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The Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Meeting of the BGMC has just about come to its end. Heather is preparing to wrap it up and announce when the next meeting will occur when Deedee interrupts to announce that there is a special feature yet to come.

Sunday June 15 (Twenty Five Years Later)

Sunday Afternoon Twenty Fifth Anniversary Meeting of the BMGC – A Surprise

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. She stood up and headed toward the podium. She turned over a page of notes and was about to speak when Deedee approached the podium.

“Just a minute Heather, before we close I have a little surprise announcement,” Deedee told her.

“Well folks we have one more great event that I think you will want to stay to see. Tara come on up,” Deedee invited her. She turned to someone standing off to the side and called out “Bring it in.”

Heather stood by bemused while two of the erstwhile waitresses rolled in a barber chair on wheels and then unlocked the wheels so that the chair sat solidly on its round base. Another waitress rolled in a cart with some equipment on it while yet another plugged a short extension cord into a convenient socket in the floor nearby. A second smaller cart was rolled in. On it there were the usual barber tools, a container of disinfectant with combs in it, three clippers; a large black one with a cord, a regular battery operated one and a small battery operated edger. On the lower shelf there was a cape and a small stack of towels.

“Gabby, would you escort Kate up here please,” Deedee requested.

Kate was completely mystified. Several possibilities went through her mind. Perhaps Tara wanted to be given a balding treatment. She had mentioned that possibility to Kate on several occasions, but seemed to have settled on the short buzz cut that she had worn for the past ten years. Maybe someone else was going to get a buzz, but there was no one in the audience with hair longer than a short pixie that she could see. Perhaps some of the teenagers wanted to get balding treatments. There were a number with buzz cuts or clipper shaves. Kate made her way with Gabby to the front and up the two steps to the raised stage.

“Kate is in some ways the Mother of all of us who were in our teens twenty five years ago. Everyone who received their first head shave from Kate please stand up,” Deedee requested.

There was the sound of chairs scraping on the floor and a rustle as a large number of people stood up.

“Isn't that amazing. Almost half the people here had their first experience as a bald woman administered by the wonderful Kate. Well we have decided to return the favor. Kate has mentioned to several people in the last couple of weeks that she thinks it's about time that she joined the ranks of the beautiful bald. So we have arranged for it right here. How do you vote? Should she join us and experience the joys of having a smooth bald head?” Deedee asked.

Voices shouted from all over the room affirming the proposition.

Kate was stunned. It was not at all what she had imagined.

“Well Kate, are you ready?” Deedee asked.

Gabby took her hand and walked slowly toward the barber chair.

Kate looked at her as they stopped in front of the chair. “You really think I should?” Kate asked.

Gabby leaned toward her and kissed her firmly on the lips. “Yes. You've wanted too for all these years. Now you can and you won't lose a single customer. Besides how could you possibly disappoint all those people out there who think you're such a great person?” Gabby asked rhetorically.

“I guess you're right. And I have been talking about going bald. This is as good a time as any and better than most, I expect,” Kate replied.

“Absolutely, Kate,” Tara told her. “And I get to do the honors. I got my certification two weeks ago and have been doing balding treatments at my old shop since then.”

“You did? You never told me!” Kate exclaimed as she settled herself in the barber chair.

“I couldn't because Deedee and Sandy were planning this and swore me to secrecy,” Tara laughed.

Carly came up with the wireless microphone that she had been using for the past half an hour to get comments from the attendees.

“Kate, give us your thoughts on going bald,” Carly requested.

“I am completely flabbergasted.  I had no idea that I was going to be sitting in this barber chair. I thought I might be doing a balding treatment on someone, but of course that doesn't make any sense. Now that I'm over the shock, I'm looking forward to it. I've always loved the bald look on women. I promoted it as much as I could right from the beginning. The die is cast and I'm eager to have it done. I know I won't look nearly as great as most of you, but I'll finally fulfill my long held desire,” Kate told them.

There was a round of applause and quite a bit of raucous yelling of words of encouragement especially from a lot of the teens and young women who had been to Kate's shop for their own balding treatments.

Tara, in proper barbershop fashion, had put a tissue paper around her neck followed by the cape which was fastened in the back with a Velcro strip. The paper was then folder over.

“Here goes Kate. A quick number one buzz just the way you do it,” Tara laughed as she started in the middle of Kate's forehead and ran the clippers back over her head.

“This is the standard process that we all learn in the certification classes. I'll continue over Kate's head with this number one guide until it is a uniform one eighth of an inch. It needs to be that long so that the hair removal process will work. I'm done with the top, now I'll do the right side.   Next I'll do the back. If the hair is much shorter than an eighth of an inch the little sticky strips can't not grab the hair and remove it.” Tara said.

She was using the battery operated clipper with a number one guide. Several more passes and the back was done.

“Kate's hair in the lower back is just barely an eighth of an inch, but that should be enough. If it had been too short, she would have ended up with a little shadow there for a week or more as that short hair is pushed out. She would have looked a little like some almost bald guys who shave the little fringe around their heads. There you have it – properly clippered for the next step,” Tara had given a little lecture much like the one she had heard while she was taking the certification class.

“You did that very well Tara. Maybe you should be a teacher,” Kate giggled.

“I do like teaching Kate, but right now I'm supposed to ask you which treatment you want – the permanent or the semi-permanent. That's what I'm supposed to ask, but I'm not going to because I didn't bring the semi-permanent lotion with me,” Tara said.

“That's pretty sneaky of you, Tara. You had no intention of giving me a choice. Well the die is cast, so I think you should continue so we don't disappoint all these wonderful women,” Kate said.

“Exactly my thought. We've come this far. Might as well get the job done right,” Tara said as she retrieved a small bottle of the gelled lotion from the modest sized insulated box and cold pack that had been in the refrigerator since early that morning.

