Sue - Life-Changing Event

“My hair, no, oh no not my hair!”

Jeanette wakes up in a sweaty panic. She can cope with the rest of the drama around chemotherapy, but losing her hair was beyond the bounds of acceptable.

She rings Mary.

“I can’t go bald. I’d have a terrible egg shaped bare head, sticky out ears, such pronounced cheek bones that I’d look like I’ve starved myself and I’d be so cold. Mary what am I going to do?”

“I’m on my way around. We’ll create something, don’t worry”

The two girls huddle around the coffee table. Mary has a glass of red wine, Jeanette a steaming mug of cocoa.

“Right” says Mary. “First things first. How long, or how many chemo sessions, before your hair starts to fall out?”

“Oh Mary. I’ll look so terrible. Just look” and she pulls her long blond hair back from her face and severely smooths down the top.

“Ok, a wig it is. That’s easy. Would you like a real one, one with real hair, or can you handle one of those shiny synthetic ones?” “Or, we could scrap the wig idea and get absolutely carried away with a hat. Not just one hat, but a hat for every outfit. Can you imagine a floppy pink hat for parading around Bondi, a pull down over your ears 1920 style one for wearing to work. A black one would go with a few of your suits. Then you could go for a bright orange or wicked pink for party time.”

Jeanette manages a little grin.

“And we could play up even more with earrings. You know, long dangly ones to go with the floppy hat or colourful little studs for work”.

“Jeanette, I know this is a real challenge but we could make it into some fun”.

Now Jeanette gets into the action.

“Let’s go shopping Mary. There’s no better therapy than a bit of retail. I need some warm gear especially for casual wear, you know, a fleecy lined trackie, some red ugg boots and matching pom pom hat.”

She bursts out laughing. “I think Santa earrings would look great with that even though it’s not Christmas”

Now it’s Mary’s turn.

“Well I want a long dress for next year’s Darwin Cup Ball. Can you imagine, for such a way out, isolated place, Darwin has more formal events than the rest of Australia.” “I want something interesting and funky, but I will have to wear it more than once. What colour shall I go for?”

“I’d love to see you in something bright. For God’s sake don’t do any more black. You keep buying black and it washes you out and is so severe. How about purple? Or rust?”

“Wanna go shopping now Jeanette? We’ve got a couple of hours before they close at Bondi”

The two girls bundle themselves into Mary’s Suzuki. The roof is down and the air warm. Mary pulls an old cloche hat down over her short hair. Jeanette drags her hair back into a pony tail then plonks a sou’wester, a yellow shiny one, on top. They look at each other, they both cuddle to look at themselves in the rear vision mirror. They start giggling. And giggling. And giggling. In hoots of laughter they troll up the road.