A Good Tidy-Up: The Missing Six Months: Chapter 10

“No Mum, it’s a blue square, with a cross in it. It says ‘join’.”

Sophie sighed, inaudibly. This wasn’t the first time that she’d acted as IT support for her mum, and she was sure it wouldn’t be the last, but it seemed to be particularly slow going this time.

“Why do they make the confounded things so small?” Mary grumbled. “Oh! I’ve got that blue circle thing again. What do I do now?”

“Just wait, Mum. It should start in a minute.”

Painfully, Sophie talked her Mum through setting up the Zoom call, until eventually, Mary’s face appeared on her laptop screen.

“Ah, there you are. At last! Right, I’ll hang up the phone now, you should be able to hear me on your computer, OK?”

She waited a few seconds.

“Mum? Are you there?”

“Yes, of course I am. Where else would I be? I can’t see you though? Why is my screen all black?”

“Oh, no, er. I’ve, er, I’ve got my camera turned off. That’s why you can’t see me.”

“Well turn it on then! I need to practise this for the parish meeting. It won’t be any good if I can’t see anyone!”

Sophie hadn’t told Mary that she had been taken to the hairdresser’s yesterday, and given a severely short and tight perm. She had kept her camera off to avoid the inevitable comments and gloating from her mother, but it seemed that she wasn’t going to get away with this. Reluctantly, she turned her camera on.

“Ah, that’s better. Oh! Oh my! Your hair looks lovely dear. Have you had it set again? I knew you’d appreciate it now you were a bit more grown up.”

“Um. Well. Um. Actually, it’s permed.”

“Sorry dear, I think there’s a problem with the sound. I thought you said you’d had your hair permed.” She smiled, craftily. Sophie sighed. She knew perfectly well that Mary had understood her.

“It is permed, Mum. I had it done for the wedding.” Sophie’s tone was measured, resigned. “Sarah’s new Mother-in-Law wanted all the bridesmaids looking the same, so I was taken to an old fashioned hairdresser, and had my hair cut really short, and permed to match the other girls. Do you like it?”

“Oh yes! You look just like a darling little poodle.” Sophie cringed at this. “And it will certainly keep you looking tidy for work. I’ll look forward to getting you back into Judith’s for another set. You looked so smart when you had it done the other week.“

“Mmmm, well, er, Mrs. Stewart – that’s Steve’s Grandma – wants me to have it set every week.”

“Oh does she now?”

“Yes, the hairdresser, Mrs. Connolly, said it would keep me in order, and Mrs. Stewart said that the discipline would be good for me.”

“Hmph. Well, I can’t argue with that.” Mary shook her head. “It just makes me think of all those family functions when I begged you to have it trimmed up a little bit, and keep it out of your face. I should have put all your nonsense to an end, and just marched you down to Judith’s for a good cut and perm!”

 

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Her mum’s words echoed in her ears as Sophie approached the office on Monday morning. She shouldn’t really have been nervous, after all, she was now one of three ‘darling little poodles’ so she should fit in nicely. It wasn’t even going to surprise anyone, as she had told everyone what was happening.

Kevin, the tactless security guard, seemed unsurprised, but also unimpressed, simply grunting in reply to Sophie’s slightly nervous “Good morning.” Sophie did her best to ignore his bad mood. He’d made his feelings clear when she and Maria had first had their hair cut short, and Sophie had overheard him and Adrian the other day, moaning to each other about how all the ‘girlies’ used to look so much sexier with their long hair, short skirts and high heels, before Wendy’s dress code crackdown.

Well, she thought, they can just keep ogling Stephanie, if that’s what they want!

Stephanie, on reception, was equally dismissive, flicking her tousled peroxide mane back with her bright red acrylics as Sophie passed her. Her eyes widened slightly as she caught sight of the back of Sophie’s head, and saw just how high Moira’s clippers had been taken, and the clean, bare skin they had left above Sophie’s primly buttoned collar.

 

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Sophie’s nerves vanished as soon as she made it to her desk. Sarah and Maria both looked up and beamed at her.

“Oh Sophie! You look lovely! What wonderful tight curls!” Sarah was genuinely delighted. She’d had a report, via Steve, that Sophie had submitted to her cut and perm, and that Gladys had been delighted with how courteous and respectful she had been. She’d been dying to see the results for herself.

Sophie lowered her eyes, smiling ruefully. “Thank you Sarah. Yes, I’ve been turned into a little poodle, just like you asked.”

“About time too!” Maria put in, with a smile. “And a freshly clipped little poodle, at that. Look at her neck, Sarah, I think it’s even higher than yours was done.”

