Poisoned Ivy

Chapter 20

Garret stops the car on one of the main commercial streets. Garret turns around from the driver's seat and gives his spiel, "Ok, it's noon now. Cameron and I are going to go deal with the car. You three are going to go get Henry a haircut and get Ivy some clothes that fit. We'll meet in front of the grocery store at 2:30. Got it?" Garret quirks his brow, searching for understanding from everyone in the backseat. We all comically nod in unison. He nods his head, "Good."

Henry and I scoot out from my door and onto the sidewalk. As Wren hops out of the car on his side, Garret rolls down his window and hands Wren a credit card. Garret warns the long-banged kid, "I better get all the receipts. If not, outstanding charges are coming out of your allowance."

Wren rolls his eyes, "See ya later  Garret."

Garret and Cameron drive off, leaving Wren in charge of Henry and I. Wren joins us on the sidewalk as he places Garret's card in his wallet. "So which way to the nearest barber?"

I look at the brick buildings on the street to get my bearings before turning to lead the way, "Follow me."

Minutes later I open the door to the town's hair salon and Wren and Henry to walk in before me. It's a charming mom and pop shop run by a few local women. Wren leads the way to the counter where a sweet middle-aged woman sits. The chime of the door calls her attention to Wren's baby blue eyes

"Well aren't you a handsome fellow! How can I help you?" The woman smiles.

"Hello, my brother could use a haircut." Wren turns to Henry, whose hair it practically to his shoulders. It was boyishly cute and I hate to see his locks go, though I admit, his bangs needed to be shorn. It also must be driving his wolf mad to have a winter coat in the summer's heat.

The woman stands up from behind the counter and moves to examine Henry's hair. After a few seconds she says, "It won't take long. C'mon back hun." As the woman leads Henry, Wren and I into the salon the woman turns to me, "Do you want something done with your hair?"

"I uh, I've been growing it out." I stammer. 

"Oh we can keep the gorgeous length you have! I was thinking since it's summer and all, perhaps you'd like me to put some layers in to help make it thinner. It looks like it's heavy." She continues as she puts Henry in a chair and begins to wash his hair.

I turn to Wren for approval. He shrugs, "I doubt Garret'd be upset over a haircut."

I turn back to the woman with a smile and nod, "I'd love to do that."

"Great, you two can take a seat up front. I'll be done with him shortly. Oh and I forgot to say, I'm Linda." 

"Thanks Linda." I turn and Wren follows me to wait in the front of the store.

As we sit on the bench, Wren pulls out his phone. I stare at it curiously. "So how long have you had a cellphone?"

Wren shrugs, "I dunno, probably since I was twelve. When cellphones starting becoming popular, Grace made sure we all had one for when we were at school."

"Cool." I respond.

"Do you have a cell?" Wren asks, "Or, did you?"

I shake my head, "No. The only reason I'd need it is if I were to call someone. But since it was me and Walt, and we were pretty much always together, we didn't really need them."

"Did you have the internet?" Wren quizzes.

"We had a computer in Grandpa Walt's office. I used it every now and then, to surf the web, watch videos, and all that." I sigh, "I never really got into social media like Facebook and Twitter since I didn't know anybody."

"You've never had a friend Ivy?" Wren frowns. My stomach flips with the concern in his eyes. Was that gut-wrenching feeling me or him?

I always saw strangers when Walt and I went into public. We talked with our neighbors every now and then, but none of them were my age or had kids my age. It's not like I don't know how to talk to people. But maybe I don't know how to get to know people since it was always Walt and I?

Wren's eyes hurt with that internal monologue. "Stay out of my head!" I fume.

Wren turns his head back down to his phone, "Sorry."

I pick up a magazine and start reading on 100 beauty tips or something like that to distract myself. Though I admit I don't even know how to paint my nails or how to use a hair dryer, so it's mostly just useless information. By tip number 87, Henry makes his way up to the front with a brand new hairdo. 

To my surprise, Henry's dark locks have been shorn into an undercut with just enough hair on the top of his head not make his wolf look naked. "Cool." I complement.

Wren hands Linda Garret's credit card, and she has him sign for it. She gives him the card back and beckons for me to follow her into the back room. As Linda is leading me to the back, Wren says, "Henry and I will be right back."

"Okay." I say without turning to watch the two leave.