Sister, Sister, Sister

by Missy Crystal

 

Beth went to her school bag and pulled out a pile of hair styling magazines. She handed one to me and another to Susie. Susie began to turn the pages, but I put mine down.

"Jenny, why the long face?" Beth asked. "Tomorrow is going to be so fun. Our first real visit to a beauty salon instead of the hair cuts 'R us place we usually go to. Aren't you excited?"

"No, not really," I told her. You and Susie have beautiful long hair. Look at this." I put my hands up and tousled my hair. "I have to be able to look like a boy all week, so no fancy do's for me."

"Oh dear, Jenny," Beth said sympathetically, "you're right. It's your birthday present and we're the ones getting our hair styled. That's not right at all. I'm going to tell Mom that we've decided not to go. We can have a party here or something instead. Is that okay, Susie?"

Susie gave Beth a puzzled look. "Beth, can't we go, please. I really want to go, please. Please. Pretty please?

"Yes Beth," I agreed. "You have to go. I have the two most wonderful sisters in the world and I wouldn't want anything to spoil your day. Seeing you two look beautiful is all the present I need."

Beth looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Oh my God, Jenny. That is the nicest, kindest, sweetest thing anyone could ever say." She came over and threw her arms around me. "I love you. I don't know how we will work this out, but we will and you will be my sister forever and always dear Jenny."

Not to be left out, Susie came over and put her arms around me. "I love you too, Jenny. Sooooo much."

The touching sister, sister, sister moment was interrupted by Mom's voice.

"It's time for Susie to get to bed girls."

"Please Mom, just a few more minutes," Beth called back to her.

"Okay," but it's going to be your fault if she falls asleep in Mr. Kenneth's chair and gets her ear cut off," Mom joked.

We all giggled.

Not to be outdone, Beth called back, "Anyway, you're a nurse. You can just sew it back on." Mom laughed. Then going back to the magazines Beth told us, "okay girls, let's pick out some styles. Jenny you can help find one for me."

I secretly envied Beth and Susie as they played with their long hair. Twisting and twirling it, trying to duplicate the different looks in the magazine. After a while Susie began to get sleepy, so Beth tucked her in bed and I found a story to read to her. She fell asleep before I had finished the first page. We went downstairs quietly.

"Do you want to watch some TV, Jenny?" Beth asked me.

"Sure, maybe we can watch one of those fashion shows you like."

All of a sudden Beth exclaimed, "Oh my God, Jenny! I just remembered. Our outfits. What are we going to wear tomorrow?"

I looked at her and naively asked, "Aren't we going to wear what we usually wear to the mall?"

"Jenny, really. We're not just going to the mall. We are going to Mr. Kenneth's salon. We have to look our best. Oh my God, I don't have anything to wear. I should have borrowed something from Karen. She has a closet full of designer clothes." She paused. "It's too late to call her now. Darn."

"C'mon, Beth," I reassured her. You have some really nice clothes. I'm sure you can find something. Calm down."

Beth took a deep breath. "Thanks, Sis. I don't agree, but I guess I don't have a choice either. Susie's fast asleep, so I think we can look through my wardrobe if we're quiet. Let's go see."

We went back to Beth's room and turned on the closet light. As far as I could see, Beth had enough clothes to start her own boutique. I guess I still had a few things to learn about being a girl.

"Okay, Jenny. First thing, skirt or pants? Let's see." She started to go through what was on the hangers. "No, no, no, definitely no, maybe." She pulled out a red leather skirt and handed it to me. "No, no, no and no, maybe." She pulled out a pair of designer jeans and handed them to me. "Eww, how did that get in here? It went out of style last year. No, no, no, no and no." She sighed, "That's it."

I looked at the skirt and the jeans. "We'll, I'm no fashion expert for sure, but you have a great figure and these jeans really fit you. I remember when Mom bought them for you at that fancy store when it opened at the mall. She nearly had a heart attack when she saw the price."

Beth took them and held them up. She looked in the mirror. "Yes, Jenny, I think you're right. Definitely the jeans. Now I need a top." She started through the selection process again, pulling out a red and a black jersey and a blue sweater. She held them up to her chest and looked in the mirror.

"The black one," I told her. "It looks very sophisticated."

"Where on earth would you learn about looking 'sophisticated'? she questioned me?

"I don't know. Probably from your fashion magazines that you leave in the bathroom for reading material."

"Okay, that's it," Beth teased me. "You look better in my clothes than I do and you know more about fashion than I do. I am resigning as the resident beauty queen in this family and turning the title over to you." She paused, "Annoying, but you're right. Now I need shoes and underwear."

She picked out a pair of black shoe boots with a square toe and two inch heels.

