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The Twenty Fifth Anniversary meeting of the BGMC has just begun and the room where all the swimmers and soccer players along with their children and Moms have assembled is buzzing with conversations as various groups greet each other and relive special moments from the past. Soon they will be introduced starting with Christine and Melissa along with their Mom Paula and their two girls, Pauline and Emily. All of the original Cheetahs and Otters are present. There are more than two hundred others who have come. Many are relatively recent members, but a large fraction are those who had been members for many years.

This penultimate episode has no haircutting scenes in it. It simply provides a summing up of the careers of the Amigas and the swimmers who formed the nuclei of the Cheetahs and Otters and a tribute to them, fictional though they are.

Sunday June 15 (Twenty Five Years Later)

Sunday Morning: Twenty Fifth Anniversary Meeting of the BGMC - Continuation

"We were all so charged up that summer that I could hardly keep my feet on the ground," Sammie said. "We were all close before that, but I think we became almost like twin sisters at that meet before the nationals. And the soccer Moms were so excited. Do you all remember what we did when we came back?"

"Are you kidding? How could anybody forget something like that. All the kids were arriving Sunday evening at the Airport. It was going to be a big celebration. Heather and I had gone with the soccer team, and most of the rest had gone to New Jersey for the supersectional meet," Leigh interjected. "Hallie, wasn't it you who organized everyone to meet us at the airport?"

"Michelle helped. It didn't take much. Everyone wanted to go and the guys started calling each other to get some big signs made. The found some place where they could get them printed and somebody went to the party shop and got some noise makers and confetti," Hallie laughed at the memory.

"Yeah. And you remember that shavathon we had a week later," Sammie added.

"That's right. There were so many that Kate couldn't get to us all. I had to wait until later in the week when a bunch of us had a mini shavathon at Kate's shop," Leigh added.

"I remember it," Sammie said. "Wilma got a buzz, and you got your first shave didn't you Leigh?"

"That's right. Alexis got a short cut, but I can't remember exactly what it was. I do remember that she was quite responsive to the reaction of the gang, and was quickly adopted so to speak," Leigh related.

"I was really surprised by Alexis's reaction. She got that beautiful brush cut that she still has. It suited her so well and looked so good that I was amazed. Anyway, she told me later that at the Sunday shavathon she had found herself being drawn in by the enthusiasm and energy that the gang exhibited. That Thursday when she got her brush cut she said that she felt like all this energy, confidence and power were filling her. I guess she's never lost it. She's been a ball of fire ever since. I'm always reading something in the newspaper about her latest project. It's a shame she couldn't be here." Wilma told them.

"I remember talking to you, Wilma, before we left that Sunday morning, telling me you were quite comfortable with the gang and you were going to get a buzz cut. I still hadn't accepted the idea of being a part of whatever was going on even though I did like everyone. I just never thought of myself as a joiner, but the idea of supporting Denise was in my mind so I talked to her and Jim. Denise was enthusiastic about me getting a buzz cut and Jim said that he wouldn't be upset. So I finally decided to get a short cut because I knew that Wilma was going to get one. I got this little boy cut. It was a beautiful cut and I was completely enchanted by it. Everyone loved it. After it was done there was this amazing, almost magical few moments when I felt I was in a trance. I've thought of it many times since then and I still can't understand it. It was as though I had been drawn into the group despite my reluctance. I had the feeling I was being embraced and protected and given a huge infusion of strength and self-confidence by this group of women. All I had to do was accept the wonderful gift. I really couldn't help myself. I knew I had to accept their invitation to be one of them.

"When I came too I was surrounded by all those women hugging and touching me. Somehow I knew that I had been through some kind of transformation, not just a short haircut but a change in perceptions. I've never figured out what happened, but I've never regretted it. In fact it has been a gift that has been one of the most important things in my life. When I left the shop with Wilma I felt completely calm, tremendously strong and absolutely sure of myself. It was an amazing feeling. I've never lost it thanks to you great women," Pam told them, for the first time acknowledging the positive change in her life that had occurred at that moment.

"Well, you've been an inspiration to a lot of women and girls over the years Pam - just like Alexis, Jan, Sammie and a lot of others. We were fortunate that you accepted us," Doris said. She and others had joined them. "I think we all experienced something like that, maybe not all at once the way you did, but over time we all grew."

"I know the feeling. I thought I was just being a little wild when I got my first buzz cut, but somehow something inside me kept growing and I kept feeling stronger and more confident," Iris interjected.

"I felt it too. Ray noticed it and said that it was positive feedback. I have no idea what that means, but he said that it was causing use to reinforce each other so that we kept getting stronger and more self-assured," Leigh explained.

"Sounds about right to me. And all the kids were experiencing the same thing. So they kept getting better and more confident," Michelle added. "And look at what you guys and all of them have accomplished."

"OK folks. I think everybody has arrived. Here're the sheets with the order of introductions. Take one and pass them around so everyone has one," Carly interrupted. "Paula will be first with Melissa, Christine and her two granddaughters. You can see who will follow. Deedee will take over for Leigh when it's her turn. We'll go out that back door which opens directly across the hallway from the door into the big conference room near the front. Heather will introduce you and have a few words to say."

Gabby and Kate had also joined the large group as they looked at their cheat sheets.

"Gabby, those are very beautiful tattoos. I've seen them for years, but I never had a chance to tell you how good they look on you. I like your otter even better than mine," Doris told her.

"You got yours right after Ellen won a gold medal didn't you? It sure looks great to me," Gabby said.

"Ellen and I both got laser treatments first. A couple of months later I got my tattoo. I remember you got your Otter right after Gail won her first gold. You really outdid yourself when she won her second gold," Doris complimented her. Doris had a discrete otter tattoo, similar to, but smaller than the temporary tattoos she and most of the other women had worn regularly for years as the two teams had competed and won medals at meets around the world. Gabby's two tattoos were flamboyant - a large otter on the left and otters swimming through the Olympic rings on the right. They were not the only women to sport head tattoos, but the others were generally smaller and mostly just adornments that they had been inspired to acquire. Arlene's was a simple abstract design. There were a couple other abstract designs, at least one flower and a few butterflies.

Gabby laughed. "Christine and Janet were the big stars, but Gail, Ellen and the rest were amazing. You know, Ellen was the smallest of them all and so her accomplishments were really the most remarkable. No one thought anyone so small could compete and win against those much bigger and stronger women," Gabby told her.

"Once I knew more about what it took to succeed, I realized that Ellen was special. The rest of the Otters did too and they made sure she knew how much they admired her determination and hard work. She couldn't have succeeded without them," Doris said.

"I like your cheetah tattoo Leigh. Where did you get it," Wilma asked.

