When Emily went from stylists to two young men and a girl (more precisely, one young man, one young girl and one alchybian) ... no, it’s not that you don’t recognize her, but she was really prettier. All the irregularities of the facial features smoothed out, black hair was put into a simple but beautiful hairstyle and acquired a pitch shine, lips acquired a soft but pleasant color, slightly let down eyes looked in a completely new way. But most of all, the girl was adorned with the happiness with which she glowed when she saw herself in a large mirror.

- Is it true me? She asked, turning to Alexis and beaming a smile.

“This is a former ugly duckling who has become a beautiful swan,” Alexis smiled.

- You look great! - in a simple way answered Victor.

“Thank you!” Emily replied with sincere happiness in her voice.

“Only I must warn you,” Cipriano interjected, “that even though our princess will not become Cinderella again with exactly the twelfth stroke, you need a lot of makeup to look like you are beautiful without any makeup,” Emily’s smile faded . “Here is a list of what you need, where to buy it, and how to use it,” he handed Emily a small data chip. - The styles and colors that suit you are also here.

“Let me rewrite myself, too,” Alexis said, ahead of Emily who had lingered and intercepted the chip. “I'll be a fairy godmother at least until midnight.”

***

Having copied the data to the communicators (also served as portable computers) by Emily and Alexis, having paid off (paid, as he had promised, to Alexis) and warmly saying goodbye to the salon personnel, the young people went outside. And just then, Emily, who had just happily smiled, slightly started and squeezed Alexis's hand, seeing an Asian woman standing on the street with something similar to a perturbed neck. It was the same woman that Victor saw through the glass wall of the cafe, and about which he asked if it was Emily’s mother. Of course, none of the three students knew Mrs. Lee by sight, but Emily’s reaction was quite eloquent.

“Calm, calm,” Alexis Amy whispered, holding her hand, but at that moment the woman looked at the young people and shouted:

- Amy! - she threw herself across the path, looking no longer like a rattling bird of prey, but like a real angry harpy. - Who are these people?! Why are you holding hands with them ??!

“Mom, this is ...,” Emily began timidly, but the woman didn’t even listen to her, having fallen on the other young people.

- What did you do with my daughter ?! How dare you? !! You! - she pointed to Alexis. “She was an innocent girl, and you corrupted her!” Turned her into a walking girl!

Looking back at his friends, Victor saw that Alexis turned pale, but did not let go of Emily’s hands, which herself was ready to fall through the ground, and Annabelle, as if in confusion, looked from a woman to her friends and back. None of the three was able to argue something, but the woman, meanwhile, continued:

- How could you do this to me? She screamed again at Emily. - You disgraced me! My daughter is a walking girl! Come on now go home! - she grabbed Emily by the hand and pulled her daughter towards herself, but Alexis, though still pale, did not let go of her hand. - We wash off all this ... this crap, and no more discos!

“Mrs. Lee!” - Victor suddenly broke into the monologue of the woman, speaking specially loudly.

- What? - the woman abruptly turned to the young man. - Yes, I am her mother! She said defiantly. - And who are you ?!

“Excuse me, but where is Mr. Lee now?” - Victor asked pointedly politely, ignoring the last question.

- What is more, Mr. Lee? - the woman hesitated for a moment, but immediately went on the offensive again: - There is no Mr. Lee! And generally speaking!...

- So you don't have a husband? - Victor interrupted her before she managed to come up with that “and in general”. - You know, if I had a wife like you, I would have escaped too. Or be hanged.

- What-oh ??! - the woman exhaled with indignation. - Yes, how are you?! ... Yes! Yes, I do not need such a husband! ...

- And you want to have your daughter, too, there was no one?

- Oh, you already got married to marry her ?! What, all three of you? Swedish family create ??!

- You know, the other mother to see her daughter so would be happy! - Alexis suddenly entered into a conversation, while his friend hesitated because his argument was against himself. - Do you want your daughter and remained gray mouse? And so she also had no one? You do something it from the Holy Spirit, whether that was conceived?

- Look, Amy, - Victor wedged again. “You had a girlfriend who, you said, could spend the night.” You can call her now? Well, you can have it really sleep? - He explained, seeing the confusion of Emily.

- She will not call anyone! - the woman put her hands on her hips. - And she will spend the night at home! And today and tomorrow! And in general, she will not leave the house! Come with me! - she again tried to grab Emily by the hand, but Alexis unexpectedly for her blocked her way, shielding the girl with him. He said nothing, but his face showed determination to protect her.

- So, so! - the woman said. - Or are you coming now with me! Or you can not come home at all - I won't let you go! Sleep then, wherever you want, because you're me! ...

- Yes, let, of course! - Victor interrupted her, turning to Emily and as if ignoring her mother. - It's Mom! How can she not let her own daughter home?

- Do not let you go! - the woman answered resolutely, but Emily already took out her communicator and looked for the necessary number in the phone book - only her fingers shook.

- So it was not my mother, - said Victor with overt irony. - Listen, and you really like her mother?

The woman gasped for breath, and Alexis barely kept a laugh. Emily stared at Victor with wide eyes, but at that moment the dialed number in her communicator answered.

“Tanya, hello,” Amy said into the microphone, “and everyone else immediately fell silent, listening to the conversation.” - In general, I am fine, only ... not in the way I expected. Listen, I asked yesterday if I could say that I would spend the night with me, but can I really spend the night today? Come on, I'll tell you later? Thank! Until! - and she turned off the link.

- Yes, you! ... - The woman choked with indignation. - You are not my daughter anymore! The girl is a walker! See you no longer wish! She turned sharply and walked away, but she still couldn’t hold herself halfway and glanced over her shoulder, as if hoping to see Emily catching up with her.

- Agreed? Victor asked Emily, glancing at her mother. The girl nodded shortly in response, also looking after her mother.

- Thanks, Vic, - sincerely thanked friend Alexis. He said nothing, and then sighed. “But I really, you can say, Amy ... corrupted,” he said quietly.

“Honestly, if my parents found out about me ... something like that, they would ... well, I wouldn't get off cheap,” Annabelle said, either sympathetically or with condemnation.

- Well, you still arrange a self-blame session! - Victor reproachfully said.

“Indeed ...” Alexis agreed. - After all, we had planned shopping! - and he smiled.

***

During the time that young people bought cosmetics and clothes for Emily, the unpleasant impression of meeting with the girl’s mother disappeared like smoke. Emily was already dressed in new clothes (“Your friends will be surprised!”), The old ones were folded into a bag that Alexis was carrying, while Victor was holding a bag with cosmetics, and everything seemed to be bought for Emily when Alexis suddenly he braked near another shop in the mall.

- So.We will buy underwear? He asked, pointing to the busts and torsos of the mannequins standing in the window, dressed in bras and panties of various colors and ...