It was a normal sunday during a normal year when I was 17. Sundays were never really exciting. There wasn’t a single reason to leave the house, so there wasn’t a single reason to put on make up or to dress up. I used to just pick some clothes and walk around looking ‘casual’. If only my family saw me, why would I do any effort? I’m vain, but also lazy. So to hell with it.
So I sat there, reading a magazine, casually as ever. Soon I’d do some more school related stuff, but I wasย 17 and life was easy, school was easy, everything was boring as it always was. How could I have foreseen what was about to happen? How should I have known? I only recently got to know we had nice neighbours, only four houses next to us, with even some kids a bit older than my brother and I. For years I suspected our street to be populated with old people. I was just sitting there, naive, not knowing what would happen next…
My parents, for some reason, left to see the neighbours and I could hear them return. But suddenly, I heard more than two voices. Wait – they were bringing someone? Oh noes, the neighbour. And I look bad. Sad thing. Wait – that’s not only the neighbour, that is, no wait, do I-
Damn.
A moment of silence. My parents, introducing me to the most handsome, good-looking, pretty, beautiful Son of the Neighbours. A guy like you imagine a beautiful guy. Someone who would make it in life, just graduated, smart, clever, living so close to us, standing so close in front of me.
Me. ‘Casual’. Looking crappy. Wearing some random clothes I could find. Without makeup. My hair quickly tied together.
Fuck.
My.
Life.
It traumatized me. For months I couldn’t stop thinking how stupid it all was, how I would never leave the house without makeup, o dear lord, what does he think of me…? Makeup was my dearest friend from then of. Never would I be trapped in such a situation again. I told my parents they should warn me (sirens, smoke signal, whatever) before bringing someone to our house on a Sunday. Slowly, the memory faded. No, that’s not true. I suppressed it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done what I did later on…
We went on a holiday, by car, and we returned on a random Friday. That holiday, I always met a friend on Friday, and as we arrived at home quite early, I decided we could still go for a drink that night. Of course I hadn’t done much effort to look good – sitting in a car for an entire day ruins every effort you do anyway. I still had the time to fix it at home, I thought. But as the hours passed by, I realized there wouldn’t be all too much time. Nah, whatever, I thought, and I left the house a bit in a hurry to be on time, by foot.
The gods conspired against me or something – right when I walked past The House of the Neighbours, the door opened and they all came out. The man, the woman, the wife of the eldest son, and then…
…the handsome son, in a white Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt. Looking better than ever. And I, I walked right, almost straight out of the car. Makeup? Barely. Nice hair? To be washed. Face overall? Let’s not think about it. Fuck my life. Again.
Since that day, I understood all hope was lost – I had to let him go. He had seen me in the worst situation. Our love was doomed to die. I decided I loved him enough to let him be happy with a girl who was fully in makeup when he met for the first time.
Ahem.
A lot of months have passed, but believe me, never have I been tricked again. I’ve been in a similar situation several times, but each time I was prepared. I’ve seen friends of a friend on the bus I take each Sunday, and I always wore makeup. I’ve met that friend several times out of the blue, but I always wore something nice.
You never know who’ll you meet somewhere.
Preparation is everything.
No Blog Intended 
Michael Cargill
/ February 17, 2013Life’s tough for you girls, eh?
To be honest, I find the make up thing kind of strange really. Women often look better without it.
No Blog Intended
/ February 18, 2013Is that true? Or do you just think some women look better because their makeup is so subtle? A bit of mascara can already change your face for the better, and I definitely feel better when wearing some…
A Gripping Life
/ February 17, 2013As long as you make an effort – Mr. right will never show up. The day you look like a wreck, that’s the day you bump into Mr. Wonderful. It’s cruel, but that’s the way it seems to work, for all women.
So in an act of desperation, I’ve been making sure I look like a dishrag every time I venture out. Hopefully that should increase my chances of finding my Prince Charming/ future husband. ๐
No Blog Intended
/ February 18, 2013Hahaha, I wish you all the luck in the world, Lisa ;). Maybe I should try that as well.
But no really, I don’t have the guts. I’ve got my priorities. Every morning I choose makeup over food…
Mooselicker
/ February 17, 2013Now you have nowhere to go but up. He’ll see you all made up and think how stupid he was for never noticing you before. Most guys don’t like a girl overly dolled up. Look presentable and not gross and you’ll be fine. Don’t look at pictures of girls without makeup on either. Everyone looks better in motion.
No Blog Intended
/ February 18, 2013That’s very wise! Motion is important.
Well yeah, he has a girlfriend and went to live somewhere else, but I’m over it ;). I mean, one day I’ll kill her and we’ll live happily ever after anyways. That’s fate you know. I can’t wait til I get a good chance. *pulls out baseballbat*
El Guapo
/ February 18, 2013On the other hand, hopefully you’ll find a guy who sees past all the rest…
(Though I’d put money you look stunning even disheveled.)
(Lord know I do.)
(At least, that’s what I keep telling myself…)
No Blog Intended
/ February 18, 2013Well, people say I’m not that ugly without makeup, so… I guess you don’t have to lie to yourself ;).
Yup, the guy’ll have to look past it but first impression is everything. So first makeup and then the rest…
Madame Weebles
/ February 19, 2013It’s always that way, isn’t it? The minute you walk out looking ratty, WHAM! They all come out of hiding.
No Blog Intended
/ February 20, 2013It’s like they smell it. Bastards.
No Blog Intended
/ February 20, 2013Smell? Sense? Either way.
Edita (pret-a-reporter)
/ February 20, 2013In my view, you can do no wrong. Make up or without make up – I think you looked awesome ๐
But I agree – one should be always prepped ๐
No Blog Intended
/ February 20, 2013I like the way people believe in my natural beauty here ;). Well, let’s say I definitely look bit better with makeup… ๐
Edita (pret-a-reporter)
/ February 22, 2013LIES!
erinkelly17
/ February 21, 2013Loved this post, little bright reminder in the middle of my day. Thank you ๐
No Blog Intended
/ February 21, 2013Glad I could make your day a bit better :).
Eagle Tech
/ February 28, 2013At the risk of sounding overly optimistic, I think the guy who catches you without makeup, and still thinks you’re gorgeous, is the one to keep. He’s the one who will wake up beside you in the morning, and still think you’re wonderful.
No Blog Intended
/ February 28, 2013I guess that is true indeed… You can’t wear makeup all the time, but I prefer to be seen at first with some makeup. You know, to cover up the lack of confidence… ๐
beholdtheinfinite
/ July 9, 2014This is excellent. I’ve had similar encounters with my neighbor — always a pang of distress when I’m in baggy sweats with my hair in a ridiculous bun in top of my head, always a burst of delight and a spring in my step when I’m all prettied up in a dress. The fact that I’m 99.9% sure he doesn’t notice what I’m wearing doesn’t change anything.
No Blog Intended
/ July 9, 2014He may not notice… But it’s just that moment when you realize how you look (oh no – bad!) that you lose the ability to smile with confidence somehow… It’s probably more in our heads than in theirs, but still, it makes me want to look good all the time, just to be sure ๐