“You're still using the version that has to be refrigerated?” Kate queried her.

“It's what they recommended to us at the certification classes. I think those classes are put on by the manufacturer. Anyway that's what I purchased. It lasts for six months if it's kept cold,” Tara responded.

“We can talk about it later,” Kate replied.

“OK. It's time to apply the gelled solution to Kate's head. After that we'll have to wait for a while so that it's properly absorbed. Like Kate, I use a small brush to apply the gel and make sure it is down to the scalp so it will be efficiently absorbed,” Tara said as she put her words into action. 

“There, that part's done. In fifteen minutes I'll wash it off, dry her head and get ready for the laser treatment,” Tara explained. 

A hand was raised in the audience. Jan rushed over to offer her the microphone. “Oh, Wilma, I didn't recognize you. My eyes aren't so good anymore.”

“No problem Jan,” Wilma said as she accepted the microphone that Jan held out to her.

Wilma Spoke into the mic. “Tara could you do another treatment while you're waiting for Kate?”

Tara took a quick look at Heather who nodded her acquiescence then turned back to the audience. “I'd be happy too. Who's the volunteer?”

“It's me. I think Tony will be happy. He has dropped a few hints in the past few years. He's so used to seeing bald women, especially Denise and Grace that he hardly notices any more. He even said that Grace looked very angelic with her smooth bald head. I've wanted to do it for a while and with Kate getting hers done I can't wait any longer,” Wilma explained.

“Well for goodness sakes come on up her and let's get it done for you,” Tara laughed. I'm sure you'd rather have Kate do it, but maybe I'll be an acceptable substitute.”

“You'll do just fine,” Wilma said. “I'm anxious to see how I'll look. I must admit I've gained a little weight in the past twenty four years, but maybe I won't be too awful.”

Wilma had been working her way to the front with Jan behind her. As she reached the two steps she stopped and returned the microphone to Jan.

“We need an extra chair up here so Kate can relinquish the barber chair,” Tara said as she removed the cape from around Kate and replaced it with a towel similar to the ones that Kate used. Someone bought up a chair and Kate sat down off to the side.

“OK, have a seat Wilma and we'll get right to it,” Tara said as she quickly wrapped a paper around Wilma's neck, fastened the cape and turned down the paper. “You have a pretty short buzz, so there's not a lot for me to do. It looks you're about due to have Kate sharpen it up for you.”

“You guessed it Tara. I missed my regular trim and it's been over two weeks since Kate has buzzed it for me. It has gotten a bit shaggy. I never like to let it go more than two weeks.” Wilma giggled.

“Probably a good thing. If it was its normal length I probably couldn't do a good job. There. That's all the buzzing you need,” Tara said as she finished buzzing Wilma's head. Although the top had been almost a half inch long, and the sides more than a quarter inch, Tara's clipper had made quick work of reducing it all to the eighth inch recommended for the treatment.

Tara removed the cape and replaced it with one of the cloth towels that snapped around Wilma's neck. “I'm ready for the next step. Last chance to change your mind.”

“Full steam ahead, Tara. No turning back now,” Wilma told her.

“I like a woman with convictions,” Tara said as she began to brush on the gel. “You're going to look quite sharp when it's done. Ever since I got my buzz cut I've been thinking about getting balded. I'm not sure I can hold out much longer. As long as I'm doing it regularly for other women and girls I might as well join them. There you go Wilma. I should be able to get back to you just about the time you're finished.

Pam had been watching the unfolding scene with mixed feelings. Wilma and she had gone to Kate for their regular trims every two weeks for the past twenty four years with a few rare exceptions such as when one or the other was out of town, had a conflict or was sick. Pam had gone alone just last Thursday for her regular trim, because Wilma had to attend a meeting of one of the organizations where she was on the Board of Directors. So now Wilma had made what seemed like a very sudden decision. It was not as though Pam was surprised at it. Over the years they had often discussed the idea of going bald. Wilma in particular was inclined to do it as baldness became more and more common. Now the die was cast.

Pam was torn. Jim had died a year and a half earlier at the rather young age of sixty-six. Despite medication to control his high blood pressure he could not overcome his family history of strokes. He had come to accept bald women and even admitted that Pam's little boy cut was attractive. Pam ran her hand through her mixed gray and blond hair. She wished it would turn light silvery gray the way her Mother's had, but she knew that was not likely for many years. She had toyed with the idea of having it bleached and colored white or silver, but rejected the idea as too much trouble. She had already had Kate give her a preview of what she would look like as a bald Grandmother and somewhat grudgingly agreed with Kate that she might look younger. Of course Denise would love it, and Grace would be absolutely delighted to have a bald Grandma. No matter how she looked she'd be approved by her family and friends. And certainly she would hardly be noticed among all the bald women and girls that were seen everywhere nowadays. There was really nothing to hold her back if she wanted to go the bald route – nothing that is except her own hesitation to take that step. Finally she made up her mind. She focused on what was happening to Kate and Wilma. Kate was back in the chair. Tara was finishing the laser step. Pam got up from the table where she had been sitting with Gwen, Wilma and a number of other women that she knew only casually.

“Excuse me for a minute everybody. I have to go see Jan,” Pam said as she headed to where she saw Jan sitting with Meredith, Georgia and some other women.

“Done, Kate. We'll be here a little while before I can finish you though,” Tara told her.

“Tara, Pam has something to ask you,” Jan interrupted. “Here she is.”

“Tara, do you think you can do one more balding?” Pam asked.

“Oh my! I think I can, but let me check to be sure I brought enough lotion with me,” Tara said as she opened the box where the lotion was being kept cold. She held up the bottle and gauged the level according to the scale on the side. “It's just enough Pam. Sometimes I'm a little too generous and I don't get as many applications as I should, but this time I'm OK. You want me to do you?”

