to me tonight?" he said in a pleading fashion.

"What, this outfit?" she replied.

"Yes! You're making what I have to tell you that much harder." he moaned.

"Your expression says it all. We're through, aren't we?" cried Deanna.

"Deanna, you're eight years older than I. Sure, you were there when I needed a friend for the holidays but things changed." he returned.

"So this is it. You're leaving me." cried Deanna.

"Yes, Deanna. I'm sorry. I should have done this in January. It's my fault, not yours." stammered James.

Deanna sat on the sofa and sobbed. James sat next to her.

"Is Maggie more your age?" sobbed Deanna.

"She's older, but yes, closer to my age." replied James.

"I guess I should leave." whimpered Deanna as she stood.

"I have two favors to ask you, Deanna." pleaded James.

"Yes?" stuttered Deanna.

"One, don't throw that outfit or the other I gave you in the trash. You need to let loose of your apprehension and get over that shy nature. Maybe you should do something with all that hair, too." he scolded.

"My hair? What do you think I should do with my hair?" she cried.

"Deanna, maybe the 'C' word should enter your mind. In fact, I think you left a pair of scissors here when we wrapped Christmas presents." said James.

James left her briefly to retrieve the scissors from the kitchen. Deanna looked at her reflection against the darkened window. She wiped the tears from her eyes and once again felt her very large chignon.

"Here, you left these here." he said as he handed Deanna a pair of scissors.

"The 'C' word?" asked Deanna as she slipped the scissors into her pink purse.

"C-U-T" said James as he spelled the word a letter at a time.

"Why?" cried Deanna.

"Maybe you can find a new you and stop hiding behind all those updo's. Your hair is so long that you can't ever wear it free without a hassle. So you have to re-invent these old 19th century hair-do's. This is 1992, Deanna, not 1892." he smiled.

"I think I better leave." she cried.

"Wait! I have one more thing to ask of you. My mother would like to meet you in person. Why don't you stop by her place on the way home. I told her we may break up and she would really like to see you." he said.

...............

Deanna ran from the room crying. She ran to her car and sat inside. She looked at herself in her rear view mirror.

"Deanna Jones. Single forever!" she cried as she started her car.

Deanna thought about James' mother. She had only talked to her on the phone a few times but never met her. She knew where James said she lived having met James there on occasion, but his mother was always gone when they met. She decided to stop to meet her.

Deanna walked to the door. She stared at the ground a bit before knocking on the door. She tugged at the skirt as she waited. There was no answer. She knocked again.

"Maybe its just as well. What would she think of me in this ridiculous outfit meant for a high schooler? Deanna Jones, go home!" she shouted to herself as she turned to her car.

"WAIT!!" was heard from the door.

Deanna turned to see a woman at the door with graying hair draped in front of her breasts. She was dressed in a black tank top and black miniskirt. To her utter surprise, this woman wore white nylon knee high socks and patent leather shoes!

"Are you Deanna?" she asked.

"Yes. Are you Mrs. Beach?" responded Deanna.

"Uh, yes. Come inside, I'd like to meet you." she added.

Deanna strolled to the door.

"Please, call me, uh, Janet." the woman said.

Deanna gave her an odd look.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"James doesn't want to see me anymore." cried Deanna.

"Poor baby. Come inside. Let me help you get over this." said Janet.

"How?" asked Deanna.

"Come inside. I'll show you." she responded.

..............

Deanna looked about the living room. Janet looked at Deanna's pink outfit. Deanna looked at Janet.

"You look very young to be James' mother." started Deanna.

"Oh thank you, dear. I guess the exercise pays off." smiled Janet.

The two stood in silence.

"You don't sound like you do over the phone." started Deanna.

"No one does, dearie. I see James has some say in your dress. That's a real cute outfit!" smiled Janet.

"Uh, yes. It looks like he may have some say in yours, too. Say, I know this is real awkward for us. I think I need to go." returned Deanna with a nervous grin.

"No, Deanna. I wanted you to come. I want to help you." said Janet.

"How?" wondered Deanna.

"Let's start by you handing me that big purse of yours." smiled Janet as she eyed Deanna's overstuffed pink bag.

"Uh, I think I'll be OK. This isn't the first time I've been dumped and probably won't be the last." stammered Deanna.

