Just Another Day

The Trip To The Salon

As the days rolled along Emma’s hair began to fall out. It started in small patches that she could easily hide by combing her hair differently. Eventually the bald patches became too noticeable and she got her head shaved. One day after school Emma asked me to let her drive home. I had picked her up that morning and was going to drive her home so we could study but I was too smart to disagree. She had this determined look on her face and I wasn’t going to stop that. We pulled up at the local barber shop and she said, “I’m tired of my hair, I’m getting it shaved off and you are going to stand there and help me get through it.” We walked into the barber shop and she told the man at the front desk, “I have cancer and my chemo, is making me go bald. I want you to shave my head.” The man at the front desk looked at her in utter disbelief. She was a paying customer and he couldn’t argue.He walked her over to one of the chairs. He turned the electric razor on and began to shave what was left of Emma’s golden locks. When the man was done she looked at herself in the mirror, handed the man a twenty, and walked out of the shop.I caught up with her at the car. “Do you want me to drive you home?” I asked. “I think that would be a good idea.” We spent the car ride to her house in silence. When we got back to her house she walked inside and her mother took one look at Emma’s nearly bald head and hugged her. Her mother did not cry, she only held on to Emma for as long as she possibly could before Emma broke away. Emma’s mother kissed her on the head and went back into the kitchen.