"Frank found that the exact design that we had twenty four years ago was still available and he had a bunch made and sent to him. Doris called around and offered them to us," Leigh replied.

Deedee returned from the conference room to say that they should be ready in a couple of minutes. Heather was giving her little welcoming speech and explanation of what was going to happen. Deedee, with her Mom's encouragement, had been quite adventurous with her various jewelry and tattoo adornments. In addition to a row of gold hoops from her earlobe to halfway up her ear and a pair of diamond studs at the top of each ear, she sported small tragus studs, a ruby stud in her right nostril and a fine gold chain that went from her left nostril to her left earlobe. Several small charms dangled from it. She had a head tattoo of a climbing rose that began below her shoulder and came up the right side of the back of her head before terminating in an open rose above her ear. There were buds and partly opened roses at various locations. Often, as she did today, she wore a temporary tattoo on the other side of her head.

The adoption of baldness by many women seemed to have ushered in an acceptance of jewelry that would have been considered outrageous ten years earlier. Many of the women now had nose studs, several of them two. Septum rings had become much more common, particularly among women and men in their late teens and early twenties. Many of the other piercings, such as lip rings and studs seemed to have gone out of fashion, but tattoos had begun to take their place.

Heather was giving her welcoming speech.

"This is a great honor for me. I am so delighted to welcome you, all two hundred forty three of you at last count. I'm even more delighted to see all the wonderful, beautiful shiny bald heads out there. Many years ago I used to encourage our little group of bald girls and women to keep coming back and to keep our bald women movement growing. I did not, even in my wildest dreams, imagine how much it would grow from such a small beginning. Now it's world wide. Women everywhere are choosing baldness, buzzes or very short cuts. Could it be the heat?" Heather asked to a chorus of laughter. "As always we're going to have a great time together. The Herb Garden will be providing your brunches as they have done for twenty five years. So sit back and enjoy the show as I introduce the wonderful women from our communities who became such remarkable world champions."

"Paula, you need to get your gang together. They're first up," Sandy advised her. "It'll be just a minute or so."

Christine and Melissa would be the first to be introduced and a brief biography of them would be provided by Heather. Paula would follow with her two granddaughters.

"Hammersmith Jewelers loaned us two of their special display cases and the Otters and Cheetahs have been very generous and loaned us their Olympic medals and a large selection of their other medals and trophies. Don't forget to take a look before you leave today. Now I'm going to introduce them and tell you a little about their accomplishments. By almost unanimous agreement among the Cheetahs and Otters, Melissa and Christine will be introduced first. If you're wondering who dissented, it was Christine and Melissa", Heather told them.

"Ladies please give a round of applause to Dr. Melissa Jennner-Jacobs and Coach Christine Jenner-Williams. Accompanied by their Mother Paula West and their two girls, Emily and Pauline."

The applause reached a crescendo and held as the entire audience stood up.

"OK folks," Heather tried to get control of the situation. "Thanks very much. They certainly deserve it."

After another minute the crowd began to sit down again and the applause died.

"Dr. Jenner-Jacobs, Melissa to all her friends and their families, is Professor of Musicology at the Music School of the Brambleton Campus of State University. She teaches clarinet among other woodwind instruments and has published two books on the subject. She is also first clarinet in the Philharmonic Orchestra and gives master classes to young professionals. If that isn't enough to make her well know, then what she began twenty five years ago has made her world famous. She led the group of five girls that called themselves the Amigas to become the best women's soccer team in the world for nine years. Along with the three Olympic gold medals that she earned, there are the records that she and her team set, such as being national champions for ten consecutive years and world champions six times. It is a record of excellence in soccer unequaled before or since. Melissa was rated the greatest woman's soccer player in the world for seven Years. Ladies I give you Melissa Jenner-Jacobs!" Heather said with a grand flourish.

The applause lasted for minutes. Finally it diminished as Melissa took the microphone. "Thank you all. Thank you very much." Melissa finally got their attention as they sat down.

"Soccer is a team sport. Without the remarkable women that I played with I would never have been noticed. It is a lot like my role in the orchestra. It takes all the players to make a great orchestra. Our team was great because every individual player was great. They all had two qualities of supreme importance for a winning team - they all were completely unselfish and they all had a single minded determination to be the best they could be. As a team our ability to anticipate each other was remarkable even to us. We sometimes thought we were reading each others minds. It was a heady experience. Although we have all gone our own way, when we are together that old feeling of linkage still exists and we sometimes finish each other's sentences the way identical twins do. I think we always will. One other thing stands out in my mind. I think no group has ever had the kind of support that out families gave us. They too became bonded with each other in their dedicated support for our goals. They were a rock of stability for us and we knew that wherever we went we would see someone there with a Cheetah banner and usually a least one shiny bald head with a cheetah tattoo. They were all Mothers to us all. We have never forgotten them and now we can tell you all how much it meant to us, especially during those first five years as we were growing into a full fledged soccer team to be reckoned with. They never doubted, never criticized when we lost and never flagged in their enthusiasm and encouragement. They were always there, waiting at airports, cheering during games in faraway places, helping anyway they could and of course paying the bills. They believed in us. They helped us believe even more strongly in ourselves. We love them all."

There was more cheering and applauding as everyone stood up. When it ended there were few dry eyes.

"Next we have Christine Jenner-Williams. Christine has been the head swimming coach at Brambleton for almost ten years now. Her swimmers are regularly among the elite swimmers in the country. For the past three Olympics she has had at least two swimmers on the Olympic team who have won gold or silver medals in multiple events. It is remarkable that at the last Olympics in which she competed, one of her students at Brambleton also competed. They both won medals. Christine has won more Olympic Gold medals and more total medals than any other woman swimmer. Two of her world records still stand. I give you Christine Jenner-Williams!"

Once again there was a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes. Finally Christine raised her hands, smiled and lowered them. The audience almost instantly became quiet.

"Thank you. You do me a great honor. None of us were ever looking for our names in the paper, or getting a lot of notice. We just wanted to be swimmers who had done the very best that we could do, just like the soccer players as my little Sis described. Melissa, my little Sis, as I sometimes called her back then, is the eloquent orator one of us and there is not much that I can add. There is this though. One other group played a very important role in supporting us through thick and thin. That group was our boyfriends and companions. Among the swimmers several of us had boyfriends that first summer. Tommy Williams attached himself to me and we've been best friends, lovers and husband and wife for the entire time. Even with all the support I received from the other women and our families, his support was essential. Tess, Janet, Ellen, Gail and later Jessie and Bridget found their soul mates during those early years. By the time the Cheetahs went to their first Olympics, somehow they too had formed long term relationships that have stood the test of time. I think it quite remarkable that somehow, being bald allowed us to connect to our perfect mates - someone who loved us for ourselves and gave us unconditional love and support and didn't ask for much in return as we devoted almost every minute of our lives to achieving our goals. When there was a minute left over for them they were content to hold us tight and whisper words of praise and encouragement. We were all blessed.

