--Boxes--

Velma VonTussle slammed the door to her office. She mumbled angrily to herself as she began tearing open desk drawers and dumping the contents into a large cardboard box. She cursed Corny; she cursed 'Lil Inez; she cursed Mister Spritzer; she cursed the outfit she had chosen for the Miss Hairspray Pageant; she knew she should have worn the fire engine red mini dress with matching satin hair bows, pumps, and bolero jacket; than maybe she would still have a frickin' job. She was so lost in her ramblings that she didn't here the door open.

"Missus VonTussle?" Velma wheeled around and had to fight back a storm of hysterical crying that threatened to engulf her as she saw, peeking through the door, a small dark-skinned face wearing a tiara. Velma glared violently at Inez Stubbs for a moment, then turned back to the desk and began throwing framed photographs into her box. Over the sound of breaking glass, Inez spoke.

"I just wanted to tell you that we don't hate you, there's been too much of that already," Inez felt stupid; she had snuck out of the house and taken a cab to get here and she wasn't even sure why. If her mother found out, she was going to get the wooden spoon for sure. She stepped through the door, closing it behind her. She watched Velma's hands flying through the air; suddenly she imagined the spoon in the clutches of the former station manager, and she shuddered.

Velma could ignore the little brat no longer and turned to her, crossing her arms.

"That's not what you wanted to say; you came here to gloat, didn't you?" Inez shook her head, cowering under Velma's fierce blue gaze; she was scared spitless. To her dismay, Velma came closer.

"That's not what you wanted to say at all!" She cried, poking a finger in the girl's face. "You came for a show! You're hoping I'll break down and beg your forgiveness!" Velma straightened her back, putting her nose in the air. "Well, you are sadly mistaken!!" She turned and stalked to a file cabinet, wrenching open a drawer and throwing handfuls of papers into her box.

"You don't have to beg," Inez said matter of factly.

"What," cried Velma, again spinning around to face her, "is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I forgive you for not letting me on the show. I know you're a certain kind of person; the kind who doesn't like us. You're not the first, and you won't be the last." Velma stared incredulously at Inez Stubbs; she thought she must be joking.

"Did your mother put your curlers in too tight last night?!" Velma slammed the filing cabinet drawer shut, leaving a stack of untouched papers inside. She made her way to the desk chair and threw the pink satin cushion into the box, filling it. "Great. I need another box now." She stamped, flat-footed, to the door.



"There are a lot of boxes out by the dumpsters," Inez offered. Velma snorted, than made her way through the studio toward the rear exit of the building, Inez following at what she deemed a safe distance.

"I just," Inez started. She was interrupted by Velma's shrill voice.

"You, child, have been inhaling too much hairspray!" She continued her trek to the door, pushing it open violently. She began digging through cardboard.

"I just want to make sure you'll be okay." Velma stopped dead. She stood quite still, her face twisted into an expression of confusion. Someone actually cared? Even after the way she had been fired?

Inez didn't know what to do; the words had simply spilled from her mouth. She gazed at the back of Velma's head. After several long moments, Velma turned slowly around to face the child. She didn't speak. Inez walked past the woman and picked up a box. She offered it to Velma.

Velma's eyes followed the small figure. When Inez offered the box, she took it delicately. The box suspended between them, the corners of her mouth began to twitch awkwardly. She held the box, at a loss for words; so she chose merely to turn and walk back into the building.

Inez blinked in mild bewilderment as she watched the door click shut. She tilted her head, and a crooked smile blossomed on her face. 'Lil Inez Stubbs retreated from the premises, wondering how in the world she was going to get home.