Mrs. Earle sat at her desk at the front of the class, I sat at my desk working on the assignment I had asked help on. Finally, when she had finished marking, she came slowly down the aisle and sat down beside in one of the other chairs.
"How did you make out?" taking the assignment and glanced through it. She pointed out where I was correct and where I went off track. It was nice that she tried hard not to say I was wrong. She sat back in the chair and looked at me.
"You're very pretty, Shannon," she finally said. "Why don't you wear a little makeup?"
I blushed. "I don't really know how to put it on."
"Well, we'll have to teach you. Go get my bag in the bottom right hand drawer."
I went to her desk, pulled out her handbag and brought it to her. She fumbled through the contents, taking out blush, mascara, eye shadow and liner, and lip stick. Mrs. Earle pulled out a small mirror that had its own stand. She put it on the desk in front of her, pushed her chair back, and told me to sit down. On her knee? I was too flattered to think it strange.
Mrs. Earle began to show me the instruments, explaining technique first and then she had me apply each in turn. She scolded me when I applied too much blush, and we had to try the liner twice. As we worked together, I felt her arms around me, her body sometimes brushing against my back.
Finally I was done. I stared at the lady in the mirror. Mrs. Earle wore soft tones and with my pale skin, it was just right. I felt her fingers through my hair, pulling it back off my neck and shoulders.
"Look how lovely you are! Your boyfriend will be so impressed."
"I don't have a boyfriend."
"A girlfriend then?"
"Oh no!" I said
"Well, I think you are beautiful and would love for you to be my girlfriend."