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Ellen's Encounter

     It was near closing time at the public library where Ellen Jertle worked an odd 12:30-9 PM shift for many years. She was a familiar sight in the place since she started there way back as a junior in high school during the mid 60's. She was on a step stool while her long time, but much younger co worker, Jane, was handing her some books to put away. "You can sure tell when it's research paper time at the college. There's sure been a lot of activity around here, lately.", said Jane. "Sure has!", said Ellen, turning around.

     Turning her head to look at Jane, the long, plastic stick holding Ellen's very long, chestnut brown hair in a loose chinigon caught on the shelf and released all the length. This was an annoying recurrence that everyone who worked there hated. The ends fell past her feet, since she was up on the stool. Although Ellen tried, she wasn't good at creating reliable ways to control her amazingly long hair. "Man, here we go again! Ellen, when are you going do DO something about all that hair? It's so long that those hair sticks you use won't hold it any more! In fact, there's nothing you do with it that keeps it up. Why don't you just cut it off! Believe me, no one will care!", exclaimed Jane. "Doesn't it matter if I care?", pleaded Ellen.

     "Look around you, stupid! You live in the wrong century! It's 1990, not 1890! I don't see one girl in this library with hair past mid back! No one wears their hair real long like you any more. Not since the 20's! My gosh, you're like so out of it. Go get a hair cut! Then you won't have to stop every time your stupid hair falls and you have to wind it all back up again! Come on, you're 45, now, why don't you at least try to act like it! That hair doesn't do a thing for you!", exclaimed Jane, sarcastically. Ellen looked away in shame as tears wallowed in her eyes. "I guess no one would care. No one ever says anything good about my hair, or anything good about me in general. It's always stupid Ellen's fault around here. Always. It's been a long time since any one cared about how I feel when they yell at me. Maybe she's right, my hair IS too long and outdated!", she thought to herself. She stared at the row of books in front of her for a while before responding. "You're right. I guess the time's come for a hair cut. Come on, let's just finish up here. I'll leave it like this so we can get out of here on time tonight. I'll wait to fix it before I go home and you can leave.", said Ellen. They were silent as Jane handed more books up for Ellen to put away.

     "I'm sorry, Ellen. I shouldn't have said that, I know how you love your hair. Maybe there's a book somewhere in this place that will give you some kind of idea what to do to hold your hair off the floor.", repented Jane. "I should be used to it by now. Every one harasses me about my hair. I think I'm the only one in the world who likes it long. I think I'll make everyone ecstatic and cut it this weekend to my chin. How's that?", cried Ellen. "Don't lop it off on my account!", exclaimed Jane. "It's not just you. I KNOW my mother will be THRILLED when I cut it. So will Janice. Maybe there will be a little peace between all of us and with my mother once my long hair is gone!", returned Ellen with tears flowing down her cheeks. "And a little less playing with that hair around here!!", thought Jane to herself.

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    Back at her apartment, Ellen stood in front of her free standing, full length mirror, easing her fine bristled brush through the length of her free chestnut brown hair. "I might not be able to keep it long much longer. No matter what I try, I can't seem to manage it. You think after all this time growing my hair, I'd learn how to control it! Maybe they're right, I am stupid and insecure! Everyone hates me because of my hair! Besides, who's going to care how my hair looks, anyway? If I haven't found anyone who likes it by now, what makes me think I'm going to attract anyone now that I'm older?", she asked herself. She took a section of her hair and folded it over at her chin, throwing the free length behind her back to get an idea of what she may look like with a short bob. "MM. I'm certainly not going to be a very attractive middle aged woman with a short haircut, that's for sure. It's just as I thought, my long hair is my ONLY beauty asset. Without it, I have nothing. But then, again, no one seemed to show any interest all these years it was long, so I may have nothing now! If only I worked more normal hours.", she lamented, starting to cry. She loosely braided her gorgeous mane in front of her shoulder for bed.

