The makeover on Mulberry Lane

Turn 36 of 44

Pull out of the changed closet a navy blue halter dress with white polka dots, a sweetheart neckline and three petticoats with Navy blue high heels. You tell her to put this which she does first with the petticoats, then the dress, then the high heels. She looks in the mirror and gasps at how jolly good she looks. You two use 50s slang to talk about the dress and the next step.

"Now for the fun part, honey," you say, and go to the closet. It doesn't take hunting — your hand goes straight to it like the closet knows what you're there for. Navy blue halter dress, white polka dots, sweetheart neckline, and three petticoats crisp as fresh snow, with navy high heels waiting beneath like they were born to the set.

"Oh, *land sakes*," Ruth breathes. "That's the prettiest thing I ever did see."

"Petticoats first, honey — three, one over the other, because three is what a gal wears." She steps into them and you help her work the halter over her head, the sweetheart neckline settling against her new pale skin, the skirt blooming out around her hips like a firework caught mid-burst. The navy heels go on last, and you teach her to stand so the seams sit straight.

She turns to the tri-fold mirror and — *gasp*. Three Ruths, hands at their cheeks, all in polka dots.

"Why, I look — I look simply *jolly good*!" she cries, and the smile that spreads across her face is wide and white and settles in like it pays rent.

"Look at that waist! Look at that *skirt*! I feel like a pin-up girl with a college degree."

"You look like a gal, honey," you say, smoothing a petticoat seam. "That's the whole ball of wax."

"It sure ain't the corduroys!" She twitches the skirt and watches all three of herself twitch it back.

"So what's next, Margaret? Am I getting the works? Curls, lipstick, the whole shebang?"

"The *whole* works," you say, opening the little case on the vanity. "Hair, makeup, nails. We'll have you fixed up proper before your hubby's supper."

"Oh, I can't wait," Ruth giggles, dropping dainty into the vanity chair. "Do me up, honey. Make me just like you gals."