New Home-Blue Orchids

Chapter two: Purple or blue?

So we walk into the salon and the first thing I see is a greenblood hairstylist with a birth tail and everything. She looked over and smiled at us- mostly James.

James directed us to go sit down so he can talk to someone. The chairs were very comfortable. No where near as soft as the ones in the palace back home, but I liked them.

James came back with a small slip of paper and a magazine. He could do things so well I doubt many knew he couldn't see them.  He sat down to my right. Ed was to my left.

He stopped in front of us and sat the magazine on the chair to my right. "She said it'll be a ten minute wait, give or take." James added.

Then James held up the piece of paper with sparkling eyes. "Oh, and guess what I got!" He flipped his tail with excitement.

"What?" I asked eagerly. "What'd you get?"

He held up the slip of paper. "It's called a 'phone number'!" He looked over at Ed. "What's it for?" He asked, flipping his tail again. He looked almost like a little kid.

Ed looked at us awkwardly. "She wants you to call her. On your phone." He said.

James pulled his phone out of his pocket. It was a small phone and it flipped open. He chose it.

He looked down at his phone. "I can't do that, though. Can I?" Ed looked like he wanted to walk out of the salon. "Yeah, actually. You can." He said. "That's about the only thing you can do on that scrap of metal."

James looked embarrassed. We could all clearly hear the greenblood hairstylist giggling. James blushed a bright green and  he lowered his head, causing his hair to fall around his face like curtains. I saw his tail go limp and him fold his hands in his lap.

I felt bad for him. "Here, James. Gimme your phone thing." I said, reaching an open palm towards him, even though he couldn't see it. Without looking up he held his phone out for me to take.

I took the phone and started to look through it. It took a while but I got the hang of it and soon found the contacts. I asked for the number and added it into the phone. Then I tapped it against James's shoulder and handed it to him.

He held his head back up a little, looked at me- kinda- and smiled. I smiled back, but stopped, remembering he wouldn't see it. James being blind on Earth is sad sometimes.

The greenblood hairstylist walked over to us. I could get a better look at her now. She was no taller than James (which wasn't all that tall) and thin. She had high cheekbones and messy black hair with magenta highlights. She stood with her hands on her hips, but she was smiling.

"It's your turn, sweetie." She chirped. Her voice was loud and smack dab in the center of the pitch range. I looked to James then to Ed nervously for advice.

I read the greenblood hairstylist's name tag. It read "Charline."

Charline smiled wider. She made a cheerful "come on" gesture. She lowered her brow a bit and crouched down. "It's okay, I won't bite." She cooed. Ed nudged me.

I stood up. Charline gently grilled both my hands and pulled me over to the special chair she'd be doing my hair in. I sat down and she wrapped a patterned piece of tarp-like cloth around me, snapping it together at the back of my neck. I was all fidgety and nervous. Charline marched around my chair, stopping in front of me and looking into my eyes. I sunk a bit under her stare.

"Look, little one," she said, her voice raised a bit but still sweet and gentle. "I'm gonna need you to be still; Like a statue. Can you pretend to be a statue for me?" She leaned in a bit. I nodded meekly.

She leaned back and smiled brightly. "Perfect!" She exclaimed, "High-five for good luck!" She held up her hand.

I learned about this in school. Remember, Sie, you know this. I ended up staring a little too long.

She lowered her hand. "You're new, huh?" She asked. "-To Earth. I mean."

I nodded.

She clapped. "Like this." She said, then held her hand back up for that good luck high-five. I didn't let her down this time, lifting my skinny arm and slapping my palm to hers. I smiled.

"Now, before I do your hair, most important thing." Charline began. "Blue or purple." She asked. "James told me you'd want one of the two. I have other colors, but James told me you liked those two."

I had to think about this. "Hmm... Purple." I answered. Charline smiled and got to work.