As the day progressed, many things happened. Julie’s mom reminded the duo tonight was Julie’s Birthday party; this was bound to be a wonderful thing. Just imagine, with all of the clothes and things that were already in her closets and her dresser drawer, what could be in all of those boxes?
Julie was baffled. Could it be makeup? Could it be hair stuff? What could it possibly be? Julie knew her mother thought she was too old to play with toys. Even though she had always loved to play with them, even up through her real 18th birthday. That was another thing. Why had her mother chosen today to be her birthday? Her real birthday was only a month ago, and Christmas was just over a month away.
The party in the evening promised to be just as exciting as the morning. She wondered if her whole family would be there. She would just love to show them all the "new her". She just knew that everyone would accept her just as her mother and sister had. What a great thought that was. She was always closer to her girl cousins. The boy cousins were nice, but they just seemed to shy away from her. And her grandmother, She was so close to her grandmother while growing up. If only she were still alive. She knew her grandmother would have embraced Julie as her new granddaughter. At times, Julie had been closer to her grandmother than her own mother.
The time just seemed to drag on. There were five hours before they were supposed to go out to eat at 7:30pm for a family birthday dinner and then back home for the party. Julie could barely wait. They were going out to eat at a VERY nice restaurant called "Antonio’s". It was in "Old Sacramento" which was on the waterfront of the Sacramento River. It was a VERY beautiful restaurant, and Julie had been only once before, and always wanted to go again, but realized she’d never have the money.
When the clock turned 4:00pm, Julie’s mom got out her purse, gave Karen $150.00 and told her that both girls had 4:15 appointments to have their hair and nails done at the salon around the corner. Julie was excited, and Karen was surprised.
They both got into Karen’s mustang, and drove around the block to the salon. It was a really nice fancy salon; even Julie could tell that this was going to be expensive. As the two girls walked in, a very elegant looking woman walked up and said "Ahhh, you must be the ‘Arnold’ Girl’s"
Karen responded by saying, "Yes, I’m Karen and this is my sister Julie."
"Come with me dear" She said to Karen, "Some one will be right up to get your sister."
At that, Karen was escorted back to a shampoo chair, where a cape was put around her neck and the lady started to shampoo and condition her hair. Right as the lady started, another younger, but equally as beautiful and elegant, came up and said "You must be Julie, My name is Samantha, Why don’t you follow me"
Julie smiled her flowing smile, as she was more excited than the girl would even know, Julie was sat down at the chair next to her sister, a cape was put around her neck and Samantha began to work her magic. As Samantha worked her fingers through Julie’s hair, it was pure pleasure. Her fingers were massaging her scalp, as the shampoo made her scalp tingle. If something as simple as this could feel so great as a girl, Julie couldn’t help but be ecstatic at the years to come.
Julie was in a state of nirvana, and was totally blocking everything out. At that moment, she came back to the real world as Samantha was gently shaking her and saying "Julie... Julie, Time to move to the styling chair."
Julie apologized and said that she had been daydreaming about tonight. Samantha asked her if there was any special guy involved and Julie thought about that for a second, hesitated, then replied "No, just a dinner with family. Me, my mom, my Sister, her fiancé, and my father."
"Sounds delightful" Samantha replied. As they walked over to the styling chair, Julie noticed that Karen was in a chair across the way, getting he hair styled into a beautiful wavy flowing style. Her hair was tied back slightly in the back, but flowed with the natural wavy texture of her hair.
As Julie sat in her chair, watching them finish Karen’s style and begin on her nails, she realized that Samantha was putting her hair up in rollers, and pulling fairly tight. Samantha noted her expression and said "Sorry about it being tight, but we don’t have much time, and I was given special orders on how to make it look. After you are done here, you are going to be the most beautiful girl in that restaurant tonight, if not in the whole town."
It was a long process, putting Julie’s hair into the rollers, taking about 35 minutes. As they finished, they soaked the rollers in a solution, and put a net over her head, then led her to the dryer. It was already running and hot. The moment she was situated at the dryer, and sitting as comfortably as possible (which wasn’t all that comfortable with the tight curlers and the not-so-soft seat), Samantha mouthed that she would be back to check on Julie in a bit, and walked towards the front of the store.
