MARCI GETS A HAIRCUT

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">“Hi ya, Marce,” piped Sylvia as she flounced in past her sister sitting at the organ. “You look kinda bummed; what’s up?” <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">“I asked Mom for a new haircut. I just wanted to look... well, more like Karen at school.” <br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">“Yeah, that is a great haircut that Karen has.<o:p></o:p> Mom said ‘No’, right?” <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">“Right,” replied Marci sullenly. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">Sylvia flopped herself down resting her arms on the back of the sofa. “I bet I could cut your hair like Karen’s. I know I could.” Sylvia convinced herself. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">Marci’s face brightened a little as she looked up, “You could?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> “Why sure.” Sylvia smiled. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">Doubt entered Marci’s mind. “Have you ever cut anyone’s hair before? What makes you think that you can do it?” <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">“Well, I saw this demonstration on TV; there’s nothing to it. Come on, let’s try!” <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">“Well, O.K.” Marci felt a twinge of excitement. She trusted Sylvia. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">Going to the bathroom mirror she said good-bye to her old, familiar pigtails. She imagined herself looking like a beautiful model instead. Sylvia had her wet her hair by putting her head under the faucet. Marci put a towel around her neck and sat on a chair in the bathroom. Sylvia began snipping and cutting, letting clumps of Marci’s brown hair fall to the floor. “Hmmm,” she would say every now and then. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">When Sylvia finished, Marci was surprised at how short her hair was. It was about an inch long all over her head. As it was drying it began to take form. It started to look choppy. The drier it became,<span style=""> </span>the more it resembled a straw dust mop. There was a clump in the back that stood straight up. Her bangs were uneven and choppy. It was shorter on one side than the other, and looked hacked up. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">Marci shrieked from the bathroom, “What have you done to my hair?” <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">“Wait until it’s dry. Then it will look better.” Sylvia tried to console. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">“It is dry!” Marci screamed. Her hair looked horrible. Clenching her fists, she looked at her pigtails all over the floor. If only she could put them back. She had a sick feeling. Her skin felt tight like she was going to explode. She felt like she wanted to scream. So she did. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">Sylvia began to cry. “I’m sorry, Marce. I thought I could do it.” “Well, you didn’t.” Marci screeched. “You’ve ruined my hair. How can I get up in front of 300 people at the recital tomorrow night like this?” <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">“What’s all this screaming about?” Their mother said from the hallway. She stuck her head in the bathroom and gasped. Surprise and dismay changed her expression. “What have you done?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> “I tried to cut Marci’s hair,” Sylvia confessed. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">“It looks horrible,” their mother said putting her hands on her hips. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">Marci let out a sob. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">“It’s all my fault,” Sylvia wailed.<o:p></o:p></p>