Free Mixed Bags by Melody Carlson Page B

again. She expected to see a zit appear at any moment.
    “Okay, here’s the plan,” said Eliza quickly. “You get a quick shower and shampoo your hair really well, and I’ll be right back.”
    “What should I use to wash my face?” asked DJ, feeling like she was about six years old now.
    “Nothing for now. Just water. And shave your legs too. But hurry. We don’t have much time.”
    So, still feeling utterly hopeless, DJ stripped off her sweaty clothes, threw them into the hamper, and leaped into the shower. She’d just gotten out and was towel drying her hair when Eliza popped in carrying an oversized plaid bag that appeared to be filled with all sorts of beauty products.
    “Looks like you could be an Avon lady,” teased DJ.
    “Sit down there,” commanded Eliza, pointing to a bench by the bathtub.
    She’d changed into a pretty sky blue top and a pair of khaki shorts, complete with an attractive woven belt that matched her sandals. Perfect for a hot day on the beach—and just plain perfect.
    DJ adjusted the towel that she’d wrapped around her like a sari and was barely seated on the bench before Eliza began messing with her hair.
    “What are you doing?” asked DJ.
    “Just putting some highlights on it. It’s a product I keep handy for those times when I can’t get to the salon. Just a little pick-me-up, until I can get professional help. I discovered it when my mom and I were touring Europe about a year ago. It works really great.”
    “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
    “Don’t worry.”
    “How long does this stuff take?”
    “Just fifteen minutes.”
    DJ’s eyes began to water. Whatever Eliza was putting on her hair smelled like a combination of rotten eggs and formaldehyde—like something from chemistry class.
    “What if my hair falls out?”
    Eliza laughed. “It won’t fall out.”
    DJ wasn’t so sure. But she decided it might be safer to keep her mouth shut while Eliza was doing this. She didn’t want to distract her. Before long, Eliza was done putting the stuff on her hair and she covered the top of her head with a piece of plastic. “Now your face,” said Eliza, handing her a white tube of something. “This is an exfoliating cleanser. Just gently rub it into your face. But not around your eyes. Okay?”
    “Is it dangerous?”
    “No, silly. But avoid the eye area or you’ll get puffy.”
    After that, Eliza handed her a warm, damp washcloth. “Now gently remove the cleanser with this, using small circular motions.” DJ followed her instructions and then Eliza opened another small jar of something. “This is moisturizer with sunscreen. Just put a little on, here and here and here.” She dotted it around on DJ’s face. “And now gently rub it in.”
    “Hey, that feels pretty good,” said DJ as she ran her fingertips over a cheek. “Smooth.”
    “Uh-huh,” said Eliza as she handed her another tube of something. “Now, this is a bronzed moisturizer which also has sunscreen, and it’s actually somewhat waterproof.”
    “What do I do with that?”
    “Just rub it on the tops of your arms and on your legs and your chest. It’s a way to get some color without endangering your skin.” Then Eliza helped her, showing how much to use and how to blend it to look natural. “It’ll come off if you go swimming.”
    DJ considered this. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to don a swimsuit in front of Conner just yet. Besides that her only swimsuit was an old swim-team suit and she didn’t really feel like wearing that in front of anyone. “I doubt that I’ll go swimming,” she told Eliza as she finished with the bronzer.
    “Yeah, me too.” Eliza pointed to her feet. “Now stick a foot-sie up on the edge of the tub.”
    “Why?”
    “I want to check out those feet.”
    “My feet?”
    “Yes!”
    So DJ stuck a foot up on the edge of the tub, waiting for Eliza to tell her the next piece of bad news. Other than cutting her toenails occasionally, DJ rarely even