"One other important thing needs to be told about my little Sis. She is acknowledged as a great musician, but classical music is a very conservative field. Having a bald women in the orchestra was such an outrageous concept that despite her superior ability she was turned down several times. So she formed her own trio and gave free concerts and then made recordings that were praised and sold well. She even went on tour for a couple of years. By then she was well known for her music and no one could deny her place in the orchestra without making an obvious and gross statement of discrimination. Now she's the associate conductor. She has broken through two more glass ceilings. Other bald women have followed her example. Many orchestras have several bald women. She is remarkable and I can hardly believe my good fortune in having a sister like her."

Once again the applause was deafening. Finally Heather managed to get control of the proceedings and Introduce Janet, Iris and Rose. Janet's career had been second only to Christine's. Like Christine she had decided to become an all around swimmer by adding the breaststroke and the backstroke to her repertory. Twice she followed Christine to the finish winning a silver and bronze to go with her other gold and silver medals. She had retired after being in three Olympics.

After Janet's speech and more applause Tess, Abby and Hope were introduced. Hope was the oldest of the children of any of the Otters at fourteen She grew up as a bald girl. Tess had participated in the first two Olympics, and for two years afterwards before realizing she no longer had the drive needed to succeed at the highest level. So she retired and married Brian Singletary. She had Hope two years later. When Kate offered the permanent biochemical based treatment, Tess was one of the first to bring in her daughter for the treatment. Hope was only five years old.

Tess stepped up to the podium. "There was nothing in my life that was as defining as the meeting of the BGMC the Sunday after we had all competed in the last meet of the summer league. I had been told that I was the best swimmer in the area. When I swam against Christine and the others I was devastated. I couldn't believe they could swim so fast. Christine and Janet were so far ahead of me in the hundred meter free that it was ridiculous. I couldn't even beat Bridget. I was ready to quit then and there because I didn't think I could possibly make the Forest High team against them. At the meeting Christine had talked to the others and they agreed to invite me to join them in their practices and workouts. I wasn't very enthusiastic but I went the following Monday. The first thing they did was to go to the gym and do their workouts. Tommy Williams acted as their coach. I started trying to do what they were all doing. It was impossible. I was astonished. I couldn't begin to keep up with Ellen and she was the smallest of them, much smaller than me. Half an hour into the workout I was sure that I couldn't catch up to them. Tommy told me to take it easy and showed me how much weight to use. Christine and the others were not going to let me quit. They insisted that I continue and that by the time of the Forest tryouts I'd be doing a lot better. They kept encouraging and praising me for the next two weeks and by then I knew I could do it. I'd never be as good as Christine and Janet in the longer races, they were just too strong, but I could be special in the fifty and hundred meter races. Without the support of my swimming sisters I would never have succeeded. They were and still are the most special people in the world."

Another round of deafening applause followed.

Next to be introduced was Gail along with her "special aunts," Kate and Gabby.

Heather briefly described her successes and the Olympic medals that she had won then turned the microphone over to Gail.

"I would never have been able to succeed without the support of my two special aunts Kate and Gabby. Christine and the others believed in me and somehow knew that I could be an Olympic swimmer, but it was Kate and then Gabby who gave me the emotional support that made it possible. And of course I have to give a lot of praise to my then husband to be Jeremy who stood beside me and kept me going even when things seemed hopeless. He never doubted."

After the applause had subsided Gail raised her hand.

"Just one more little thing. Jeremy and I received a text message from our adoption agency yesterday informing us that a little girl is available for us to adopt. Tomorrow we will start making plans to travel half way around the world to receive Kathleen Gabrielle and bring her home," Gail said, her voice breaking.

More applause followed this announcement and tears streamed down Gail's face as she was embraced by Kate and Gabby.

Jessie and Sammie were next up. Once again Heather introduced them and gave a brief summary of Jessie's accomplishments.

"The defining moment of my career came when I was not selected for the Olympic squad that summer when we all went to Nationals. I had missed the Olympic trials cutoff by five hundredths of a second. I was absolutely devastated, but the gang would not let me despair. They surrounded me. Somehow they convinced me that I would be on the team. That I just had to keep working until the call came. I don't know how they convinced me, but afterwards I somehow felt confident and worked even harder. Two months later I got a call to join the team as an alternate to take the place of another swimmer who had injured her shoulder during a workout. She would not be available for the Olympics. Even then I didn't expect to compete except in some of the preliminaries. So I made it after all just as they had guaranteed and during the following months with the help of Christine and the others I kept getting better. They seemed to give me the energy to do more than I knew I could. So in the end I competed in two finals and won a silver and a bronze medal. Those two medals mean more to me than all the others. Somehow the gang energized me to exceed my wildest dreams. It felt like a miracle," Jessie said. "I never doubted myself again."

Ellen, Doris and Jenny were introduced next. After Heather's speech, Ellen made a short, but moving speech.

"When I started swimming with Christine and the others, I was the least talented and smallest among them. After the first year I thought of giving it up. I knew that I wouldn't qualify for the Olympics. I hadn't even qualified for Nationals when we went to Supersectionals, the last meet before Nationals. It was there that I learned that a small, not very talented swimmer could succeed despite the odds against her. Somehow they were not going to let me fail. They surrounded me, held my hands and performed some kind of magic that had me in a zone where nothing could distract me and I was in a world of my own. Time seemed to stand still. I heard the starter and the gun, but everything else was blocked out. When I came in third with a qualifying time for Nationals, I felt as though I had grown larger and more talented. I never lost the feeling. Even though I wasn't on that first Olympic team with the others I wasn't disappointed. It just wasn't my time yet, but I knew that my time would come. Christine told me in the most matter of fact way imaginable that I would be there with them on the Olympic squad in four years. And she was right. From then on when I swam I could feel them as though they were channeling some kind of psychic energy into me. It was a remarkable feeling. I never doubted again. I just worked as hard as I could and four years later I was on the team. Those four years were the most exhilarating of my life up to then. I was climbing a mountain with them and I would make it to the top. They were and are the most incredible friends, and sisters really, that anyone could have had. The gold, silver and bronze medals that I won in three Olympics were the icing on the cake."

Once again the applause was thunderous.

