Page 5 of Amazing Grace

Grace eventually chose some smart-casual items she could wear for work, some stuff for relaxing and wearing around the house and some swanky things she could wear if she ever went on a night out, including the cocktail dress. And there wasn’t a black item in sight!

Rita packed up the outfits they’d chosen and handed Grace five bags that were bursting at the seams. ‘It’s lovely to see ladies who come in feeling miserable go out with smiles on their faces. That’s what makes it all worthwhile. That’ll be twenty-five pounds then, please, my darling.’

‘Twenty-five pounds! Is that all? Are you sure?’

‘Yes, lovely, you had fifteen items for free as you brought fifteen items in, then another ten items at two pounds fifty each which makes twenty-five pounds.’

‘Wow, that’s an absolute bargain!’ Grace exclaimed as Monica and Rita sang in unison, ‘And that’s the beauty of swishing!’

Back home, Grace flung herself on her settee, exhausted from her morning of being prodded, poked and cajoled.

‘God, I’m knackered!’ she said to Monica who was standing over her. ‘I’m so looking forward to getting my jimmies on, ordering a Chinese and having a relaxing night in watchingThe X Factortonight!’

Monica grinned. ‘Ha! No bloody chance, sweetie! I’m so glad you like the blue jumpsuit the best, because you’re wearing it when we go out tonight. Come on, shift your butt! Get in the shower right now! You’d better be quick, though. You’ve got an appointment at the hairdresser’s in fifteen minutes.’

4

Carlos, Monica’s brother, who just happened to be a hairdresser, was a magician in the salon. He worked wonders. He was a dead ringer for Idris Elba and the ladies loved him. As he chatted to Grace, he blended three different shades of deep brown, copper and rich red into her hair and then snipped away.

As he swung the chair round to finally face the mirror, he grinned and said, ‘Ta-dah!’

The mousy, lacklustre, shoulder-length nothing style she’d had for years had been transformed into a funky, flicky bob that Kate Silverton would have been proud of. It knocked years off her and she felt light and carefree for the first time in a very long time.

‘OMG! I love it!’ Grace exclaimed.

‘Darling, you look like spring!’ Monica squealed.

‘Spring?’ Grace enquired.

‘Yes, darling, you looked like winter before. Dull, dreary and miserable. But now you look like spring – exciting and full of promise for the future.’

‘I think there’s a backhanded compliment in there somewhere,’ said Carlos, winking at her. ‘What she’s trying to say is, you look hot, girl!’

‘Right, come on, stop flirting with Carlos, babe, it won’t get you anywhere, I can assure you. He’s so in love and happy with Fernando that they make me want to throw up!’

Carlos stuck out his tongue at his sister and handed Grace over to Fiona, a young and stunning beautician who did stage make-up at the local theatre.

Oh please, Mum! I know I ask loads of favours of you, and it’s normally to find me a fabulous parking space, but please don’t let me leave looking like Widow Twanky!Grace mouthed silently to somewhere up above. She felt soothed, as if someone was reassuringly resting their hand on her shoulder.

After around twenty minutes titivating, Fiona said, ‘It’s time. Close your eyes… and now you can look in the mirror!’ She swung Grace’s chair around.

Grace held her breath, and slowly opened one eye and then the other. She blinked and blinked again. Was that really her? She could not believe it.

‘Is that me?’

‘Sure is! Do you like it?’ Fiona asked nervously.

‘Oh! My! God!What have you done to me? That’s not me, surely?’ She stared straight at the mirror, sideways on and back to straight on. ‘Like it? I bloodyloveit!’

Fiona laughed. ‘I know I do the stage looks but I’ve been learning how to do subtle make-overs too and how to enhance a person’s natural features. Are you sure you’re happy? You didn’t think you were going to end up looking like a pantomime dame, did you?’ She laughed.

‘God! Of course not!’ Grace said, mentally crossing her fingers at the lie. ‘I’m bloody delighted, Fiona. I’m going to tell everyone about you and how amazing you are! Between you, Carlos and Monica, you’ve transformed me on the outside. Thank you sooo very much.’

‘Well, let me know if you fancy a pizza-and-Prosecco night and I could teach you how to do it for yourself, if you fancy it?’

‘Now you’re talking. Thank you so much, Fiona.’

Monica sniggered. ‘Yes, that’s the outside done, Grace, and you look amazing. We’re ready for our night out and then we just have the inside to work on!’

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