“Mmmmm, it might be.” Sarah conceded. “It’s very smart, that’s for sure.” She looked Sophie in the eye. “Thank you so much, Sophie. I know you were desperate to hang on to your long hair, even though you knew it had to be cut short. So I’m sure that having it permed like that wasn’t easy for you.”

“Yes, well, I hope Steve’s family are happy. I suppose I don’t really mind having it like this, at least until the wedding. Mum’s delighted with it, and it’s going to be no fuss to look after, but I do feel a bit frumpy, and I can’t see myself finding a boyfriend looking like this!”

“Oh, Sophie, don’t say that. You look lovely. And you mustn’t think that men just want long hair and short skirts; look at Steve. He was so keen for me to have my hair permed, and he loves it now!”

“Yes, Andy’s the same.” Maria chipped in, encouragingly. “He was ‘innocently’ asking at lunch yesterday when I would need to have mine permed again, and before I knew it, Mum had booked me in with Brenda, next week.”

Sophie smiled, wanly. “Yes, well, I’m sure you’re right. I just need to find the right man, I suppose.” She appreciated the support from her friends, but privately wondered just how many men her age really did want a girlfriend with a tightly clipped poodle perm, and a wardrobe to match.

 

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“Hello Sophie, you know Dean, don’t you?” Sarah smiled as her friend came through the door.

“Oh, er, yes, we met your engagement, er, thing.” Sophie was unaccountably nervous, and couldn’t seem to get her words out. She remembered Dean as one of Steve’s friends from the party a few weeks ago. He’d been quieter than some of the others, but they had got on quite well, Sophie thought. Her nerves went up a notch as Sarah noticed another new arrival and slipped away, leaving the two of them alone.

“Hello.” Dean extended his hand. “Nice to see you again, Sophie. That’s a lovely dress.”

“Oh, thank you.” She could feel herself blushing. “It’s one that Sarah lent me, actually. I really didn’t know what to wear for tonight. Sarah said ‘smart, but not formal’, and I really didn’t have anything that I thought fitted that, so, er, yes, Sarah offered to lend me this. Do you really like it? I wasn’t sure.”

Sophie knew she was babbling, but couldn’t seem to stop herself. Fortunately, Dean didn’t seem to mind.

“I suppose that’s one advantage us boys have.” He smiled. “Just wear a suit. Covers most occasions. And yes, I really do like your dress. The colour brings out your eyes.”

Sophie blushed more. She hadn’t been quite sure what to expect tonight. Sarah had said it was a chance for all the bridesmaids and ushers and a few more friends to get to know each other, without all the rest of the families there.

Looking around, she felt a bit old fashioned and frumpy. One or two girls were wearing rather short skirts, with hair tumbling halfway down their backs, and even Sarah, Tina and Maria seemed to be looking more stylish than her.

She really hadn’t been sure about the dress. Like all of Sarah’s clothes now, it was smart, conservative and feminine, meaning that Sophie was modestly covered up from neck to calf. She caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror behind the bar, collar primly buttoned and hair in stiff waves, and remembered her appointment with Moira the evening before.

 

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“Ah, there you are. Just about on time, I suppose.”

“Sorry, Mrs. Connolly. I got held up at work.”

“Hmph. Well, you’re here now. Hang your jacket up and we’ll get you washed.”

Sophie did as she was told, and Moira picked suspiciously at her tight curls with a comb.

“Well you’ve plenty of lacquer on, I’m pleased to see. Have you been wearing a slumber net, like Mrs. Stewart told you?”

“Yes, Mrs. Connolly. I wanted to make sure it stayed tidy.”

“Good girl. Now Mrs. Stewart has given me my instructions, so you’ve just to sit still and let me get on, please.”

“Yes Mrs. Connolly.”

Sophie’s head was bent down firmly over the basin, and Moira started to thoroughly scrub away at her tight curls, removing the multiple coats of lacquer. Eventually, she was released, spluttering slightly.

“You’ll have to get used to that, Missy.” Moira had a malicious gleam in her eye. “You’ll not be washing your own hair any more. It’s a regular wash and set with me, from now on.”

Sophie gulped. “Yes, Mrs. Connolly.”

Moira soaked Sophie’s curls in heavily scented setting lotion, and started to wrap them around a set of pink plastic spiky rollers. She wound the hair tightly and securely, and fastened each roller with a large metal pin. In no time, Sophie found herself sitting under one of the ancient hood dryers, rollers secured with a thick white hairnet.

Moira bustled around, tidying up, and brought Sophie a cup of tea and a magazine. Woman and Home wasn’t normally Sophie’s choice of reading, but sitting under the dryer, rollered and netted with a nice cup of tea, it felt somehow more appropriate than Cosmo or Vogue.

Sophie’s short cropped hair didn’t take long to dry, and pretty much as soon as she’d finished her tea, Moira whipped her out and back into the styling chair. The rollers were quickly removed, and Moira briskly teased the neat rolls of hair together.

