That way, she could get an inkling of how they looked on her.
Occasionally, Hayley pestered Linda about being able to use the computer unsupervised. "Absolutely not, young lady," Linda always told her.
"Why?" Hayley would wail "Because I know what kind of trouble you kids can get into on these computers," her mother told her.
"Aw mom, you're being paranoid. What are they going to do, reach through the computer screen and grab me?"
"In a way, they can." "I'm smart," Hayley persisted. "I'm careful. I won't break the computer. We use them all the time at school."
"The answer is still no. N-O, no."
Linda pretended to put her headphones on and log in for work. Hayley forced in one last question. "Well, then, can I get my own computer?"
She knew this was coming. "Honey, we really can't afford it."
Hayley put her hands on her hips and started tapping her toe rhythmically. "How come? You can go dancing."
Clearly this was a subject near and dear to her heart, and she'd probably rehearsed her whole speech and argument. God, she was getting so beautiful, Linda thought. She had such a bright future ahead of her. She invited her to come all the way into the study and sit on the day bed. "It's true, I have my dancing, but I work really hard for it. Along with my regular job at the hospital and taking care of you kids I work part time, too." She motioned to her computer.
"I could work for my computer," Hayley said, raising up on the daybed a bit.
"Now you're talking," Linda said. "What kind of work were you thinking of?"
"I could babysit. Do extra chores. I'd do anything."
When Linda looked at her daughter, she still saw her baby. Yet, she would be thirteen soon, around the age when girls started to get babysitting jobs. "That sounds like a good plan. Maybe you could start on something like that this summer."
Hayley's features contorted in a mask of anguish. "But mom, I was hoping to get a computer before then."
Linda felt like shaking her head. At Hayley's age, the most expensive thing she ever pestered her mother and father for was a stereo and her own pair of roller skates. "Do you even know what kind of a computer you want?"
"Yes, I want an iBook."