Breastless

                start of **BREASTLESS** 

🍰Holding hands, the hair clipper's speedy buzz rasped from behind. Sitting tensely upright, feeling more like they were heading for the guillotine, the two friends had another two friends - one standing at the back of each chair - poised for the off.

   Under a loud chant of  'Do it! Do it!' a huge cheer went up when the razor started skimming off their already scarecrow-like trimmed hair, both promising not to look at the other until both heads were skin-shiny. The grip on their hands went from firm to bone-crushing in a matter of seconds, and on the count of three, to loud applause, they turned to look at each other...

   'OH ... MY ... GOD!'  Each took a mirror to see for themselves.  'What the ruddy hell have we done!'  

   The room fell into fits of laughter as locks of hair - one pile reddish-brown, the other tones of blonde highlights - gave themselves up to both sadness and determination. Beverly, the previous-brunette, and Fay, the past-blonde, hugged each other tightly. When one has breast cancer and another friend goes the extra mile in helping you through it, it makes dealing with the dreaded disease that bit more kick-ass! The ladies involved, who all lovingly baked, and kitted out the living room with balloons, banners and bunting, were aiming to raise around a thousand pounds for charity.

   'Oh, sod it Fay ... I know we said we'd not open the wine box until the cake and coffee had gone, but it's nearly the afternoon.'

   Fay giggled back at Beverly. 'What, at quarter to eleven? Tell you what, we'll go for a sneaky one in the kitchen, hide it in a mug! We deserve an early stiff one after that brutal shaving! C'mon... '

   Beverly's daughter Saskia, came into the kitchen to rub her mum's bald head.  'Well, that's you done now. Can't believe how shiny it is!' 

   'I'll be dusting mine with face powder to hide any sheen!' Fay said.

   'Good call.'  

   'Still going to practice the head-scarfs, in a short while?' Saskia, asked. She had a few ideas she wanted to try out on the baldies heads once they were more relaxed.

   'Yeah, absolutely.' Fay agreed, 'I'll go get the box from upstairs. As she was leaving the kitchen, Beverly whispered to Saskia, 'I just knew she'd have a wonky head!'

   'Mum!' Saskia scolded, giving her a humorous slap to the shoulder. 'That's terrible!'

   Joining the other's back in the lounge, Saskia watched as her mother mingled, radiating fortitude and friendship. She knew she had a challenging time ahead - a journey that could be stopped short depending on what the future held. But she'd be filling her role as a daughter, knowing she had an important part along the way with her - whichever ending came about.

              

                         end of **Breathless**