It’s Got To Be Perfect

A thought-provoking tale

Helena stepped into the beauty salon. “Lucy will be ready in just a minute.” The receptionist gestured to a girl with Down’s syndrome whom Helena had gone to school with.

Oh just great! Helena had her nails done every fortnight, but when the one time it was vital that they were absolutely perfect, her usual technician was away and she got stuck with Lucy.

“Isn’t there anyone else?” If it didn’t matter so much, Helena wouldn’t have asked. Well, probably not.

“She’s very good,” the receptionist assured her.

Maybe she was if her clients were patient and kind to her. At school Lucy got the lowest grades, but not by much. She’d tried hard and her work was always neat.

She’d be more GLAMOROUS than the BRIDE, putting her in the SHADE

“OK, fine.” Helena took a seat to wait. Her sister Phoebe’s wedding wasn’t for another two days. There was time to get it sorted out if Lucy botched the manicure because she was holding a grudge. Not that Lucy had reason to. Helena had never bullied her.

Helena studied Lucy’s customer when she eventually came over to pay. Her nails were gorgeous, she gushed with praise and left a big tip.

“Hello,” Lucy greeted Helena. “What can I do for you?”

Lucy seemed to understand Helena’s instructions. She set out colours in the pastel confetti colours Helena wanted and showed her photos of nails painted with cute flower and heart designs.

“You can actually do them like that, can you?” Helena asked.

“Oh, I did those ones.” She sounded proud, not defensive.

“Right, fine.” Helena put her fingertips in Lucy’s hands, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake.

“Are you having them done for a wedding?” Lucy asked as she carefully removed the existing gel.

Crikey, the kid was Einstein. Who’d have guessed that? Or maybe she was simply making conversation, just like Helena’s regular girl did.

“I just love weddings,” Lucy chattered on. “Will you be a bridesmaid?” “Chief bridesmaid, actually.” Phoebe had said she didn’t want too much fuss, but Helena had said she couldn’t walk down the aisle without her sister in attendance.

“You dancing attendance on me?” Phoebe had said with a slight giggle. “Well, why not? It is my special day after all. I’ll ask our little cousins too. They’ll be thrilled and you can look after them.”

The three girls were cute, but on the chubby side and very fair. Helena’s slim figure and glossy chestnut brown hair would look sophisticated in comparison.

Helena was even happier when she saw Phoebe’s wedding outfit. The style of dress suited her sister, but was very plain. The dainty, flat slippers were a sensible choice for someone unused to heels. Their grandmother’s veil was made of wonderful lace and would give a traditionally romantic touch, but would hide Phoebe’s face the one time she probably would look radiantly beautiful.

The dress Helena had selected for herself, after shuddering at the one Phoebe had ordered for her, was in ice blue silk. The crisp colour would stand out against the soft ivory of Pheobe and the baby pinks of the younger bridesmaids.

In her fabulous shoes she’d be taller than her sister, literally putting her in the shade. Only Phoebe’s bouquet would outshine anything about Helena’s appearance. “Will you carry a posy?” Lucy asked. Helena was startled for a moment. Had she spoken her thoughts aloud? She couldn’t have done. Lucy was smiling just as brightly as always.

“Yes. The palest cream roses and baby pink freesias.”

“Sounds pretty. I love flowers.” Lucy twittered on asking questions and was seemingly fascinated by everything Helena said.

“Do you remember me from school?” Helena asked as Lucy set up the lamp to cure her exquisitely decorated nails.

“Of course I do.”

They wouldn’t be good memories. Helena had known Lucy wanted to sit with her and her friends at lunchtimes and join in their laughing chatter at break times.

Helena remembered Lucy’s eager look as she’d approached them time after time and the way her smile had crumbled when Helena and the others acted as though she didn’t exist.

At the time that hadn’t seemed to matter, but now…

“Then why are you being nice to me?” Helena asked.

“It’s my job to be nice, to make people look and feel good.”

Lucy was failing at the second part, but that wasn’t her fault.

“My nails look wonderful, thank you,” Helena said.

“I’m so pleased you like them. Please say congratulations to Phoebe for me. I remember her from school, too, and she was always nice to me.”

Of course she was. It wasn’t only in looks that the sisters differed.

When Helena paid she asked for an appointment to have the gel removed.

“Same time two weeks from now?” the receptionist asked.

“No, it will have to be before ten this Saturday and you can’t ask Lucy to do it.”

It would be too cruel to ask Lucy to remove them so soon after she’d made them beautiful.

“You’re not happy with them?” The receptionist looked shocked.

“I am. Lucy is just as good as you said. My nails are perfect.”

They were. Too perfect. Phoebe had somehow, despite wedding nerves, managed to stop biting hers, but they were still very short. With a single colour of polish they’d look neat and pretty – unless anyone had seen Helena’s long, artistic ones. But if Helena’s nails were dull and plain from recent gel removal, Phoebe’s would seem almost glamorous.

Outside the salon, Helena called her sister. “Sorry, Feebs, but I’ve had a slight disaster and ripped my dress.”

“Oh, are you OK, Helena? What happened?”

“Yes, yes I’m fine. I just um… caught it on something. Do you still have the pink one you ordered first?” “They wouldn’t take it back.” “That’s a bit of luck. I’ll wear that and I’ve been thinking… it might be better if I wore flat shoes. I don’t want to twist my ankle if I have to run after the kids.” “If you’re sure…” “I am. Oh, and Feebs, I bumped into someone from school today… remember Lucy who was in my year?” “Yes, sweet kid, always smiling.” “She says to tell you congratulations. I was thinking… could you invite her to the reception? Lucy said she loves weddings and I think she might be pleased to be included.” “Oh, that’s a lovely idea. Helena… You are sure you’re OK, aren’t you? You haven’t banged your head or anything?” “I’m fine. I’ve just come to my senses, that’s all – and I can’t wait to dance attendance on you at your wedding…”