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Show Peppermint Monday to a lot of unnecessary trouble. I hadn't been in Todd's house for years, and I'd forgotten how elegant it was. The entry was polished stone, with pots of huge plants all around. I felt like I was in a jungle, except Mrs. Todd sure didn't look like the African women I'd seen in pictures. Her frosted curls framed her face softly, giving a false appearance of youth. Grandma Ruby said Mrs. Todd was a nice woman with only two faults: money and an obsession with youth. She spent most of her money trying to achieve a look of youthfulness. She'd had a face-lift once and it was a common fact that she gave Gladys Matthews more business than the rest of the town put together. Gladys is a beauty operator, and she must be good if Mrs. Todd goes to her. The Todd's think nothing of several trips to Springfield a week. If anyone in Missouri could make her look younger, she'd visit them. I thought it was kind of ironic. Mrs. Todd tried to get younger while Renae was growing up too fast. They made quite a humorous pair- The front room was sunken and cream colored, from the carpet to the draperies. The sofa and love seat were a rich olive green color. The room was like something out of a home magazine. Mrs. Todd was certainly proud of it. So proud*none of us were allowed in the room. Instead, we were ushered on past, through the kitchen, and to the family room. A bunch of Renae's silly friends were already watching a video movie and drinking soda pop. Sleeping bags were tossed around the room reminding me of why we were here. Most of the girls here belonged to Renae' s elite little group, with only a few outsiders; Tracy, the new girl, and Andrea and me. I could tell Tracy was completely comfortable with the situation. Probably because she'd only known Renae for a short time. I wasn't com- |