Ledge Walkers Read Online Free PDF

explained. “They're a little slow. Try again."

    "Well, first thing we need to do is strip—Take off? Remove?” he tried, still perplexed and unsure of himself. He quickly grabbed a bottle from the island and held it up. “We need to use this. We need toremove all traces of makeup you have on.” When it seemed that everyone got the benign gist of what he was saying, he perked up again. “Facials are only good on perfectly clean skin. I have some remover for the face and some for the eyes. I also have these little shower caps to protect your hair."

    Claudia grabbed a stack of towels from the kitchen counter and gave one to each. From his box, Charles removed small hand mirrors to help everyone accomplish the task. He spied Maggie reading the ingredients list on the makeup remover bottle. “Ah,” he acknowledged. “You must be our vegan."

    Maggie nodded, and he told her to feel free to read them all, that all ingredients were natural and nothing had been tested on animals. With some weird brand name like “Make No Bones About It,” I figured it would be a quick read.

    Soon everyone was barefaced, and I found myself thankful that we had already seen each other at our worst, as we all looked rather drab.

    Charles held up a box with a tribal mask on it. “This is Aztec clay,” he informed. “It does a wonderful job of pulling impurities from the pores and tightening the skin. I'll mix it some with apple cider vinegar, and then you'll just paint it on, about an eighth of an inch thick. Leave it on for five minutes if you have sensitive skin, and about ten minutes if you have normal skin."

    "And forty-five minutes if you are Kate,” Laura said.

    I spat back, “And three days if you are Laura. Then maybe you'll look like the shithead you are!"

    "Will you two quit it!” Claudia yelled. “You're both so juvenile."

    "Yeah, we wouldn't want to be juvenile,” I defended. “That would be so like grade school or something."

    She shook her head and released a “grrr” of frustration. I knew I trod thin ice and that she could easily become a harpoon when needed, but I also knew that she wanted this day to be fun for everyone. That desirehad to take into account that we were all juvenile when together—even her, if she'd step out of her manager role for a moment.

    Ten minutes later we were all gray-faced and milling about the room, hoping beyond hope that every other face looked stranger than our own. Alison at one point hit the pantry and stuck elbow macaroni into the clay on her face to emulate eyebrows, saying, “Look, everyone. I'm a macaroni picture!” See, it wasn't just Laura and me. It was all nonsense, and yet it was all so very important.

    By the time we were all washed up, Charles was ready with moisturizer. We all applied some as he filled the island with lipsticks, mascaras, foundations, powders, blushes, and eyeshadows—a glamour girl's dream. Like scavengers at the site of roadkill, the group's own glamour girls picked through it all. Claudia, Holly, and Susan went wild. Charles was very skilled at matching tones with the correct colors. He made suggestions and helped a few with some application techniques.

    "Come here, Kate,” Claudia called. “I want to do your face."

    I approached her and saw just how stunning her features were, made-up but far from imaginary. “Will I look as beautiful as you when you're done?” I asked.

    "Probably not,” she quickly replied, grinning.

    "Well, that was a Laura-like thing to say! Double-standards or what?"

    "No. I was about to add that you'd bemore beautiful."

    "Sure, you were, but I can take your teasing. In fact, I like it,” I said and planted a kiss on her forehead. “So go for it, but just remember I'm picky. I don't like feeling like I've gotstuff on my face. And I detest lipstick. I'll have it all over my shirt sleeve within two minutes."

    I let her do as she saw fit, grateful for the tips Charles tossed at her, helping her keep it