Not Edited
1952
Boston, Massachusetts
Millie Ann
"All done." My cousin Arnetta spins my chair around slowly, letting my reflection in the mirror reveal my new hair-do.
"Woo hoo hoo!" I giggle childishly, never have I found myself more attractive. The style is nice and bonny; the perm appiled to my hair, made it extra straight and sleek and the curls are bouncy along with stacked evenly.
"Ain't no more naps in my head! The gals back in Atlanta would be jealous to see me now." I cheese as I pump the end of my hair with the palm of hands, now posing in the mirror; admiring my new make over.
"You better take care of it, you gon have to roll it up Millie." My other cousin Faye, informs me as she comes where I am and picks up her box of lucky strikes ciggarates from off of the table.
"Well well well, don't you look like one of them white girls off of a television." Malcom says coming from the back of the shop, drying his hands off with a clean white towel.
"But it looks nice right Mal?" Arnetta ask him, patting my hair with both of her hands a little. "I'm getting better, ain't I?"
He grunts as he boots him self up in one of the barber chairs and reach back to grab the clippers behind him on the counter. "Yeah it look good Nettie." He speaks carelessly, just telling her what she wants to hear.
Faye shakes her head as if she disapproved the look. "I don't understand why y'all put all that damn lye in ya head." She says while sitting in the corner, puffing on her ciggarate.
"You know that shit makes ya hair fall out." She always goes out of her way to be a debbie downer, her attitude can be very dry along with draining. But I always know how to shut her down.
"And I don't understand why you always gotta be a wet rag. Lighten up girl! Let ya hair be straight and loosen up ya panties hoes!" I crack, causing both Arnetta and Mal to bust out in laughter.
"Oh shut the hell up Millie! Ya aint funny!" Faye repositions her self in her seat and crosses one legs over the other. I laugh at myself, knowing that I put her in a bad mood all over again.
I get out of my chair, my bottom is now released from all tension that was brought upon it while sitting. "Okay yall ima go." I announce myself as I grab my hooded rain coat and go over to Malcom so he can assist me with putting it on.
"Wait a minute!" Arnetta pouts. "I thought we was going to that shack to go dancing."
"Well....." I fix the coat up after Malcom puts it on and turn to her. "I got stuff to do Netti. I gotta pick up Charlene from Auntie Leo's, before the face hit twelve and I told this cat I'll meet up with him at Ray's, so we can catch a flick at the theater." I explain.
She folds her arm across her chest and give me a blank expression. Everytime I come to town Arnetta clings to me, it's like I can't dust her off; she wants to spend every moment together and honestly I come to Massachusetts to have fun and get away from the hell hole down south. "You only in town for two more days Millie Ann....what daddy-o you bouta go see anyway?"
"Charlie girl...you know the cat I always go see when I come here?" I remind her.
"Yeah yeah I know that damn greaser." She says unamused. I slightly feel bad for ditching her.
"Alright im gon' cop a breeze. See yall later." I say walking towards the glass door.
"Have fun playing back seat bingo!" Faye calls out as i'm making my exit, they all laugh at her corny remark.
