Short Stories

Della's Hair

Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with powder rag. She stood at the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking witha grey fence ina grey backyard. Tomorrow would be Christmas day, and she only has 1.87 dollars with which to buy Jim a present.

She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Expenses had been greater than she had calculated. There are only 1.87 dollars to buy a present for Jim. Many a happy hour she has spent planning for something nice for him.

Suddenly, she whirled from the window and stood before the glass. Her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost it's colour. Rapidly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length.

Now, there were two possessions of the Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch; the other was Della's hair.

So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her, and then she did it up again nervously and quickly.

On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat. With a whirl of her skirts and a brilliant sparkle in her eyes, she went out of the door and down the stairs to the street.

Where she stopped, the sign read: Mme. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds

One flight up Della ran and collected herself panting. Mdam, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the 'Sofronie'.

"Will you buy my hair?" asked Della.

"I buy hair," said Madam. "Take your hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it."

Down ripped the brown cascade.

"Twenty dollars." said Madam, lifting the mass with a practiced hand.

"Give it to me, quick." said Della.

Oh, and the next two hours went by on rosy wings. She was ransacking the stores for a suitable Christmas present for Jim.