Cut!
by Hester
Beverly stared at her reflection in the mirror. A frowning face stared back. This won't do. She reached for her brush again. A few determined strokes, a shake of the head. The frown deepened. This won't do at all. She gathered up her hair to try a ponytail, but let it fall back down immediately. I'm not in the mood for that. She finally settled for a bow over her right ear, just enough to keep the hair from falling into her face. The frown was still there. Something has to be done. Soon. A last dissatisfied look in the mirror, then she headed for the door. She was fifteen minutes late for her shift already.
Jean-Luc was busy setting the dinner table when Beverly walked in. She stopped right inside the door; his back was to her.
"Hi," she said.
He turned, a greeting on his lips. The sight of her, however, rendered him speechless. He slowly advanced towards her, then walked around her, studying her from all sides. Her eyes nervously followed his every move.
"You cut your hair," he finally said, coming to a halt right in front of her. "Why?"
"I've been having too many bad hair days lately. I decided I needed a change."
"But you didn't just cut it, you changed the color as well." He reluctantly reached up to run his fingers through the reddish- blond strands. "Why so suddenly?"
"You don't like it." It was a statement, not a question.
"I didn't say that," he quickly assured her, at last finding his smile again. "It's just so--different. It will take some getting used to I suppose."
She was smiling as well now and wound her arms around his neck. "So you still love me?"
Jean-Luc laughed, pulling her close against him. "Of course I do. I will always love you. What do you think why I married you? Certainly not just because of your hair?!" To emphasize his point, he kissed her passionately. Then he pulled back to look at her, a twinkle in his eyes. "Besides, what right do I have to judge other people's hair-styles?"
She laughed, running a hand over his smooth scalp. "That is certainly true."
He ran his hands through her hair again, experimenting with the new feel. "I think I could get used to this."
Beverly shook her head. "Better not." With a quick jerk, she pulled off the short blond wig and carelessly tossed it on the sofa. Gorgeous red curls spilled over her shoulders, cascading down her back just the way Jean-Luc had always loved it.
He stared. "So you didn't cut it after all? But why--"
"I did," she interrupted him, a mischievous smile on her lips. "About this much." Her fingers indicated a loss of no more than five centimeters. "I just wanted to make sure you wouldn't be too disappointed."
"I'm not," he assured her, taking her into his arms again and placing another kiss on her mouth. "And I have to admit, I do prefer this look." He toyed with her curls.
"I know," she whispered, nuzzling his ear. "But be prepared--I might try that other look someday. I like to surprise people."
"Indeed," he murmured. Somehow he knew that day would come-- soon.
The end.
avid readers since January 4, 1998
Back to my list of stories.
© 1996 by Hester