Page 43 of Little Gray Dress

“Whoa… New hair for the wedding? It’s an odd day to go purple isn’t it?”

“Funny… Shampoo mishap, that’s all.”

She nods her head and rolls her eyes.

When I walk into the room there is a tall tent and next to it is a contraption with hoses coming out of it. It looks more like a science experiment than a tanning booth.

“Hi, there! And you are?” A perky girl in super-short shorts and a skin-tight sleeveless top turns towards me.

“Emi.”

“Emi! Perfect. I just need you to strip and stand in the tent and do exactly as I say. Have you ever done this before?”

“No.”

“It’s easy-peasy, so no worries there.”

“You want me to strip naked?” I ask, hoping she says no, but fully expecting to hear a yes.

“Don’t worry, I’ve seen it all before.” She waves a hand at me as if there is absolutely nothing to worry about. There is, though. She just did Greta’s tan – and her naked is a tad smaller, and probably smoother, than my naked.

“OK.” I shut the den door, lock it and strip down to nothing. “Just in the tent then?”

“Yup. This is super-quick, maybe ten minutes. Great. I’ll start at your feet and spray upwards so when you feel it on your chest close your eyes lightly and hold your breath for a moment until I’m done with your face. Then I’ll take a second and do another spray then we’ll do your back.”

“Easy enough.” I stand as she instructs me and she starts to spray a cool mist over my skin.

“Is that it?” I ask her ten minutes later.

“Yup.”

“But it didn’t do anything?” I’m still looking at my ghostly-white skin.

“It takes a few hours for it to set in. Don’t worry, you’ll be glowing.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

I walk back towards the food bar, which is the last thing I need but secretly I’m hoping it’s time to eat again. Hannah stops me just short enough to smell everything but not see it. “Delilah is here.”

“Delilah?” I ask, hoping it’s another chef.

“The hair girl. Actually, Heidi is the hair girl but when I told her our problem she called in a backup to take care of just you.”

“Great… I look so terrible I need my own team of beauticians.”

“Not what I mean, she’s setting up in your room. That way no one will wonder why you’re getting special treatment.”

“Is it really special treatment, though, Hannah? Or it is fixing a problem that might ruin your wedding?”

“Just go,” she barks at me, clearly stressed with all that’s going on.

“Delilah?” I walk into my room to see a large woman with a lot of hair setting out all kinds of potions and powders on a rolling cart I’ve never seen before.

“Oh, my… Yup, that’s purple.” She points at the stool set in the middle of my bathroom. “Let’s get started.” She doesn’t waste anytime washing it multiple times, conditioning it, spraying, drying, painting goo on and sealing me up with tinfoil.

“So… What exactly is this?”

“You’re going blonde… I assume you’ve bleached your hair before?”

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