Preparation and Torture

The day before my anniversary (Friday, May 24th, for those of you who care about details), I decided I should figure out what I was going to wear.  It seemed like an easy enough decision, but it wasn't long before I was completely overwhelmed.  

Beast'sbelle had gotten out all of the dresses my size and put them on her bed so I could look through them.  What seemed like a good idea, however, quickly became a case of information overload.  There were so many gowns to choose from!

Rapunzel must have noticed me sitting helplessly in a crumpled pile of dresses, because she appeared after about an hour of indecision.

"How's it going, Belle?" she asked kindly.

I sighed and shoved aside the dresses in my lap.  "Horribly!" I admitted.  "I have absolutely no clue which dress I should wear.  I want something special, but not overly fancy.  It's going to be hot, after all.  But it also needs to be something new enough that Robby will feel like I dressed up for him."

Rapunzel gave me one of her knowing smiles.  "Come on, Belle.  Robby would be happy if you showed up wearing a paper sack.  He loves you for you."

"I know," I agreed reluctantly.  "But I'd still like to find something special."  I gave her a pleading look.  "Will you help me?"

"I'll try," she offered.

I picked up the two nearest dresses.  "Too fancy, too Christmasy..."

Rapunzel said, "What about my sparkly purple one?"

I shook my head.  "I don't think I'd be comfortable wearing something that low.  Besides, it would be way too hot."

"I don't know," Rapunzel said thoughtfully.  "I heard it was supposed to rain this weekend."

"Really?" I asked, surprised.  Normally, this time of year was hot and dry, from now all the way through summer.

"What are you two doing for your anniversary?" Rapunzel asked.

"I'm not sure," I told her.  "Robby likes to surprise me."  I chewed my lower lip nervously, forgetting that I had determined to stop that habit.  "I hope he didn't plan anything outside, just in case."

"Don't worry," Rapunzel assured me.  "I'm sure if he did he has a back-up plan."  She continued digging through the pile of dresses.

At that moment, she pulled something out from the bottom of the pile.  A bright look came to her face.

"How about this one?" she asked.  

I was surprised.  "My wedding dress?" I asked her.  "Isn't that a bit too...I don't know...weddingy?"

Rapunzel laughed.  "I don't think that's a word.  And it could work!  It's simple enough that it wouldn't be too fancy.  Besides, I'm sure Robby would love to see it on you again."

"I don't know..." I began.  

"Why don't you try it, just for fun?" Rapunzel asked.

And so, moments later I was modeling the dress for my best friend.  Her eyes sparkled.  "You look beautiful.  Robby will love it!"

I couldn't help smiling at her enthusiasm.  "I suppose it works."  I smoothed the white satin with my hands.  "The bodice is getting a little threadbare."

"All the more reason to get one more good memory out of it," she pointed out.  "Who knows how much longer it will last?"

"This dress has memories for you too," I reminded her.  "Are you sure you're okay with the possibility of it getting ruined?  I mean, I'm assuming I'm going to be eating, and white isn't exactly the best color for that..."

Rapunzel shook her head.  "Wear it, Belle.  You'll look just perfect."  Her face took on a dreamy look.  "The dress was never mine in the first place, remember?  You let me borrow it for my wedding."

I smiled and clasped her hand.  "I was glad to be able to help.  And it makes it special that we shared the same wedding dress."

She nodded, and then her eyes moved to my hair.  "How are you going to do your hair?"

I made a face.  "I have no clue.  It's been a mess ever since Beast'sbelle had to trim it a while back.  Any ideas?"

She looked down at her feet.  "I have an idea, but you're not going to like it."

"What?" I asked suspiciously.

"Beast'sbelle could curl it for you."

"What, with the boiling water method?" I asked, my tone revealing my displeasure.  "Um, no thanks.  I have no plans to voluntarily have my head dunked into water hot enough to melt my plastic."

Rapunzel squeezed my hand.  "You don't have to," she assured me.  "It would solve your hair problem, though.  And Beast'sbelle's really good...she's done it for a ton of Barbies and they've never lost their heads."

"No way," I stated firmly.  "I'd rather have wacky hair."

Famous last words.

Somehow, I was crazy enough to let Beast'sbelle and Rapunzel talk me into the whole curling thing.  I guess I must be more vain than I thought. :{  

Beast'sbelle wrapped strands of my hair in human drinking straws and then secured them in place with bobby pins.

It was not the most flattering look.  To make matters worse, I couldn't wear any clothing because Beast'sbelle was afraid it might get ruined.  Thankfully, she was nice enough to lend me a human-sized washcloth to drape around me so I didn't have to be naked.  The thought of being dumped upside down and undressed would have been way too humiliating!