As she watched Samantha walk away and disappear behind a partition, Julie noticed Karen get up from where she was sitting, and walk up front. Julie assumed it was to pay the girl for her services. Karen certainly looked stunning with her new hairdo. The next thing Julie knew, there was Samantha again, at least it looked like Samantha, but she was dressed differently. That startled Julie, and Samantha noticed. She giggled and kept walking towards the front of the store. She disappeared behind that partition again. Moments later, Samantha appeared again, walking back towards Julie.
Julie began to think that the smell was getting to her and that something was wrong. How could Samantha be able to change that fast? At that moment, Samantha came over, lifted up the dryer hood and said, "Sorry about that, that was my sister Susan. She likes to play tricks. She’ll be coming back in a moment to do your nails."
A minute or so later, Susan came back giggling and said, "Hi, My name is Susan, I’m Sam’s twin Sister. I’m really sorry about that, but sometimes I just can’t resist"
Julie giggled and said that it was OK, and then explained that she had begun to think that the smell was getting to her. At that point Susan said that it shouldn’t be too much longer, but she might as well do Julie’s nails while she was stuck there.
Susan then pulled over a little table, with all kinds of nail colors and accessories, and a chair for her to sit on. She asked Julie to put out her hand and said, "Bite your nails huh? Nasty habit that is." She was completely right. Jason used to get very nervous about many things, and always used to bite his nails. At times he would start to let them grow out a bit, then get over-conscious of them and bite them back really far. Fearing that someone would notice and comment. Susan continued to say, "Don’t worry about it. I have this stuff that I used for a while. Broke me of the habit. Just look."
At that she held up her hand, to show a beautiful set of nails. All beautifully painted in a very nice design. Her hands looked so delicate and beautiful. It was hard to believe that she used to bite her nails. Samantha then told Julie the second shocker, that those were REAL.
As Susan worked on her nails, Julie just sat there daydreaming and thinking about all that was to come. As she was sitting there and thinking, she could feel the rollers on her hair get tighter as the time went by, and figured that that she was getting close to being done.
Susan managed to work a miracle on her nails. While there was no real color (other than the clear topcoat that had the pink opalescent tint,) Julie’s nails looked awesome. She found out later that she had what was called a "French Manicure". It looked so elegant to Julie. All she wanted to do was cry but realized that she couldn’t. There was no way she could explain this to anyone. She could barely believe it all herself.
As Susan cleared away the table, and left Julie’s hand under a little UV light to dry her nails faster, a tear began to form in the corner of Julie’s eye. Susan saw this and was quick to respond with a tissue saying. "They are so beautiful aren’t they?"
Susan rolled after Julie’s nails were dry (only a matter of 10 minutes using that UV light), and Samantha came over, and lifted the bonnet and touched the rollers on Julie’s head saying, "Yup, you’re done"
Samantha lead Julie back over to the styling chair and began undoing all the rollers. After she finished she looked around, and then found a bottle of mousse that she had been looking for. Spreading it on her fingers, she ran it through Julie’s hair and started working it upwards. Samantha noticed Julie watching in the mirror, and decided that this should be a surprise and turned the chair so it was facing the other side of the salon from where she was sitting at the dryers. If she looked off to left very carefully, she was able to get a glance in the mirror of at the station where Karen once was.
As Samantha continued to work her wonders, Julie began to wonder where Karen was. She remembered seeing her walk up front with her hair done all beautiful, but wondered why she never came back to check on her. Julie could feel Samantha working her magic but was too concerned about where Karen had gone to take any more peeks in that mirror.
As she was thinking, she noticed Karen come back into the salon, carrying something. As she came closer, Julie noticed they were flowers, a big bouquet of white and pink roses. Karen came over to Julie and gave her the big bouquet of roses. Julie just looked at them and started to cry and then saw the card; she picked it out of its little plastic stand and read it. Written inside the card were the words: "To you my sister, may all your dreams come true, and may you forgive me for denying all that you were. Your sister, Karen."
Without notice, Julie got up and embraced her sister in a great big hug. Luckily Samantha was able to sense that something was about to happen and step away for a second. After a very emotional few minutes, Julie settled down and sat back in the styling chair. Karen tried to grab the flowers to hold them for her and found that here was NO way that Julie was going to let go of them until they got home. Karen kissed her sister on the cheek and said she’d be waiting up front.
