Paul was outside an early August Saturday, helping build a club house for Timmy, albeit ineptly. Karen was assisting but becoming bored, returned to the house where I was rearranging kitchen cabinets.
"You look glum," I said as she poured herself a glass of milk, finishing it in a gulp.
"I am."
"Anything you want to talk about?" She shrugged and rinsed out her glass. "Is it school?" I pressed. The prior day ended the summer session, and I knew Karen would miss it. Julie, her best friend, was on vacation and Anne had been invited along. Karen understood the two girl's friendship dated back years so it was logical Anne, not Karen, was chosen as a trip mate. Julie told her she too would have been invited if there was room. Nevertheless, I knew Karen was lonely without her chums. When she didn't answer, I asked, "Bad day?"
"I'd use that word but you'd make me sit in the love chair."
"Shitty?" We both smiled and I gave her a hug. "Just between us girls." I added, "is there anything you want to do to cheer up? We've got all day."
She glanced outside. "Those guys are having fun. I don't want to drag them away."
"You deserve fun too. How about it? What would you really like to do?"
"Can we drive down and visit Grandma? I want to show her my new haircut."
A few days earlier, Karen had said she wished she looked like Julie, her friend.
"Julie is a pretty girl but so are you, Karen. You're a beauty."
"I don't mean that. I mean her hair." Julie's hair was short like most of the girls on Karen's soccer team.
"I thought you liked your hair long. Your mother's hair was long and quite lovely in the portrait I saw in your old house."
"I hate long hair. Did you have short hair when you were my age?"
"I've always had short hair. I'm too lazy to take care of long hair. You should have said something. If you want short hair, by all means, we'll get it cut."
"Daddy likes it long."
"Then let him wear his hair long. It's what Karen likes that matters, not your father, or anyone else. Most of all, your father and I want you happy. Let's go this afternoon. We don't even need an appointment at the mall." I checked by phone with Paul so he wouldn't have a fit that I violated some ancient family honor I wasn't aware of. She looked cute as a button in short hair. Everyone including Dad said so. Now she even wanted to show off to her grandmother.