“They would have to weed, edge, blow leaves, that is not work for girls,” Mrs. Hannigan insisted.“If you don’t like the way they do it, then y...u don’t have to pay, how is that?” My mom continued to smile.Mrs. Hannigan blustered and asked if we’d be wearing the sponges while we mowed the grass.“No, but since it is summer they will be wearing bikinis,” My mom smiled. Mrs. Hannigan told us to see that we minded her radio antenna when we washed her car. “The colored boys at the car wash snapped it. I didn’t worry too much about it. Marilyn hadn’t had one for our second child before, in what was then 1982, but that was at a small clinic in upstate New York. Now it was 1984 and, relatively speaking, in the big city.Marilyn was quite excited by it all and wanted me to come with her. “We can find out if it’s a boy or a girl! Which would you prefer? A boy or a girl?”“Ten fingers and ten toes, honey. After that it doesn’t matter.” I just wanted another healthy child.“You’re no fun! Which would. She had been looking forward to her date tonight. She was wearing her favorite blue dress, and her sexiest underclothes. A matching blue bra and panty set, with garter belt and white silk stockings with the seam running down the back. She had been looking forward to seeing Mark's reaction when he would lift her dress, and see them on her.Even though she was still a virgin, she had spent many happy moments with Mark, in the back of his car. Necking for hours, she had recently started letting him. When Kate emerged from the salon's make-up room, my breath caught in my throat and I suddenly had tunnel vision. I stood up, mouth dry, and simply stared at her. Her hair was done up in a loose twist, with tendrils framing her face. When she came closer, I noticed sparkling motes of light winking from the twist, and realized that she had something cleverly woven into her hair. I didn't know what it was, but the effect was stunning.Her make-up was subtle but artfully applied, and the effect.