Peyton's towns.

Makeover

Carmella quickly strapped some padding to my back and we were off.We left the room and as i was fiddling about in my sock,i noticed in the corner of my eye a flinch.Carmella was no longer with me.I walked along the corridor and returned at the room we were in. "Eleanor, where did Carmella go?" I asked
"She just remembered she has a seven year old locked in a bathroom"she replied
"What? She locked a kid in a bathroom?"I replied confusedly
"The child apparently was taking a bath,but didn't know the way back to his room, he asked her to wait for him"she explained
"So she had enough time to explain all that to you,but couldn't take a second to say she'll be right back to me?"i asked frustratedly
"No,no,she told me that when we were waiting for you to wake up"
"Oh ok,would you show me where the cleaner is?"
"Cleaner?"
"Yes,Carmella said she was taking me to get cleaned up"
"Oh yes,the nurse"
"Nurse? I'm not injured"
"Oh ,yes you are,but the nurse is mainly just going to give you a haircut,new clothes and things like that, she's a nurse but she also helps out with other things"
"Ok,so where is she?"
"Room 212,down lift,ill show you" I was glad she'd offered because i am terrible with directions.I was surprised at how awkward it was in the lift,with faint bells jingling and Eleanor whistling,i wasn't sure what to say at all.It seemed like we could talk for hours in the focus room ,which we were just in,but as soon as we stepped into the lift,all was silent in our minds. I tried to start a conversation with her " so," i said " what kind of haircut should i get? What's popular?"
"Well,we all tend to have quite short hair,some have more though,and some very long,so there isn't really a trend " she said,pointing out useless information.A sudden thought occurred to me, did i have to pay? I didn't have any money,it was in my bungalow which was now being raided. "Umm... So,how much is the haircut,or living here?" I said,trying to act like i had money,but if she gave me a price,i'd run at the chance."You don't really think that we expect people who are lost in the desert to have money,do you?"She replied,i didn't look at it from that perspective,i just thought everyone had to have money if they wanted things.i just chuckled and that seemed to satisfy her. I heard a beep and accidentally mistook it for an attack.The king would say that on his adventures,a lot of islands and villages used beeping noises when something was wrong,he had great storytelling skills with the adventures he had came across.i acted irrationally and attempted kicking the lift but just as i done so they opened.Was this witchcraft? I thought until Eleanor interrupted my thoughts and said "that was the bell to say our stop is here, don't worry,new people always mistake it for an alarm"It was as if she had read my mind.The first door to the left had a sign that read it M E D I C A L. I suddenly got nervous when i entered the room,whilst Eleanor explained to the nurse why i was here,i stared at the skinny women.She had extremely long hair and was very skinny.Her clothing looked like it would fit perfectly on someone twice as big as her and her wrists,which came out of the baggy uniform, looked unbelievably thin,like there was no fat or skin,just a skin colored bone. She also had an unusual voice,i was expecting a soft,feminine voice but she instead came out with a deep,unusual voice."Have a seat"the nurse said in her unique voice "your new friend has said you need a haircut,come along" i followed her into the next room and saw that her name was Mrs Tamblegon, where she told me to put on an apron and sit down. "How do you want it then?"
I was thinking hard about this.I'd never had a professional cut,maybe i could just get a trim.No,i needed it short so when i left i'd be able to cope with the heat better and it wouldn't get in my eyes.I had a picture in my mind of how i wanted it,it was just hard to describe."I need a haircut that is short so i can cope with the heat and it wont keep getting in my eyes." She grinned at me and started chopping away."That's what Eleanor asked for" she continued with the same grin on her face "she loved her new unisex hair cut,it provided solutions to her problems,so i hope it'll do the same for you." I was scared to look in the mirror.It suited Eleanor so well,it could never suit me nearly as well.Although,when i looked in the mirror i loved it.It put such a large grin on my face.Not because of the style,but because my hair was blonde now.The king had blonde hair,and Eleanor had black hair,we weren't the same at all.So,i hadn't had a haircut before, the closest i've gotten to a haircut was when a young villager tried to cut it with her fathers cap,but it done nothing except make it knotted, but even i'd had a million haircuts,this one was the best.The nurse then asked "what next then,a bath or shower? Teeth brushing?Nail brushing?I can get rid of those verrucas you have"
"What?What are verrucas?" I asked alarmed.
"Just silly things that grow on your feet, it's just normal,and also ,after all this cleansing,i'll take you across the hall to the spa,to get you relaxed"
"Ok,so shall i take a bath now?"
"Yes,I'm not sure why Eleanor took you up here,i've applied you for a robot director,it'll take you where you need to go"She said to my surprise.She then bustled around a few papers, then eventually found a small device,with around 10 buttons, she pressed the bottom right one,and a robot,about 2 foot tall, rolled in the room and said "How can i help you?"
"So,ill set this thing for the spa and ask for a women called Debra, i've emailed her about you and she can sort you out"
"Sorry but,what is email?"
"Sorry,forgot you were a newbie" she continued with a giggle "it's just a way of contacting someone,it's like, i write a letter and send it to her"
"Ok,so,is it bath time?"
"Yes,it's in that room right there"she directed.