“Yes, I do.   I've been dancing around the idea for years along with Wilma. It's time for me to jump into the pond. I've diddled long enough,” Pam said as she handed the microphone back to Jan and headed toward the front to a generous round of applause.

“Someone bring us another chair so Wilma can have a seat. Wilma I'm going to do Pam before I do your laser treatment. Is that OK?” Tara asked.

Wilma nodded her assent and then jumped up and went over to Pam to give her a hug. “I'm really glad you're joining me Pam, but you don't have to you know,”

“I know, but I finally realized that there was nothing to hold me back and I know Denise and Grace will love it. I think I'll like it too. It just seemed the right thing to do. We'll just have to be best bald friends,” Pam replied.

“I can definitely handle that,” Wilma laughed.

Pam had taken a seat in the barber chair where Tara quickly applied a neck paper and the cape, before beginning to buzz her head.

Deedee was back to the podium to make some more announcements.

“Let me have your attention for a minute folks. The Herb Garden people tell me that they have some wonderful sweets for everyone – their treat. Apparently they have strawberry and raspberry cheesecake as well as a few other irresistible goodies for us. So get another cup of their great coffee or your favorite tea and indulge yourselves. And while you enjoy seeing Kate and the others join the bald beauties brigade, take the opportunity to go look at the trophy cases and be amazed. Finally I want to announce that Georgia Barkas is stepping down as the Executive director of the Crown Point Sports Foundation after twenty four years and Carly Webster will be taking over. Georgia tells me that Carly has done a great job as Associate Executive Director for the past two years and is more than up to the job. From what I've heard, we have a great group of swimmers under Christine's tutelage, and the soccer team also has some outstanding young players. So hold onto your hats, we may have something pretty special going on in the next couple of years,” Deedee announced.

There was an enthusiastic round of applause at the announcement. It had been know for a while that Georgia intended to retire and that Carly would probably be offered the position. Carly had gotten her degree in business administration, but with a concentration in non-profit fund raising. She had given up a promising position in a national organization to take the Associate Executive Director position with the Crown Point Sports Foundation knowing that she would never have the income that she could have had with larger and better known organizations, but it had always been her dream job. She was determined to make a great success of it.

Tara had finished clippering Pam and was preparing to apply the gel lotion. The buzz of conversations in the room continued as little groups of women went to look at the trophy cases and talk at their tables as they indulged in the outstanding sweets that the Herb Garden offered.

Wilma, the towel still fastened around her neck, had returned to her table to sample the raspberry cheesecake. Michelle had come to their table to chat with Gwen. As Wilma approached Michelle jumped up to greet her.

“Oh, Wilma! What a great thing to do. You're going to look terrific! And you're going to love having a smooth head,” Michelle said as she hugged her.

Wilma grinned. “I know Michelle. Being here with all of you again inspired me. Seeing you and the others with your cheetah tattoos I suddenly realized that I had never had that experience and I wanted it. Tony is going to be a little surprised, but he'll be happy. He got over me having a buzzed head a long time ago and he's quite comfortable with Angela being bald. He's dropped hints a few times. I think I'll be a little more sexy looking too.”

“You certainly will. I've loved being bald ever since Kate shaved me. I was really happy when I had finished my laser treatments. I thought I looked so sexy and I felt it too. When Kate shaved me that first time, Steve was stunned, but after we talked about it some he understood. After a month or so he had gotten used to the idea of having two baldies around”, Gwen said. 

“Eve was so enthusiastic about being bald it was funny. She would get me to shave her on Sunday morning then make her head as shiny as possible before she came down to breakfast wearing one of her favorite outfits. Before she sat down she always did some little pose to show off her bald head. When she heard that Tess was going to get laser treatments she came home and begged me to take her in to get it done. I finally had to put my foot down and say that she absolutely couldn't get it done before she was eighteen. She pouted for a couple of days but finally quite talking about it. 

“I didn't know it, but she was already making plans to get it done when she turned eighteen. Her Grandfather had given her a small cash gift which she had put into a savings account. From that point on if you asked her what she wanted for her birthday or Christmas she always said 'don't give me a present – just give me a card with a check.' Every bit of money she got for the next four years went into her bank account. She turned eighteen in August the year before the Olympics, but there was too much happening then for her to get started, so she decided to wait a little longer. After they won their first Olympics the first thing she did was to go to a clinic and get started. She stopped shaving for three months so her hair would be growing and the laser treatments would work. By the end of the year she had just about finished. Along with her head she had gotten everything else done too. She told me she wasn't going to have a hair anywhere on her body and that Daryl loved it. She had been dating Daryl for the past three years and I knew they had been intimate for a while. Obviously it worked out. They've been married for fifteen years,” Gwen continued. 

“I thought about it for a year, then decided to join her. Steve thought I was nuts, but he was won over when I came back with a total Brazilian. He became quite attentive after that. He still is,” Gwen told them with a sly grin.

“You'd be surprised at how many guys react that way. It seems to happen a lot,” Michelle responded. “I knew Eve was a big fan of the total no hair look, because she talked to Cindi about it. Cindi and Bridget did the same thing about a year after Eve.”

“That was a great cheesecake! I'd better get back up there. Tara wants to do my laser treatment.   I think Kate is about ready to get cleaned up,” Wilma told them as she hurried away and headed back to the barber chair.

“OK, Wilma, I can do your laser treatment now and you'll have to sit around for forty five minutes before I can get you cleaned up,” Tara told her as she adjusted the eye protectors. She had already cleaned off the lotion and applied the dye solution.

“The routine hasn't changed much since the process was first introduced has it?” Wilma inquired.

