Tiana sat stiffly in the spinny chair in front of the mirror. His curly afro was brushed out so that it was just a poof. He sighed and tugged at a curly near his ear. His mom bushed his hand away. "Don't knot it. They need to braid it." He dropped his hands into his lap and tugged at the cuffs of his pink jacket.
"Would your daughter like box braids or cornrows?" A young black woman asked as she began to inspect Tiana's hair. Tiana glared at the woman and dodged her hand as she made an attempt to touch his hair. "I'm not a girl." He said and crossed his arms for effect.
The woman shook her head, "You look like a girl." She rubbed oil into his scalp.
"Ugh." Tiana groaned. "I'm gender fluid."
His mom rolled her eyes and looked at the hair dresser, "She's going through a weird faze."
The woman clicked her tongue, "If she was my daughter, I would used the belt." She tugged at Tiana's curls for emphasis.
"Ow! Lady watch it!" He smacked her hand away. Tiana knew he wasn't supposed to hit a woman, much less an elder. But if he didn't count as a male, technically he wouldn't have the same punishments as one. He carefully patted the back of his head. "Please. I didn't give you consent."
His mom stood up and walked over to him. "That's it young lady! Another word from you, and your father will hear!" His mom glared at him and grabbed his shoulder. "Your getting your hair braided whether or not you want to."
His eyes filled with tears, "You can't make me." It came out shakily, filled with betrayal. He didn't know what hurt to more, being miss gendered on purpose or not having a chose about his own hair.
He crossed his arms and sat stiffly as the woman braided his whole head.
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When they pulled into their driveway, Tiana jumped out of the car and ran up the steps slamming the door behind him. He found himself in his little brother's closet. Luckily he was over at his friends house enjoying being a carefree six-year-old. He reached into the back of the closet where his brother stored his candy collection, along with his prize marbles, and a pair of "special" blue scissors. He picked them up and turned them over in his hand. He than raised them and closed them around one of his braids. It fell into his lap, and he moved on to the next, and the next. Soon he had gone from elbow length braids to barley shoulder length. Creeek. He looked up, hovering above him was his mom and sister.
"Oh, boy. You're going to be in so much trouble," his sister shook her head.
"Mom." Tiana tugged at his chin length braids, missing the ability to hide behind his hair. "I hated having long hair."
"Is this what you really want?"
"Yes," He nodded.
"Ok then, let me help."
YOU ARE READING
HAIR LOVE: How To Show It
Short Story13 year old Tiana never knows what to do with their hair. They recently told their parents they are gender fluid. They are always between wanting to cut their hair or let it grow. But black girls don't cut their hair, it's how they show their pride...
