,,*APT] ,,XXVII

  ,VAN;Y & ,VEX,N ( ,_S
  ,M>ILLA1 WALK+ HOME "O LATE ,APRIL EV5+
F AN ,AID MEET+1 R1LIZ$ T ! W9T] 0 OV] &
G"O )! ?RILL ( DELI<T T SPR+ N"E FAILS
6BR+ 6! OLDE/ & SA4E/ Z WELL Z 6! "YE/ &
M]RIE/4 ,M>ILLA 0 N GIV5 6SUBJECTIVE
ANALYSIS ( H] ?"\S & FEEL+S4 ,%E PROBABLY
IMAG9$ T %E 0 ?9K+ AB ! ,AIDS & _! MIS.N>Y
BOX &! NEW C>PET =! VE/RY ROOM1 B "U ^!
REFLEC;NS 0 A H>MONI\S 3SCI\S;S ( R$
FIELDS SMOK+ 96PALE-PURPLY MI/S 9 ! DECL9+
SUN1 ( L;G1 %>P-PO9T$ FIR %AD[S FALL+ OV]
! M1D[ 2Y ! BROOK1 ( /1 CRIMSON-BU4$
MAPLES >.D A MIRRORLIKE WOOD POOL1 (AWAK5+ 9 ! _W &A /IR ( HI45 PULSES     #CBG
"U ! GRAY SOD4 ,! SPR+ 0 ABROAD 9 ! L& &
,M>ILLA'S SOB]1 MI4LE-AG$ /EP 0 LI<T] &
SWIFT] 2C ( XS DEEP1 PRIMAL GLAD;S4
  ,H] EYES DWELT A6EC;NATELY ON ,GRE5
,GA#S1 PE]+ "? XS NET"W ( TREES & REFLECT+
! SUNLI<T BACK F XS W9D[S 9 S"EAL LL
CORUSC,NS ( GLORY4 ,M>ILLA1 Z %E PICK$ H]
/EPS AL;G ! DAMP LANE1 ?"\ T X 0 RE,Y A
SATISFAC;N 6"K T %E 0 GO+ HOME 6A BRISKLY
SNAPP+ WOOD FIRE &A TA# NICELY SPR1D =
TEA1 9/1D ( 6! COLD -=T ( OLD ,AID MEET+
EV5+S 2F ,ANNE _H -E 6,GRE5 ,GA#S4
  ,3SEQU5TLY1 :5 ,M>ILLA 5T]$ H] KIT*5 &
F.D ! FIRE BLACK \1 ) NO SIGN ( ,ANNE
ANY":1 %E FELT JU/LY 4APPO9T$ & IRRITAT$4
,%E _H TOLD ,ANNE 6BE SURE & H TEA R1DY AT
FIVE O'C1 B N[ %E M/ HURRY 6TAKE (F H]
SECOND-BE/ DRESS & PREP>E ! M1L H]F AG/
,MAT!W'S RETURN F PL[+4
  8,I'LL SETTLE ,MISS ,ANNE :5 %E -ES
HOME10 SD ,M>ILLA GRIMLY1 Z %E %AV$ UP
K9DL+S )A C>V+ KNIFE &) M VIM ?AN 0
/RICTLY NEC4 ,MAT!W _H -E 9 & 0 WAIT+
PATI5TLY = 8 TEA 9 8 CORN]4 8,%E'S GA4+ (F"S": ) ,DIANA1 WRIT+ /ORIES OR        #CBH
PRACTIC+ DIALOGUES OR "S S* TOMFOOL]Y1 &
N"E ?9K+ ONCE AB ! "T OR H] DUTIES4 ,%E'S
J GOT 6BE PULL$ UP %ORT & SU45 ON ? SORT (
?+4 ,I DON'T C>E IF ,MRS4 ,ALLAN DOES SAY
%E'S ! B"RE/ & SWEETE/ * %E "E KNEW4 ,%E
MAY 2 B"R & SWEET 5\<1 B H] H1D IS FULL (
NONS5SE & "!'S N"E ANY "K+ :AT %APE X'LL
BR1K \ 9 NEXT4 ,J Z SOON Z %E GR[S \ ( "O
FR1K %E TAKES UP ) ANO!R4 ,B "!6 ,"H ,I AM
SAY+ ! V ?+ ,I 0 S RIL$ ) ,RA*EL ,LYNDE =
SAY+ AT ! ,AID TD4 ,I 0 R1L GLAD :5 ,MRS4
,ALLAN SPOKE UP = ,ANNE1 = IF %E _HN'T ,I
"K ,I'D H SD "S?+ TOO %>P 6,RA*EL 2F
"EYBODY4 ,ANNE'S GOT PL5TY ( FAULTS1 GD;S
"KS1 & F> 2 X F ME 6D5Y X4 ,B ,I'M BR++ H]
UP & N ,RA*EL ,LYNDE1 :O'D PICK FAULTS 9 !