Moira took Sophie’s hair straight back from her face, making her forehead look bigger than normal, and high over her ears. The back was turned under, making a neat perimeter of curls at Gladys’ regulation four fingers above her collar.

There was a sharp click and a high pitched whine, making Sophie jump, as Moira flicked on her edging clippers.

“Hold still.” She applied the blades to Sophie’s neck, removing the traces of stubble that had grown since Sophie was last in her chair.

“You’ll be having that cleaned up every time you come in, too. Mrs. Stewart’s instructions.”

Sophie was handed a clear plastic face shield, and Moira surrounded her with a choking cloud of lacquer.

“Right, that’s you looking nice and smart. Mind that you keep it like that. I’ll see you in a week, and I don’t want you walking through that door looking a mess.”

 

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As this scene flashed through Sophie’s mind, her hand strayed unconsciously to her hair. She had known that Moira was going to give her a shampoo and set, but hadn’t expected to be left looking quite so traditional and conservative.

Dean followed her gaze to the mirror and smiled. “Your hair looks nice, Sophie. Have you just had it done?”

“Oh, er. Well, I had to have it permed for the wedding, to match the other bridesmaids, but I had a shampoo and set yesterday. That’s why it looks like this. It feels a bit stiff.” She frowned and patted at it again, with no effect.

“Well I think you look really smart.”

“Mmmmm, well, thank you, but really, I feel terribly dowdy. I mean….” She gestured wordlessly across the room, at the group of long haired and short skirted girls.

“Seriously? Look, just don’t worry about how anyone else is dressed. You look wonderful. Now, tell me, how did you meet Sarah?”

 

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“I can’t quite believe this is really going to happen. We’re actually going to be married! “

Sarah was bubbling with excitement. After months of thinking of nothing but plans for the wedding, it was now almost upon them. Tonight they were having a run through with all the participants, and then tomorrow was the big day.

Steve beamed back at her. “Yep. Tomorrow you’ll be Mrs. Sarah Barlow. You don’t mind changing your name, do you?”

“No, silly, we’ve been through this. It doesn’t change who I am, and it certainly doesn’t mean that you’re in charge. It’s just a way of letting everyone know that we’re a couple, a team, for good.

“There’s really nothing I want more than to get married, and be your wife. I mean, I’m sure we’ll have a lovely time on the honeymoon, “ Sarah blushed slightly at this, “but I’m actually looking forward more to getting back, and setting up home and starting our lives together.”

Steve wanted to reciprocate, but was struggling to find the words when Sheila popped her head around the door.

“Everyone’s here now, we’re ready for you!” She vanished again.

“Who’d have thought,” Steve mused out loud, as they made their way to the door, “When we went on that first date, a year and a bit ago, that we’d be here today, about to get married?”

“Yes,” Sarah smiled back at him. “And who’d have thought we’d be looking like this? If I remember right, on that first date, I was wearing a very short skirt, a very tight top, and very high heels.” She looked down at herself now, taking in the calf-length floral pleated skirt, primly buttoned white blouse and plain, low, court shoes.

“And your hair was down to here,” Steve gestured vaguely below Sarah’s shoulders, “with blonde bits in, and you used to spend hours straightening it!”

“And doing my makeup, and painting my nails.“ Sarah laughed. “It’s a lot easier now. A shampoo and set every week with Maureen, a clean face and short nails. And as for you, your hair was a complete mess, always getting in your eyes, and you never even tucked your shirt in. I don’t know what I saw in you!”

Steve smiled bashfully, running his hand up the short prickly hair on the back of his neck. He’d been to the barber that morning, for his regular short back and sides, and his remaining hair was perfectly parted and glistening with Brylcreem.

“I hope you’ve decided what you see in me now?” He asked with a smile.

“Hmmm…..” Sarah teased him. “I’m still thinking about it!”

They made their way through to the main part of the church, where everyone else was waiting.

Sarah’s three bridesmaids were gathered at the front, in matching tight curly perms. They also seemed to have co-ordinated their outfits, as all three were wearing long floral dresses, with high, modest necklines.

“Oh, don’t you all look wonderful!” Sarah exclaimed. “Were you all at Moira’s together?”

“Oh yes.” Tina smiled. “Gran had us all booked in, first thing this morning, and she was there to make sure we all looked just right.”

“Mmmmm, well she’s certainly not held back. Proper little poodles, all three of you!” She giggled.

“Yes, and how come your hair is still so long?” Sophie pouted. Sarah’s neatly set curls were indeed somewhat longer than her three friends, though still well above the collar of her blouse. She raised her eyebrows.

