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Edward smiled
when Schae strolled into his salon. For years she had worn yards of weave
colored bright auburn. A few months ago she had taken out the weave
and had soft curls in a darker color. She was dressed in her usual pink clothing.
Her closet had to be filled with pink and crème. Today it was a knit shift
slightly above the knees and crème shoes. Her skin glowed and her nails and
toes were a creamy pink.
“Mami, you look glorious.” Edward
simpered. Winking at him, she took her place in his chair.
“Thanks, I want it cut all the
way down.” Jumping back as if shocked, Edward spun her chair around.
“What do you mean, all the way
down?”
“I mean like Aura Brown’s hair.
As short as it can be cut with very little hair left on my head.”
“Boo boo, that ain’t for
everyone. You have a pretty head and
face but that butch look is not for you.” Her eyes held his.
“You can cut it or I can go to
Fred’s barbershop.” Rolling his eyes he took his position behind her, draped
her with the coverall and prepared to snip. “Stop snipping Ed and cut.”
He sucked his teeth but did as
she commanded. When he was done, she opened her eyes. She was very pleased with
what she saw. Her face was on full display, freckles and all and her eyes
looked bigger and all knowing. She glanced at Edward who was still in a snit
but she could tell he liked it.
“You like it don’t you? Go on and
admit it.”
“It’s all right. It’s a good
thing you have a pretty head and face.” He conceded. Before she could respond
Cinnamon Black stepped in the shop. Seeing Schae and her new do, she clapped
her hands and a huge smile covered her face.
“Look at you Schae, your gorgeous
face is on full display.” Schae grinned back as she spun around in her chair.
Edward looked to Cinnamon.
“I sure hope you aren’t in here
to get your head shaved Ms. Cinnamon, my heart can take only so much.” Cinnamon
giggled at his outraged words.
“Not yet, but I know I could rock
that look for real. But I want a rinse and my usual three inch curls will do.
They are about five inches now.” Schae got out of the chair and embraced her
friend.
“Are you busy?”
“No, after Ed is done with me, I
was thinking of going to get fish at Fish and Things.”
“Can I join you in a couple
hours? I’m going to see mama for a minute or two.”
“I would love that. See you
then.”
¥¥¥¥
Geraldine Jackson felt good to be
alive. Her cancer was in remission and her hair had grown in soft and wavy.
Schae had teased her about caring more about her hair than having cancer. She
was simply grateful to God to have made it one
year past stage three and to be in remission but something was on her
heart. Throughout the past year, she had only heard from her daughter Janelle
on the phone. She hadn’t visited her in the hospital or come home while she was
recovering. Janelle’s son, Jabar was playing professional basketball but had
found his way home several times to check on his grandmother. He also hadn’t
seen his mother. Geraldine knew that now she was well for however long decided,
she was going to show up and see her daughter. She sure was.
Geraldine gasped when Schae
strode in the room.
“Lord, child, what in the world
have you done with your hair?” Schae kissed her mom before answering. As usual
Geraldine was decked out in a pantsuit with red nails and her face was
perfectly made up.
“I cut it off. This is something
I always liked but never had the nerve to do. For years I had more hair than
Tammy Faye Baker. Now at my age I am doing what Schae wants.” Geraldine’s brow
rose at her daughter’s words.
“Well, then. What does your
husband think?” Schae shrugged.
“He hasn’t seen it but he will
think what he chooses. I loved Jay’s mustache and he decided because it had a
few greys in it to shave it off.”
“Oh tit for tat…”
“Mama, no. It isn’t even that
deep.”
“Are you hungry?”
“I have a lunch date with
Cinnamon in a while. What are you up to?”
“I am going to make some
reservations and fly to Fort Lauderdale.”
“Have you heard from Janelle?”
“No but I’m gonna drive by on
her. Jabar hasn’t seen her either. Now that he is playing for Atlanta he can’t
go by there but I am free as a bird and I’m going to see what is going on, sho
am.”
“Let’s drive down there. It’s
only about four hours.”
“When?”
“We can go in the morning. The
boys are in school and Jay can pick them up a day or two. I want to know what
she’s up to as well.”
“Talk to your husband and let me
know.” Geraldine’s eyes pierced Schae’s. “Is your marriage okay?”
“It is marriage and I will let
Jay know. Now let’s talk about something else.”
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