"What's the problem?" I asked, scooting over to her side of the room. The minute the words were out of my mouth, I knew the answer.

Stacey McGill (a real New York girl) was busily "scrunching" Mary Anne's long brown hair into a tangled mane that trailed down her back. Very hip, very in, but not very "Mary Anne." I thought it looked fantastic, but I knew that Mary Anne was unhappy with it. Mary Anne usually wears her hair in a smooth style; she's used to seeing herself in a certain way. (I should explain that Mary Anne would never complain to Stacey, because she doesn't like to hurt anyone's feelings.) "Honestly, Mary Anne, if you'd just keep your hands out of the way, this would go a lot quicker." Stacey had scrunched her own hair into a cloud of blonde curls and was trying for the same effect with my stepsister.

Mary Anne shot me a desperate look in the mirror, just as Stacey gave a final pat to her hair and said pointedly, "Doesn't she look great?" I was on the spot. "I think it's a nice change," I began. "Of course, you wouldn't have to wear it that way every day." "She should. It's a big improvement," Stacey said flatly. Stacey McGill, the club treasurer, is very fashion-conscious and always wears the newest, trendiest clothes. She is sophisticated, like Claudia (who happens to be her best friend), and she has boyfriends sometimes, but no steady ones. She's an only child and grew up in New York City until her father's company transferred him to Connecticut. The McGills had lived in Stoneybrook for a year when her father was sent back to New York. We all said tearful good-byes to Stacey and wondered if we would ever see her again. About a year later, Stacey's parents got divorced, and Stacey and her mom returned to Connecticut. Talk about a complicated life! Stacey still seems like a New York girl at heart (just like I am a California girl at heart) and she visits her father in New York whenever she can.