     Before turning in for the night, she stopped one more time by her mirror. She looked closely at the reflection returning to her eyes with disfavor. With her long hair loosely braided behind and out of view, what she saw was a somewhat tall, thin woman, small breasted with fair skin. Her trifocal glasses were the result of too many years struggling to read and understand romance novels in her poorly lit kitchenette. Under the glasses, she could see wrinkles starting to form, as well as a little too much midnight ice cream taking residence in her upper thighs. These normal signs of aging paled compared to her six feet plus of flowing chestnut brown hair that seemed to escape the ravages of time.

     She started growing her hair long in high school like everyone else in the mid 60's, straight, parted in the middle, cascading to great lengths below. This was her pride and joy, the result of hours of loving care. But, as the 70's and 80's grew on along with her hair, she deemed it necessary to start wearing it in buns and chinigons to protect the long length from the battles of life. She never had support from anyone for her hair, so learning how to create styles with it was a challenge. She tried reading books, but a learning disorder made it tough for her to learn this way. She tried following diagrams and such, but her very heavy hair was sometimes too much to hold up. She was also afraid of change and insecure in general. She had long hair for so long and was afraid something bad would happen to her if she cut any part of it. Six years ago, the length exceeded her height, making it impossible to wear down. "After all these years.", she said to herself, softly. "I guess it was inevitable that a day would come that I would have to cut my hair. I fear that time may be upon me soon!", she cried. In loneliness, she cried herself to sleep.

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     The rest of the week wore on at the library with no more mention of a big hair cut. Ellen wore her hair in a braid, pinned up behind her head with more pins than most hairdressers ever see in a lifetime. This style worked well as her hair didn't fall down at all the rest of the week. The lack of hair cut talk around the library caused Ellen to let that wrenching thought fade away. The style, however, was boring to her after she wore it three days in a row. She needed a change, so she read some magazines at break from the late 60's on very long hairstyles. She found a style that looked interesting, although for much shorter hair than hers, so she took the magazine home with her.

     Saturday, Ellen came to work beaming, proud of a great early 70's designer dress she found cheap at the second hand store near her apartment and a new hairstyle! The dress was sheer and sleeveless, almost a halter cut at the arms. It had a floral pattern, with a flared hem that danced around her knees when she walked. She complimented this trendy dress by putting her long hair in a new top knot style, leaving part of her hair free to the top of her legs, a style she read about in one of the magazines. The loosely tied bun was held together with an elastic, beaded piece probably meant for something else other than holding up hair. When she walked the free ponytail kept time with the swinging hem.

     "Why Ellen, you certainly look nice today! What got into you?", asked Janice, the library supervisor. "I found this dress for only five dollars! Also, it's Saturday, I thought it would be a nice dress up day.", returned Ellen. "Got a date tonight, or something?", asked Jane, joining in. "No. I'm just in a good mood today, Can't I show it?", returned Ellen, spinning around and prancing away, ecstatic that someone actually complimented her! "The world will END before SHE ever gets a date!", said Jane. "Maybe not that long, but at least another ice age will occur!", laughed Janice. "You know, that dress wouldn't look too bad on any one else. But her, she still looks homely and out of style. That's the first time I think I've ever seen her knees in the 10 years I've worked here.", laughed Jane to Janice.

     "Be nice, Jane. It isn't that often Ellen does anything remotely out of the ordinary. Just leave her alone and let her feel good about herself for a change.", said Janice. "This is too weird. She don't EVER dress that way!", said Jane. "Maybe she's going through some change in her life, let's just sit back and let it pass. I like that hair style. I wonder when she learned it?, asked Janice. "It's about time she does SOMETHING creative with that mop on her head! I thought I had her talked into cutting it earlier this week!", added Jane. "Now Jane, that's a tender subject for her. She's been able to keep it in check all week with that braided style. Maybe this new ponytail style will hold up, too. It's nice, but it looks awful loose!", said Janice. "Yeah, looks like one pull and it's all over the place again!", quipped Jane. "Jane, if her hair gets out of hand, I'll talk to her about cutting it, not you, OK?", demanded Janice.