"No, Honey. Stay. Let me help you. Let me have your purse." pleaded Janet.

Deanna looked at her bag and back at Janet.

"Come on, honey. Trust me." smiled Janet.

Deanna took her shoulder bag by the strap from her shoulder. She slowly surrendered it to Janet who put it over her own shoulder with a smile.

"Come on, Deanna, dear. I want to make a difference in your life. Follow me to the bedroom." she winked.

"But I." started Deanna.

"But nothing. Where will you go? I have your purse." smiled Janet.

"Right." replied Deanna.

"Come with me." smiled Janet.

The two walked some stairs to an upstairs bedroom.

................

"Now Deanna, Let's start with this heavy thing you carry. What do we have in here?" asked Janet.

"Stuff." replied Deanna as Janet rooted through her belongings.

"WA-A-A-Y too much stuff! Four shades of lip gloss? Two packs of tissue paper. Ah here's something different, scissors!" Janet wryly said as she held the scissors in the air and put the pink bag over her shoulder again.

"I don't normally carry those." responded Deanna.

"Enough about this. See that black purse on the chair?" asked Janet.

"Yes, replied Deanna.

"Pick it up and give it to me." demanded Janet.

Deanna walked to the chair and lifted the black purse. It's weight was almost non-existent.

"See the difference? Get rid of some of this stuff." smiled Janet as Deanna placed the black purse on the bed where Janet grabbed the handle and placed on the dresser on her other side.

"OK, thanks for the tip. May I have my purse?" pleaded Deanna.

"No, I'm not done with you yet. Take off your blazer." said Janet as she worked the scissors back and forth.

"Why?" asked Deanna.

"Trust me. I want a closer look at your figure." smiled Janet.

"Believe me, there's nothing there to see. There is a reason I'm still single at 34 years old. I want to go home." pleaded Deanna.

"Come on, take off the blazer! Who else is here to see you?" said Janet with a sense of urgency.

"Fine." said Deanna as she removed her pink blazer to reveal a tight white tank top which revealed her curves a lot more than she wished. She placed her blazer on the bed.

"See, I'm fat." cried Deanna.

"Yes, I'd say you're a little fat but your figure is still salvageable. Let's get rid of that top." smiled Janet.

"No!" demanded Deanna.

"Yes!" demanded Janet in return.

"I want to go home!" cried Deanna.

"Not until we finish our little talk. Remember, I still have your purse." beamed Janet.

"Why are you doing this to me!" pleaded Deanna.

"Because SOMEONE needs to set you straight. Otherwise, you might end up a lonely old maid!" scolded Janet as she removed her own tank top and skirt to reveal black panties and a black bra.

"Now do you feel better? I stripped to my underwear, so can you. Remember, I'm older than you! Come on! Let loose. Take off the top." demanded Janet.

Deanna removed her white tank top to reveal a white bra. Janet walked in front of Deanna and led her to a mirror on the dresser. Deanna looked at her reflection in her white bra as Janet stood behind.

"You may be older, but you look better." said Deanna.

"Nonsense! Your next lesson is your bra. White is boring and it's the wrong size. Get something a little smaller that fits you better and get some color in your life!" laughed Janet as Deanna started to cry in the mirror.

"I'm sorry, honey." said Janet as she stopped laughing.

"Is that my lesson? Carry less in my purse and buy the right bra?" asked Deanna.

"No, there's more. Next, I want you to let your hair down." demanded Janet.

"I can't." responded Deanna.

"Why not?" demanded Janet.

"It's too long." cried Deanna.

"Hogwash! Let that hair down! I want to see what you're hiding in that hideous up-do!" scolded Janet.

"OK. Here we go." whimpered Deanna.

Deanna unwound her large chestnut chignon very carefully. She slowly let her hair down. The length almost reached her ankles. Janet was very amazed at Deanna's hair.

"I guess you see why I need to wear my hair up?" asked Deanna.

"When was the last time you cut your hair?" asked Janet.

"I've never cut it, never ever." cried Deanna as Janet laughed.

"I'm sorry, Deanna. James told me your hair was probably pretty long, but I bet he has NO idea it is THIS long!" exclaimed Janet as she looked at the pair of scissors in her hand.