"The next introduction is a bit unusual. We have a soccer player and a swimmer who have been companions for fourteen years. I am delighted to introduce two beautiful and accomplished women, Cindi Michaels and Bridget King along with their daughter Erin and her two Grandmothers Michelle and Rhonda," Heather announced. "They were an integral part of their respective teams, the Otters and the Cheetahs. Between them they have six gold medals. Although they had known each other from the first it was not until their second Olympics that they discovered how much they had in common when they accidentally met in the lounge one evening on a day when they had not competed. A big round of applause for Cindi, Bridget, their daughter Erin Michaels-King and her Grandmothers Michelle and Rhonda. As you can see Cindi is expecting. She'll tell you about it I expect."

After the applause had died down Cindi spoke for the two of them. "That first year with the Amigas I didn't really understand who I was, but I think I was in love with Beth - puppy love of course. When Beth met Eric and it was obvious that they were absolutely taken with each other, I was very upset. I still didn't know who I was, or maybe I just wouldn't admit it to myself. That changed for me and for Bridget too that evening when we just sat in the lounge, had a veggie pizza and split a beer between us. We talked and made plans to see each other again. Two years later we knew that we were soul mates. I think our Mom's and Dad's were a little taken aback, but they accepted it. After all, my parents knew Bridget just like hers knew me.

"From then on, just like Christine said earlier, I supported Bridget and she supported me. We had to be away from each other a lot in the next six years, but we talked on our international cell phones and sent flowers to each other when we won. I had some awful phone bills," Cindi laughed. "The Cheetahs and the Otters took it in stride and stroke so to speak. I think they had figured us out before we did and were delighted that we had found each other. It seemed to solidify the connection between the two teams. If there was a big meet happening for either team and the other team could manage to get there they did. Somehow the instant acceptance we got from the two teams and their powerful support energized us. The support that we received from our Moms, families, teammates and each other inspired us to accomplishments that we scarcely believed possible. We've never lost the feeling of being part of something tremendously powerful. Thanks to all of them for making us a part of it."

"And yes, I'm six months pregnant. Bridget and I are absolutely overjoyed about adding another girl to our family. Her name is Brenda," Cindi finished her talk.

"Helen, Heather seemed to be saying that Erin is the daughter of both Cindi and Bridget. I thought Bridget actually had Erin. And Cindi also talked as if Bridget was somehow the parent of the girl Cindi is carrying. Was she just being rhetorical?" April asked.

"No, April. I guess it's not widely known except among the close circle of friends, but both Erin and Brenda are real daughters of both Bridget and Cindi. People in medical research knew it could be done twenty five years ago, it just wasn't easy and the success rate was very low. It had gotten a lot better when Cindi and Bridget first wanted to have children. So nine years ago they went to a University clinic in Canada where they had been working to make the process easier and more reliable. Apparently they had to take twenty eggs each from Bridget and Cindi They took the DNA from one of Cindi's eggs and put it in the egg from Bridget. Then they had to get the two strands of DNA to combine before the egg would start to grow. They got a few to start growing, but only one survived and continued growing. It was implanted into Bridget's womb where it grew normally and nine months later Erin was born. They had to get some pretty fancy paperwork done to make the two of them the legal parents of their child just like a heterosexual couple. In Canada they could do it because they were a recognized couple in a civil union. That's why they live there. We're a little backward here. Only the birth Mother is recognized as having any rights, despite the unequivocal evidence that the other one is as much a parent as a Father is," Helen explained. "When Cindi wanted to have a baby they went back to the clinic and repeated the process, only now the process is a lot easier. They only needed five eggs from each of them and got three to grow. The two that were not needed have been frozen and stored," Helen explained.

"I'm really behind the times Helen. I had no idea they could do anything like that. Is is being done a lot," April asked.

"I don't think so, April. The procedure is available in only a very few places and it's still pretty iffy if everything is not done just right. I've read quite a bit about it since I heard about Cindi and Bridget. They're pioneers it seems," Helen responded.

Heather had relinquished the microphone to Deedee who was in the process of introducing Penny and her Mom Heather.

"Penny was know as the most feared defender in the world. Trying to get past her was a challenge that most players would rather avoid although the alternative of Denise, Angela or Arlene wasn't a lot better," Deedee laughed. "Let's hear it for the demon defender."

Following a noisy round of applause Penny spoke.

"Everyone has talked about how the teams and the Moms were all so bonded and close that they practically read each others minds. Well I want to tell you that I'm certain that Melissa had some kind of neural linkage to us that allowed her to know what we were going to do before we did it. It was mental telepathy I'm quite sure. I don't know how we developed that linkage, but somehow I always knew where Melissa or Cindi were going to be, and they always knew what I was about to do. Time and again I would realize that they were already heading down field as I got control of the ball and passed it to Denise or one of them. I think we're still that way to a large extent. Somehow we all rewired our brains so that we all thought the same way. I think we were like a flock of birds. No one could predict what we were going to do, but we all acted as though we were in perfect sync," Penny told them. "I suppose that doesn't make sense to anyone, but I've watched some of our games on video and you can actually see how almost everyone on the team reacted instantly if someone kicked a pass away or intercepted a pass. We always had a two or three step lead on the other team after a turnover. It was a very wonderful experience. It still is. I love all those women."

"One more little thing. Will and I are getting married after all these years. We decided it was a good idea to do it now because, like Gail, we've been approved for an adoption," Penny said with a little dance. "I'm finally going to make Mom happy."

Heather already knew, but they hugged again just because they wanted to.

"OK Heather - back to work," Deedee said as she handed the microphone to Heather.

"I hope you have all gotten your brunch plates and haven't knocked over too many juices, coffees and teas with all the getting up and down that you've done. I think it's quite amazing what these women accomplished. The more I hear the more amazing it becomes. I suppose you'd like to continue the story to the end. Is that correct?" Heather asked. Her questions was followed by a chorus "yeses" and "let's hear it."

"Our next champion is Audra Thomas who is accompanied by her Mom Hallie and her daughter Ladeana. Audra set so many records as a goal keeper that they fill up a page. Fewest goals allowed per game for a career. Fewest goals allowed in a season - twice. She's number one and number two in that category. Most shutouts in a year. She did that five different years, so the next best goal keeper is number six on the list. I won't read any more. Simply put, she is the best goal keeper who has ever played the game, man or woman. A great welcome for Audra!" Heather called out.

Once again the decibel level was off the scale as the shouting, stamping and applauding reached a crescendo, then quickly subsided and turned to laughter as three year old Ladeana put her hands over her ears.