“Well, Maureen is going to give me a little tidy up tomorrow, but Mum and Barbara were insistent that I needed a bit of length to have a really formal set for the wedding.

“It’s actually quite a nuisance,” she confided, “It’s too long to just wash and go, so I’ve had to keep it set all the time. I can’t wait to have it cropped nice and short again once the wedding’s over.”

“I’ll make sure Moira knows that.” Gladys butted in. “Nice and short. You’re booked in with her before the honeymoon.”

Sarah smiled back at her. “I’ll look forward to it. Thank you Mrs. Stewart.”

“It’s a pleasure dear. You know, now you’re going to be family, call me Gladys.”

“Thank you, Gladys.” Sarah felt a lovely warm glow, as she realised that she really was not just marrying the man she loved, but gaining a whole new family too.

 

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“There’s nothing quite like a wedding, is there?” Sheila sighed happily to Barbara. “It’s so lovely to see the two of them like this.”

“Oh yes, absolutely. And both looking so smart and grown up. I had quite despaired of getting Steven back into a proper haircut, but once Sarah turned up, with her hair all neat and tidy, he suddenly became quite amenable. It’s funny what love can do!”

“Well, yes, and of course, that first proper haircut that Sarah had, was all to impress you. I’d been nagging her for years to smarten herself up, and have her scruffy long hair cut up neatly. She eventually had it cut a bit shorter, but it was still a real mess, and she had all these silly blonde bits put in it.

“But when Steve asked her to come and meet you and Howard, she finally realised that she needed to make a bit more of an effort. I never got the full story, but there was some sort of mixup with her hairdresser, and she found herself at Maureen’s. She asked for a good tidy up, and got a bit more than she bargained for!”

“Well! They never told me that!” Barbara raised her eyebrows.

“And of course, once she’d taken the plunge, she realised that everything I’d been telling her for years was true! No fussy styling, always neat and tidy, and everyone from her boss to her boyfriend loved it!”

“Not to mention her boyfriend’s mother.” Barabara added dryly. “I really was delighted when I met Sarah. A lot of Steven’s previous girlfriends were real ‘trophy girls’ – all long blonde hair, lipstick and short skirts. I always told him he’d be much better off with a nice, gentle, homely girl, who keeps her hair nice and short and her skirts at a respectable length.

“All I can say is, it’s a good job you didn’t meet her a few months before then!”

“Well, indeed. And of course, when Sarah had her hair permed, it gave me the perfect excuse to get Tina back into the hairdressers’ again. So now I’ve ended up with a son, a daughter and a daughter-in-law, all cropped, tidy and presentable. It makes me so proud, looking at them all now.”

“Oh yes!” Sheila nodded enthusiastically.“ And don’t forget Sophie and Maria. You’d hardly believe it now, but they both used to have awful messy long hair. Sarah tells me that they were both up in arms when Wendy put her foot down, and told them they needed their hair cutting, but it was clearly the best thing for them.”

“Quite right. Their families must be delighted to have them looking so respectable.”

 

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“Those two are getting on like a house on fire.” Steve nudged Sarah and nodded towards the two mothers.

“Mmm, well, I think they’re both pretty pleased that they’ve managed to get us all looking so smart. The girls all neatly permed, and you boys in proper short back and sides.” She brushed her hand up the back of Steve’s head, enjoying the feeling of the short bristles. He shivered.

“And speaking of ‘house on fire’, what about you two?” Sarah raised her voice slightly, and directed her comment to Sophie and Dean. They had become virtually inseparable over the last few months and were now, as usual, holding hands and seemingly unaware of anything apart from each other.

“Hmmm?” Sophie looked up, saw everyone looking at her, and flushed slightly.

Sarah laughed. “It wasn’t long ago that you were saying that you’d never find a boyfriend while you had your hair like that. And look at the two of you now!”

Sophie shrugged. “Well, I suppose you were right. I just needed to find the right man.”

Dean smiled. “That would be me. And just for the record, I’m a big fan of Sophie’s curls. I really don’t know why so many girls insist on having long hair. It must be such a faff, and it gets messy so easily.” he shook his head in bemusement.

Sophie looked at Dean fondly. “He’s actually made me promise to keep it like this, even after the wedding.” She reached up to feel her tight, springy curls, still finding it strange that her hair, long and straight for so many years, was now anything but.

“Good!” exclaimed Maria. “Mum and Andy both want me to stay curly, and we can’t have you being the only one with straight hair.”

“Definitely.” Sarah asserted. “Us curly girls need to stick together.” She giggled.

The vicar cleared his throat, to show everyone that he was ready to start the rehearsal. Sarah looked around, taking in her old family, her new family and her best friends. She turned and whispered to Steve.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am. I just know this is going to be the start of the most wonderful life together.”

 

 

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