Bait and Switch Charm School in the Back Room at McAlpin’s

Photo by John Noonan on Unsplash

As a kid, I was what you might call a lazy tomboy. I didn’t own a dress, I had short hair, and I would rather read than do just about anything.

I liked girly things, though — especially the fashions and the makeup and the hairstyles. I just figured they weren’t for me. My mom cut my hair, so the hairstyles were out. I was the fat kid, and I went to a Catholic…