"These should dress the outfit up. She went over to her dresser and took out a black bra and black nylon stretch lace panties.

"See, Jenny. When you wear tight pants you want a smooth pair of panties so you won't have a vpl. Now then, we need to find you an outfit."

"What's a vpl Beth?"

"Oh, a visible panty line. You don't won't boys to see the outline of your panties through your pants or a tight skirt."

"Since I don't have a nice round butt like yours, I doubt I will have to worry about that. But thanks for the fashion tip."

Beth blushed. "I'll thank you not to be staring at my butt, missy."

"Well, with you parading around in your skimpy panties it's kind of hard to miss," I observed.

"Touché," Beth conceded. "Or maybe I should say tushy."

We both had to put our hands over our mouths so our laughing wouldn't wake Susie. We calmed down.

"Seriously, Sis, let's find you an outfit." Beth paused to think. "How about that red leather mini skirt. With a white silk blouse and black stockings you'd be a knockout."

"Thank you very much, but the last thing I want to be is a knockout. With the luck I've been having, half my class will be at the mall. 'Hey, wait a minute, who's that hot little number. She looks familiar. Isn't that? No, it can't be. Yes, look, it is. Hi Johnny.'"

"We've been though this, Sis. You even fooled Mom. Nobody is going to recognize you, but you're right. Pretty yes, a knockout no. So let's see what else we can find. Hey, how about this. I used to love this skirt. Frankly, it's a little young for me now, bit it would look great on you."

Beth handed me a pink and charcoal grey plaid pleated wool skirt. I held it up to my waist. It came about two inches above my knees.

"Oh, Beth. I love it."

"Good, now, let me see. I used to have a pink angora sweater I wore with it. Hmmm. Yes, here it is."

The sweater was long sleeved with a jewel neckline. It felt incredibly soft and feminine.

"And pink nylon tights. They should be in my dresser. Ahhh. Mom never gets rid of anything." She handed me the tights. "And my chunky heeled black loafers. There. Ooops, and some pretty undies."

"I can wear my own undies, Beth. But thanks for the offer."

"Jenny, this is your special day and I want you to have some special lingerie to wear. Please take them."

She went to her dresser and took out a pair of pink nylon panties with a white lace waistband and white lace trim around the leg openings and a matching stretch nylon pull over bra with lace trim on the cups and thin straps.

I politely accepted them. "They're beautiful, Beth. Thank you."

I said goodnight to Beth and gave her a hug. She hugged me back. I went to the bathroom to do my nightly beauty routine. I smiled to my image in the mirror and she smiled back. Even if I couldn't get a real hairstyle, it was still going to be a wonderful day for Jenny. I went back to my room and felt the smooth nylon of my nightgown slide against my panties as I snuggled down under my covers. Goodnight Jenny, sleep tight and have pretty pink dreams I said to myself. And I did.

The next morning everyone was up bright and early. Our appointment wasn't until 11 o'clock, but three girls and one bathroom took some coordinating. Finally, Beth, Susie and I were ready. We went downstairs to wait for Mom.

"Hurry up, Mom," Beth called to her impatiently. "We don't want to be late."

"Calm down," Mom yelled back. "It only takes fifteen minutes to get to the mall and we have an hour. We won't be late."

The ten minutes it took before we heard her coming down the stairs seemed like an hour. When she came into the kitchen, I saw Beth's startled expression. Mom had on a pair of black slacks and a powder blue three quarter sleeve sweater with a cowl neck. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail with a black scrunchy.

Mom looked at Beth, then at me and Susie. "What?" she asked her. "It's your day. I'm just the chauffeur. You're all in such a hurry. Let's get going."

Beth shrugged her shoulders. She knew better than to argue with Mom. We went outside and got into the car. Mom drove to the mall and found a parking space. We got out and went in the main entrance. Mr. Kenneth's salon was in the middle of the mall. I looked nervously about. Luckily, I didn't recognize anyone and we got to the salon unnoticed as far as I could tell. Mom opened the door and we went into the waiting area. Mom went up and told the receptionist that we had an appointment with Mr. Kenneth. She looked at us and smiled.

"Which one is the birthday girl," she asked curiously.

I hesitated and Beth spoke up. "My sister Jenny is." She put her arm around my shoulder.

"It's Jenny's birthday, but we're all getting our hair done. Isn't that right, Mom?"

"Yes, Susie, dear," Mom confirmed.

"Please follow me girls," the receptionist said.

Beth, Susie and I trooped along behind her down the corridor, past a dozen chairs with stylists working on customers and into Mr. Kenneth's private spa, where he had done my hair the first time we came.