"Yes, it's pretty long and I'm tired. I want to go home." pleaded Deanna.

"OK. Let's head back to the parlor. Grab your things, dear." said Janet as Deanna gathered her white tank top and blazer.

"May I have my purse?" asked Deanna.

"I'll give it back to you downstairs. Let's go." said Janet as they started to leave.

Deanna gave Janet a strange stare in her black underwear carrying the big pink shoulder bag.

"Aren't you going to get dressed?" asked Deanna.

"Unlike you, I'm proud of the way I look. I intend to make YOU think that way as well." scolded Janet as she took her own purse and turned off the bedroom light.

.............

Deanna followed Janet to the parlor. Janet sat sideways on the fancy blue sofa and crossed her legs. She set the black bag aside but kept Deanna's draped over her arm with the scissors still in her hand. The sight of the scissors and her hair down made Deanna very nervous. Deanna stood in front of her and started to slip on her top.

"Stop right there, dear. Leave the top off." demanded Janet as she looked at Deanna standing before her in her white bra, pink miniskirt, and her freed ankle length hair.

"I thought we were done." implied Deanna.

"Almost. The last thing we need to discuss is your hair." suggested Janet.

"What about my hair?" worried Deanna as her eyes alternated between her pink bag and the scissors in Janet's hand.

"I think we should cut your hair to a more manageable length. Your hair needs to be FREE!!!! It shouldn't be locked up in a 19th century chignon!" sang Janet.

Deanna instinctively grabbed her hair behind at the top of her neck with a horrified look on her face.

"Deanna, don't look so scared. Come give me a hug." whispered Janet in a gentle pleading tone.

"Come on, Deanna. Don't cry, lay your fears on my shoulders. Kneel down right here and give an old lady a hug." pleaded Janet.

"Can't I just go home? I really don't want to cut my hair!" cried Deanna.

"Oh, honey, it's only hair. It'll grow back!" reasoned Janet as she worked the scissors briskly.

"Maybe to you it's only hair!" cried Deanna.

"Watch this, girl!" demanded Janet.

Deanna had the most horrified look on her face as Janet took the scissors to her mid-back length graying hair at her shoulders. Slowly, she worked the scissors in her hair as she smiled. She moved the scissors to her other hand to cut the other side. Graying hair fell to her naked thighs and to the floor. She raised the scissors to the top of her neck behind her head and cut some more.

"You - You- Uh you c-c-cut your hair!" quivered Deanna.

"Yes, I did! Now it's your turn, Deanna Jones. It's time to free your spirit from the chains of that ridiculously too long hair!" smiled Janet.

"NO!! I DON'T WANT TO CUT MY HAIR!" cried Deanna as she kneeled in front of the sofa.

"Now, now, girl. You don't have to cut your hair. Let your emotions out right now. Embrace me." sighed Janet.

Deanna moved her knees against the sofa. She threw her arms around Janet to embrace her. Janet returned the affection and hugged Deanna.

Deanna cried a roaring river. As she cried, Janet took her free hand and stroked Deanna's hair at the nape of her neck.

"You poor girl. Go ahead and cry it out. Let your spirit free." sighed Janet.

"I'll be single forever! I never get a relationship to last more than a couple of months!" cried Deanna.

"Oh, Honey. The next one will be better once you do as I say." comforted Janet as Deanna cried harder.

"Dates hardly ever come at all! I think I'm yesterday’s trash!" cried Deanna.

"NO you are NOT!" scolded Janet.

"I want to hibernate for a while." cried Deanna.

"Dearie, that's the LAST thing you need to do right now." said Janet as she gathered Deanna's hair at the nape of the neck.

Deanna continued to cry. With Deanna preoccupied with her emotions, Janet raised the scissors to Deanna's brown locks at her neck. Janet continued to distract her.

"Deanna, When we're through here, I want you to go the department store and buy yourself a nice racy red dress and a cute black slip dress. You need some regular bras in several colors and at least one strapless one for the black slip dress. Forget James and his thing about socks. That look isn't you." lectured Janet as she ran her long nails against Deanna's skin behind her neck.

"I'll consider all that." replied Deanna, who felt at ease in Janet's arms.

