Florida Kilos

My Best Days Cont.

      The weekend finally came. I didn't have to work, so me and Ama went out. We both wore our new outfits, and everything just felt right at the moment. I didn't have to stress, we just enjoyed ourselves and the beautiful weather.

Ama skipped beside me as she held my hand. We were walking down the sidewalk, passing multiple shops. Ama pulled me over to a store window," Mommy I want my hair like that!" She pointed over at the poster of a woman with long straight hair," Please mommy!"

I tightened my grip on her hand," Amalita." She stopped pulling me. She knew when my tone of voice changed and actions changed. She stood still and looked up at me with those puppy dog eyes," Please mommy?" "Okay." I opened the door to the salon and everyone's attention was on us. Most of the women in there were white or latina. I held onto Ama's hand as I walked up to the front counter," Hi, how can I help you today?" A bouncy blonde woman greeted.

"Is anyone available at the moment. My daughter really wants her hair to be done like the girl on the poster." The woman looked down at a clipboard," Alana is available right now. Is that okay?" I nodded my head," Yes thank you."

The blonde woman told Alana that we were ready. Ama and I walked over to her salon station. Alana placed a highchair in her salon chair. I picked up Ama and placed her on it," What's your name cariña?" "Amalita." "Amalita, that's a beautiful name." Ama kicked her feet," Thank you." "I'm Alana." She held out her hand and Ama took it.

"What kind of style do you want Amalita?" Ama pointed her finger over at the poster on the wall," Like that one!" Alana laughed and nodded her head," I got you." I stood close by as she started on Ama's hair. She took her over to the washing station and washed her hair. They came back over to the salon chair. She placed the cloak over Ama's body and started to blow dry her curly hair. It started to straighten out and she was getting excited," Look mommy!"

I smiled wide at her," I see baby." Out the corner of my eye, a certain person caught my eye. He was talking to a beautiful woman with a permed fro. They gave each other a hug and separated from one another. His scar was more present in the light. My heart skipped a beat, I don't know if it was because of jealousy, his presence or him seeing me outside of work.

He stepped away from the woman and walked away. He stopped once he noticed me," Marina whatchu doin here mane?" I reached my hand over to Ama and moved a flattened hair out of her face," For her." A smile appeared on his face when he saw Ama," This is Amalita?" I nodded my head.

Ama's head turned over like a confused puppy,"Hey-how did you know my name?" He pointed over at me," Jour mom talked about you to me." Ama looked at me and back to him," She did?" "Yeah, she said ju like to get into trouble." Ama shook her head and smiled," No she didn't." Tony put his hands up like he was surrendering," Ju don't believe me-Okay."

Ama laughed at his gestures and facial expressions," You're lying." He shook his head," Noo- she said chu don't put away jour toys." She frantically shook her head," Nuh uh look!" She pulled out Daisy and placed the bunny in his face. Tony gently grabbed the bunny," What's this?" "Her name is Daisy."

Tony examined it and gave it back to her," She's beautiful like you." Ama shook her head," No, like mommy." Tony glanced over at me. His eyes were gentle," Yeah like mama." He quickly winked his eye at me. I smiled and wrapped my arms around myself," Ju be good for mama-Okay?"
Ama nodded her head and Alana continued to do her hair.

Tony, reluctantly, came over to me and wrapped his arms around me. It took me by surprise,"Ju be good too pussycat." He walked out of the salon. Everyone's eyes were on me before they went back to their business. Alana finished up Ama's hair and I gave her the money with a tip.

Ama was jumping out of her skin as she looked at herself in the mirror,"I love it!" She wrapped her arms around the woman," Thank you!" I tried to grab Ama off of her but she didn't care," You are very welcome sweetheart." Ama jumped into my arms and we exited out of the salon.

Ama skipped her little feet, purposely making her hair bounce. That little girl is everything to me. My worst days couldn't compare to my best days with her.