Who Knew

16

The frustration grew in me. It had been two weeks. Still no Devin. At this point, Ranea didn't want to keep hearing about it. She wanted me to take my mind off him, so she invited me to go visit her auntie, uncle, and cousins.They lived only an hour away. My dad didn't have a problem with it since I been there before. Her mom drove us to a quiet suburban neighborhood. We pulled up at their house. Ranea wasn't even out of the car completely before Naiya, who was her favorite cousin, ran out the house hugging Ranea. She stumbled when Naiya reached her and wrapped her arms around her.

"You're here! I miss you cousin!" She screeched.

Then she turned to me. "Miesha hey girl. Long time no see." She hugged me too.

Ranea's uncle and auntie exited the house with huge smiles on their faces.

"Hi Auntie Lauren and Uncle Nick." Ranea gave both of them a hug.

"Hey Ranea. How are you?" Her uncle asked.

Nick was Ranae's brother. He was short just like her and Ranea. He was only an inch taller Ranea. Shortness ran in Ranea's family on her mom side.

Nick also grew his beard out from the last time I had seen him. It made him look older.

Her auntie, who was taller and older than her uncle, had her pixie cut. She shared the same face as Naiya. They had bushy eyebrows, high cheek bones, and the same smile.

"Look at you and this blonde hair girl." My auntie looked over at Ranea's mom.

"Ranae you let her dye her hair."

My mom shrugged. "It's what she wanted."

"It looks good too. I wish I could dye my hair." Naiya pouted sending a pleading look over to Lauren.

Her auntie was a little on the strict side like my dad. She wasn't allowed to wear certain clothes and hairstyles. But she wasn't too strict from what I heard. Ranea told me that Naiya had a boyfriend and Lauren and Nick knew about him.

"I let you get your hair dyed and then the next minute I know you'll be bald. I'm not having it." Lauren made it clear to her that dying her hair was not an option.

"Auntie Lauren, if you're worried about her hair falling out, I can put the dye in. I did mine right," Ranea suggested.

She examined the color in my hair. Naiya walked over also looking at it. "See mama I like this shade of blonde. I want this."

"Girl I didn't approve of you coloring your hair. I don't trust it. Now when you're 18, you can do as you please to your hair. But right now. No." Her decision was clear, firm, and final giving the expression she had.

Naiya gave Lauren a grim look not liking her answer. Since I known Naiya, she had been wanting color in her hair since middle school. At that time, many girls were coloring their hair, and she wanted that also. Her mom didn't believe in it. Her opinion was that we as females should be proud of our natural color hair and wear it plus the thought of it bringing our hair out. I thought differently. Though my dad disagreed as well, I thought that it was good to try a new look every once in a while. I wanted to dye my hair one day. Ranea said that when we got to college she was going dye my hair for me. I was up to it.

"Look who's here Auntie and Uncle."
Ranea motioned toward me.

"Hey Nick and Lauren," I said.

"Well hello Miesha. Goodness. It has been awhile. How have you been?"

"I'm doing great."

"Good to see my sister, niece and her friend here. Come on in. We are glad to y'all." Uncle Nick led inside the house.