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     This Saturday was especially busy, many returning books before closing. Ellen was working the book return desk running back and forth with the ponytail flying behind. It was an hour before it was time to close, and Ellen's loose topknot was holding nicely. "I don't believe that loose mess of hair on top of her head held all day! I've seen much better designed styles fail when she gets that busy!", said Jane. "Maybe she's trying harder to control it. Leave it alone, Jane.", returned Janice. "Maybe I scared her when I yelled at her to cut it last Tuesday!", said Jane. "I TOLD YOU, leave her alone!", demanded Janice.

     Janice wanted to get the new returns back on the shelf for Monday. The crowd was thinned down to a mother reading to her two girls, so Janice had the crew gather at the desk. "OK, lets get these books back on the shelf. Ellen, work with me and Jane, you work with Mark on this other cart. If these last people leave early, I'll close down and we can get an early start on our weekend. I'm meeting my husband at Troy's tonight for a nice, romantic dinner!", said Janice. "Great!", replied Jane.

     Janice was up on a stool with Ellen handing her books when one of the girls came up behind. "Can I help you find something, honey?", asked Ellen. The girl shook her head, no. "Are you sure?", repeated Ellen. The girl said nothing, so Ellen went back to sorting books to hand up to Janice. The young girl just stayed, staring at Ellen. This went on for a few minutes when Janice got tired of it. "Don't be shy. Just ask Miss Jertle what you need and she'll help you.", demanded Janice. "I just read about you. I KNEW you were real.", said this little girl, quite innocently. "I beg your pardon? When did you read about me, honey?", asked Ellen. "Just now. I was reading Rapunzel with my Mommy.", she said. "Oh that's so sweet, honey. Now go back to your mom and tell her you saw Rapunzel, but she's very busy and has to work, OK?", said Ellen.

     Right then, her mother appeared, "Oh, there you are. Come on, let's get ready to go.", said her mother. "Look, Mommy, there she is! Rapunzel, the princess we read about!", said the girl. She reached up and pulled on Ellen's dangling ponytail, pulling out the loose top knot and releasing the full length to the floor. "WOWIE!! Look Mommy, it really IS Rapunzel!", screamed the excited little girl. "Rachel!!", said the mother. "Oh, no. Not again! Hair all over the place!", said Janice. "Come on, Rachel. I'm sorry, I'll get her out of your hair, pardon the pun.", smiled the mother, giving Ellen a strange look up and down the length of her hair. "Go on, fix it, I'll finish this myself! I'm really going to be late, now!!!", droned Janice.

     Ellen grabbed her purse and ran to the rest room. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she tried, but realized she couldn't recreate the top knot without the instructions sitting on her kitchen table. She didn't have anything else but the elastic beads that held the loose bun together to try another style, either. "Oh, gosh, what to do? What to do?", she franticly said to herself. She tried a few things, but her hair wouldn't stay put. The more nervous she was, the more tangled her hair became. Finally, she created a messy, doubled up style with a loose bun and the the elastic beads holding it that ended below her waist. "I'll deal with the tangles when I get home.", she yelled. Precariously, she left the restroom to go back to work.

     "It's about time, I thought you got sucked down the drain!", said Janice. "I thought you were going to do something about this problem!", said Jane, who with Mark joined helping Janice because they were done putting their cart away. "Here, you two finish this cart, then you can leave. Lock up behind yourselves. Ellen, I need to see you in my office right now!", exclaimed Janice. Ellen's heart sank. She knew she was going to get some serious grief over her long hair.