"I am honored to be here today with all the other great players on the Cheetahs soccer team. We had a fantastic soccer team with ten players who shared a dedication to their shared goals that was unwavering. But that team started with just five girls. I was among them. At first there were only four and we called ourselves the Amigas. At that point I was the only black girl of the four. We had been friends for several years. We did everything together. Our parents became close friends and we had become like sisters only we didn't fight like most sisters do. Sometime early on the fact that I was black and they were white got lost. We found ourselves treated like family no matter which house we were visiting. When my Aunt Steffie visited us, and the Amigas were around they called her Aunt Steffie and she adopted them as her nieces. As time went on our bonds continued to strengthen. During the school year before the famous summer, Beth had hung around us a lot. She was quiet, and we didn't pay much attention to her, but she was always there. By the time school was out and we had all signed up to be on the Bulldogs soccer team Beth had joined us in a lot of our activities, but it was during our soccer practices that she became one of the Amigas. She was fast and she, Melissa and Cindi seemed to work together like clockwork. I think it was at that time that the ability to read each other's minds developed.

"By the end of that Summer the five of us knew where we were headed and we knew that Melissa would lead us there. From then on she set the example that we

followed, inspired us, and helped us. She had an uncanny knack for seeing which girls would fit into our team. We had played quite a few different teams during the school year and Melissa kept track of which girls would really be right for our team. She told our coach about Denise, Angela and Arlene. Eve and Zoe had been selected by our coach, and Melissa inspired them too. They became great players. So my message is that even though soccer is a team sport, sometimes one person can have such a profound impact on a team, that what they meant to the team cannot be adequately measured.

"There are two other achievements that Melissa made that give a better picture of just what she accomplished. Yes, she holds the record for goals, but she also holds the record for assists in her career. That is an astonishing achievement. There have been great players know for their ability to score goals, and great players known for their ability to set up goals for other players. No player ever combined the two the way Melissa did. She was completely unselfish. She was a great defender as well. She is in the top five for career steals. Penny is number one. If Angela had played as long, she would have been number two. Arlene, another great defender, is number four followed by Melissa. Melissa welded us into a team that had shared goals, had complete trust in each other, had supreme dedication and white hot determination. Maybe someday someone will come along with the combination of physical, mental, psychological, and social skills that Melissa has - maybe. That first Summer those skills came together and grew to greatness. And remarkably, I found myself a part of it. I love all the Cheetahs, but the Amigas are the sisters of my heart," Audra finished.

The thunderous applause went on for what seemed a very long time before it subsided.

"You move me to tears Audra. You are not only a great champion, but a remarkably generous person," Heather said.

"Next up is Beth Hendricks and her daughter Cara accompanied by her Mother Leigh Singletary. Beth and Cindi played on the left and right of Melissa respectively. Beth was the smallest of the three, but she made up for it in quickness and speed. She set records for assists that have only recently been surpassed. Welcome Beth Hendricks!" Heather called out as the applause threatened to drown her out.

"There's not much that I can add to what has already been said, so I'll tell a little about what happened to me. My family had moved to Crown Point the previous Summer, in August. I didn't know anyone and I was pretty upset about leaving my friends. I was feeling very insecure because my Dad had lost his job, we had to sell our house and move to a much smaller one in Crown Point, and Mom had to get a job. My brother Brian was talking about dropping out of college because we couldn't afford it. I didn't make any friends during that year in sixth grade, but I found myself hanging around the four Amigas. They seemed different from all the other little groups. When I sat near them in Cafeteria they didn't ignore me like most of the other girls did. If I had something to say they listened and replied. I certainly wasn't one of them, even though I knew by the end of school that I wanted to be and they seemed willing to let me be involved in some of their activities. That summer I went to the Crown Point Rec Center hoping that I could get involved with some of the things they would be doing. I was really happy that they signed up for soccer. Soccer was the one sport that I was good at. I had been playing it since I was six. Little did I know what a shock I was in for. Melissa, Cindi, Penny and Audra were much better than I had imagined. I was far behind them. Somehow Melissa saw something in me and kept helping and encouraging me. Five weeks later at Melissa's suggestion Mom and I went to Kate's shop to get short makeovers. I got a shaved chelsea and Mom got a buzz cut. The next day the Amiga's were very enthusiastic. I think that was the turning point. Somehow I felt like I belonged. I worked even harder after that. A few weeks later I realized that I had been adopted. It was exhilarating. It changed my entire life. From then on I was involved in everything that we did. I was one of the Amigas. To have friends like that is a priceless gift.

"There is one other story about Melissa that needs to be told. The summer after the Olympics Melissa was invited to be on the National team. She was sixteen, and we were winning every match that we played. She played on the National team that summer, but left the team in late August. The Cheetahs had played well without her, but did lose a couple of games. I tried to do her job, Denise took my position, Angela took Denise's spot and Arlene played in her stead. We were good, but it wasn't quite the same. We won our games, but it was always a struggle. Out defensive line was still sensational along with Audra, so we allowed very few goals, but we couldn't score the way we did with Melissa leading us. When Melissa returned she told us that we could beat the National team because we worked together so perfectly. She had found it frustrating to not know where the other players were going to be and what they were going to do. She wanted the instinctive knowledge of where Cindi and I were going to be. Melissa believed in us like no one else. Less than a year later we vindicated her belief in us. We played the National team and beat them by one goal. We never looked back from that point on. The next year we beat the National team twice and had a record of twenty nine wins, one tie and no loses. We were National champions for the first time. Still, no matter how much we won we were always said to be too small to compete against the big international teams, but we did and we won. They never thought to measure the size of our hearts, and how much dedication filled them. They never thought to measure Melissa's shoes and wonder what kind of player it would take to fill them. Perhaps now they understand," Beth said with quiet conviction.

Once more the applause was deafening. Beth had struck a chord.

One after another the other Cheetahs were introduced - Denise with her Mother Pam and her daughter Grace were next.

After Heather's introduction Denise described her experience.

"When I played with the Amigas that first summer, I knew they were different. It had never occurred to me that I should be working out in the gym. I worked out quite a bit, but nothing like those five girls did. By the time the summer was over I knew that I wanted to be on their team if I could make it. I was a year older and would be going to Forest that fall. I mentioned it to Melissa and she said to just keep working and getting better. Somehow it was decided to have Junior Varsity teams and the ninth graders from Crown Point and other schools could be on them. So I got to play with them that year. That's when I got an education in determination and dedication. I knew that if I was going to be on their team the next summer I would have to be as determined and dedicated as they were. Their work ethic was amazing, but they never complained or slacked off. At the same time they seemed to be enjoying themselves and getting good grades. Somehow I got the hang of it. They were always enthusiastic and seemed to be having the time of their lives and slowly I began to change, to enjoy the work, and the closeness that I was sharing with them. By the second summer I felt I was one of them in almost everything, but there was something missing. Then it dawned on me. The Amigas shared something special. When we showered and got dressed, they polished their heads and joked about it. The rest of us used blow dryers on our long hair. They never mentioned it, but I knew that was the last bit of the puzzle. Their shaved heads set them apart and they seemed to revel in that apartness and their own special togetherness. I was a member of the team and it was clear that they considered me an important member, but I couldn't share that unique relationship that they had among themselves.