,ANGEL ,GABRIEL HMF IF HE LIV$ 9 ,AVONLEA4
,J ! SAME1 ,ANNE HAS NO BUSI;S 6L1VE !
H\SE L ? :5 ,I TOLD H] %E 0 6/AY HOME ?
AFN & LOOK AF ?+S4 ,I M/ SAY1 ) ALL H]
FAULTS1 ,I N"E F.D H] 4OB$I5T OR
UNTRU/WOR?Y 2F & ,I'M R1L SORRY 6F9D H] S
N[40
  8,WELL N[1 ,I DUNNO10 SD ,MAT!W1 :O1 2+PATI5T & WISE &1 ABV ALL1 HUNGRY1     #CBI
_H DEEM$ X BE/ 6LET ,M>ILLA TALK H] WRA? \
UNH9D]$1 HAV+ LE>N$ 0EXP]I;E T %E GOT "? )
:AT"E "W 0 ON H& M* QK] IF N DELAY$
0UN"TLY >GU;T4 8,P]H Y'RE JUDG+ H] TOO
HA/Y1 ,M>ILLA4 ,DON'T CALL H] UNTRU/WOR?Y
UNTIL Y'RE SURE %E HAS 4OBEY$ Y4 ,ME2E X C
ALL 2 EXPLA9$--,ANNE'S A GRT H& AT
EXPLA9+40
  8,%E'S N "H :5 ,I TOLD H] 6/AY10 RETORT$
,M>ILLA4 8,I RECKON %E'LL F9D X H>D
6EXPLA9 ,,T 6MY SATISFAC;N4 ,( C\RSE ,I
KNEW Y'D TAKE H] "P1 ,MAT!W4 ,B ,I'M BR++
H] UP1 N Y40
  ,X 0 D>K :5 SUPP] 0 R1DY1 & / NO SIGN (
,ANNE1 -+ HURRI$LY OV] ! LOG BRIDGE OR UP
,LOV]'S ,LANE1 BR1?.S & REP5TANT )A S5SE (
NEGLECT$ DUTIES4 ,M>ILLA WA%$ & PUT AWAY !
DI%ES GRIMLY4 ,!N1 WANT+ A C&LE 6LI<T H]
WAY D[N ! CELL>1 %E W5T UP 6! EA/ GA# =!
"O T G5],Y /OOD ON ,ANNE'S TA#4 ,LI<T+ X1
%E TURN$ >.D 6SEE ,ANNE H]F LY+ ON ! B$1
FACE D[NW>D AM;G ! PILL[S4
  8,M]CY ON U10 SD A/ONI%$ ,M>ILLA1 8H Y
BE5 ASLEEP1 ,ANNE80  8,NO10 0 ! MU6L$ REPLY4             #CCJ
  8,>E Y SICK !N80 DEM&$ ,M>ILLA ANXI\SLY1
GO+ OV] 6! B$4
  ,ANNE C[]$ DEEP] 96H] PILL[S Z IF
DESIR\S ( HID+ H]F ="E F MORTAL EYES4
  8,NO4 ,B PL1SE1 ,M>ILLA1 G AWAY & DON'T
LOOK AT ME4 ,I'M 9 ! DEP?S ( DESPAIR & ,I
DON'T C>E :O GETS H1D 9 CLASS OR WRITES !
