Deal with the Devil

Tammy woke up Friday morning and glumly looked at herself. She was 21 years old and had the acne of a teen plus limp mousy brown hair. She was shy and had only been on two dates, both of which ended with just a short kiss and not a return call. She was a senior communications major who worked part time at a coffee shop.

She sighed again

She showered, pulled some jeans and a t-shirt on and went to class. Later, she was working at the coffee shop when an attractive older man smiled at her and ordered a coffee.

She brought back the coffee, and he thanked her, but kept looking at her.

"Everything OK?" she asked.

"Sit," he said.

"Um...uh...I'm..." but Tammy could not make an excuse and sat down. She looked over at the manager who was helping a customer at the counter and did not seem to notice Tammy taking a break.

"My name is Lou, and I can give you a gift."

"What do you want?"

"We'll see. What if I told you, you would wake up tomorrow with flawless skin and thick, gorgeous hair."

"I'd say you were peddling snake oil. What's the catch?"

"Some woman your age, who you don't know and is considered very pretty will wake up tomorrow looking hideous."

"That's it?"

"For now. Just tell me you agree to all I want."

"What do you want?"

"The first date with the new you."

"Yeah, sure, whatever," said Tammy thinking the man was trying to con her. She got up and went back to work.

The man smiled and finished his coffee.

When Tammy went to see if he wanted a refill. He was gone.