Marina wiggled her toes, pretty sure blood flow had stopped to her feet, then regripped the top of the hair band and gave it a hard tug. It inched up a bit and Halcyon followed with a pull on the back. They continued this method of coverage until they reached her butt.

“This is the hardest part,” Halcyon said.

“Because it’s the widest part, and shoving it into my intestines won’t work. And don’t even suggest any orifices. I’m going to a party, not prison.”

“Just keep the front from moving and try to keep from lifting.”

Before Marina could even ask how one kept from lifting, Halcyon gave the hair band a huge pull and Marina went up on her toes like a ballerina.

“Flat feet,” Halcyon said, and gave it another yank. This one managed to get it over the bottom of her rear.

“Don’t move,” Halcyon warned. “We’re in that precarious zone where it could tip over the edge.”

“Then why did you stop?”

“Because I have a hand cramp.”

“That’s valid.”

“Stop talking. Don’t move. Maybe don’t breathe.”

“I suppose it’s too late to tell you I have to pee.”

Halcyon pulled again and this time the hair band flew up in the front as well.

“Yay! The butt is done,” Halcyon said. “Now we just have to pull it up to your chest and back down over your thighs and you’re ready for the dress.”

Marina winced as the top of the band rolled and dug into her stomach. “Then let’s hurry before this pushes out my breakfast.”

“Okay, joint effort again. One big pull and we should get it. One, two, three!”

Marina yanked the hair band as hard as she could and it flew up, coming to rest beneath her boobs.

“Touchdown!” Halcyon yelled.

Marina lowered her arms and tried to respond, but she was out of air. She tried to suck in a breath but there was no room in the hair band. She lifted her boobs with her hands and tried again, but still nothing.

“What’s wrong?” Halcyon looked at her in the mirror.

Marina opened her mouth and pointed to it.

“Now you’re hungry? You’re like a three-year-old.”

Marina shook her head. “Air,” she managed.

A pain shot through her left side and continued through to the right and down to her privates. Everything inside her was in a bind. This was never going to work.

“Off,” she croaked.

“Are you kidding me? I think I sprained my wrist.”

“Can’t breathe. Something wrong.”

Marina swayed and Halcyon popped around her and stared at her face, her eyes widening.

“Oh my God, you’re ghost white. Don’t pass out! Pull!”

She moved to Marina’s back again and they both yanked at the hair band, but everything ground to a halt when they reached her waist. There, the entire thing clenched in a rolled-up ball. Pain ripped through Marina’s stomach and she doubled over.

“You have to stand up to get it off,” Halcyon said.