BE/ -POSI;N OR S+S 9 ! ,SUN"D-S*OOL *OIR
ANY M4 ,LL ?+S L T >E ( NO IMPORT.E N[ 2C
,I DON'T SUPPOSE ,I'LL "E 2 A# 6G ANY":
AG4 ,MY C>E] IS CLOS$4 ,PL1SE1 ,M>ILLA1 G
AWAY & DON'T LOOK AT ME40
  8,DID ANY"O "E HE> ! L80 ! MY/IFI$
,M>ILLA WANT$ 6"K4 8,ANNE ,%IRLEY1 :AT"E
IS ! MATT] ) Y8 ,:AT H Y D"O8 ,GET "R UP ?
M9UTE & TELL ME4 ,? M9UTE1 ,I SAY4 ,"! N[1
:AT IS X80
  ,ANNE _H SLID 6! FLOOR 9 DESPAIR+
OB$I;E4
  8,LOOK AT MY HAIR1 ,M>ILLA10 %E :ISP]$4
  ,ACLY1 ,M>ILLA LIFT$ H] C&LE & LOOK$
SCRUT9IZ+LY AT ,ANNE'S HAIR1 FL[+ 9 H1VY
MASSES D[N H] BACK4 ,X C]TA9LY _H A V
/RANGE APPE>.E4  8,ANNE ,%IRLEY1 :AT H Y D"O 6YR     #CCA
HAIR8 ,:Y1 X'S ,,GRE560
  ,GRE5 X MI<T 2 CALL$1 IF X 7 ANY E>?LY
COLOR--A QUE]1 DULL1 BRONZY GRE51 ) /R1KS
"H & "! (! ORIG9AL R$ 6HEI<T5 ! <A/LY
E6ECT4 ,N"E 9 ALL H] LIFE _H ,M>ILLA SE5
ANY?+ S GROTESQUE Z ,ANNE'S HAIR AT T
MO;T4
  8,YES1 X'S GRE510 MOAN$ ,ANNE4 8,I ?"\
NO?+ CD 2 Z BAD Z R$ HAIR4 ,B N[ ,I "K X'S
T5 "TS WORSE 6H GRE5 HAIR4 ,OH1 ,M>ILLA1 Y
LL "K H[ UTT]LY WRET*$ ,I AM40
  8,I LL "K H[ Y GOT 96? FIX1 B ,I M1N
6F9D \10 SD ,M>ILLA4 8,-E "R D[N 6! KIT*5
--X'S TOO COLD UP "H--& TELL ME J :AT Y'VE
D"O4 ,I'VE BE5 EXPECT+ "S?+ QUE] = "S "T4
,Y HAV5'T GOT 96ANY SCRAPE = OV] TWO
MON?S1 & ,I 0 SURE ANO!R "O 0 DUE4 ,N[1
!N1 :AT DID Y D 6YR HAIR80
  8,I DY$ X40
  8,DY$ X6 ,DY$ YR HAIR6 ,ANNE ,%IRLEY1
DIDN'T Y "K X 0 A WICK$ ?+ 6D80
  8,YES1 ,I KNEW X 0 A LL WICK$10 ADMITT$
,ANNE4 8,B ,I ?"\ X 0 WOR? :ILE 6BE A LL
WICK$ 6GET RID ( R$ HAIR4 ,I C.T$ ! CO/1,M>ILLA4 ,2SS1 ,I M1NT 6BE EXTRA GD   #CCB
9 O!R WAYS 6MAKE UP = X40
  8,WELL10 SD ,M>ILLA S>CA/IC,Y1 8IF ,I'D
DECID$ X 0 WOR? :ILE 6DYE MY HAIR ,I'D H
DY$ X A DEC5T COLOR AT L1/4 ,I WDN'T H DY$
X GRE540
  8,B ,I DIDN'T M1N 6DYE X GRE51 ,M>ILLA10
PROTE/$ ,ANNE DEJECT$LY4 8,IF ,I 0 WICK$
,I M1NT 6BE WICK$ 6"S PURPOSE4 ,HE SD X WD
TURN MY HAIR A B1UTI;L RAV5 BLACK--HE
