Miss Julia's Marvelous Makeover by Ann B. Ross Read Free Book Online Page B

she was young—you know, sixteen or so. But she looks older than that.”
    â€œShe sure does,” Lloyd said, nodding solemnly. “But she acts like she’s about ten.”
    â€œYes,” Sam agreed. “So I’m not sure we can just send her off and let her fend for herself. We’ll have to come up with something better than that.”
    I sat up straight. “I don’t know what that would be, but she is certainly old enough to take care of herself. So I say we let her decide. If she doesn’t want to stay, let’s just send her on her way.”
    â€œJulia,” Sam said soothingly, “if she’s not competent, we can’t send her off on her own.”
    â€œSo,” I said, realizing how effectively Elsie had left us so little choice in the matter. She had counted on my good nature and Christian compassion, some of which I was now scraping the bottom of the barrel to come up with. “So, what you’re saying is that we don’t have a choice. And I guess you’re right, but I’m not constitutionally able to spend the summer humoring her. She’ll have to fit into our schedule just as any other long-term guest would.”
    â€œIt probably won’t be so bad,” Lloyd said. “I think she just hasn’t had our advantages.” And this from a child who’d had no advantages at all until he’d come to live with me.
    I looked at him, amazed that he recognized and appreciated his good fortune. The maturity of his perceptions made me begin to feel slightly ashamed of myself. “You’re right, Lloyd,” I said, reluctantly giving in to the inevitable. “She certainly hasn’t, so allowances must be made. But it’s evident that Trixie is not in any shape or state of mind to have a debutante summer as her grandmother envisioned. I mean, in looks and attitude, she’s, well, unfortunate. We’ll have to think of something else to fill the summer.”
    â€œMaybe she’d like to find a job,” Sam suggested. “I don’t know what she’s qualified for, but a job would give her something to do and a little independence, too.”
    â€œThat’s a good idea,” I said, my spirits reviving somewhat. “I’ll ask her what experience she’s had, and maybe we can steer her to something similar. But first, from the looks of what she’s wearing, we may have to refurbish her wardrobe. Lloyd, would you mind bringing in her suitcase? It’s in the trunk of my car, and I can only hope there’s a better selection in it.” I stopped and thought for a minute. “Maybe Hazel Marie will help with her hair. I just don’t feel I can take her to Velma with the way she’s been acting. If she were to scream and cry in the shop the way she’s carried on here, the whole town would know about it and that would be the end of any job possibilities.”
    â€œIt’ll work out, honey,” Sam said, trying to reassure me, but falling short. “She’ll calm down, and we might end up enjoying having her around.”
    I just looked at him. “And what are your plans for tomorrow?”
    â€œOh, I’m meeting with my campaign folks in the morning, then I’ll be speaking to the Rotary Club at lunch. There may be a committee meeting afterward.” Then he got a sheepish look on his face. “Shall I guess what you’ll be doing?”
    â€œNo guessing about it. I’ll be entertaining Trixie all day long.”
    When we went upstairs to bed, Trixie’s door remained closed, and I didn’t disturb it or her. I did not, however, rest well. As the clock approached, then passed 12:45, I visualized the bus that should’ve been carrying Trixie back to Georgia and felt that a golden opportunity had just passed in the night.
    â€”
    The three of us—well, the four of us counting Lillian—had little to say at breakfast the next