"My... hair?" repeated Katie faintly. She shifted the bundle of clothes in her arms in order to reach up and touch it. The hos were laughing at her hair?

For the first time, the girl's face showed some genuine emotion. Puzzled and a little hurt, she said, "My friend Stacy does it. She went to beauty college."

Stacy had assured her that Mr. Crowley would love it - assuming he ever came back - even if he was gay. Especially if he was gay, really. Katie didn't quite know what that meant, but she went with it.

Looking at Ellie, she added snidely, "Does madam wish for her telephone number...?"