Into the Woods (DeBeers 4)

up at the ceiling, and marched at me, seizing me at the

shoulders and turning me back into the bathroom, where she held me in front of the wall mirror. "Well?"

she asked.

I stared at someone. It was a young woman.

She had a blue blouse on, but she wore her bra over

the blouse. She was wearing a short red skirt over a

pair of jeans. One side of her hair was brushed back,

and the other was tied into a pigtail. The lipstick she

wore was under her lower lip and over the upper,

producing a crimson mustache. Small pats of rouge

over her forehead and cheeks made her face look

broken out in a rash. There was one long teardrop

earring dangling from her left ear and none on the

right.

"Who's that?" I asked.

"Really. Who is that? It's certainly not Grace

Montgomery. Take everything off. wash your face,

and go to bed." she ordered. She sighed deeply. "You

win. I'm sending for the doctor. Go on." she insisted. -

Do as I say, Grace."

I stood there, puzzled, but she turned and left.

After she was gone I gazed into the mirror again. I

brought my hands up to feel the bra and realized I

wasn't looking at someone else. I was looking at

myself.

What was it she wanted me to do? I wondered. Yes, get undressed, wash my face, and go to bed. That's it I followed her orders. Soon she returned with our family physician. Dr. Cook. He had been

Winston's doctor and had been very fond of him.

-"Hello there," he said, pulling a chair up beside

the bed. "What's happening with you?"

I looked at Mommy, who stood at the foot of