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Dear Reader,
The 12-year-old boy was sitting in the plush chair next to my husband. They were both in the hot seat. Periodically the boy's mother would come out of the dressing room with a different outfit on, turn her head slightly, smile, and ask her son, "What do you think?" And then, just as she was leaving the runway, I would appear wearing my latest "hopeful." Hopeful that the red print skirt looked as good on me as it did on the hanger and now it was my turn to ask, "What do you think?"
Back and forth, back and forth, you could tell both the boy and my husband were familiar with this routine, and neither of them seemed to mind. The chairs were cushy and the two of them were talking nonstop and periodically laughing and looking around, as if to see if anyone was listening.
"You're going to be in this position many times in your life," I overheard my husband telling the boy as I was heading back to the dressing room, "so let me give you a few pointers. Some things I've learned through the years."
Hmm, pointers? What were these secrets my husband was passing on to the younger generation? Of course I couldn't resist listening in. So I hid around the corner and eavesdropped in between runway appearances.
"Let's say your mom, girlfriend or wife, (you'll probably have one of those last two some day) is showing you a dress, but you don't like it," my husband told the willing student, "when she asks what you think, don't ever come right out and tell her you don't like the dress. Instead, withhold your opinion, and say something that will encourage her to take another look in the mirror, so she can decide for herself about the dress."
What could the boy possibly say to avoid giving his opinion? My husband recommended a long pause and then saying, "Well, I don't know."
'Well, I don't know?' Hey, wait a minute. Didn't my husband just say that to me a couple of minutes ago, when I was modeling the red print skirt? Where's the mirror?
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE ENCHANTED APRIL, by Elizabeth Von Arnim. Click the link below to start reading, and be sure to enter the drawing for your chance to win a Penguin tote bag: http://www.supportlibrary.com/bc/v.cfm?L=drclassqqxqT1A55E35225F&c=CLASSICS
AUTHORBUZZ: THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE (Fiction) by Lynda Cohen-Loigman
Since my 1947 family saga was published last March, the response has been overwhelming! One of the year's greatest thrills was when it was selected as a finalist for the 2016 Goodreads Readers Choice Awards. I can't wait for more of you to discover this story. Find out what happens when two sisters-in-law give birth during a blizzard in a Brooklyn brownstone, and follow the consequences of the secret choice they make that snowy night.
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE to read more and to email author Lynda Cohen-Loigman, you'll get a reply.
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