POSITIVELY ASSUR$ ME T X WD4 ,H[ CD ,I
D\BT 8 ^W1 ,M>ILLA8 ,I "K :AT X FEELS L 6H
YR ^W D\BT$4 ,& ,MRS4 ,ALLAN SAYS WE %D
N"E SUSPECT ANY"O ( N TELL+ U ! TRU? UN.S
WE H PRO( T !Y'RE N4 ,I H PRO( N[--GRE5
HAIR IS PRO( 5 = ANYBODY4 ,B ,I _HN'T !N &
,I 2LIEV$ E ^W HE SD ,,IMPLICITLY40
  8,:O SD8 ,:O >E Y TALK+ AB80
  8,! P$DL] T 0 "H ? AFN4 ,I B"\ ! DYE F
HM40
  8,ANNE ,%IRLEY1 H[ (T5 H ,I TOLD Y N"E
6LET "O ( ^? ,ITALIANS 9 ! H\SE6 ,I DON'T
2LIEVE 9 5C\RAG+ !M 6-E >.D AT ALL40
  8,OH1 ,I DIDN'T LET HM 9 ! H\SE4 ,I
REMEMB]$ :AT Y TOLD ME1 & ,I W5T \1C>E;LLY %UT ! DOOR1 & LOOK$ AT 8      #CCC
?+S ON ! /EP4 ,2SS1 HE WASN'T AN ,ITALIAN
--HE 0 A ,G]MAN ,JEW4 ,HE _H A BIG BOX
FULL ( V 9T]E/+ ?+S & HE TOLD ME HE 0 "W+
H>D 6MAKE 5 M"OY 6BR+ 8 WIFE & *N \ F
,G]_M4 ,HE SPOKE S FEEL+LY AB !M T X T\*$
MY HE>T4 ,I WANT$ 6BUY "S?+ F HM 6HELP HM
9 S* A WOR?Y OBJECT4 ,!N ALL AT ONCE ,I
SAW ! BOTTLE ( HAIR DYE4 ,! P$DL] SD X 0
W>RANT$ 6DYE ANY HAIR A B1UTI;L RAV5 BLACK
& WDN'T WA% (F4 ,9 A TRICE ,I SAW MYF )
B1UTI;L RAV5-BLACK HAIR &! TEMPT,N 0
IRRESI/I#4 ,B ! PRICE (! BOTTLE 0 SEV5TY-
FIVE C5TS & ,I _H ONLY FIFTY C5TS LEFT \ (
MY *ICK5 M"OY4 ,I ?9K ! P$DL] _H A V K9D
HE>T1 = HE SD T1 SEE+ X 0 ME1 HE'D SELL X
= FIFTY C5TS & T 0 J GIV+ X AWAY4 ,S ,I
B"\ X1 & Z SOON Z HE _H G"O ,I CAME UP "H
& APPLI$ X ) AN OLD HAIRBRU% Z ! DIREC;NS
SD4 ,I US$ UP ! :OLE BOTTLE1 & OH1
,M>ILLA1 :5 ,I SAW ! DR1D;L COLOR X TURN$
MY HAIR ,I REP5T$ ( 2+ WICK$1 ,I C TELL Y4
,& ,I'VE BE5 REP5T+ "E S9CE40
  8,WELL1 ,I HOPE Y'LL REP5T 6GD PURPOSE10
SD ,M>ILLA SEV]ELY1 8& T Y'VE GOT YR EYESOP5$ 6": YR VAN;Y HAS L$ Y1 ,ANNE4    #CCD
,GD;S "KS :AT'S 6BE D"O4 ,I SUPPOSE ! F/
?+ IS 6GIVE YR HAIR A GD WA%+ & SEE IF T W
D ANY GD40
  ,ACLY1 ,ANNE WA%$ H] HAIR1 SCRU2+ X
VIGOR\SLY ) SOAP & WAT]1 B = ALL ! DI6];E
X MADE %E MI<T Z WELL H BE5 SC\R+ XS
ORIG9AL R$4 ,! P$DL] _H C]TA9LY SPOK5 !