I sat in the tub of water thinking about this sudden change.In my hometown we had a wooden bucket full of salt water to wash in,any cuts i had would sting like hell.I couldn't help but think of the king,how he'd had so many stories to tell and how his hair blew in the wind.  He was very young too,which meant we were good mates.I poured a jug of water over my head to wash out the shampoo.It was much easier to dry myself without long hair dripping down.I walked outside with my towel around my body.The nurse was waiting outside, she then handed me a green and blue jumper which had a red and orange cross on it,and dark blue jogging bottoms with a pair of plimsolls. She said i can keep them even when i've left,which i thought was very kind. I couldn't wait to show Eleanor the new me, i'd become quite fond of her. I stood in the large changing rooms staring at myself in the mirror.I suddenly felt quite insecure about my looks,what if Eleanor ended our friendship because i got a similar haircut?I wasn't just insecure about my looks either,everything started bugging me.What if this was all a set up? They showed me a robot,they could all be robots.I was terrified,i felt like my thoughts were eating me alive,and the only safe place was in this changing room,i never wanted to leave.As i pulled my head through the jumper,i decided these thoughts were silly,why would they be setting me up anyway? It all seemed like a puzzle,so i just strapped up my plimsolls and just as i was about to grab the door handle i was interrupted.I heard a loud knock at the door,and pulled my hand back to listen.
"Are they still in there?" I heard the nurse say.
"Is it locked?" Said an unknown voice."Can they hear us?"  Who were they talking about,me? I acted irrationally and flung open the door "What are you talking about? Is this a setup or what? Is this a trick? Who are you really? Where am i? Tell me the truth! Do you think this is funny?A funny little joke?" I shouted,all the words just fell out of my mouth."What,dear,you must be confused,why is this?"said the nurse,with no one else in the room.
"Don't deny it,you were talking about me,someone else wanted to know if i could hear you,which means whatever they said is a secret,tell me the truth!" I yelled at the top of my voice.
"Honey,sit down"She said sweetly,i was drawn in by the sound of her voice.
"They were talking about Carmella locking a child in the bath"she explained "i asked if the child was still in there,the Tuesday nurse the door was still locked and by 'can they hear us?' They meant did they survive or drown or something,i told them i was busy,because you were getting changed, and that i knew nothing about it"
"Oh," this all made sense now "now i feel silly,can i just get to the spa now please,I'm so sorry." I was now very embarrassed, but she simply gave the robot a few directions and we were off. With a few left and right turns,we arrived,i wasn't sure what to do with the robot,which i named leftie because it couldn't move it's right arm,so i just left it outside in something where people had put there trolleys in. I tried opening the door but i couldn't,i assumed it was locked,then a lady's voice called me in and ,somehow, i was able to open it as soon as she spoke."Umm..." I'd forgotten what i was going to say for a few seconds, so i stalled by acting as if i had my foot stuck in something,i finally remembered so i said "Can i talk to Debra please"
"Yes,dear,that is I" said Debra. I then noticed her name was attached to her uniform,so i could have just told her who i was in the first place."I'm Peyton,i've just arrived, umm...the nurse sent me here"
"Who, Caitlin?"
"Mrs Tamblegon i think"
"Yes,yes, you can call her Caitlin"
"Okay"
"Right then,go over to stall 28 and i'll be there in a sec" I noticed that behind her,blue boards were set up with numbers in the top left corner,with chairs and tables in front.I took a few steps to the right and stood awkwardly by the blue board."You can sit down,you know,she instructed whilst tapping a chair. I sat down and she told me to close my eyes,so i done so. She continued asking me to imagine things, like sunny days,good memories,first love and all this other nonsense.Was she trying to hypnotize me or something? I ignored this thought and heard her snap her fingers."Open your eyes and sit up properly" she said suddenly. I straightened my posture and opened my eyes. " Lets go to number 29 now"she directed. Straight away i jogged over to the station and sat on the chair, accidentally treating it as a race. "You can put your feet in that tray under the table" I saw a baby pink tray with a gooey substance in it.I took off my plimsolls and soaked my feet in the mixture.I looked up and ignored my surroundings,just as she had said. I started thinking about why she started me off at number 28,why not just 1? I wondered. "Snap,snap,get up kid," she said and i suddenly awakened.she sighed "well,that took a while, anyway,number 1 is at the back of the hall,come along." I ran again,i couldn't help it,i just felt like i had to do everything she said in the shortest amount of time i possibly could. She came behind me and put a robe around me.It seemed extremely soft,it was mostly white but there was gold stitched in the top pocket, stating 'Tilly's tower'.She then placed cucumber over my eyes and that is all i saw until she peeled them off my eyes. "Get up and leave quickly,chop,chop,we're done here"she said. I walked away and as soon as i got out the door it seemed like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.I told leftie to take me to Eleanor and as we turned round the corner i saw her. She turned around and her eyes widened "Peyton?Is that you?I love that haircut! It suits you perfectly! "
"Thanks, so,what are we doing now?"
"Umm.... you know you got here twelve hours ago,i think you should get some sleep."
"Twelve hours! Woah,yeah, where do i sleep?"
"Jerry and Franklin built you a room upstairs,they'll add the important stuff tomorrow,like a lock and toothpaste.You're on the top floor,it's not like anyone will come I'm, and you can borrow my toothpaste"
"Toothpaste? What's that? A paste for your teeth,sounds disgusting"
"No,no,it freshens breath and stuff"
"So like us chewing herbs"
"Yeah,exactly,i'll bring it up in a minute"she said whilst setting directions for leftie.
"Here you go" she said and leftie rolled over to me. I followed leftie through the halls and found a room labelled 'Ash-worth' i opened the door and put on the pajamas that were left on the bed for me.I switched the lamp off and got to bed.