The old man said, "Yeah or I might use twenty… Do you have that?"
"What's it for?"
"I want to put my television set out on the porch so I can see the ball game."
"Don't you have a plug on the porch?"
"Well, if I did I wouldn't need an extension cord, would I?"
Macky searched through the cords. "Here's a twenty-five."
Mr. Henderson scowled at him. "How much more is it by the foot?"
"Don't worry. I'll just charge you for a fifteen-foot. I thought I had them in stock but I guess I sold them."
"Well, I guess I'd rather it be too long than too short."
"Do you think St. Louis has a chance this year?" asked Macky.
"They might… If everybody else was to suddenly drop dead."
Macky pulled out a paper bag.
"I don't need a sack," Mr. Henderson said.
"All right, well, you have a good day now."
The old man slammed the door shut too hard and the bell on the door rang in Macky's ears. Macky started putting the cords back up on the hooks, trying to figure out just how old Old Man Henderson was. He had been a friend of his grandfather's, so that would make him at least in his early eighties. Then Macky remembered that Norma was holding on.
He went back and took the phone.
"Honey, are you still there?"
"Yes… I am."
"I'm sorry. What's up?"
Norma sounded extremely controlled. After a pregnant pause she said, "I just had my hair done."
Macky sat down on the stool behind the counter. Today was her appointment with Tot Whooten. He knew what was coming.
"Do not say one word to me, Macky, I do not want to hear one word about my hair. If you're going to come home and say anything, just don't come home."
"I'm not going to say anything. What did she do this time?"
"I'm upset enough as it is without you saying something."
"Norma! I haven't said a word. I haven't even seen you."
"Well, I want you to promise me… give me your word… you won't say anything or I'm just going to check into the Howard Johnson's motel, and that's all there is to it."
"All right, Norma, calm down."
"I mean it now."
"I won't say a word."
"I am putting your lunch on the table… and I am just going to stay in the bedroom if you're going to make some smart remark."
"Norma, I won't say anything, O.K.? Just give me a hint. What did you have done?"
There was a long silence. "We tried something new."
"And?"
There was a longer silence. "It didn't work out."
Macky rolled his eyes. "Oh God."
"See! There you go. I knew it, just don't come home if you're going to have that attitude"
"I don't have an attitude. I just said, Oh God, that's all."
"Yes… But it's how you said it. I know you're sitting there rolling your eyes, so if you do come home, I do not want you to even look at my hair."
"Norma, where am I supposed to look? Your face is attached to your head. Do you want me to talk to your knees?"
"See, there you go again. You just can't resist trying to be funny. I have had a serious hair mishap and I need your support. I don't need you to make me feel worse than I do!"
"All right. I'm sorry but at least tell me what you two were trying to do."
"A body wave."
"A body wave?"
"Yes, like a permanent only lighter. It was supposed to be a light body wave…"
"What happened?"
"We don't know, all we know is it wasn't light."
"Well, honey, don't worry about it. It will grow out… it did the last time."
"It doesn't have to grow out," she said.
"Why?"