TRU? :5 HE DCLD T ! DYE WDN'T WA% (F1 H["E
8 V]AC;Y MI<T 2 IMP1*$ 9 O!R RESPECTS4
  8,OH1 ,M>ILLA1 :AT % ,I D80 "Q$ ,ANNE 9
TE>S4 8,I C N"E LIVE ? D[N4 ,P H PRETTY
WELL =GOTT5 MY O!R MISTAKES--! L9I;T CAKE
& SETT+ ,DIANA DRUNK & FLY+ 96A TEMP] )
,MRS4 ,LYNDE4 ,B !Y'LL N"E =GET ?4 ,!Y W
?9K ,I AM N RESPECTA#4 ,OH1 ,M>ILLA1 ,8:AT
A TANGL$ WEB WE W1VE :5 F/ WE PRACTICE
6DCV40' ,T IS POETRY1 B X IS TRUE4 ,& OH1
H[ ,JOSIE ,PYE W LAU<6 ,M>ILLA1 ,I ,,_C
FACE ,JOSIE ,PYE4 ,I AM ! UNHAPPIE/ GIRL 9
,PR9CE ,$W>D ,ISL&40
  ,ANNE'S UNHAPPI;S 3T9U$ =A WEEK4 ,DUR+ T
"T %E W5T NO": & %AMPOO$ H] HAIR E "D4
,DIANA AL"O ( \TSID]S KNEW ! FATAL SECRET1
B %E PROMIS$ SOLEMNLY N"E 6TELL1 & X MAY 2/AT$ "H & N[ T %E KEPT H] ^W4 ,AT !   #CCE
5D (! WEEK ,M>ILLA SD DECID$LY3
  8,X'S NO USE1 ,ANNE4 ,T IS FA/ DYE IF "E
"! 0 ANY4 ,YR HAIR M/ 2 CUT (F2 "! IS NO
O!R WAY4 ,Y C'T G \ ) X LOOK+ L T40
  ,ANNE'S LIPS QUIV]$1 B %E R1LIZ$ ! BITT]
TRU? ( ,M>ILLA'S REM>KS4 ,)A 4MAL SI< %E
W5T =! SCISSORS4
  8,PL1SE CUT X (F AT ONCE1 ,M>ILLA1 & H X
OV]4 ,OH1 ,I FEEL T MY HE>T IS BROK54 ,?