“Not a bit, Wilma. It has gotten a little more convenient because of the new lotion that doesn't have to be refrigerated, but other than that it's the same. I'm almost done. Just a couple more minutes,” Tara told her. “There. Done! Now it's just waiting time. You can do whatever you want for the next forty-five minutes. I'll clean up Kate in another fifteen minutes.”

Ten minutes later Tara looked around for Kate, but couldn't see her. Finally she decided to use the microphone that she had attached to her collar. “Tara to Kate. It's time to get your final cleanup,” she announced.

There was a ripple in the crowd of people as a way was made for Kate to get back to the front. Finally she made her way to the barber chair. “Sorry about that Tara. I was so engrossed that I forgot to check the time,” Kate explained.

“No problem Kate. I just couldn't spot you out there. Are you ready to join the proudly bald?” Tara asked.

“You bet Tara. It seems really silly that I've waited this long. I could have been enjoying it for the past ten years at least. Gabby is going to love it,” Kate said.

Tara carefully wiped Kate's head with a damp cloth and then dried it thoroughly with a blow dryer that she had brought for that purpose. With agile fingers she began applying the sticky strips to Kate's head and deftly removing them taking all the hair. Each strip removed revealed another area of smooth pale skin. In less than ten minutes Kate was completely bald.

“Kate I'm going to use this special moisturizer so you'll look more natural. It has some color and gives your head a nice soft gleam. I have three different shades. I think that the medium shade will be just right. I've got some transparent shiners here also. How much shine do you want?” Tara asked as she began to spread the moisturizer over Kate's head and blend it with her natural skin tone.

“Goodness. I've asked that question so many times, and here I am without an answer,” Kate laughed. “OK, can you do a number three?” There had been such a demand for different degrees of shine that the cosmetics industry association had finally agreed on a scale with zero being a matte finish and five being a high gloss. They had tried to agree on a name for each level, but had gotten nowhere with that idea. They did agree to put the number on the label even though it was often in such small print that it was difficult to find.

“Sure thing. I brought some two, three and four just in case. I like three myself. There. That looks a lot better. Your head should have a nice natural look in two or three weeks. How about a little shine for your face too. I can do a number two and blend that with the three on your head,” Tara suggested.

“Sure. Why not? I usually do use a little face shiner. I just neglected to do it this morning,” Kate explained.

Tara worked quickly and efficiently and in a few minutes Kate had a noticeable glow to her head and a more subtle glow to her face.

“There you go Kate and you look very elegant. Didn't you tell me that you were forty-nine?” Tara laughed.

“Oh, right! Forty-nine going on sixty!” Kate responded. “Give me that mirror so that I can see if I recognize myself.”

Kate held up the mirror and immediately saw that Gabby had managed to find her way behind the barber chair in a location that Kate could not see. She had been there for some time watching and listening. Now she grinned happily at Kate and held out her arms. Tara had already removed the towel from around Kate's neck and Kate stood up and turned to go to Gabby who had stepped forward. Gabby, who was more than six inches taller than the petite Kate, enfolded her in her arms and cradled her smooth head before they kissed lingeringly to a growing round of applause.

“You're beautiful Katie. More beautiful that you've ever been,” Gabby told her softly.

“Here she is folks. The most beautiful bald lady barber I've ever seen. All she's missing is an otter tattoo,” Gabby announced.

Doris rushed to the front with both an otter and a cheetah tattoo. “Sit down Kate and let me put this on your head for you. Would you like a cheetah on the other side?”

“Why not. I sure don't want to show any favoritism,” Kate laughed.

Five minutes later it was done. Gabby had already gotten hers as had a number of others. Soon several more from the audience joined them. Meredith had quickly volunteered to help Doris apply them when she saw that there were five or six women waiting to have it done.

“Thanks Meredith. I was getting ready to panic. You know Meredith you look really good with your bald head. Did you finally get it done permanently? I think I heard from someone that you had.” Doris asked. “I know that you just shaved it for the longest time.”

“I finally did Doris. It was four or five years ago.   I did keep shaving it for a very long time. You remember that time I got it buzzed really short and bleached almost white? Well Phil liked that look. I did too as a matter of fact, but having it bleached every two weeks was a hassle. I kept it up for almost two years until I had Kate give me a clipper shave. That looked good too, because during the time between clipper cuts it was less than a quarter of an inch long and my skin was exposed enough to have some color, so a clipper shave looked a lot like my short nearly white buzz. Phil almost didn't notice the difference. I kept it like that for another year then had Kate shave me smooth. Phil was surprised, but he liked how it felt, so from then on I kept it shaved smooth and used the special moisturizer. I never had the courage to go for laser treatment. I think I must have shaved for about fifteen years. My, that was a long time now that I think about it. You got laser treatments about the time I finally went bald didn't you?” Meredith asked.

That's about right. Ellen and I both did it about a year before she went to her second Olympics. It was right after Nationals. So that was seven years after Kate shaved me the first time. Goodness that was eighteen years ago! You didn't see many bald women back then. What were we thinking? It's amazing!. I guess we were so committed to doing it and so supportive of each other that we never hesitated. Of course there were a lot of bald women in our area, so we weren't so radical. We did have some interesting stories to tell each other when we went on vacation somewhere. But you know, we all laughed at the way people reacted to seeing a bald woman. Frank always treated me extra nice when he heard some stupid remark,” Doris said.

There were still four people waiting to have a tattoo applied. One was a teenaged girl, that Doris momentarily was at a loss to identify although she was sure she knew her. She had a small septum ring with a little red stone that dangled from it in her nose. “Oh my goodness. You're Hope. You certainly have grown and changed since I last saw you. You've become quite the striking young woman. I must have missed seeing you at the last meeting. Is your nose ring new? It looks quite nice,” Doris asked.