Mr. Kenneth was dressed in his usual black. Tight fitting black pants and a tight fitting black shirt of some shiny material, with the top three buttons undone. I was too shy to notice much about him before, but now I saw he was a small man. Not much taller than Beth, who was five five, and very thin. He had a tiny beard and closely trimmed black hair. Around his neck was a thick gold chain and another thinner chain with a round pendant. He wore gold bracelets on both wrists and diamond studs in both his ears. He caught me looking at him and smiled. I smiled back.

"Where is Madam?" he inquired.

We all looked behind us to find that Mom was not there.

Mr. Kenneth went to the phone.

"Yes, please bring her to me. No, no. Tell her Mr. Kenneth requires her to be here." A few minutes later there was a knock on the door and in came Mom looking very sheepish.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kenneth. I mean, I didn't know you wanted me. I thought it was just the girls."

"Really, Madam," Mr. Kenneth scolded her. "Is this not a family birthday for Jenny and are you not a part of this family?" Before Mom could answer, he went on, "Then what is Madam doing outside when her family is inside? Sit. Sit. Sit. All of you sit," he said authoritatively.

We all found chairs.

"Now then, who's first?

Beth spoke up. "It's Jenny's birthday, so she should be first."

"Ahh, the beautiful Beth."

Beth beamed at the compliment.

"Mr. Kenneth thinks not, however. Today we shall save Jenny for last. It is you who Mr. Kenneth shall do first. Stand up."

Mr. Kenneth may have been small, but he had a commanding presence. Beth just about jumped out of her seat.

"Come over to the chair."

Mr. Kenneth placed a plastic cloak over her and then tilted the chair back so that her head was in the sink. He ran the water, testing it with his and until he was satisfied with the temperature. He squeezed some shampoo from a bottle and the scent of apricots filled the room. He spent about five minutes lathering her hair and then another five minutes rinsing it clean. When he was satisfied, he helped her to sit up and adjusted the back of the chair. He kept the chair facing away from the mirror on the wall behind the sink.

"Ummm, Mr. Kenneth," Beth murmered. "Ummm, I was looking in some hairstyling magazines and I though, well, ummm, I thought that maybe you… ."

"A magazine!" Mr. Kenneth interrupted her. "A magazine! Mr. Kenneth is to use a hairstyle from a magazine? Mr. Kenneth makes hairstyles for magazines. Perhaps Beth will take her magazine to the barbershop. I am sure that whoever cuts hair will find it quite instructive."

"Oh, Oh, Oh. No, Mr. Kenneth. I'm sorry. I didn't. I never. I, I, I want you to do my hair. I just thought. I mean. I didn't think. I mean..." I had never seen Beth so flustered.

Apparently Mr. Kenneth was not as insulted as he seemed. Having firmly established who was in charge, his demeanor softened.

"Miss Beth is sure she wishes to place herself in Mr. Kenneth's hands?"

Beth was a fast study. "Oh, yes, yes, please, Mr. Kenneth. Please do my hair. Whatever you like. I will love it, I am sure."

"Very well then."

Mr. Kenneth began to circle around Beth. He took his hand and tilted her head forward, then backward, then side to side. He put his hand on her chin and angled her face. With his comb, he measured the sides and back. He stood back. He moved forward. It must have been at least five minutes before he took out his scissors and made the first snip. I saw Beth wince. Mr. Kenneth was so intent that he just went on cutting. Since he was between us and Beth, it was hard to see exactly what he was doing. Finally, he was satisfied and took out the blower and a styling brush. When he was finished, he turned Beth to face the mirror.

There was no doubt in my mind that Mr. Kenneth was a genius. It wasn't that he just did a good job cutting her hair. Somehow he knew her. Beth was simple and athletic. The style he used was perfect. The front was long and the sides were layered and angled up, tapering towards the back. It was stylish and manageable.

It took a few seconds for Beth to take it all in. Then she let out a squeal that I am surprised didn't result in the receptionist calling 911.

"Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Mom. Oh my God." Beth went on with about a dozen more Oh My Gods, with a few Mom's thrown in. She got some of her composure back. "I love it. Mr. Kenneth. I love it." Then she slipped back into another string of Oh my God's as she studied herself in the mirror.

"I take it that Miss Beth is not disappointed," Mr. Kenneth said with false modesty.

Beth's response was to throw her arms around Mr. Kenneth. Since they were about the same size and Beth was a pretty solid girl, it took all of Mr. Kenneth's effort to keep from collapsing in a pile on the floor. After a minute of putting up with her expression of gratitude, he gently pried himself loose. By now Beth had calmed down and she walked over to Mom to let her see her new hairstyle close up. Mom nodded approvingly at Mr. Kenneth, who, of course, accepted it routinely.

"Next I believe it is sweet Miss Susie."

