Helen breathed a sigh of relief when Steve left. She was both happy and sad! She recalled
the day she had cut her hair and colored it dark brown. She, herself, was extremely devastated! It was two days before the New year. She knew that Steve would be home shortly. She knew they would most likely have a fight over it; but she did it anyway. She was tired of being the prisoner of her look and therefore of her past! She had an invitation for the New Year's party. This time she decided to go. So after graduation and only two days before the party, she went to a beauty salon and practically changed her appearance! Even the woman in the beauty parlour told her, "Oh, my God, how can you cut this beautiful hair?'
"My husband wants me to cut it!" She said It with a derisive smile on her lips. The woman believed her.
"O, most men like long, blond hair!"
"Sorry, not my man!" She cut her hair a little longer than shoulder length, but all straight and without layering it. The party was held in a hotel in North Dallas. She bought a black dress, a long crepe dress with layers of chiffon over it. The neck was cut in V shape in both front and back, no sleeves; however she had a chiffon long shawl for covering her shoulders and arm. It was a beautiful and sexy dress with crepe lining and full chiffon skirt which covered the slit which was cut all the way to her thighs yet the chiffon overlay cover it. She had never owned these kind of gowns before except the time she worked for Roger. But she did not consider those gowns hers. Those were part of her job. She knew that Steve was coming home in mid January, so this was her last chance to enjoy herself for the first time since she had left Chicago.
She had only called home once in the last eight years. The conversation was cold; like total strangers; but one thing that she learned from it was that Charlotte, her sister, was married and had two children, and was divorced, and now was going with another man! Oh, poor, needy Charlotte!
She drove her car around eight o'clock to the hotel. She had no idea that night she would see Jacob, the young boy, who had run away with her from Chicago, who had worked in Safeway Grocery store with her, who had spent the nights in the shelter of the church with her until she was lured to leave with Roger without even saying goodbye to him. They had never been intimate in the three months they knew each other. She knew that he wanted it but was to shy to ask!
When she saw him after all these years, she thought: "What good comes of giving people things they don't need, like when Steve tells me that I get his salary from Air force? I don't need his money, but I have needed a friend for so many years! I am surprised why I have been able to prosper, if it is only to be friendless..."
She noticed that night that cutting her hair and coloring it was a good idea, since Jacob did not recognize her. He saw her, they almost came face to face, and he walked on! He had grown to be a very handsome, almost beautiful man. She finally found a man she could love even though she had known him in his girlhood!!
To Be Continued
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