“Thanks. It's pretty new Mrs. Hardy. I got it about three months ago. I like it. I can change the dangle any time I want, but I can't take out the ring for three more months. And you're right about not seeing me at the last meeting. I was at a meet and couldn't attend. I've grown a lot since I last attended a meeting,” Hope giggled. “I know Mom was an otter, but I'd like a cheetah tattoo. I'm going to get a real one when I'm old enough. Sort of like yours; not a cheetah, but something else – a dragon maybe or a humming bird – something like that.”

“OK, but you know I have to ask you if Tess said it was OK for you to get a tattoo,” Doris said.

“She did Mrs. Hardy. My Dad said it was OK too, but only for the summer. I'm going to summer camp for gymnastics on Monday. The other kids will think it's cool,” Hope replied.

“OK. A cheetah it is. Vicky Weldon said that you are a very good gymnast. Is that true?” Doris asked her.

“Not as good as she was, but I'm getting better. I want to go to the Olympics like she did. I'm going to make it too,” Hope said with conviction.

“I'm sure you will. After all you're a Crown Point kid and that makes you special. You're all done and it looks very good Hope,” Doris told her.  

Meanwhile Wilma had returned to have the final step in her balding carried out. “I'm going to get a cheetah tattoo as soon as you're done Tara.” she said. “I wore one on the back of my shoulder a lot of the time, but I never had one on my head like the other soccer Moms. I finally got a real tattoo on my back shoulder, but most of the time you can't see it.”

“Do you know if any of the others got real tattoos beside Gabby and Doris,” Tara asked.

“I know Abby has an otter on her shoulder. And Steffie has a cheetah on hers. And of course you saw that rose tattoo that Deedee has on her head. I'm think there are quite a few tattoos among the original otters and cheetahs. Oh, now I remember. It's Arlene who has a tattoo on the back of her head. It's just an abstract design. And Bridget and Cindi have little matching tattoos behind their ears,” Wilma said. “I forgot about Ruth. She has a hummingbird on her head.” 

“I thought there might be more real tattoos than that. They all wore those temporary head tattoos for years. I guess not many of them wanted anything permanent,” Tara said.

“Well, you have to remember that we were all in our late thirties or early forties when this all got started and we had grown up being told that getting a tattoo was something only cheap girls did. You know, girlfriends of guys in a motorcycle gang and stuff like that. It's a lot more acceptable now. Younger women are a much more likely to do it and we don't have many in that age bracket at the moment. I did see several on women that I don't know. We have such a big membership now that I can't keep up with them all,” Wilma said.

“I guess I'm asking because I've always wanted a tattoo and I think I'd like it on my head or maybe on the nape of my neck. Do you think that would be acceptable?” Tara asked.

“Of course it would. It's not much different from being a bald woman. Things have changed a lot in twenty-five years. You can be a bald woman with a tattoo on her head and still have a job where you meet people. I like Ruth's humming bird and Deedee's rose is quite striking. Now that you've got me thinking, I could easily be persuaded to get one myself,” Wilma laughed. “I'm certainly going to get a temporary cheetah, and after that, who knows?”

Tara laughed and replied, “I like your attitude Wilma. And you're all done and ready for a nice tattoo. All I had to do was put on some of this moisturizer/shiner. You look really good. I've got to get Kate to do me. I keep trying to tell myself that a bald woman my age doesn't look good, but that's ridiculous. Here are all these bald women who are older than I am and they look terrific.”

“Our old prejudices die hard Tara. Let me have a look at myself. Heck, that's not bad at all. I'm going to like being a bald Grandma. Tony will like it. Thanks Tara, this is just great. Oh, there you are Angela. What do you think?” Wilma said as she got up from the chair and greeted Angela who had been waiting patiently off to the side while Wilma had her final cleanup.

“Mom, you look really wonderful – so stately! I'm so glad you finally decided to be a baldy. It's absolutely perfect for you,” Angela told her enthusiastically and then embraced her affectionately.

“I do like it Angela. I should have done it years ago. Where's Flora. I want to show off my nice soft and smooth bald head for her,” Wilma said.

“She's over there with all the other kids. I'll go get her,” Angela answered. “You're getting a tattoo aren't you. Why don't we meet you over near where Doris and Meredith are doing them.”

“Good idea. Flora would probably like to watch that,” Wilma responded.

Before she could leave, a group of women quickly surrounded her. Michelle was the first to arrive followed by Leigh, Joyce, Gwen, Hallie and Paula. Jan hurried up to offer the microphone to anyone who needed it.

“Way to go!” Michelle greeted her. Then took the microphone from Jan. “Ladies let me introduce this beautiful lady. She's the Mother of the phenomenal soccer player Angela and the Grandmother of the rising star Flora. Today she took the final step on her long journey to embrace the delights of having a smooth, clean and gleaming head! She had joined the ranks of the joyfully bald. Give her a big welcome.”

There was a loud round of applause as Wilma waved both hands in acknowledgment.

The others crowded around her, laughing, examining the smoothness of her head, and exchanging hugs with her.

“Oh, my God, this is such a good feeling with all of you girls. It makes me feels just like I did twenty-four years ago when I got my first buzz cut,” Wilma exclaimed.

“Well of course, Wilma. We've been sisters in everything except blood for all those

years. We've never lost the feeling of togetherness. So if you do something special or have anything happen to you we're going to be there,” Gwen told her. “And this was special. You should get your tattoo and have fun with Flora while we watch over Pam.”  

Meanwhile Pam had already settled herself in Tara's barber chair. Tara fastened a towel around her neck and proceeded to use the sticky strips to clean up her head.

Denise and Grace had accompanied her to the front. Grace was quite excited at the prospect of having her Grandma become bald.

“Grandma, you're going to be so neat with no hair like Mamma and me. I think it looks the best,” Grace told her.

“I think so too Grace. We'll have a great bald family. I think you inspired me to get it done, just like you,” Pam told her.

