11:10:01 <crushedmarigolds> It took me years to understand what he actually meant

11:10:08 <crushedmarigolds> Our eyesight – among other things – is a gift that we take for granted

11:10:14 <crushedmarigolds> Right?

11:10:19 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> I suppose I haven’t given it much thought

11:10:22 <crushedmarigolds> Exactly

11:10:29 <crushedmarigolds> It’s not something we always think about until we lose it

11:10:38 <crushedmarigolds> We don’t covet our hands until we lose a finger

11:10:43 <crushedmarigolds> We don’t praise our hearing until we lose an ear

11:10:52 <crushedmarigolds> What have you done today to deserve your eyes?

11:11:04 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> You’re asking me?

11:11:10 <crushedmarigolds> You can’t answer, can you?

11:11:19 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> I guess I’ve never really thought about it

11:11:28 <crushedmarigolds> I’m going to hold you accountable from now on

11:11:37 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> Are you?

11:11:43 <crushedmarigolds> I’m going to check in each day and make certain you’ve done at least one thing to “deserve your eyes”

11:11:51 <crushedmarigolds> I’m not kidding

11:11:59 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> I believe you

11:12:07 <crushedmarigolds> I’m going to ask you start tomorrow

11:12:13 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> And how should I do that?

11:12:20 <crushedmarigolds> Where do you work?

11:12:29 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> [omitted]

11:12:36 <crushedmarigolds> It’s an office building?

11:12:41 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> Yes. I’m one of the receptionists

11:12:50 <crushedmarigolds> You’re going to make a statement

11:12:58 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> What kind of statement?

11:13:04 <crushedmarigolds> You’re going to go out this weekend and buy a brand-new red dress

11:13:15 <crushedmarigolds> You’re going to clip the tags so that you can’t return it and you’re going to wear it to work

11:13:21 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> A red dress at work? I’ll be drawn and quartered

11:13:30 <crushedmarigolds> That’s not all. You’re going to buy a tube of blood red lipstick and wear it with your new dress

11:13:39 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> You must be out of your mind

11:13:47 <crushedmarigolds> I want you to take a picture of yourself in the employee bathroom and send it to me as proof

11:13:54 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> You’ve got to be joking

11:14:03 <crushedmarigolds> I’ll be expecting the proof from you

11:14:12 <crushedmarigolds> I’ll be expecting proof that you deserve your eyes

11:14:19 <crushedmarigolds> Do we have a deal?

11:14:29 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> I guess so

11:14:38 <crushedmarigolds> Perfect

11:14:45 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> I can’t believe I’m doing this

11:14:57 <crushedmarigolds> Pick the brightest, bloodiest red you can find

11:15:06 <crushedmarigolds> I’ll talk to you tomorrow?

11:15:10 <agnes_in_wonderland_76> Yes. Talk to you tomorrow

[<crushedmarigolds> has left the chat]

[<agnes_in_wonderland_76> has left the chat]

EMAIL FROM AGNES PETRELLA

Date: 06/05/2000

Time: 7:12 p.m.

From: Agnes Petrella <agnes_in_wonderland_76@[omitted].com>

To: Zoe Cross <crushedmarigolds@[omitted].com>

Subject: The Red Dress

[Picture attached] [Omitted]

You’ll be delighted to know that today I did the unthinkable.