Julie kept a tight hold on the flowers while Samantha finished doing Julie’s hair. Julie was totally clueless and in her own little dream world while Samantha finished up. It wasn’t until Samantha said that she was all done that Julie realized she was still in the salon.
As Samantha took off the cape, Julie turned around to see the mirror, and almost fainted. Her hair was done in a gorgeous up-do. It was more beautiful than she had ever dreamed, and made her feel just like a movie star.
Samantha picked up a hand mirror and held it behind Julie’s head so that she could see the back. It was straight up in the back, stuff, and opened up into a beautiful bunch of curls on top that just made you think of piles of lace and flowers. Julie was ecstatic beyond belief at how her hair looked, and thought to herself that she looked like an angel. She was trying to find a picture in her head to compare it to, and could only think of a beautiful model she once saw in a magazine named Wendy.
Julie had never dreamed that she could possibly look that good, her dreams really were coming true. Julie broke out into tears there on the spot and both Samantha and Karen rushed to comfort her. It was a slightly emotional moment. Julie was just so overjoyed at how her dreams were managing to come true so quickly. There remained a thought in her mind. One thought that she did not want to acknowledge, but kept creeping into her mind. Just why was her mother making all this happen?
As Karen paid for everything, Julie took the time to show her thanks and appreciation to Sam and Susan for all their hard work. She gave them both deep hugs, and decided right then that if she were to let anyone do her hair again, it would be Sam. Karen came over and told Julie that it was time to leave.
They parted tearfully and went on their way back home. It was a short ride, but seemed longer as Julie had lots of things running through her head. One of the biggest was what she was going to wear tonight. She had so many beautiful new outfits. How could she possibly choose?
As they walked in the door, their mother swooned over their new hairdos and told them that they would be perfect. She also noticed Julie’s nails and was just thrilled... She had remembered how Jason had liked to bite his nails, and hoped that Julie wouldn’t.
Julie’s mom suggested that both of the girls both get dressed nice for the dinner, and that Karen needed to help Julie with her makeup. Both girls proceeded into Julie’s room to pick out the perfect dress. It was so hard to decide. There were so many beautiful dresses. Julie just couldn’t figure out where she would wear all of them. She wanted to try them all right then and there, but Karen told her they didn’t have time. As they filed through he dresses, they found 2 dresses of similar design that were both in plastic dry-cleaner’s bags, as if they were being protected. They took out the dresses and noticed that one was slightly smaller than the other. They figured that one must have been for Karen, they were about to go out and ask Mom, but she was standing at the entrance to the door and smiled a wonderful smile.
The dresses were wonderfully smooth. Karen’s was a deep purple, and Julie’s was a shiny teal. They were the most beautiful of dresses, nicer than either had ever seen. With a low cut neck and the back’s cutout reaching almost to their waist, the dresses were simply heaven to the girls.
Julie began to melt away back into her dreamland. Everything was beginning to seem so surreal to her… The whole world started to fade away for a second…. The next thing she knew her Mom, Dad, and her sister Karen were surrounding her… Apparently she had fainted. Mom said that it was probably a side effect of all the physical changes that had happened to Julie over the day.
There had been many thing flowing around in Julie’s head that day… Thoughts of wonder and enjoyment… The feeling of a life long dream full of all her hopes and desires was finally coming true. But in the back of her mind, She couldn’t help but think that something was wrong. Why was every thing happening now?
Julie was wrestling with these thoughts trying to figure things out as Karen helped her get ready… They decided to put on the dresses before doing their makeup, so that they wouldn’t mess up their artwork once it was finished. As Karen did Julie’s makeup, Julie watched intently in the mirror. Not only did she need to know how to do this for herself, but also she would have to help Karen in a minute.
After Karen had finished with Julie, it was now her turn. Julie sat there trying to figure out exactly where to start. Karen had noticed Julie’s hesitation and decided to walk her through it, after realizing that she probably should have thought of that before. The two girls tried and failed to hold in their excitement. The giggling and general bubbly attitudes that both were expressing made it that much harder for Julie to accomplish the task at hand.
After many mistakes and corrections, Julie and Karen were both ready for the evening’s special dinner. Julie couldn’t help but dream about what could come. With everything that had gone on in preparation, tonight would have to be spectacular.
As the tension mounted, Julie couldn’t help but pester her sister about what was going to happen. All Karen would say is that she didn’t know. And that was the truth. Karen was just as in the dark as Julie was, which really surprised her. Up until now Karen had known most of mom’s plans.