Tara was at work removing the last vestiges of Pam's hair. She had done the back and sides and was working on the top. She checked her work and found a few stragglers that she took care of. With a final inspection she concluded that she was done. “There you go Pam. You look just outstanding. I'll put on a little of this light skin colored moisturizer. It gives you a soft glow by itself by I can do more if you like. What would you like?” she asked.

“Not too shiny Tara. What do you suggest Denise?” Pam asked.

“I usually give myself a three and Grace likes a four, but that may be too much for you. How about a two. That's a little less shine than I have today,” Denise advised her.

“I think that would be about right, although after I get accustomed to it I may want a little more shine,” Pam responded. “Do a two for me please, Tara.”

“A two it is. I'll be done in a jiffy.” Tara buffed the moisturizer to be sure there was no excess present. Finally she applied the transparent shiner, a very soft waxy material in a jar. It was also applied very sparingly with a soft sponge. After a minutes wait she used a small chamois to buff it to a soft glow.

“There you go, Pam. Outstanding. Like you said you should have done it years ago. Have a look,” Tara said as she handed Pam the large hand mirror.

Pam examined herself for a moment. “Well, goodness, I look quite good don't I.” A big smile erupted on her face.

“Grandma, you look so cool!” Grace said enthusiastically. She ran to the barber chair where Pam was still sitting as Tara removed the towel from around her neck.

As she stood up Grace embraced her. She quickly went down on one knee so that she could give Grace a hug.

“Thank you Grace. You're a beautiful bald cherub and I guess I'll just have to settle for being a happily bald Grandma. There's certainly no going back now,” Pam told her.

“Mom, you look fabulous,” Denise complimented her. “I always knew that you would look great as a baldy and you do. You deserve a big hug.”

Wilma had gotten her tattoo and hurried back to be part of the group that greeted Pam as the latest bald member of their sisterhood.

“Wow, Pam. Tara did a terrific job. You have a beautiful head and now it's perfect,” Wilma told her.

The others crowded around her showering her with praise and compliments. Finally Gwen took the microphone.

“I want to introduce the newest bald member of our special group. She is the proud mother of Olympic soccer champion Denise and Grandmother of Grace. Let's hear it for Pam,” Gwen shouted.

As the applause built up the soccer Moms surrounded Pam congratulating her, touching her head and giving her warm hugs. She responded with enthusiasm grinning all the while.

“You guys make me feel wonderful the first time when Kate cut my hair into that little boy style and you're just as good at it now. It feels stupendous knowing that I've finally taken the last step and realizing that I'm going to love it. Thank you all for being my best friends for twenty four years. I'm sorry I made you wait so long,” Pam said.

“It was worth it Pam. You've been part of our gang from the beginning and you definitely did your part all that time. We're just thrilled that you're happy and content,” Hallie told her.

During the process of balding three more women hardly anyone had left. Carly and Deedee had anticipated that possibility and they had reserved the ballroom for the entire day.

Steffie was surrounded by members of the Otters and Cheetahs. Elaine, Sandy and Ruth have joined another group. April and Georgia are also surrounded by a small group who are talking about the remarkable achievements of these two women.

Throughout the room among the women in their fifties or more, a significant topic of conversation is when did they get their first head shave, and if they are permanently bald when did they do it. There is always astonishment when one of the soccer or swimming Mom's is queried and reveals that she first became bald twenty four or twenty five years earlier and chose to become permanently bald only a few years later.

Among the younger women and teens the conversations were much more varied. For them a bald head was quite normal. Many of them were first shaved before their teen years during that critical period following the second Olympics and lasting until the fourth. It was during that period that the idea of having a bald head had rapidly grown in acceptability and popularity.   Female swimmers adopted it first. Girls soccer teams started to adopt it and it began to show up regularly on women models. By the fourth Olympics in which the two Crown Point teams participated, the popularity of a bald head had achieved a level of acceptability that guaranteed its continued growth. The advent of the two biochemical treatments had accelerated the process, especially the semi-permanent process which was quickly adopted as a risk free way of “giving it a try.”

The manager of the Herb Garden finally approached Carly and said that they were out of coffee and would need to get the room cleared so that the servers could get to their evening jobs. The chefs had already left and the cleanup crew was anxious to get their job done.

“I'll talk to Heather and she can make an announcement and wrap things up,” Carly said as she glanced at her watch and noted that it was already past two thirty in the afternoon.

She found Deedee and they had a quick consultation before Carly went to find Heather. After a brief conversation Heather went to the podium and switched on the microphone. 

“Well folks I think we've come close to the end of this great meeting. It has been the greatest meeting of the BMGC, don't you agree?” Heather asked.

Much applause, whistling and yelling following this query.

“I want all of the Otters, Cheetahs, their Moms and Daughters to gather here in front for an encore. All of you please and that includes the great baldies Kate and Gabby,” Heather announced over the rising clamor from the floor.

Deedee and Sandy hustled to get everyone together. Gabby had invited Vivian, a professional photographer she had know for years, to attend the meeting. She too was bald and had a bald daughter who came with her.   She had volunteered to help out if Gabby needed her. She quickly took over, and took a series of pictures with Gabby's wide angle camera. Gabby would be in the picture standing behind Kate. After several tries, they finally found a suitable arrangement with kids sitting on the floor, their Moms kneeling behind them and their Mom's standing behind. Several shots with varying exposures, and with different variations of the lights illuminating the stage and Gabby and Vivian were satisfied.

There was another round of applause and the large group up front waved and pumped fists in acknowledgment. As they scattered Heather spoke to them one last time.

“This has been a glorious time for me. I'm sorry that I couldn't greet each one of you individually. I want to thank Deedee, Carly, Sandy and all the others who worked so hard to make this such a great success. Let's hear it for them,” Heather shouted of the applause, whistles and yells.