"Just think pleasant thoughts, honey. Stay in my arms and I'll free your spirit from the tyranny of your mind." said Janet as she positioned the scissors in Deanna's hair.

  click the illustration of Janet cutting Deanna's hair for a larger picture.

"Think of how simple life was when you were a little girl." calmed Janet as she started to work the scissors in Deanna's hair.

Deanna was unaware her hair was being cut because Janet was able to keep her mind occupied and used her other hand to make an appearance of stroking her hair rather than cutting it.

Janet's emotions ran high as she carefully cut Deanna's hair a little at a time. A stroke here, a small cut there. Deanna continued to cry in a blissful state of denial. Suddenly, as Janet nearly had Deanna's hair completely cut through, Deanna stopped crying.

"Keep stroking my hair. It feels so good." sighed Deanna.

"You're almost free, honey. The tyranny that holds you back is almost gone" said Janet as she carefully moved the scissors behind Deanna's back.

"We're almost free, Deanna. We’re almost there. Ah, we're here." smiled Janet held a severed five foot section of hair in her hand.

"Stand up, Deanna. Feel your freedom." smiled Janet.

Deanna stood and noticed her hair in Janet's hand. Her jaw hit the floor. Janet smiled.

"Your free, Deanna." beamed Janet as she carefully laid Deanna's shorn hair over the back of the sofa.

Deanna's lips quivered. Her hands shook as she raised them to her hair. She felt the nape of her neck.

"My - my - my hair! YOU CUT IT!!" bellowed Deanna.

"YES!!! I had to free you from your tyranny!" replied Janet.

"But- b- but you cut my hair!!!!" screamed Deanna.

"So did I! Remember?" added Janet as she put the scissors to her own hair again.

"Uh I uh.." stuttered Deanna as Janet stood.

"Come here to this mirror, dear." demanded Janet as she led Deanna's trembling body to a hall tree mirror.

"Let's finish the job, Deanna. You're at the point of no return. Here, let's start with some nice bangs." smiled Janet.

In shock at having her hair cut for the first time in her life, Deanna offered no further resistance to further cutting. Janet brushed hair in Deanna's face and cut very short bangs over her face. She trimmed the sides very short above Deanna's ears. She cut the back very short as well. Deanna looked at her reflection with short hair for the first time. Her reaction was one of motionless.

Deanna, a new you. Put on your top." said Janet.

Deanna walked to where her top lie on an end table. She slipped it over her new pixie cut. She reached for her blazer.

"NO!" demanded Janet.

Deanna, still in shock, dropped her blazer to the floor.

"From now on, act like you are beautiful. You'll lose a few pounds and will never have to hide in a blazer again. I know you're tired. Have a nice rest of your life." smiled Janet.

"My hair, its gone." cried Deanna.

"I know, honey. It had to happen. There was nothing you could do about it. Take your blazer and go home." said Janet as she picked up the blazer from the floor and handed it to her. Deanna walked to the porch.

"Honey, forget something?" smiled Janet as she held Deanna's bag.

"Yes." said Deanna as she took her pink bag and placed it over her shoulder.

"Good bye, Deanna. Sweet dreams." smiled Janet as she shut the door. Deanna looked at her watch. It was almost midnight. Once again, she took her hand to her new short haircut.

A car was driven behind Deanna's. James and another guy approached her.

"Deanna! Your hair!" smiled James.

"I let your mother cut it. She said I had no choice." said Deanna with a blank, hypnotic stare.

The other person with James looked to the ground and shook his head.

"Your MOTHER??" he quizzically moaned.

"Bye, Deanna. I have to go." stammered James.

"Bye." cried Deanna as she put on her blazer and opened the door to her car.

............


James went inside with a large grin. Inside, Janet held Deanna's severed hair. James looked at his friend. He took the hair from Janet and handed it to his friend.

"I believe the odds were a hundred to one. My debt to you is paid and you owe me another thousand." smiled James.

"I can't believe you pulled this off. When you bet me at the bar you would get that chic to cut her hair for those odds, I thought you went off the deep end." he said as he handed James an envelope.

As James counted the money in the envelope, Janet removed a wig of gray hair from her head to reveal a thick head of bobbed blonde hair.

"Thanks, Maggie. I owe you big." smiled James.
 

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