As the clock turned 7:00, Chad (Karen’s Fiancé) arrived and everyone began gathering his or her stuff getting ready to go. Just as they were ready to walk out the door, a gentleman came to the door and introduced himself as William Vlasic. Mom came forward and introduced Julie and then informed Julie that William would be her date.
Julie was NOT pleased about this in the least bit. How could her mother not tell her about this ahead of time? At least then she would have been able to ask Karen for advice. Just as Julie thought she was going to burst, Karen came to the rescue and swept her away to the bathroom for a short conference.
Karen tried her best to calm Julie and make things better. But that was no easy task. The moment they hit the bathroom, Julie had began to cry uncontrollably. The of course caused other complications.
Once Julie was calm and Karen had started to fix all the make-up damage, there was a light tapping at the door. It was mom asking if everything was all right… Even though it wasn’t, Julie didn’t want to spoil her mother’s plans and said, "Yes mom, just a bit surprised. We’ll be out in a second". And then it was back to makeup.
As they walked out, William was standing there just a bit bewildered and offered his arm to his beautiful young date. As Julie took his arm and preceded outside, Mom gave Karen a pleased glance, and Karen shot one that showed she wasn’t happy with what happened.
Julie was escorted out to William’s yellow Corvette, while mom and dad got into their blue Taurus and Karen and Chad got into their Green Mustang. The three vehicles made their way to Antonio’s on the waterfront. It was a beautifully charming restaurant, and Julie had been their just once before. As they neared the restaurant, Julie asked a few quick questions of her suitor. It turns out that he was the son of one of her mother’s friends, and that he was a sophomore in a pre-med program at U.C. Davis. It seems that Julie’s mom had done well for her new daughter.
They pulled up to the entrance, where a valet came forward and opened the door for Julie. As William got out of the car and walked around, he handed the keys to the valet and slipped him a $20 in hopes that we would take extra care of the car. They stood under the canopy on the red velvet lined steps waiting for the rest to arrive, which they did a minute or so later as the valet was returning from parking William’s car.
The poles of the canopy were brass but polished so well that they glistened like gold. It created a grand atmosphere that Julie just absorbed. They all boarded the glass elevator for the short climb to the second floor where the restaurant was located and was greeted by an elderly gentleman with what seemed to be an authentic Italian accent. William spoke to the man in Italian, and all Julie could pickup was her last name, which probably meant he was giving the information about the reservation. The man smiled and escorted the group to the table.
As everyone began to seat him or herself, William was the perfect gentleman and helped Julie to her seat. Julie was melting into his charm, which began to frighten her. She had begun to feel her inhibitions fall to the side and that was the last thing she needed at this juncture in time.
When the waiter came William motioned that he was ordering for himself and for Julie, which at this point, didn’t affect her much either way. When the food came she found that William had ordered her a Lobster fettuccini. It was a delicious dish in a white crème sauce with the most succulent pieces of lobster meat mixed in. The food was divine and this put her at her knees when it came to William. She was scared that things were going too fast and yet she was absolutely engrossed in all that was he.
The dinner conversation was pleasant. Every time the conversation drifted towards something Julie was unfamiliar with, Karen or mom would come to the rescue and shift the subject.
After dinner, the elderly gentleman that had seated them earlier recited the desert selections. Everyone was too full from his or her delicious dinners to order desert, so they concluded their conversations and readied to leave. As the elderly gentleman placed the check on the table, William was just a split second faster than dad at picking it up. He pulled out some cash and paid the tab, and had a sizeable amount of cash leftover.
They made their way back down to the first floor of the building and all the cars were brought around. They all got into their respective vehicles and started for home. Julie was in a surreal state at this point, ready to melt at the simplest touch. After they got home, and they stepped out of the cars, William told Julie that he had to get up early in the AM and sadly had to bid her farewell for the evening.
William began to move closer, with Julie caught in his trance he lifted her head and began a luscious kiss that Julie wished would last forever. When the kiss ended, Julie returned to the world, realizing what she’d just done, and fled screaming.
"Mom! You’re going to screw up the plan! You’re pushing her too fast!" Karen screamed, and then followed after her sister.
They ended up in Julie’s room. Julie was face down in the bed with Karen consoling her. It was then that Julie realized what had just been said.
"What plan?" Julie asked.