“And last but not least, thanks to the Herb Garden for providing us with such an outstanding brunch. Was it great or what?” Heather cried to another round of applause.

“And finally I want to thank all of you for coming. The next meeting of the Bald Girls Mothers Club will be the third Sunday in September. And as I used to say, keep coming back and keep our movement growing. Have a safe trip home.”

One final extended round of applause along with the scuffling of chairs, retrieval of belongings, the exchange of words saying what a success the meeting had been and they slowly, almost reluctantly, began to exit the ballroom.

“Well, I almost don't want it to end Christine,” Paula said.

“I have the same feeling Mom. It was wonderful. I'm really glad that Heather was the one to be the MC. That made it special,” Christine said. “Where are Melissa and Emily? I haven't had a chance to talk to them in quite a while.”

“There' she is over there talking to someone. She said that a woman in the orchestra was going to bring her daughter. Maybe that's who it is. Pauline and Emily are with them,” Paula said as she headed in that direction.

“Oh, hi Mom. Hi Christine. Let me introduce you to Estelle Walton. She was just named as second viola in the orchestra. Estelle this is my Mom Paula and my sister Christine. You probably know that she is the women's swimming coach at State and is the head coach at the Amberleigh swim club,” Melissa introduced them.

“I'm glad to meet you Pauline and Christine. It's hard not to know about someone as famous as you Christine.  Or Melissa either for that matter. I can hardly fathom having two remarkable careers like the two of you have had. Melissa and I were just chatting about how long she has been bald. I had no idea. I was never very interested in sports. So I guess that I was so engrossed in my studies that I completely missed the TV interviews of the two of you during the Olympics. 

“Anyway, my daughter Irene has been lobbying me to have her head done for the past year. A couple of my friends who are bald said I should bring Irene to this meeting and naturally Irene knew all about it from some of her friends. Of course, they're bald as well. So I let her get herself clipper shaved and we came to this meeting. It has been eye opening,” Estelle explained.

“It is pretty remarkable to see so many bald women in one place isn't it,” Christine replied.

“You can say that again. It was amazing to me how completely self-assured they all are and to realize what many of them have accomplished. My husband Bart told me that he thinks that bald women look very good, but I argued that I had to keep my hair for professional reasons. From what I saw here that's not true, as is obviously the case for Melissa as well as so many others. It seems that my arguments against going bald for both Irene and me don't really stand up. So I was telling Melissa that I'm going to let Estelle get the permanent treatment that she wants and I think I'm going to get the semi-permanent treatment. That seems a little backwards, but Irene is actually the one who is certain about what she wants to do and I'm the one who wants to keep her options open,” Estelle laughed. “I think I'll look good, and I've always wanted to try it, but I still get butterflies when I think about it.”

“Butterflies are quite normal. I had them too. Just go for it Estelle. You won't regret it. The minute I got my first shave I knew that I was not going back unless I was absolutely forced to,” Paula encouraged her. “And you're quite right. You'll look terrific and Bart will love it I predict. Just talk to your friends about their experience. You'll see.”

“Thanks Paula. I'll remember that. Right now I'd better collect Irene and get out of here. I have a concert tonight and I need to get home and get ready. You're scheduled to lead the rehearsal on Wednesday aren't you Melissa? Maybe I'll be a baldy by then,” Estelle laughed again. “Bye everyone.”

“Melissa that was a wonderful speech that you gave. I'll bet that you could do great young persons concerts like Leonard Bernstein. Are you thinking of doing something like that any time soon. I'd sure come,” Christine told her.

“We've been thinking about it, but we would need a major sponsor and one hasn't stood up yet. I think that by next year we may have it worked out. There are several potential sponsors in the wings,” Melissa said. “I never knew that I could speak until I started doing it. It just came naturally, but I had to practice and do a lot of writing before I could do it well. Just like swimming or playing clarinet,” Melissa replied.

“Before I forget it, the big reason I needed to talk to you and Mom is that Tommy is fixing something special tonight and you're all invited to come over for dinner at six thirty. We'll have our own private celebration, just the eight of us. It will be a good chance for us to catch up on the things that we've been doing,” Christine said.

“Tommy is a great chef. I've never had a vegetarian meal anywhere that was better than one of Tommy's. I'll call Adam. I know he'll want to come,” Melissa responded eagerly.

“Howard will be delighted to come with me. It's been quite a while since we got together last. We'll have a lot of fun things to talk about,” Paula added.

“OK, that's settled then. I'll take you home Mom and I'll see you and Adam no later than six thirty. Come as early as you like. Maybe Pauline and Emily can give us a lecture on the Theory of Relativity,” Christine laughed.

“Nothing would surprise me any more. I could hardly believe it, but she mastered multiplication last week. She showed me how to multiply two three digit numbers. She knows the ten by ten multiplication table and how to make it. It caught me completely unawares. Two weeks ago she didn't know it,” Melissa responded. “I think Pauline coached her,”.

“She seems to be like Pauline, Melissa. They pick up new ideas at breakneck speed and absorb new information faster than any sponge I've every heard of,” Christine replied. “She probably belongs in the school with Pauline.”

“Her teacher at the learning center thinks so too. She said Emily's reading is improving extremely rapidly. Probably this fall we'll put her in Pauline's school. I'd better get going. I'll see you this evening,” Melissa said.

“OK. Let's collect them and be on our way. They probably want this room back anyway, Christine answered.

As they walked leisurely out of the ballroom and down the hall to the elevator to go to their cars, they had lapsed into quiet contemplation except for Pauline and Emily who were chattering about Olympic gold metals having seen the rather impressive collection from the Cheetahs and Otters.

Emily turned to Christine. “Aunt Christine, how could you get so many gold metals? My Mamma only got three.”

