3 The Standard of Living by Dorothy Parker (finished 8/26/2011)

Annabel and Midge were two best friends. They worked together and spent most of their times together. They always ate greasy food, but they were very thin. They did everything a working person should not do, wearing short skirts, lipsticks, colored nails, dyed hair, and darkened eye lashes. Usually on Sundays, they spent time with two young men who often changed but were similar to the old ones. Annabel and Midge usually walked across the Fifth Avenue with their heads up, back straight, and steps straight in the afternoons and played the game, what-would-you-do-if-you-had-a-million-dollars?, an improved version. Annabel added that a person died and gave you a million dollars, but you can only spend the money on yourself. Midge added that an old stranger saw you and thought you have lots of nice things, so after he died naturally in his sleep, he gave you a million dollars. One day, they were playing this game. Midge asked Annabel what she would do first after she received the million dollars. Annabel said that she would buy a silver-fox coat. Midge was disappointed and said that it was such a common thing. Annabel and Midge did not talk for a while until Annabel suddenly changed her mind and said that she would buy a mink coat. Then they continued to play the game. Annabel asked Midge what she would do first with the million dollars. Midge said that she would buy a mink coat as well in a mechanical way, because it was such a hot afternoon. Mink coat does not seem so appealing. Then Midge saw the two row of pearls wrapped with green emerald. She changed her mind and said she would buy a string of pearls. Annabel challenged Midge to go in and ask the price of the pearl necklace. They went in and found out that it costs 250,000 dollars. When they were in the store, they had terrible looks and left with the same terrible look. Midge said that it costs a quarter of a million dollars! They both walked discouraged and hit one another while they walked. Suddenly, Midge straightened her back and restarted the game by asking Annabel what she would do first if an old man left her 10 million dollars.