Maybe Baby Lite by Andrea Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

freshman year of high school, two days before class pictures
were being taken. Mom decided that my hair needed a bit of a trim
before picture day. My hair fell to my shoulders and I loved the
way it swung softly about.
    “ Just an inch or so, Ty,”
Mom prods. “Just let me get the split ends off. It will lay better
and look much healthier for your pictures. If I’m paying for those
pictures then you can damn well make sure you look your best in
them, hear?”
    An hour later, I look at
the pile of hair laying on the bathroom floor in shock. I grab the
hand mirror off the vanity. I see the look of horror that appears
on my face as I see my own reflection. My hair is in a short, butch
cut. My mom's beside me, watching my reaction. I turn and face her
incredulously.
    “ Now don’t blame me!” she
says, holding her hands up defensively. “You got that funny shaped
head and it makes it hard when I’m trying to even up both sides of
it. Had to keep taking more off so I could get it evened up, but I
think it’s cute. You ought to see the back. I think they call this
a bob.”
    When she sees I’m not
buying it she gets more flustered with me. “It’s just hair, dammit!
It’s not like it won’t grow back. I swear, I try and do something
nice for my girl and do you think she appreciates it? Hell no - no
way!"
    “ I’m sorry, I’m sure once
I wash and style it myself it will be fine. I'm sorry,
Mom."
    “ Tylar? Earth to Tylar?”
It was Denise’s voice bringing me back to the present. “How about
it? I've a really cute cut in mind. I want to take a little length
off; I’ll mostly just put it in long layers to frame around that
beautiful face of yours. And how about if I put in some
highlights?” she coaxed eagerly. “Nothing major, mind you, just to
soften the look and highlights will give this gorgeous hair of
yours more depth. What do you think?"
    “ Go for it, Denise,” I
allowed.
    Forty-five minutes later
Denise had finished.
    “ All done,” she announced
pleased with the look. We hurried into the bathroom so she could
show me the results. Flipping on the light, she spread out her
arms, “Voila!”
    “ Wow,” I said, then
another “Wow!”
    “ You like?” she beamed
proudly.
    “ Yes, Denise, actually, it
looks really great. I look like—”
    “— Rachel!”
    Yep, that was what I
thought. The style was gorgeous; the highlights were radiant. I
swung my head from side to side. The layers bounced. I stared at my
reflection. How could I not love looking like Jennifer Aniston’s
hair double?
    Denise was clearly pleased
with her workmanship. My hair was now an exact replica of Jennifer
Aniston’s style from, oh, 15 years ago? I liked it well enough and
it was an improvement over the last cut. It was still long enough
to pull up into a ponytail when I worked. I knew Denise was waiting
for more.
    “ Denise,” I said, turning
to her and smiling, “I love it!”
    I gave her a big hug and
watched as she beamed proudly.
    It was a little after five
when my dinner tray arrived. Denise and I'd been chatting away,
losing track of the time. I was famished and ate hungrily as Denise
busily put her tools of the trade away in her case.
    “ You go on and eat, honey.
Don’t mind me,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. Ray should
be here any minute with your stuff, and then we're going to grab a
bucket of cluck on our way back to my place.”
    I'd just finished eating
and Denise was watching the news when Ray arrived. He carried a
wrapped box along with my cell phone and charger. He placed the
items down on my bed.
    “ What’s this?” I asked
peering at the gift-wrapped box.
    “ Oh,” he shrugged, “I
think maybe Jenna felt guilty about what happened. Instead of going
into your cottage, she went out shopping. She said that this would
fit you fine, and to give you her best wishes.”
    “ Open it,” Denise directed
excitedly.
    I complied, tearing the
wrapping paper off.
    Oh, my!
    The box contained a