"The light dawned and I told Mom that I had to get my head shaved - that it was very important to me. She thought I was out of my mind and wouldn't let me do it. I kept telling her and Dad how much I wanted to do it and finally they gave in and Mom took me to Kate's Barbershop for my first shave. It was the most important event in my life up to that point. I went on Saturday morning. We had a volunteer workout and practice that afternoon. I knew for sure that the Amigas and Arlene would be there. I felt completely confident as I rode my bike to Amberleigh. I knew I had taken an important step forward to achieving my own goals. It was a very heady feeling. I was elated. The Amigas met me with such enthusiasm that I was almost overwhelmed. Somehow I had crossed a threshold to a different level. The feeling never left me. It became the defining moment in my life," Denise told them. "So thank you Amigas - thank you for being the best and most supportive friends and teammates that a girl ever had."

Once again there was a roar of applause and appreciation. Denise stood looking down and blinked a few times. Then she smiled back at the crowd and waved as she left the stage and rejoined Grace and Pam.

Heather signaled to the crowd to settle down. "Our next great soccer player is Dr. Angela Walters. She was a great defender in the mold of Penny until she injured her knee and had her career cut short. For almost nine years she was second only to Penny in the number of steals and plays that made other teams despair of being able to score. Afterwards she went to Medical school and is now a renowned surgeon specializing in sports injuries. So here she is with her Mom Wilma and her daughter Flora," Heather shouted over the crowd noise.

"Thank you all for making this wonderful tribute to the Otters and Cheetahs. Being on the team with the other Cheetahs was an experience I'll never forget. Somehow the group dynamics made all of us better players and people. The way each of us was helped, encouraged and supported by all the others generated some kind of psychic force that allowed all us to play at a level that most of us could never have achieved alone or on any other team. And like Denise said, getting my head shaved seemed to be a key moment. I don't know how I knew it, but after that first international tournament in Mexico I knew that I needed to get my head shaved so I could reach the next level. And it worked! The minute it was shaved I felt completely happy and confident. I remember thinking, now I'm ready. I could feel the power. I knew I could do anything along with the others on the team. And I had eight great years and two Olympics. I was sad to leave and I cried a lot for a week, but afterwards the Amigas said that I would always be a part of the team even if I couldn't play. And I was. I could teach and I studied and learned as much as I could about sports injuries, how to prevent them and how to take care of them. So I became their assistant trainer and coach for the next six years. It wasn't the same as playing, but it was wonderfully rewarding and I always felt that I was as much a part of the team as a player. Thank you all and especially thanks to Melissa and the rest of the Cheetahs for helping me be a part of something extraordinary," Angela wound up her speech.

Once again the crowd applauded vigorously.

Heather stepped up to the podium. "Eve was a mid fielder who played on Denise's left. She had the job of being both a good defender and a good player on offense when the Cheetahs had the ball. She did it to perfection for thirteen years. So welcome Eve Dale, her Mom Gwen and her Daughter Mai," Heather announced.

Eve was almost as exuberant as her Mother Gwen. "How you you like this head style - shiny enough for you?" Eve shouted.

A lot of laughing, yelling and clapping followed.

"OK! I just wanted to make sure you all recognized that being bald was a pretty wild thing to do twenty five years ago. It was just as crazy when I did it twenty four years ago. I don't know why it was so important - well, yes I do, in a way. It was an outward symbol of an inner commitment. I think the Amigas understood that somehow. Their dedication seemed unreal to me at first, but they acted perfectly normal except when they were in the gym or on the field. I was about to quit when Melissa talked to me one day. She encouraged me and said that I could be as good as any of them if I wanted to - I would just have to work hard. She told me that they all wanted me on the team, but I would have to win my position. After that I worked harder and they kept encouraging me. I finally began to feel that I could do it. It was then that I decided to get my head shaved. Mom said that I should go for it. So she took me to a unisex shop across town and I told them I wanted to have my head shaved and to donate my hair to Locks of Love. They didn't question it at all, just buzzed it off. After it was done Mom told them to give me a real shave so it would be smooth. They were really taken aback by that, but they did it. When they had finished I was elated. Once you make that commitment something happens. You feel different. Your outlook shifts a little. Somehow I knew that I had made a decision that was important. When we went to Mexico I played harder than I had ever played before and Arlene helped me shave every day. I realized that I had crossed a threshold and I never looked back. I was in a different place. My dedication and determination grew. My awareness of what I was a part of was heightened and I became totally immersed in the group's goals. The gym workouts became fun. I looked forward to our practices. When we played my senses seemed to have been sharpened. They made time slow down and I could sense what the other Cheetahs were going to do just as Penny described it. That sixth sense seemed to grow as time went on as we played together year after year. It's still there when we get together, perhaps not quite as strong, but I think we could all go to a soccer field and play a pretty good game and do many of the same things that we did then. Well maybe a little slower now," Eve joked.

There was a warm round of applause as Eve and her family moved into the audience.

"I want you to meet Zoe Sanderson and her Daughter Demie. Her Mom Alexis could not be her unfortunately, because she is on a mission in Brazil. Zoe was the third of the mid-fielders playing with Denise and Eve. Zoe was a prolific scorer as well as a terrific defender. She set several records at her position. Let's hear it for Zoe!" Heather exclaimed.

Zoe stepped up to the podium and waited for the applause to subside. "I don't have much to add to what has already been said. When our coach invited me to join the team that second summer I had no idea what I was in for. The Amigas set goals that seemed impossible, and yet they were quite blasé about them. The trip to Mexico was a turning point for me. It convinced me that the Amigas goals were achievable and I wanted to be part of whatever was going to happen. Eve, my best friend had made the commitment by getting her head shaved and I watched her play like she had never played before. Somehow my determination shifted into a higher gear. When we got home I told my Mom I wanted to get my head shaved. I wouldn't take no for an answer. The Sunday morning of the Shavathon after the Mexico trip I finally got Mom and Dad to agree that I could. That was a major turning point for me just as it was for the others. Like Penny said, we got to the point where we knew exactly what everyone else was going to do and exactly what we should be doing to make it work. We were as close as identical twin sisters. From then on I did everything together with them. How we could all do that and never get into an argument I'll never understand, but that's the way it worked. All ten of us could be discussing something, and within a few minutes we were in perfect agreement. I think we could still do it. I shall be forever grateful for having the opportunity to be part of something remarkable. Even if I had never gotten a single award or medal It would still have been an experience of a lifetime. They will always be my sisters. Thank you for this great honor and for giving me a chance to try to explain what a great experience it was to be a Cheetah," Zoe finished.

Heather stood behind the podium and when Zoe stepped back she embraced her.

