I stared at myself in the mirror in the restroom of Susie's Café. My mascara ran down my face in lines. My lipstick smeared from where I bit my lip. My hair frizzed. Trying to regain my composure, I splashed water on my face. The coolness helped to calm my cheeks. Dabbing my skin with a paper towel, I pulled out the emergency make-up I stashed in the utility closet. Grease and heat did a number on skin, make-up, and hair. I reapplied my make-up and tamed the wildness of my hair to its curls. Fluffing my hair, adjusting my shirt, and pulling on the hem of my skirt, I was ready to face the people in the café.
Susie placed a large milkshake and a cheeseburger on the counter by my stool. I hiked myself onto the seat and slurped a bit of the milkshake. Damien worked on the crossword in the new