     "Ellen, do you have any idea why you're in here right now?", demanded Janice, very angry. Ellen looked away before speaking. "Yes, it's my hair, isn't it.", surmised Ellen. "Very good, we're on the same wave length. This has gone on long enough, Ellen. you spend way too much time fixing your hair, about three times more than Mark does with his smoke breaks! It's obvious to me you have no idea what to do with all that hair, Miss Jertle, so you leave me no choice but to demand that you cut your hair in order to keep your job. I'm tired of all the complaining from Mark and Jane about the time you spend on it. Look, if you had your hair fixed right just now, we'd all be out of here and on our way home. Now, I'm going to be late meeting my husband because of this!", lectured Janice. Ellen began to cry. "I'll cut it tonight. It will be short when I come in Tuesday. Please don't fire me! This is the only job I've ever had! I'm sorry I caused all this grief, Janice. I'll cut it right here.", lamented Ellen, fixing her index finger above her jawbone. "You don't have to cut THAT much, Ellen. I know how you love your hair. Why don't you wait till your day off on Monday and go to a hairdresser and get it done correctly. I think a layered cut to just below your shoulders would look nice, I'll even pay for it! Don't do anything drastic tonight on your own, you will probably end up with a crew cut!", said Janice, handing her $20.

     Both stood in silence for a moment. "Come on, let's get out of here. I'm really sorry it had to come to this, but I think we gave you every opportunity to correct this on your own. Besides, a woman needs a new look now and then. It might change your life!", said Janice as they left her office to the dark library. Janice noticed one small cart of books still not put away. "Crud. I forgot about these!", said Janice. "Go on, I'll take care of it, Janice. Go meet your husband. I have nobody I have to meet or anyplace to go.", whimpered Ellen. "Thanks, Ellen. Be sure to lock up when you leave.", said Janice, running out the door. Ellen watched her drive off and started putting the last few books away.

     Once she had the books put away, she released her hair again. She brought the length around in front of her shoulders to look at it. Making eye contact with her doomed hair, she fell to her knees, wailing uncronrolably, the anguished sound bouncing from the walls and ceiling. "My hair!! My hair!! My hair!! WHY!!! Why did it come to this??!!", she wailed over and over in the dark library. Her soul felt as empty as the large, dark building. The future of her long hair was sealed. "Why wait till Monday? I won't enjoy my Sunday at all knowing I have to give up my hair the next day! No, I'm cutting it right when I get back to my apartment... TONIGHT!!!!", she screamed, then whimpering weakly into her palms.

     Slowly, she braided her hair, wrapping it on top of her head, holding the large braid with the elastic beads. "Why didn't I think of this earlier? I could have saved my hair! I'm SO stupid!!", she yelled at herself. "It's too late, now! I have to cut my hair to keep my job. I have no choice, I might as well go home and get it over with!", she lamented. She left for her apartment, remembering the harsh sentence. It played on her mind as she drove home. "You leave me no choice but to demand that you cut your hair to keep your job!".

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     The second hand store was still open when she passed. Thinking about something else said, "Every woman needs a new look now and then.", she stopped to see if there was something nice she might like to wear with her new cut. She bought herself a trendy, yellow short sleeve form fitting dress that fit her perfectly. On the way to the check out, she eyed a cute little babydoll nightie with matching robe and slippers marked down to two dollars. "This is cheap!", she said out loud. "The robe has a big tear in the back, no one seems to want it. As far as the babydoll, I think it's almost new, but gals who shop for these kinds of things generally don't come here!", smiled a worker who heard her. Ellen picked up the robe, noticing the tear about four inches from the hem of the long robe. The nightgown and slippers seemed to be in pretty good shape. She held the robe up to see how it might fit on her.

     "MM. No one seems to want it. Kind a like me! Gee, I need a new robe, and who cares what I wear to bed! Might as well be this cute little nightie with the matching slippers. I'll wear it tonight when I cut my hair.", she thought to herself. When she checked out, the clerk at the register looked at the nightgown, looked up at Ellen, then looked back at the nightgown. This made Ellen a little self continuous. "It's a good deal, isn't it? The slippers alone are worth the two dollars!", said Ellen. "Guess so.", said the clerk. Once he put the dress and nightgown in a bag, he gave her a smile. "Have fun with it!", he said. Smiling, Ellen took her bag and left for her apartment.

