RHINO

Intrepid and sure of her own mind, Annie understands that the only thing that can be improved by a nose job is her looks; her life is already fine. Her handsome boyfriend is worthily career-minded; she loves her family (even her conventionally beautiful sister) and they her. Still, her nose troubles her— most especially when others call attention to it (as they do). When she vows to earn money for rhinoplasty, she must also persuade her family that it will be in keeping with their beauty- is-only-skin-deep philosophy. Both Annie's financial obstacle and her sister's wedding stalemate (a subplot tells how she and her betrothed can't yet afford a house) are resolved by their grandfather's brush with death: upon healing, he dispenses money, advice, and his house to those in need. This turn of events and a precipitate ending (the operation takes place on p. 157 and the story ends three pages later) are only mildly unsatisfying; if Annie expresses no regrets for her state ``before,'' neither does she seem to revel in the ``after.'' There's a sequel in here somewhere, to give the still-curious a glimpse of this nimble, spirited heroine's life post-op. (Fiction. 12+)