Once my hair was in the "curlers", I just had to wait for Beast'sbelle to prepare the water.  I have to admit, I was having some serious doubts about the whole idea.  I watched as Beast'sbelle poured water into her tea kettle and then put it on the stove with the burner on high.  My head is going to be in that, I kept thinking.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked Rapunzel nervously.  My faithful friend had promised to stay with me through the whole process.

"I know it's scary," she responded, "but I'm sure you'll be fine."

I tried to take comfort at her words.  Of course, I also noticed that she was not volunteering to get her hair done as well. 

When the hot water was almost to the boiling point, Beast'sbelle brought in a bowl full of ice and filled it with cold water.  Then she set it on the counter.  She got another bowl just like it and set it on top of a hot pad right next to the first bowl.

As soon as the tea kettle began to whistle, Beast'sbelle removed it from the heat and poured the water into the empty bowl.  I felt nauseated just watching all of the steam coming up.

"You can do this," Rapunzel suddenly whispered in my ear.  "It'll be over soon.  Just 60 seconds in the hot and 60 seconds in the cold, and you're done."

Then Beast'sbelle turned to me with a little smile.  "Are you ready?"

On that day I learned just how painfully long 60 seconds can be.  Don't believe me?  Then try doing your hair this way sometime!

The moment my head hit the water, I felt as though all of the plastic on my scalp was melting away.  Everything felt tingly and raw.  There was so much steam I could hardly breathe, and my eyes began to water.  Just when I thought I couldn't take another moment, Beast'sbelle lifted me out.

And suddenly I was plunged into the frigid ice water bowl.  Have you ever had "brain freeze" from eating your ice cream too fast?  Well, imagine that multiplied by 100 and you'll just about know how it felt.    My head started going numb after a while, and I found myself wondering if I would ever feel anything again.

When it was all over, Beast'sbelle set me on a dishtowel on her dryer and told me I'd have to stay there overnight to let my curls dry.  

Rapunzel was beside me in an instant.  "Are you okay, Belle?" she asked with concern.

I turned to her slowly.  "I never want to do that again!!" A shudder shook my whole body.

"I'm sorry, Belle," Rapunzel apologized with tears in her eyes.  "It didn't sound nearly so traumatic when Beast'sbelle was explaining it to me.  I shouldn't have suggested it."

I shook my head, marveling at the odd feeling of shaking heavy, waterlogged curls.  "It's all right.  I think I'm okay...it just wasn't that fun to go through."

Rapunzel nodded, wiping at her eyes.  "Well, I'll stay here with you all night long and keep you company.  I talked to Eugene about it already, and he's agreed to watch the kids."

Rapunzel was a pretty cool friend, even if she did get me into unnecessary scrapes sometimes. ;)

*****************

We talked long into the night, but sleep soon got the better of us.  I was restless and uncomfortable, though.  Sleeping with huge bobby pins and straws in one's hair is next to impossible!

First thing in the morning, Beast'sbelle came out and woke us up.  She felt my curls and nodded.  "It's time to take them out," she said.

And so she began the long process of carefully unwrapping each curl.  I thought it would never end!

When it was all done, she brought me a hand mirror so I could see the result.  The moment I saw myself, I started to cry.

"I look like Shirley Temple!" I wailed.  To have this poofy, childish result after all I'd gone through was just too much.

"Don't worry, Belle," Rapunzel was quick to reassure me.  "I can fix it for you.  It won't look like this when we're done."

My friend immediately set to work, separating here, twisting there, pinning elsewhere.  Beast'sbelle left us and hurried off to take care of some sort of squabble that had arisen between her daughters.

When Rapunzel was done, she grabbed the mirror for me again.

I inspected my reflection with trepidation.  I was so worried that I'd hate the hairstyle and have to keep it in so I didn't hurt my friends feelings.  But I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw.  My hair was still a little poofier than I preferred, but at least it looked a bit more sophisticated.  Having it out of my face was wonderful too. 

Rapunzel was watching me anxiously.  "Do you like it?" she asked.

I nodded.  "This is much better, thanks.  It's still going to take me awhile to get used to the curls, but I can handle this."

Rapunzel looked relieved.  Then she looked across the kitchen at the clock on the microwave.  "We'd better finish getting you ready!  It's almost time for you to meet Robby."

The mention of my husband's name made me wonder...what would he think of my new hairstyle?  I supposed I wouldn't have to wait long to find out!