T R U C E

Chapter 3

"Absolutely make sure that you let me know when you land and when you're actually home!" I say for probably the 4th time before letting Mo go.

"I will! I love you!"

"I love you too!"

I watch Mo until she disappears down a hallway and then hop back in my car to head to the shop.

Giveon blasts through my speakers as the wind blows my hair out my face, lifting my spirits from the beautiful weather we were having.

I park my car and head inside Charm Appeal, speaking to everyone as usual before running through my checklist.

"Everybody okay today?" I ask after coming back on the floor to open my booth.

"Yes" everyone says in their own way.

"Did you enjoy your birthday weekend?" Diamond asks.

"Girl too much honestly" I laugh. "Back to the money now though."

"You got a head coming today?" Lee Lee asks.

"4 of them."

"Sheesh. I'm only here til 2:30 today."

The wind chime sings as the door opens from Keisha's man, Keith, coming in. He has the cutest little chocolate princess holding his hand with a big afro on her head, making everyone coo (knowing them it might've been the man over the child).

He speaks and walks straight to my chair. "Kaylynn right?"

I nod and chuckle a bit. "We've been through this before."

"My fault." He grins, showing the slugs on his bottom teeth that I know weren't there last time. "This is Malaysia." He looks down at the little girl and she smiles shyly.

"Hey cutie" I wave and she waves back.

"I was hoping you could hook her up for me. I ain't good with doing hair, and I've seen the work you've done on other little girls hair so I came to you."

"As much as I would love to help you, that isn't how my salon functions love. You saw how the last situation just went about following policies.. I only do walk-ins on Wednesday's."

"I know and I swear I ain't tryna be like Keisha. I'm just already having a rough ass day and I really got stuff to do and I can't have her in public looking unloved." He says simply.

I look at my watch and slightly sigh. I really don't like breaking policies, but we all have a soft spot for the kids.

"Well.. I only have like 45 minutes before my client comes in I-"

"I swear it don't have to be nothing fancy or special. Even if it's just some puffballs. It's already washed, that's why it's like this." Before I can answer he slightly slides a small band of money out his pocket and hands me two blue bills.

"Please."

I look at the cutie beside him again and smile at her playing on the phone.

"Fine. But I don't charge anything over $50 for kids heads so you can get this back." I try to hand him the bills back but he ignores and kneels down to Malaysia, grabbing her attention.

"You need anything before you sit in the chair?" He asks in a soft tone.

She shakes her head no.

"Okay" He helps her in my chair and then sits on the far end of the waiting area and sticks his airpods in his ears.

I raise my brow at him before focusing on the head in front of me.

"So how old are you Malaysia?"

"5"