Today at Girl Scouts Margaret debuted her new hair cut.

I told Margaret I would cut her hair, but she needed to wait till it was convenient for me. Instead she agreed to allow a very willing Rose to do it for her.

Rose often jumps up with a smiley "Can I do it?" when I mention that I need to cut the boys' hair. Usually I tell her no because of the last (only) time I gave her free reign to cut hair she buzzed Max completely bald.

He didn't appreciate it.

I got fed up with Margaret's incessant pestering and insisting that the hair be done immediately. I told her to get Rose to do it if she wanted it so bad--figuring there really wasn't much damage Rose could do with a three-to-four inch cut.

Happily, Rose did quite a good job and she can receive credit for it in her Home Economics class.

Today we arrived at Girl Scouts earlier than normal, so I waited around with the leader till the door to the church was unlocked. Another car arrived and a little girl I don't know bounded up to the sidewalk positively bursting with energy.

Margaret, who is younger than this girl but about the same size, pulled off the hood of her sweater to expose the "New Margaret." The girl then screamed "Meg! Meg! you cut your hair I can't believe you cut your hair it's so short oh my gosh you cut it argh! I can't believe it it's so short I don't like it because it's so short argh! see my hair it's so long your hair looks so weird I can't believe you cut it it looks so weird!"

Margaret, was quiet but didn't seem at all offended. I whispered to to her that her hair was pretty and she didn't need to worry about what anyone else said. She told me "I don't care," and I'm pretty sure she meant it.

When I picked her up after the meeting I subtly broached the subject again. "No," she said, "It doesn't bother me. The girl said she liked it after all. But you know what?"

"What?" I asked.

"I don't like big foreheads."

I wasn't sure then and I'm not sure now whether there is any connection between the hair-criticizer and big foreheads, but I'm glad, for my part, to record this amusing (or possibly painful) episode in her life.

She'll thank me some day.