I think she liked being called Miss, but not the sweet part. Then again, she did look sweet. She had picked out her favorite pink corduroy jumper, a white cotton blouse with a Peter Pan collar, white tights and pink and white saddle shoes.

Mr. Kenneth put a booster seat in the chair and helped Susie up. He then went through the same routine, except that he stopped, made some tisk, tisk, tisk sounds and turned to Mom.

"Madam. Please refrain from using a bowl to cut your daughter's hair."

Mom pretended to study the top of her shoes.

Mr. Kenneth turned back to Susie and began to snip. Like Beth, it was hard to see what he was doing until he had blown her hair out. Like before, Mr. Kenneth was a genius in picking a style that suited Susie. This time he had rounded her bangs so that they framed her face and continued rounding the sides and back. It was girlish, but not babyish.

Susie was less emotional than Beth, but it was obvious that she was thrilled with her hairstyle. She ran over to Mom to show it to her, and then paraded over to Beth and me with her hand on her hip, like she was a model. I looked over and caught Mr. Kenneth with the beginning of a smile, before he returned to his professional look.

"And now," Mr. Kenneth announced, "it is my delightful Jenny's turn."

I stood up and went over to the chair. Mr. Kenneth removed the booster seat, put the plastic cape over me and I sat down. The water was hot and I was surprised at how strong Mr. Kenneth's hands were as he massaged my head to work up a lather. Then he sat me up and studied me.

"It's okay, Mr. Kenneth," I assured him. "I understand that there is not much you can do with a unisex cut. I have to go back to school as a boy. But thank you for trying."

Mr. Kenneth stood back and looked down his nose at me.

"Mr. Kenneth can do nothing? You think so? We shall see."

Mr. Kenneth proceeded to trim my hair. It had gotten longer and shaggier. When he was finished he turned me to the mirror. The sides were layered, the front, when my hair was pulled forward, had a suggestion of bangs and the back was evened up. Altogether, a little more feminine, but still not a girl's style. Mr. Kenneth must have read my face.

"Was my delightful Jenny right? Could Mr. Kenneth do nothing? Then again, perhaps he can do something after all."

He walked over to a cabinet, opened the door and took out a round box with a red ribbon on top. He brought it back and put it in my lap.

"Happy birthday, my pretty Jenny."

"Oh, Mr. Kenneth. Really, you shouldn't have. You don't need to give me a present. You have already done more than enough for me and my family."

"Of course Mr. Kenneth does not need to give you a present. Mr. Kenneth wants to give you a present. Would you insult him by refusing his gift? He would be heartbroken." Mr. Kenneth pretended to be sad, dabbing his eyes with a piece of tissue.

It did not take much encouragement for me to change my mind. I untied the ribbon and took the top off the box. Inside I saw hair. I stuck my hand in to take whatever it was out.

"No, no, Jenny. Gently. Let me."

Mr. Kenneth reached in and carefully pulled out the most beautiful wig I had ever seen. Well actually it was the only wig I had ever seen. It was shoulder length, honey blonde with soft waves and ringlets on the sides. I heard Mom and my sisters gasp as Mr. Kenneth held it up.

"Let me show you how to wear it. First, you must pull your own hair back. Like this."

He took a brush, stroked my hair into his hand and used an elastic to gather it behind my head. Then he picked up the wig, adjusted a draw string inside it and placed it on my head. The feeling of having long hair falling over my shoulders was ecstasy. Mr. Kenneth fussed with a comb and brush until every curl was in place. Finally, he took some bobby pins and used them to attach the wig to my own hair. I looked in the mirror. A beautiful young girl looked back at me. I stood up and slowly walked over to my family. I could feel the hair flowing around my face as I walked, swinging my hips slightly and feeling the pleated skirt swish against my stockinged legs. I could not have felt prettier or more feminine. Beth and Susie rushed over to see the wig close up. They couldn't stop gushing about how beautiful I looked.

Mom walked over to Mr. Kenneth. I have never seen her become emotional, but her eyes were moist. She bent forward and kissed him on the cheek.

"Mr. Kenneth," she said softly. "I love my daughters very much and I love you for being so kind to them. I am very grateful and can never repay your generosity." She sniffled and wiped her nose with a tissue.

"Madam, is most gracious. But we are not finished. What is a birthday without a party? If the lovely young ladies would go to the ice cream parlor and ask for Bruce, I have arranged for a small celebration. Now hurry along. I have much to do with your mother."

We all looked at him in shock.

"With me?" Mom questioned Mr. Kenneth. "No. You have done too much already. I couldn't."

"Madam, Mr. Kenneth does what Mr. Kenneth does and right now Mr. Kenneth is doing you. It is a challenge I have looked forward to for quite some time. Go ahead and don't rush back girls. The impossible takes Mr. Kenneth longer."

  

  

  

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