"That was very touching Zoe. I know we Moms were very close, but I really can't imagine what it must have been like to be so close that you shared every thought and feeling. It's no wonder that the team was so remarkable.

"Our last guest is the smallest, but hardly the least of the Cheetahs. For nine years Arlene Flannigan was the number one substitute for the Cheetah. But what a substitute! She played every position except goal keeper. It was her versatility that made her such a valuable member of the team. She played all those positions whenever she was needed and the team's play never suffered. And Arlene never complained or argued that she should be a starter. She could have been a starter on any other team, but her team was the Cheetahs and she was always there for any role that was asked of her. Even more remarkable, when Angela had to retire, she took over that position and played it superbly. With her is her sister Vicky. Vicky was inspired by the Otters and they made her an honorary Otter because of her dedication to being a champion gymnast. Arlene and Vicky decided to shave their heads that very first summer after seeing the incredible performances of the Crown Point Bulldogs swimmers and soccer players. So let's greet Arlene, Vicky, and their Mom Joyce."

"I'm going to be brief. The first time my team played against the Crown Point Bulldogs that first summer I knew that I wanted to be on their team. I had never seen anyone play the way the Amigas did. I was a pretty good player, but not like them. I talked to Melissa and asked her about her shaved head. She said she liked being bald. She was matter of fact about the Amigas' goal of being a top soccer team. I knew that I would have to practice hard and workout the way she said that the Amigas did. I had no doubts about doing it. Vicky had talked to Christine and she could hardly believe what they had been doing. She was fired up as well. So we both decided that we would get buzz cuts. We didn't have much trouble persuading Mom about that and got it done just before the BGMC meeting that month. When we saw all the other bald girls and talked to them we knew we wanted to get out heads shaved. Mom was impressed by all the bald heads she saw. So we started to lobby Dad to let us get shaved. He thought it was pretty silly, but didn't really object. The next week Vicky and I went to Kate's shop for our first shaves. Mom got a buzz cut, and Vicky issued a challenge. Would Mom shave her head if Vicky made it to the Olympic trials. She accepted the challenge and a year later she shaved her head. Like Vicky and I, she's been bald ever since. Somehow I knew right away what being bald meant. It was the symbol of fierce dedication and white hot determination to succeed. Vicky did it in a year. I was invited to be on the Cheetahs, but I rarely got to play for the next year. I got stronger and worked hard to get better and then I began to learn all the positions so I could play anywhere. Even though I didn't play much for all those years, I knew I made a significant contribution. When Angela had to retire, and I was expected to take her place it was a challenge that I was determined to meet. And I did, thanks to the support and help from all the others. I would not trade those years for anything."

"Arlene was the last of the Otters and Cheetahs to be introduced, but I have two other people who were very important to their success," Heather said. "They spent as much or more time with the Otters and Cheetahs as their Moms. I want you to meet Coach Debbie Reger and Coach Corinne Landau, coaches of the Amberleigh Otters and Cheetahs respectively. Coach Reger recently retired. She was the coach of the Otters since the club was founded twenty four years ago. She continued to coach champion swimmers until this summer when she retired. Coach Landau established the Crown Point Cheetahs soccer club a year after the Amberleigh Otters Swimming Club was started. Besides the original Cheetahs, she has coached a number of very successful teams.

"Coach Reger, it's a pleasure to have you have you speak to us," Heather said.

"Thank you Heather. It's a real pleasure to be here and have a few words to say about what it was like to coach those seven swimmers. I had only heard about Christine, Janet and Jessie from our High School head coach that summer. I didn't know any of the others. I expected Christine to do well at the tryouts, but what I observed was quite stunning. I could hardly believe what I was seeing as those six girls gave performances I had never imagined ever witnessing in swimmers their age. I had expected a fine performance from Tess, who had performed well the prior year, but her performance was well above my expectations. I knew that something special was going on, but I had no idea what it was other than thinking what in the world is happening with all these bald girls.

"Of course they weren't all completely bald, but Christine was, and several others were practically bald. And Tess was. At that point I didn't realized that Tess had joined them. They knew where they were going. Coach Dickerson gave them his usual speech, maybe juiced up a bit, about how much work they would have to do and how little time they were going to have for anything except practice, workouts and their school work. They didn't blink once. They were already doing more than he said he expected of them. When we started serious workouts and practices I was shocked to discover that they were going through the entire workout routine twice. The same thing happened with practice. They would do far more than I asked. They seemed to be ahead of me at almost every step. When I asked them how they were doing academically I found that they were all doing very well and several were taking AP classes. Finally I accepted the fact that all I had to do was help them with details, make sure their techniques were refined and give any help that I could. There wasn't much that I or any coach could offer. They all needed to improve their flexibility. When I showed them what to do and explained why it helped them swim faster they were into it instantly.

"What was remarkable for me was to see how they related to each other. I knew right away that Christine was a great coach in the making. Even then she could show the others how to improve their turns and launches in the backstroke. They related to each other in ways that I found amazing. They did not compete against each other, but for some higher goal. The helped, encouraged, consoled, and cheered each other on. They wouldn't let each other lose heart or accept defeat. Whatever was needed they would provide it. Some times it seemed that they reached out and provided strength and energy to one of there own so that she outdid herself. Their closeness was quite remarkable to me. I have never seen anything like it before or since. They quite literally inspired each other to greater heights of achievement.

"By the time Christine, Janet, Gail and Tess had made the US Olympics team I had been reduced to little more than making sure they didn't overwork and injure themselves. I did watch closely and we took underwater videos to analyze their techniques, but other than that I was mostly their cheering squad. For 12 years I was privileged to be their coach and be present when they triumphed time and again. I have had many wonderful swimmers, but the seven original Otters were the most remarkable that I have ever encountered. They set the standard for dedication, work ethic and most notably generosity of spirit."

A prolonged round of applause followed this paean to the original Otters.

"Thank you Debbie. I think we have finally begun to appreciate what it must have been like to have such a group of young women to work with.

Our last speaker is Coach Landau, who coached the original Cheetahs from the time they had grown to the ten starters that were the nucleus of that team until most of them had retired eleven years later. Please welcome Corinne Landau."

