"Just a minute," said the hairstylist as she finished braiding my hair into two tight pigtails, "do you go to St Mary's?"
"I guess I do, I mean this is the uniform?"
"Dear me, don't you even know the name of your school, little one? St Mary's have just changed their uniform. It's my lunch break now. Sit over there and don't fidget while I eat my sandwich, then I'll take you to the uniform store that deals with their smart new uniform."
What choice did I have? I went over to the tall stool the hairstylist pointed towards and sat on it, reminded on my posture by a stiff, "St Mary's girls don't slouch, now."
A few minutes later she told me to hop down and hold her hand as we had to cross the road. Inside the new uniform shop, the hairstylist explained that she had come across a St Mary's pupil who hadn't yet changed her uniform, "so I thought it best to bring the girl directly to you."
"Jolly good," said the shop lady, "we'll have her smartly kitted out in no time."
"I don't know if I have enough money, Miss," I said, thinking this would get me out of the desperate situation.
"No matter, little one," the shop lady replied, "this is a school decision following a donation from a wealthy ex-pupil. There's money enough to pay for everyone's smart new uniform. Now, off with your old uniform while I seek the new one in your size."
"Thank you, Miss, where are the changing rooms?"
"Oh, we haven't put them in yet, but you can easily get changed here."
I had no choice but to strip to my underwear right in the middle of the shop. The shop lady came back with bundles of clothes, "They are very particular about fit," she said, "so it will take some time." She turned to the hairstylist and asked if she had to get back to work.
"No, my boss gave me the rest of the day off when I explained that I'd stumbled upon a St Mary's girl in the old uniform. You see, she went to St Mary's back in the day."
"Do you too?" the shop lady asked the hairstylist.
"No, I go to the local comp, worst of luck, and work at the salon on Saturdays."
"They have scholarships, you know? As a friend of the headmistress I could put in a good word for you? Let me call her now. In the meantime, take this girl's underwear off. The new regulations are strict about that too."