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     Ellen was surprised to see a load of furniture in the hallway at such a late hour in front of her apartment. It looked as if someone was moving into the empty apartment next to hers. She peeked in the open door to find a young woman, about 18, unpacking boxes. This woman had beautiful, very thick blonde hair, tied on each side by barrettes, and hanging several inches past her waist. She was siting on the floor unpacking some stuffed animals. At first, Ellen kept quiet, her mind tortured with what she had to do with her own hair. "MM., old stuffed toys? Must be her first time out on her own. She really looks nervous, but excited.", she thought.

     "Excuse me? Are you the new person moving in?", asked Ellen. "Hi, yes. I'm Jennifer. Glad to meet you.", she said, getting up and reaching out her hand. "Hi, I'm Ellen, I live in the next apartment. You sure have beautiful hair, Jennifer!", said Ellen. "Why thank you!", said Jennifer, interrupted by a man Ellen's age entering with another younger man. "Jenni, company already?", he asked. "Daddy, that's Jenni - FER, now that I'm a working model! This is Ellen, she lives in the next apartment. She stopped in to introduce herself.", returned Jennifer. "Hi, Ellen. Arnold Compton and my son, Arnie. Sorry I can't chat, but we have a load of stuff to get in my little girl's first apartment.", said Arnold, pinching Jennifer's cheek. "Dad, I think this is harder on you than Mom!", said Jennifer. Arnold and Arnie started on the large furniture.

     "Oh! I how I love that vintage dress, Ellen! I just have to know what boutique that comes from!", exclaimed Jennifer. "Second Hand Store two blocks away.", returned Ellen. "You're like ..joking, right?", asked Jennifer. No, look at this bag, I just bought another one tonight.", said Ellen, taking it out to show her. "You are like so resourceful! Imagine, Daddy, finding something like this in a used store!", exclaimed Jennifer, holding up the dress. Ellen felt a little uncomfortable when Arnold stared at the large braid wound on top of her head. "Well, I better get out of your way. Just knock on my door tomorrow if you need anything, OK, Jennifer?", said Ellen, leaving for her apartment.

     "Nice lady. Did you notice her hair? I wonder what she uses?", asked Arnold. "Daddy! Is that all you notice about anyone?, asked Jennifer. "No, Jenni, and you know it. But did you notice? She didn't have a streak of gray. It was so shiny and healthy looking!", returned Arnold. "Can't you ever quit thinking about your job for once? How do you know she don't use your competitor's products on her hair?", demanded Jennifer. "There's something about her, something interesting. I wonder how long her hair is?", wondered Arnold. "Well, she told us where she lives, why don't you just go knock on her door and ASK her how long it is! Gee!!", exclaimed Jennifer.

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     Ellen turned on her living room light and headed for the kitchen. "MM., her first apartment. I remember mine. I just had a folding table, cot, fridge, and a sleeping bag. I covered myself at night with my long hair...  my poor, doomed hair...", she lamented in her living room. "Looks like with all that furniture, SHE'S starting off pretty well. She sure has beautiful hair, it's a shame we won't be able to share long hair styling tips together!" She continued to think amid bumps and thumps from Jennifer's apartment, getting the kitchen ready for the big cut. She pushed the table next to the counter to get better light and moved both chairs out of the way. In front of the free standing mirror in her bedroom, she released her glorious mane for possibly the last time. "This is it. Come on, Ellen, just get it over with!", she yelled, going to the shower to wash her doomed locks.

     The noise ceased next door soon after Ellen got out of the shower. She made a little noise of her own dragging her free standing mirror to the kitchen area and prepared for her haircut. Dressed in the new babydoll nightie, robe and slippers, she let her wet hair hang free to the floor, placing her sewing scissors, fine bristle brush, and a smaller hand held mirror for cutting the back of her hair on the table. One last time, she combed gently through her crowning glory. "Tonight, I give up the last remnant of my youth from the 60's. Good bye, my hair. Good bye, my long beautiful hair. For so many years, I tried, but no one cared. Only sarcasm. Only ridicule. Hardly ever, anything nice.", said Ellen.

