It was semi-organized chaos as the sisters and their families arrived. They had come almost simultaneously, one from Calgary, the other having stopped...in Victoria to visit friends before heading up the island. The families knew each other well and the boys had already discovered the pool table and TV in the rec room. The two girls, Lizzy and Deanna, were fast friends and immediately headed to "their room" to set up shop.When Donald, Gus and Tatya arrived from work, the chaos had calmed down to. I slipped my sweats back on and froze with anticipation.To my horror, second later the bathroom door opened and there stood my stepmom, arms wrapped around a bundle of laundry. She had changed into a floral spring dress. She slowly looked up at me with a pair of big blue eyes. The laundry dropped and so did her mouth. I was towering over her, at least a foot above her petite 5’3” stature. The laundry room light cast a beam of light that perfectly illuminated the enormous tent pole protruding. When she gets done blow-drying its all dry in huge full waves. My hair is then put in curls with a medium curling iron, sides and top. Then she tells me to put my head forward and she starts to pin the back of my hair up. Pin after pin are put in across the back of my head. Dana then tells me that I'm to have an 'updo'. Not just a regular one, but one that will last for a week. Each strand that she pins she sprays liberally with hair setting lotion. Then she starts to curl and tease, and pull. Her massive head turned. Her eyes were red, lined with smeared mascara. ‘It’s okay.’ I replied to myself. ‘You’re sure?’ She asked, swallowing. ‘Yes I’m sure.’ I said. She blinked some and her face grew pale. ‘You’re a mess.’ I said. She gave me a half smile, that made me feel good, and I knew she felt better for it, despite herself. I took a deep breath. ‘Is it going to be okay?’ She said. ‘Violet, you’re my best friend. I’d go through hell and back for you. I have to know you don’t hate me.’.