"I guess I have to echo what Debbie just said about the Otters except that perhaps the Cheetahs had an even more remarkable connection with each other. I think Beth has it right - they had some kind of connection among them that transmitted every move that was made to all the other players. There were many times when I suggested a play that would be effective against a particular team and they would look at each other and nod. When we practiced it they were always nearly perfect. But what really set them apart was the improvised plays that one or another of them would start. I would be amazed to see the others reacting in ways that would make the play a success. They had a remarkable instinct about what to do and how to do it. Melissa was the leader, but they were totally unselfish and made every decision jointly. They worked harder than any players I've ever coached and seemed to revel in it. When they won, and they almost always won, their celebrations were always restrained on the field, even at the Olympics. One remarkable game defined who they were for me. We played a very good team, I won't name them, whose players were much bigger than the Cheetahs. Not only were they big, but they were aggressive and physical. They tried to intimidate the Cheetahs and knocked down several of them including Melissa. The referee never called a foul and I was incensed. I was about to protest, when I realized that something was happening with the Cheetahs. I think I could see little fires light up on them. They played with a fierce abandon that I had never seen before. By the time the game was over, they had scored seven times and allowed only one goal. I remember Melissa got knocked down four more times and every time one of the others scored. It was a rout. No team ever tried that tactic again. I think it will be a long time before any team eclipses what they accomplished. They were a dream team for any coach. It was the experience of a lifetime for me."

After a long round of applause Heather finally could be heard.

"Thank you Coach Landau. That was a wonderful tribute," Heather said. "And now we have a little surprise for you. I know that many of you have heard about how the number of bald women keeps increasing and you've probably read several article about it. Well today you can hear about it from an expert. Dr. Susan Garrison is Associate Professor of Urban Studies at State and has been using the bald women phenomenon to study how it has grown and what is happening world wide as well as some other interesting facts. So please welcome the beautifully bald Dr. Susan Garrison," Heather said.

Susan approached the podium and pushed a button that turned on the projector behind her which showed the title of her presentation. The Rapid Adoption of Baldness by Women in America and Other areas Worldwide.

As the applause subsided Susan spoke. "Thank you. This is a real pleasure. I never imagined that I would be giving this presentation to such a large audience of bald women and girls.

"A little prelude before the real talk. You probably are curious about my adoption of baldness. It's almost the first thing people want to know when I'm interviewing them. When I initiated this project four years ago I discovered that when I interviewed bald women they were a little reticent because they expected that I might be disapproving of their choice. And I found that other women were equally reticent about their thoughts concerning becoming bald. I realized that this must be the case because one of my graduate students, a bald young lady, kept getting quite different results. Finally I decided to keep my head shaved for a few months so that I could verify that the different results were indeed caused by whether the interviewer was a bald woman or not. There was no doubt that it was. The results were unequivocal. So I kept my head shaved.

In those months something happened. I realized how much those women liked being bald and I found myself becoming very comfortable with it myself. Within six months I was quite happy with it and couldn't imagine myself having hair again, so I had the semi-permanent treatment done. A year later my husband asked me if I was ever going to let my hair grow. After a moment's hesitation I answered that I didn't think so. His response was 'good.' When I returned for my regular semi-permanent treatment I said to make it the permanent treatment. You would probably be surprised how often one of my students or I hear a story quite similar to that. So now on to the boring data," Susan laughed.

There were a charts that showed the percentage of bald women and girls in different age categories in the US, Europe and other countries.

"You probably guess that there are a lot more bald women in cities than elsewhere and you're right. And there are more in big cities than little cities like Hillsdale. And more in certain cities than others. Despite the head start that Hillsdale had, both San Francisco and Seattle have overtaken you in the last two years.

"OK. Here's the chart you were all looking for. It is broken down into six age categories starting with zero to ten years and ending with sixty and above. Except for Hillsdale it shows only results for urban populations of five hundred thousand and greater. The vertical numbers are the percentage in each category that are bald. I've connected the colored dots with the same color line just to make it easier to follow. It's really a bar graph. The top red line is Hillsdale. The green line is the State, the blue line is the US, the orange line is Europe. The other line is Brazil.

"What's interesting is that the shape of these lines is very similar. Keep this chart in mind, because now I going to show you Hillsdale for the past ten years. Professor Grainger had gotten interested in the phenomenon fifteen years ago and started to collect data twelve years ago. Ten years ago he started a little research project to collect and analyze the data. He kept collecting it but never got around to compiling and analyzing it. When I joined the faculty five years ago and was looking around for an interesting project, he suggested the bald women phenomenon and said that he had quite a bit of data for Hillsdale. This is a very interesting chart. The breakdown is the same six categories, but the different lines are at two year intervals. The top one is essentially now. The bottom one is for ten years ago. You can see exactly what is happening. Each year the number of bald women in one age bracket that move into the next higher age bracket exceeds the number of bald women that move out of it. In the years from twenty to forty where women have their children more and more of those girl children are bald while they are growing up and remain bald when they are adults. Eventually we expect that the first two age categories will have the same percentage, but there is no sign of that yet. Our data for Hillsdale shows that about one third of girls in the zero to ten age bracket are bald. We include clipper shaving in that category, and if you break it down further, the zero to five age group is larger than the six through ten age group.

"Now I know you want to know where it's all going. Unfortunately I can't give you much of an answer to that. We know that women and girls in the age brackets from ten to sixty are adopting baldness independently and that is going to have an impact but where it will stop is impossible to determine at this point. I can show you what it will look like ten and twenty years from now assuming the present trends persist.

"On this chart the bottom line is the present, the next line up is ten years later and the top one is twenty years in the future. What it says is that if the trend continues unchanged, twenty years from now about eighty percent of girls up to ten years old will be bald, nearly sixty-five percent of young women and girls eleven to twenty years old will be bald and about fifty percent of women twenty one to thirty years of age will be bald. You have to regard this as speculation. We don't yet have enough data to verify how rapidly women and girls who are not bald are adopting baldness. When we have a better idea of that we'll have a better idea of how far the trend will continue. It is unlikely that a hundred percent of women will choose to be bald, but I can imagine it ending up at more than fifty percent. It may take ten more years before the final number can be predicted. In the meantime, many of you women can claim to have been among the earliest pioneers that set off a movement that is traveling around the world and growing as it moves. And in the sixty and over age bracket, I have it on good authority that the first two women anywhere to fall into that category are in this room today. What many of you women did twenty-five years ago has, as the old expression has it, spread like wild-fire.

"Thank you for being such an attentive audience and especially for being the pioneers that had a major impact on our culture. For all of us who came to enjoy the pleasure and freedom of female baldness that you made possible, I salute you."

There was a thunderous applause at this statement as the audience voiced their agreement. Finally it subsided and Heather could speak once again.

"Thank you Susan. Thank you very much. I for one had wanted to know how our movement was spreading and what the future might hold. Now I have a good idea."

It was a little after half past noon. Nearly everyone had finished their brunch and many were having their second or third cup of coffee or tea. All the introductions and speeches had been given and Heather would soon be making her closing statement and announcing when the next meeting would occur. Before she could do so Deedee approached the podium with an announcement of her own.

"Just a minute Heather, before we close I have a little surprise announcement," Deedee interrupted her.

To be continued in Blond, Black and Pink - Epilogue Part 7

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