     She removed the robe, revealing the very short babydoll nightgown. She lifted the scissors to her hair at her chin. Facing her mirror, she stared at the reflection returning to her teary eyes. It was a sad, disturbed reflection, unsure of the future. The tortured look on her face was one that should never be seen by anyone, but was certainly glaring back at her. "What's going to become of me once my hair is short? What will everyone say? What if this is the wrong thing to do, I can't glue it back!", she said out loud to reflection. Finally, she seemed to get the nerve to start. Her hand started to shake violently as the scissors started to close. Suddenly, she dropped the scissors and closed her teary eyes. "I can't do it!! I just can't do this to my hair!! My long hair is just as much part of me as my eyes, nose and mouth!", she screamed. The door slamming at Jennifer's place interrupted her torture. She could hear Jennifer saying bye to her Dad and brother. "I thought they were all done! Oh, well. I have to give this more thought. Maybe I can find another job or something. Maybe I'll just show up at the library with my hair tightly braided and she'll give me another chance to prove I can control it. Maybe I'll just buy a large hat!", she said to herself. She went to her turntable to put on an album.

     Ellen sat in her living room with tears flowing down her cheeks. The song, 'Wonderful Tonight' came on, causing her to get more emotional. She sang with the end of the verse, "Do I look alright? And I say yes, you look wonderful tonight." "Like heck I do!!", she added. The next verse, "Do you feel alright?, and I say yes, I feel wonderful tonight." She added, "Like heck I do, I feel miserable tonight!!" As the song went into the last verse, she got up and wrapped a scarf around her hair at the neck to make a ponytail. "I'll just leave all this here and sleep on it. Tomorrow, I'll see if I truly want to cut off my hair. Janice was right, I shouldn't do anything drastic tonight.", she said to herself, looking into her mirror.

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     Arnold came back to Ellen's door. He went to knock, but froze. Instead, he listened to 'Wonderful Tonight' and Ellen singing along. "Do I bother her or not? I could leave right now and no one will know I was here. I could knock, possibly intrude on her and be embarrassed. But again, I might meet a fantastic lady with hair down to who knows where?", he discussed in his mind. Inside, Ellen sang the final words to the song as she went to take the album off the turntable to go to bed. Hearing the song ending and fearing she was turning in for the night caused him to knock.

     Ellen heard the soft, gentle knock on the door. "Is that my door, or Jenni's?", she wondered, turning off the stereo. The knock repeated. "It's mine!", she stammered. "Hello? Who's there?", asked Ellen. "Ellen, it's Arnold Compton, Jennifer's father. Do you have a moment?", he pleaded, softly. "Sure, let me get decent!", returned Ellen. She put the robe over her nightgown to answer the door.

     "Is this a bad time?", asked Arnold. "No, how can I help you?", she asked. May I come in, I don't want Jenni to see me.", he replied. "Silly me. Come in.", said Ellen. As she turned her back, Arnold gasped in excitement, seeing Ellen's glorious, long chestnut ponytail!! It was much longer than he ever imagined! "I-I heard the music, so I-I thought you still would be awake. 'Wonderful Tonight' is one of my favorites. I also heard you scream. Is everything alright?", he asked. "I'm having a small conflict, but I'll be OK. I'm sorry if I startled you. I'm Ellen Jertle.", she said, holding out her hand. "Ellen, please humor me on this. I probably sound over protective, but I'm worried about my little girl out on her own. I want to give you my number in case anything goes wrong.", said Arnold, giving her a business card, and scribbling his home number on the back. "Wow, vice president, sales and advertising, Speedy Haircare Products? Well, you've done well. You know, I even use your stuff, it's the best on the market! I see why Jenni has such great hair!", laughed Ellen. "Thank you. As a businessman, yes, I do well, but as a father, no. Since our divorce, Jenni has been kind a distant to me. I know she loves me and all, but it's not the same when my ex and I were together.", said Arnold.

