The Make-up Incident

The Make-up Incident

Dad opened the door to the den, wondering briefly who closed it. He reached for the switch.

“Don’t turn on the light!” came a small voice from the other side of the room, six-year-old Jane. Concerned, but not worried, Dad left it off. Then asked, “Why not?”

“I’m not ready.”

“Ready for what?” he asked, hovering between amused, and a bit irritated. He’d wanted to turn on the news.

“I’m putting on my make-up.”

This threw Dad off, since she didn’t have any make-up that he knew about. The only real make-up in the house was Mom’s, and he was pretty sure Jane was not allowed to touch it without Mom around.

“Your make up?” he started, then changed plans, “Isn’t it too dark in here to put on make-up? Mom always seems to want a good light on.”

“Well, I’m sort of done. I’m just not ready yet.”

“Ready for what?”

“To show anybody.”

“Oh, well,,,,, how about I go back in the kitchen and make toast and then check back with you.”

“Yes! Good!”

Dad closed the door and went straight up to wake Mom. He wasn’t ready to be involved with make-up!

Half an hour later, they both came in to ask about pancakes. Jane’s face was completely free of make-up and she was excited about pancakes.

Later, when alone, he asked his wife about the make up incident. Mom laughed, “There was no real make up. She had “made up” her face with play-doe and didn’t want you to see it because it was too red.”

“Too red?”

“It was very red. That’s the only color she could find.”

Dad never understood. And yet, he carried the memory of “The Play Doe incident” throughout his long and happy life. It always made him smile.