#60: Mary Anne's Makeover
Mary Anne has made a New Year’s Resolution to be “the best person in all possible ways” - and I guess that begins with a haircut? While flipping through Seventeen at a BSC meeting, Mary Anne finds her dream haircut and she decides maybe it’s time to change things up.
“It was pretty short, sort of a bowl cut in front, but really close-cropped at the neck. Very twenties (well, that’s what the caption said).” - Mary Anne, page 25
Now it’s true that I believe that everyone should have a bowl cut at all times. But it’s a little surprising that M.A. would have the chutzpah! No one in the BSC thinks she does, and they kind of laugh at her when she brings it up - like, as if mousy Mary Anne would make such a big change. She decided to surprise them.
Over the weekend, Mary Anne’s dad takes her to the mall, where he lets her get her hair cut, lets her get a makeover and buys her some makeup, and lets her go on a little shopping spree in an upscale clothing store. We’ve come a long way, Richard Spier! Mary Anne is super excited to show off her new look. Unfortunately, she doesn’t get the reaction she’d hoped for. Dawn seems annoyed and jealous and doesn’t compliment Mary Anne at all. She even makes a snide remark about how haircuts aren’t that big a deal. (If it’s no big deal then why are you so mad, Dawn?) She also ruins the surprise by calling the other members of the BSC to gossip about it. Kristy, Claudia, and Stacey don’t have great reactions either. (I’m honestly disappointed in Stacey.) They say things like “it’ll grow out” instead of “WOW GOOD FOR YOU!”
Mary Anne’s confused because Logan - even Cokie - and literally everyone else except Alan Gray has given her positive feedback. So what’s up the BSC’s butts? Plus, there are rumors going around school about high school guys liking Mary Anne and that she’s going to a high school dance with one of them, which understandably confuses Logan. Dawn continues to be a total asshat to Mary Anne, and Mary Anne finally snaps and confronts her.
Dawn felt left out that Mary Anne went with Richard to the mall instead of her, and then annoyed that Mary Anne started spending so much time with Logan (even though the reason Mary Anne started spending more time with Logan was because everyone in the BSC was being a jerk), etc. They hash it out and, honestly, Mary Anne is much more forgiving than I would have been, but she doesn’t want to lose all her friends so I get it. After confronting Dawn, she makes up with the rest of the BSC. The most important thing? They finally compliment her on her friggin’ haircut!
I know all of this seems like a lot of drama over a haircut, but I have personally seen a haircut (and the comments about it) tear apart a workplace, so… not that farfetched, actually!