     "I'm sorry to hear that. Can I get you a drink? It'll have to be water or tea.", she asked. "Ice water would be great! I worked up a thirst moving her in.", said Arnold. He got another glimpse of Ellen's hair as she went to the kitchen. Arnold saw the mirror and implements on the table, including the scissors on the floor. "Pardon me, Ellen, just tell me if I'm overstepping my welcome, but you have the most gorgeous hair I think I've ever seen!", exclaimed Arnold. Ellen was shocked and speechless. Two compliments in the same day? The very day she is told to cut it?? Totally unfair!!, she lamented. "I bet you hear that enough times to make you scream, don't you?", said Arnold. Ellen turned towards him, taking the scarf out of her hair to set it free, taking one side and sliding it over her shoulder. Arnold had a tough time containing his rapidly advancing heartbeat.

     "Actually, it hardly happens at all. What I hear is to cut it off all the time, it's ugly, I'm not acting my age, and all kinds of ridicule.", explained Ellen. "That's a real shame! Were you giving yourself a dusting of the ends here at the table? I've heard Jenni and some of my models talk about it, but I have no concept of it at all.", he said. "No. Not really. I was actually going to cut it short tonight, up to around here, but I changed my mind.", replied Ellen, moving her hand to her chin. "Why on earth would you do that? Is there something wrong? So many women destroy their image over trivial things!", he pleaded. "It's not my choice. My supervisor at the library told me I had to cut my hair to keep my job. I'm too clumsy to figure out a style to hold it in place at work and she tired of me always having to fix it. I don't know what to do with it!", cried Ellen, looking away, starting to cry again.

     "Easy answer. Quit that stupid job!", demanded Arnold. "Excuse me? I still have to pay rent. I need my job! What am I supposed to do?", replied Ellen. A moment of silence ensued as Arnold got the nerve to propose a solution he'd hope she would accept. He stared at what he thought was the most beautiful well kept secret in the country! "Come work ... for me.", stammered Arnold. "Uh.. I.. uh.", stammered Ellen. "Monday morning, 9:00, meet me at the receptionist desk. The address is on my card. I'll make it worth your while to come work for me as a hair model. We'll teach you how to style your beautiful hair!", said Arnold. "Who, me?? Look at me, I'm not a model! I'm a 45 year old librarian! Look at these glasses, trifocals. Look here, not much, right?", demanded Ellen as she took off her robe to reveal the babydoll nightgown again. "Me, a model? You must be kidding!"

     "Everyone thinks my hair is something to ridicule, like a security blanket that I can't give up.", she continued. "I happen to think your beautiful hair will help sell our hair products. You can take the glasses off and wear flattering clothes for your figure, like the dress you had on earlier in Jenni's apartment! We don't want or need flawless figures. We need great looking hair like yours. Please, consider working for me, I'm willing to pay anything you ask.", pleaded Arnold. "You mean like $20,000 a year?", she asked. "I'll even make it 25. I'll give you $250 tonight to show I'm not kidding!", said Arnold as he reached for his wallet. "Are you feeling well? You better take another look at what you're buying.", said Ellen.

     Arnold looked at Ellen in the nightgown with her hair to the floor. "You are exactly what I want. How about we forget this librarian nonsense?", he asked, putting the money on the end table. "You have a deal if you help me drag my mirror back to the bedroom!", said Ellen. "Sure!", said Arnold as he reached around her to help. They froze in this position, knowing there might be a little more feeling than either was willing to admit....

     What happens next? Watch for a possible sequel.........Meanwhile, many times women with very long hair put up with ridicule and sometimes are required to cut it for a job or promotion. This story and Ellen are fictional accounts of these very real situations.

Back to the Storybook for more tales of women with very long hair.