I’m very happy you decided to stop by for a visit. Since this is a new blog, you will see changes each time you drop in. I welcome suggestions and comments of a constructive nature. I hope the content will keep you wanting more!
And remember, the characters and situations are purely fictional, with no resemblance to anyone living or dead. We’re here to have fun!
Macy was in a bad mood. It all started with the call she received earlier that morning. Not to mention the argument she had with Ben the night before. She knew that she had decisions to make, but she refused to be pressured. Macy dipped the brush into the relaxer and applied a small amount to Dara’s hair. It was still early in the day, and she knew that she had to change her attitude if she was going to survive.
Ben looked at the phone. He wondered if he should call Macy again. He didn’t like the way they’d left things, and he wanted to apologize. But why should he always be the one to take the first step? He was tired of playing peacemaker, tired of being second or third in her life. If leaving was what would make her happy, so be it. Ben looked at the wedding picture on his desk. He couldn’t let her throw everything away. They’d worked too hard. It was never easy to reach Macy when she was in a funk, but he had to try.
It was 11:00, and like clockwork, the glass door that connected the salon to Joey’s Place opened. Joey Paulson was a slight man, but his presence was larger than life. When he came into the room everyone took notice. As usual, he had a notepad in hand and his favorite pen. “Okay ladies,” he clicked the top of the pen. “Who wants to order lunch? And for you ladies that will be leaving soon, I can place a takeout order for you.”
“What can I get for you young lady?” he poised himself to take Dara’s order.
“What’s good?” she put her head down so Macy could get the back of her head.
“Honey, everything is good at Joey’s Place! How about a grilled chicken sub with mozzarella cheese, lettuce, tomato, and if you like, a side order of potato wedges.”
“That sounds great. I’ll be here for a while, so you can bring mine when you bring the others.”
“Fabulous. And you Macy?”
“Nothing.”
Joey held her gaze and pursed his lips. “Fine then.” He moved to the next booth.
Kandee put the phone down beside her. She looked at her station tucked in the corner in front of the shampoo bowls. It was, in her opinion, the best space in the salon. She had taken great care to make it her own, to give her clients something nice to look at while they were being pampered. But Macy didn’t think so. Kandee could’ve strangled her that morning when she pointed to the wooden statuette and told her she had until the end of the workday to get rid of it.
“It’s creepy,” she pointed. “No one wants to look at that. They don’t come here to be scared to death.”
“Macy,” Kandee protested. “This is art, a piece I picked up in Haiti. And to be honest, the client isn’t always right. I don’t think I should have to remove it. You never told Lucy to take down that lewd picture of that football player so how dare you–”
Macy arched her brow. “It would be in your best interest not to take that tone with me. You’re forgetting. This is my salon. The freaky statue goes, or you do.”
How about I clock you a few times with it is what she wanted to say. “Whatever you say.” Was all she managed to choke out.
“Okay Miss Dara,” Macy came around the corner. “Hop in that chair over there.”
Dara was happy to get away from the gossip, and even happier to see the small dish of relaxer sitting on the tray next to her chair.
Macy ran her fingers through Dara’s hair. “It’s about time you took those braids out. Now I can give you a swanky new hair cut.”
“Do what you have to do.”
The phone rang somewhere in the salon. “Macy,” Kandee yelled. “Phone.”
Macy grabbed the phone behind her. “This is Macy. How may I help you?”
Dara looked at Macy’s reflection in the mirror. Her face and body tensed. “Look,” she lowered her voice. “I told you I’m not changing my mind. If you want to leave and find another place, that’s fine. But I’m not uprooting everyone for you. Yeah, I know. You’ve already told me how sorry I’d be.”
Nikki looked through the glass door and watched Luther wrap his arms around Macy’s tiny waste. Suddenly the lunch she’d just savored seemed to have turned into one hundred extra pounds around her already ample midsection. She dabbed away the small tear before it had the chance to ruin her makeup.
Dara was amazed. Luther worked the room like a sleazy politician. Nikki could do better. He flashed a gold-plated toothy smile at Dara. She was confused. Did he really think she’d be attracted to that? Luther was under the impression that she was. He slithered into the seat next to her. His cologne burned her nostrils, and his breath wasn’t much better. Dara needed fresh air. She gave Luther a curt smile and headed for the door.
“Oh Nikki,” Dara looked into Nikki’s moist eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah girl.” She smiled. “Allergies.”
“Well,” Dara held open the door for her. “Luther is waiting for you.”
Luther strolled into the salon. His cologne overpowered every other scent in the salon. His eyes surveyed every lady in the room. He knew he could have any one of them, but Nikki had been his cash cow for so long, he didn’t think he could do without her.
He looked over at Macy. She sure was looking good. Luther was a creature of habit, and he was standing at Macy’s station before he knew it.
“Hey girl,” he wrapped his ring laden hand around her waist. “You better tell your husband to keep an eye on you. I just might steal you.”
Macy rolled her eyes and jerked his hands away from her. “Luther, I’m sure Nikki can’t wait to see you, so go ahead and make your way over there. I’ve got work to do.”
He held up his hands. “Okay mama. Just remember what I said.”
Nikki’s spirits dropped when each room she entered was empty. It wasn’t the first time Luther had done this to her. He was probably out looking for a job. She had to tell herself that. She had to believe it. When they met four years ago, he promised her the world. So far, all she’d gotten were late night hang-ups and child support payments for kids that weren’t hers.
One day he would make good on his promises. She just had to be patient.
The leftover lasagna and garlic bread called her name, and she answered. Fifteen minutes and half pan of lasagna later, Nikki headed back to work.
Nikki didn’t have much time to waste. Her next appointment wouldn’t arrive for another hour and a half. She took a peek at herself in the large mirror. Her smooth chocolate skin and doe eyes had always been an asset for her, and she intended to use them as long as she could. She was a size 12, and in all the right places. And she wanted to make sure it stayed that way. One day she might get a little nip here and a tuck there. But right now, she wasn’t about to mess with perfection.
If she made all of the lights and didn’t have to talk to Mrs. Tyson, she’d be able to spend a good forty-five minutes with Luther. She gathered her things and made a beeline for the door.
“Bye y’all,” she waved. “I’m off to see my man!”
She dropped her bag in the doorway. “Lu-tha? Mama’s home!”
It was hot. Unbearably hot. The scarf tied around Dara’s head didn’t make it any better. It had taken her two days to take the braids out, and another week of trying to hide her hair from the general public. Today she was in luck. Macy could work her magic on the unruly mop she was successfully concealing.
She arrived at the salon just in time to hear Nikki’s latest rant. Nikki was the loudest person Dara had ever met. But despite her penchant for high volume and loose lips, her clients simply loved her. And she was good at her job. Dara had seen her perform countless miracles on women who seemingly had no hope when they walked through the door.
“I know girl. I told that loser he was out of chances.” The entire salon had heard Nikki say that about her boyfriend for years and everyone knew she’d keep giving him chances.
The woman sitting next to Dara sucked her teeth and muttered under her breath. “She wouldn’t say that if she knew he was creepin’ with Macy.”
“For real?” a head popped out from the other side of Dara. “Nikki would kill her!”
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