Sue - My my hair turned white

Marjorie hobbles up the pathway, slowly and with her walking stick, as the ground is uneven and windy. As she passes in front of the lounge window, she gasps and secretly smiles at her reflection.

Her hair is white, that beautiful soft brilliant white that looks like cotton wool, with no streaks of grey or obvious coloured regrowth. She has had it styled with an old fashioned perm and little tight curls frame her forehead. She had almost had a blue rinse too but decided that really was out of vogue these days. A Kirby grip keeps one untidy curl out of her left eye.

Her face is thin and gaunt looking and granny type glasses are perched on the end of her slightly hooked nose. The only makeup is a bright red lipstick that she has pinched from her daughter’s bathroom and she couldn’t resist the bit of bling that she had also found. The dangly diamond earrings do look a bit out of character but they are such fun. She grins wickedly.

She’s still standing and admiring herself in the window. Her pale pink twinset is a bit tight but she is very happy with the $5 purchase from the local Vinnies and her mid calf length A-line skirt looks pretty cool. Fish net stockings, another gem from her daughter, and granny style black lace up shoes complete the picture.

The party is to be held in a marquee at the bottom of the garden. Soft, inviting music hovers on the wind and Marjorie smiles when she recognises her old favourite, Frank Sinatra. She checks her watch, she’s early. The last thing she wants is to make a grand entrance so she hovers around the house until she can see a few people milling towards the tent.

A couple of car doors slam so she peers around the corner of the house. A little group of people head up the driveway, then another car pulls up.

“Perfect” she thinks “I can lose myself in the crowd”.

She’s inside the marquee. It’s beautifully decorated with red velvet drapes and comfy easy chairs and sofas are huddled together at one end. A waiter is serving tea from fine English china cups and another waiter looks as if his tray contains crustless cucumber sandwiches. Fairy bread, chocolate cup cakes, bowls of jelly beans and individual wobbly green jellies are on a side table and so are the bottles of Moet champagne!

The drums roll, Felicity and fiancé Toby enter the marquee from a side flap. They look absolutely amazing. It’s obvious that Toby is the Mad Hatter, his over large and high silver top hat perches on top of his long blond curls and his maroon velvet bow tie must be about a foot long. Felicity’s pale blue dress, simple white pinny and long blond wig which Marjorie helped her choose, is of course, Alice in Wonderland. They make a bee-line for Marjorie.

“Hi Mum” giggles Felicity. “You look fantastic. That white wig actually suits you”.