IS S* AN UNROMANTIC A6LIC;N4 ,! GIRLS 9
BOOKS LOSE _! HAIR 9 FEV]S OR SELL X 6GET
M"OY = "S GD DE$1 & ,I'M SURE ,I WDN'T M9D
LOS+ MY HAIR 9 "S S* FA%ION HALF S M*4 ,B
"! IS NO?+ -=T+ 9 HAV+ YR HAIR CUT (F 2C
Y'VE DY$ X A DR1D;L COLOR1 IS "!8 ,I'M GO+
6WEEP ALL ! "T Y'RE CUTT+ X (F1 IF X WON'T
9T]F]E4 ,X SEEMS S* A TRAGIC ?+40
  ,ANNE WEPT !N1 B LAT] ON1 :5 %E W5T
UP/AIRS & LOOK$ 9 ! GLASS1 %E 0 CALM )
DESPAIR4 ,M>ILLA _H D"O H] "W ?OR\<LY & X
_H BE5 NEC 6%+LE ! HAIR Z CLOSELY Z
POSSI#4 ,! RESULT 0 N 2COM+1 6/ATE ! CASE
Z MILDLY Z MAY BE4 ,ANNE PROMPTLY TURN$ H]
GLASS 6! WALL4  8,I'LL N"E1 N"E LOOK AT MYF AG      #CCF
UNTIL MY HAIR GR[S10 %E EXCLAIM$
PAS.NATELY4
  ,!N %E SU45LY "R$ ! GLASS4
  8,YES1 ,I W1 TOO4 ,I'D D P5.E = 2+ WICK$
T WAY4 ,I'LL LOOK AT MYF E "T ,I -E 6MY
ROOM & SEE H[ UGLY ,I AM4 ,& ,I WON'T TRY
6IMAG9E X AWAY1 EI4 ,I N"E ?"\ ,I 0 VA9 AB
MY HAIR1 ( ALL ?+S1 B N[ ,I "K ,I WAS1 9
SPITE ( XS 2+ R$1 2C X 0 S L;G & ?ICK &
CURLY4 ,I EXPECT "S?+ W HAPP5 6MY NOSE
NEXT40
  ,ANNE'S CLIPP$ H1D MADE A S5S,N 9 S*OOL
ON ! FOLL[+ ,MON"D1 B 6H] RELIEF NOBODY
GUESS$ ! R1L R1SON = X1 N EV5 ,JOSIE ,PYE1
:O1 H["E1 DID N FAIL 69=M ,ANNE T %E LOOK$
L A P]FECT SC>ECR[4
  8,I DIDN'T SAY ANY?+ :5 ,JOSIE SD T
6ME10 ,ANNE 3FID$ T EV5+ 6,M>ILLA1 :O 0
LY+ ON ! S(A AF "O ( H] H1DA*ES1 82C ,I
?"\ X 0 "P ( MY PUNI%;T & ,I "\ 6BE> X
PATI5TLY4 ,X'S H>D 6BE TOLD Y LOOK L A
SC>ECR[ & ,I WANT$ 6SAY "S?+ BACK4 ,B ,I
DIDN'T4 ,I J SWEPT H] "O SCORN;L LOOK & !N
,I =GAVE H]4 ,X MAKES Y FEEL V VIRTU\S :5Y =GIVE P1 DOESN'T X8 ,I M1N          #CCG
6DEVOTE ALL MY 5]GIES 62+ GD AF ? & ,I %
N"E TRY 6BE B1UTI;L AG4 ,( C\RSE X'S BETT]
6BE GD4 ,I "K X IS1 B X'S "S"TS S H>D
62LIEVE A ?+ EV5 :5 Y "K X4 ,I D RE,Y WANT
6BE GD1 ,M>ILLA1 L Y & ,MRS4 ,ALLAN &
,MISS ,/ACY1 & GR[ UP 6BE A CR$IT 6Y4
,DIANA SAYS :5 MY HAIR 2G9S 6GR[ 6TIE A
BLACK VELVET RI2ON >.D MY H1D )A B[ AT "O
SIDE4 ,%E SAYS %E ?9KS X W 2 V 2COM+4 ,I W
CALL X A SNOOD--T S.DS S ROMANTIC4 ,B AM
,I TALK+ TOO M*1 ,M>ILLA8 ,DOES X HURT YR
H1D80
  8,MY H1D IS BETT] N[4 ,X 0 T]RI# BAD ?
AFN1 ?\<4 ,^! H1DA*ES ( M9E >E GETT+ WORSE
& WORSE4 ,I'LL H 6SEE A DOCTOR AB !M4 ,Z =
YR *ATT]1 ,I DON'T "K T ,I M9D X--,I'VE
GOT S US$ 6X40
  ,: 0 ,M>ILLA'S WAY ( SAY+ T %E LIK$ 6HE>
X4