As soon as I sat my grand-daughter down at the table, a lady sitting her own child at the same table offered to help.
We were doing hair and make up for a dress rehearsal for my grand-daughter’s (and my new friend’s daughter’s) Christmas ballet concert.
I know it took great courage for my daughter-in-law to ask me to do my grand-daughter’s hair and make up for the show, but in the end her over-night hotel stay (aka child-less night) following a work Christmas party was too strong a lure. She succumbed to the softness of the bed and the breakfast buffet and asked the question.
She had pre-prepared the make-up and hair containers and left me with plenty of instruction.
Even if she hadn’t, my eight-year-old sitting in the chair seemed more experienced than myself, despite my age being eight times her own.
My model was somewhat reluctant to have her make-up done, particularly by someone of dubious experience. I managed to apply foundation, powder and blush quite successfully despite plenty of squirming.
My new friend, having added a dash of panache to her daughter’s eyes, offered to help so I gladly handed over the shadow, the eye liner and the mascara for her to work her magic. We both marvelled at the length of my grand-daughter’s lashes, as you do. My grand-daughter blinked at me, puppy-eyed.In less time than I had opened the fo undation, the eyes were done. Anyone able to apply eyeliner has my greatest respect. To me this is a life-long skill far more useful than making crystals in high school chemistry.
I confidently told my eye-liner genius that I would take it from there. A bit of lip liner and lip gloss couldn’t be that hard. As it turned out, lip liner on pouting lips is kind of hard, so she of the lip-pout said she would apply her own lip gloss. Warning bells should have rang when I read the label.
Tattoo might imply something permanent, but it could also be a Scottish brand and the owner likes bagpipes. But no, tattoo means permanent. And so, the opened foundation came in handy all over again, this time to cover the odd bits of lip gloss that had made it to the cheeks and not to the lips.
Oh well. I told her she looked adorable and sent her on her way. Thank heavens her mother will be back for the shows.
