The Natural Beauty

“Mom, you will never believe what happened in school today.”

“What, honey?”  Mom asks, putting dirty laundry into the washing machine.

“You are going to laugh—it’s so funny.  Unbelievable really.”

“What happened Michelle?”

“Well, I guess Sister all of a sudden has her boobs tied in a knot and decides that she’s banning cosmetics from the dress code, so Miss Boogen saw my mascara I had on today, made me wash it all off—even though Sarah and every other girl in class had on make-up too and so she gave me a conduct slip.”  

 Breathless, my face burning hot, I stare down at the basement floor, avoiding the dead giveaway eye contact with my mother.

            “What? You’ve never gotten one of those slips.  Are you telling me everything I need to know?  This is just about wearing make-up and breaking a new rule at St. Suzanne?”    My mother’s eyes narrow with suspicion.  “And you shouldn’t talk about Sister that way.  She’s a woman of God.”

            “Yeah, well…  I need you to sign it.  You know it’s really not fair because all the girls are wearing make-up, even the sixth graders and no one else got in trouble but me.  I can’t go to school without make-up, I’ll look hideous.” 

                “I don’t know Valerie.  Even if you don’t like the rules, you still need to follow them.”

            “Come on, Mom.  Please?”   I look up at my mother, with tears in my eyes.   She looks unsure of what to say but then gives me a soft smile.

            “Well, I’ll definitely write Miss Boogen a note saying that it doesn’t seem right to change the rules when the school year is half way over, but I’ll also tell her that I’ll personally make sure that you don’t wear any make-up to school anymore.”

            “What?  You don’t need to do that.”

            “But I will,” she says firmly.

            When I get to school the next day, I sit down at my desk and open up the sealed envelope my mother gave me which contains the conduct slip and note.  I quickly read the note while keeping one eye on Miss Boogen up at her desk so she can’t see what I am doing.

                        “Dear Miss Boogen,

Valerie has informed me about the new school rule of no make-up.  I think this rule is unfair to teenage girls and also came abruptly halfway through the school year.   However, I’m very disappointed that my daughter has disobeyed the school’s rules.

I can assure you that Valerie will not wear any more cosmetic products to school.  Please call me if you have any concerns.”

Mom stood up for me that day with just this little note.  It may seem like "not a big deal" for Mom to voice her opinion, but to a teenage girl it was "so a BIG deal."    And...I still wore make-up to school everyday, I just got better at applying it a little more naturally...just like Mom does.

300 words