“Beatrix Bobs Her Hair” is a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a wild toddler girl named Beatrix whose mother becomes aggravated by persnickety tangles and dried yogurt globules in the young child’s hair. The mom impetuously phones a local childrens’ hair cutting establishment with the warning they’ll be there in 45 minutes, have a Sesame Street DVD poised to spin.
Beatrix does well sitting in the fire engine, ringing the bell and stealing peeks at herself in the mirror. It was her first major hair cutting experience, aside from a bang trim ate age 13 months. As a reward for her good behavior, she is allowed to chose a lollipop from a large basket. She picks popcorn butterscotch (?) flavored, which is nauseating to anyone over the age of eight. Dum-Dumholics don’t mind, and if allowed they’ll even eat the cream soda flavored ones, too.
The hair, which first sprouted when Beatrix was in utero, is left behind on the salon floor, to be swept into a pile and eventually disposed with the hair of other small children whose mothers may or may not have gotten a little misty at the sight of all that pretty, pretty baby hair eternally separated from a dear little noggin.
Once home, Beatrix’s family notes she looks much older and somehow taller.
The theme of Fitzgerald’s story is the long-haired are very different from you and me. That, and you can’t entirely trust a girl with a bob.
She will still get food in her hair.
Love these pictures, Mopsy. She’s so adorable and so grown up. Where has the time gone since that toddler picture of her dressed in your shoes and purse? Amazing.
Cream Soda are my favorite.
I think her bob looks adorable. And the “taller” thing is probably because you can see more neck?
Minnesotamom’s last blog post..A Walk in the Park
Oh my land I can so relate! Emily has hair just like Beatrix’s, even down to the globs of yogurt. Seriously, I have been a little concerned because I’m going on a trip soon, and Eric will have the kids. His only concern is Emily’s hair, and I just have this fear that I will return from my trip and her hair will be totally chopped off. But Beatrix’s bob is absolutely adorable!! I think Emily would look cute with a bob, too. Maybe I’ll take her in before my trip and get it done.
ann’s last blog post..Big Bunny
She is such a beautiful child! And she has great hair. And I love toddlers and small girls with bobs. Ilsa had one for most of her small girl-hood.
edj’s last blog post..King of the Road
I cut Robby’s hair last night. He is now officially a small boy, rather than my baby.
Beth – Total Mom Haircut’s last blog post..Not So Manic . . . Monday
I’m not normally a sentimental person, but the first haircut always makes a sob catch in my throat.
Kelly @ Love Well’s last blog post.."Little House" After School
The bob looks adorable on her (but seriously, most any haircut would look adorable on that sweet girl!). But looking at her “before” picture, I really would have been choked up at seeing all that lovely hair on the cutting room floor, as it were.
Shayne’s last blog post..A Big Decision
The hair cut is adorable. I love little girls with short hair.
Hmm, the story goes something like that . . . .
Josie cut her own hair yesterday, while she was home with our babysitter. She chopped off a chunk, just about two inches from her crown, on the right side. Like me, she has fine hair, so the spot is noticeable. She’s had her hair long and shorter (bobbed like Beatrix’s), but even a bob won’t solve this problem. We’ll see.
She does look so grown up! And so cute!
Kristin’s last blog post..That Was Embarrassing And Humbling
Absolutely adorable!
Robin’s last blog post..free items at Arbys
Wow, I remember reading Bernice Bobs Her Hair in high school! Beatrix looks adorable, but yes, any length hair still seems to get yogurt in it….
Gretchen (the other other one!)’s last blog post..Pathfinder Fair
Oh it’s completely adorable.
Heth’s last blog post..Because Casual Is The New Dressy
If you only knew how many time I’ve threatened to cut my eldest’s hair. . .
Beatrix’s adorable ‘do might just convince me!
Amy @ Hope Is the Word’s last blog post..Hallie Durand Interview
It’s so cute! Makes those huge eyes stand out even more! And cooler for the upcoming weather! Elizabeth
She looks adorable either way! When I first read the title, I thought she’d gotten ahold of some scissors and cut her own hair. Glad to see that wasn’t the case!
Melanie’s last blog post..Hitting the Highlights
I can’t handle the cute.
That F. Scott Fitzgerald. He really knew how to capture a toddler’s first bittersweet haircut, eh? (she’s a cutie – what a sweet haircut!)
Beck’s last blog post..Versus
She looks positively adorable! I’m envious of her long beautiful hair. Jules’s hair is still only about 2 inches long. Haircuts are still years into her future.
On the upside, food is easier to get out of her hair…
Stephanie’s last blog post..In Memory of the Greats
Her hair is adorable like that! Enjoy the quicker hair combing sessions.
The haircut is adorable! She’s such a beauty =)
Hey! That IS the point of that short story after all, isn’t it? I read it wrong all those years.
Oh my gosh. The first hair cut when the hair that grew in utero falls to the floor? What is wrong with me that it makes me want to just bawl?
She looks UTTERLY DARLING. I’m a little tempted to take Dacey in for such a style, but I think she is old enough to hate me for it. She does enjoy the long tresses and has grown past gobs in the hair. AJ on the other hand . . . oy.
These are darling shots of such beauty.
Megan@SortaCrunchy’s last blog post..Getting to Know Tea, Part Two
Cute, cute, cute.
I took “Em” to have her hair bobbed at the beginning of the summer, too (our summer begins in the middle of Spring), and the result was the same: she suddenly looks more grown-up. How such a simple ‘do transforms them so is a mystery to me.