“Well, Emily your Mamma is the best woman's soccer player ever, but she played on a team, so when she and her team went to the Olympics they could only win one gold metal. Swimming is different. I could enter a lot of different swimming events and get a chance to win a metal. Nobody has ever been able to play like your Mamma, but lots of women have swam as well I did except in two events. I always had several chances to win gold metals, but most of the time I couldn't. Your Mamma had only only three chances to win and she won a gold metal every time,” Christine explained.

“I still don't think it's fair for you to to have so many metals and Mamma has only three,” Emily responded.

Melissa responded. “Your Aunt Christine and I had a wonderful time when we were swimming and playing soccer, Emily. I don't mind at all that she won so many metals. Being on a team where everybody works together perfectly is a great experience. It makes up for not winning a lot of metals. We had great friends which we still have. Now we're finished with that and are doing something else that we love doing just as much. That's the way life is. You do one thing that you like and can do well and when that's over you start doing something else that you like and can do well. We like what we're doing now and winning gold metals seems like a long time ago.”

“You know those videos of Aunt Melissa that we have on our computer Mamma? Well, I watched Aunt Melissa in the gold metal game of her second Olympics. It was awesome how fast she could run with the ball. It doesn't matter how many metals she won. She was the best. Everybody says so. Nobody could beat them, Emily. I really like watching them because only one girl had any hair. All the rest were bald, but the girls on the other team all had hair. Aunt Melissa was just like a Cheetah. She seemed to be running really fast and suddenly she would speed up and just race past everybody,” Pauline explained. 

“You know Emily, Melissa and Christine were wonderful daughters for me. I am so proud of them. They did so many amazing things, but they're even better now. They have two terrific girls who will grow up to be just as remarkable as their Moms. They're very proud of you already and you have each other. You're almost like sisters. What a lucky Grandma I am. I'll get to see you two grow up and be fine women like your Moms. I'm looking forward to it,” Paula told them.

“We know Grandma. I don't know what we will do, but I want to do something important,” Pauline told her.

“I'm going to do something important too,” Emily chimed in.

“I don't doubt it. Just keep working hard like your Moms did and you'll both do something very important. That's what everybody should try to do,” Paula told them.

“Mamma, did you see Hope. She has a little septum ring. I really want one and I want to get my ears pierced again too. Can I do that?” Pauline asked out of the blue.

Before Christine to come up with a response Emily echoed Pauline.

“I want a nose ring like that too. I've been asking for one forever.”

“I promised you that you could get a second piercing next summer when you're eight, but I'm not ready to let you get a nose ring yet.” Melissa replied.

“You can have another piercing for you ears Pauline, but I agree with you Aunt Melissa. You're going to have to wait a while before we talk about a nose ring.” Christine agreed.

“Has Emily been talking about a nose ring very long Melissa?”

“She brought it up several months ago and has been bugging me about it ever since,” Melissa laughed. “I suppose some day if she keeps it up I'll probably give in, but not anytime soon.”

“I saw Hope's. And there were a few other as well. It could be a big trend, but more likely it's a passing fad. Like you I'm not about to allow that anytime soon.   I think this is our floor. We'll see you later.” Christine said.

They split as Christine, Pauline and Paula got out of the elevator at one level. Melissa's car was a level higher.

“Mamma, will there be a fiftieth anniversary meeting?” Pauline asked as they strolled toward their car and got in to head toward Paula's house.

“I don't know Pauline. I doubt that anyone has given much thought to that. Maybe you and Emily could be the leaders to set that up when you're thirty two,” Christine laughed. “I'll be pretty old by then.”

“And I'll be ninety if I live that long. You know Christine, the past twenty five years have been quite marvelous. Had some one predicted that I would have such a glorious time I would have told them they were crazy. And yet it happened. I met my soul mate and I watched my two daughters exceed the wildest expectations of any realistic mother, and now I can look forward to watching two remarkable grandchildren grow and develop into the next generation of extraordinary adults,” Paula said.

“”I feel the same way Mom. Tommy was certainly my soul mate. Without him I could never have accomplished what I did. And now I'm doing exactly what I wanted to do. And I have Pauline who will probably outdo me by a mile.   Besides that I have had the most unbelievably supportive Mom imaginable. I have been truly blessed. Tell me that story about the vacation town in Italy where a lot of the girls and women were bald during the summer. It was on the Adriatic wasn't it? Did you ever locate the original story again.” Christine smiled.

“I never did, but still I swear I really did read it,” Pauline laughed.

“And I really threw a fit when you insisted that I was going to have my head shaved that summer. Thanks Mom for making me get my head shaved. I think it was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Christine said reaching over to squeeze Paula's hand.

“You're going to make me cry Christine,” Paula responded.

“Tears of joy I hope. That's what I feel like doing. Here we are Mom. Pauline, would you like to escort Nanna to the door?” Christine said.

“Sure, Mamma. Come on Nanna. You can hold my hand. I love you Nanna,” Pauline said as they walked hand in hand to the door where Pauline rang the bell. After Norman opened it and gave Pauline and then Paula hugs and a kiss for the latter, they said their see-you-laters.

Pauline ran back to the car and jumped into the back seat where she buckled herself in.

“Mamma, a lot of people live to be ninety years old. I hope Grandma can come to the fifty year celebration,” Pauline said.

“I do too Pauline. I really do,” Christine said.

Tears came to Christine's eyes. Someday she would lose one of the three best friends in her life and she didn't want to think about it, but Pauline's still immature bluntness about life would not let her completely ignore it. For now she was happy in the thought that her life so far had been and continued to be about as good as anyone had a right to expect. Her teammates were still her best friends, she was fulfilled by her career. Her family was a joy. Tommy would be waiting and she could bask in the emotional safety of his arms. He would fondle her smooth head and hint at wonderful thing to come. She had been truly blessed.

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