Pitifully Ugly

Chapter 3

Operation Makeover.

Monday arrived without any word from Newbie. I can’t deny

that I felt a little discouraged. Then again, not everyone sat in

front of the computer all day like I did.

Normally, hair salons are not open on Monday since they stay

open on Saturdays. We hired enough staff to rotate and began

doing business on that dreaded day of the week. A few salons did

the same when we garnered a few of their clients. This did not

make the Brycen sisters popular with our competitors, so when I

called for an appointment, I gave a false last name.

Shannon Fiorella lucked out on a cancellation and was getting

a new “do” at ten. I put my hair up in a ponytail, threw on a pair

of sweatpants and a hoodie, and was out the door.

“Going for a run?”

The voice stopped me in my tracks. I turned and found Hailey

looking at me expectantly. Dog in tow, she was dressed much like

I was.

“I…don’t run. I mean, I exercise. I just don’t run.” I rubbed

the back of my neck, feeling like an idiot. “Are you going to…

run?”She looked down at herself and laughed. “I don’t run, either,

though I’m dressed for it. I’m taking Fuzzy for a walk.”

“So that’s her name—Fuzzy?” The dog cocked her head to

the side and looked at me as if to say, You real y are an idiot,

aren’t you?

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Hailey reached down and scratched the dog behind the ears.

“She was so fluffy when she was a puppy, it was like holding a

fuzzy teddy bear, and the name just fit.”

“Dogs are nice,” I blurted out. I could feel the blood rushing

to my face. I looked at my bare arm as if I were wearing a watch.

“I’m late, I have an appointment.” Hailey looked stunned as I

turned and sprinted out the door. For someone who didn’t run, I

jogged half a block.

“So what are we doing today?” My flamboyant hairdresser

named Marvin asked as he ran his fingers through my tangled

mane. His hair was exactly the same color as mine as a child and

styled in a faux Mohawk. I watched as his shocking red painted

fingernails weaved in and out of my tresses, and I realized that I

had no idea what I wanted to do with it.

“Do you have any suggestions?”

“Do I have suggestions? Oh, honey, you picked the right girl.”

He stood back and looked long and hard at my face in the mirror.

“I wouldn’t go too short. I’m thinking maybe something shoulder

length.” With both hands on his hips, he circled me and let out

what sounded like a devilish laugh. “Oh, honey, I can make you

sexy.”

Sexy? I liked the sound of that. “Okay, I’m trusting you.”

He half dragged me over to the sinks and pushed me down

in one of the chairs. “I love the color. We won’t do anything with

that. I’m going to put in lots of layers, make it wispy around your

face. Are you okay with bangs?”

“As long as they’re not too short.” A flashback of my childhood

wafted through my brain.

“Your boyfriend isn’t going to be able to keep his hands off of

you,” Marvin said as he wet my hair.

“I’m gay.” It was out of my mouth before I could stop it.

“Me too! Like it’s not obvious, please. Your girlfriend won’t

be able to keep her hands to herself.”

“That would be great if I had one.” I was immediately

embarrassed at how pathetic I sounded.

“You won’t be single for long,” he said with a sweet smile.

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I hoped that was true.

“You do realize, though, that you’re supposed to have two

eyebrows?” Marvin said with a wink. “I can take care of that for

you right here.”

“You mean wax them?” I asked. The pain of plucking them

always made me cry. Kalen had harped on me endlessly to have

them waxed, but I had visions of my eyelids being yanked off.

“I’ll rub on a little numbing cream first. You’ll feel a slight

sting. Trust me, honey, it’s worth it.” Marvin ran his fingertips

over his sculpted brows. “I swear mine would look like two

handlebar mustaches if I didn’t have them done.”

“Okay,” I murmured as I slinked down farther in the chair.

Marvin hummed a tune as he smeared my brows with the

numbing cream. I closed my eyes, trying to find my happy place

as he wiped it off, then applied the wax. To my credit, I only

whimpered when he jerked the hair out by the roots. He massaged

something else into my brows, then laid a gel pack over my

eyes. “Just relax and I’ll have you ready for the magic chair in a

minute.”

After my hair was washed and my scalp was massaged, he

sat me in his “magic chair” and went to work. When I saw the

first four-inch lock hit the ground, I closed my eyes, entrusting

my hair to Marvin. I didn’t open them again until he’d dried his

masterpiece. I was speechless. I didn’t know who the stunned

woman was who stared back at me in the mirror. When I finally

looked back up at Marvin, he was grinning from ear to ear, and

I was, too.

“Your hair is so easy to work with that you won’t have any

problem replicating this look. When it’s wet, use a little styling

gel and blow dry while ruffling it with your fingers,” Marvin said

with a clap of his hands.

“That’s a hot look,” another stylist said as she came to stand

next to Marvin. “Looks like you just had sex. I love how wispy it

is around your face.”

I blushed at her comments.

“She’s single.” Marvin gave his colleague a playful nudge.

A sculpted eyebrow rose beneath dark bangs. “So am I.” She

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plucked a card from the station next to Marvin’s and handed it to

me. “Give me a call. I’d love to take you out sometime.”

I nodded dumbly and grinned back up at Marvin. He was

getting a big tip.

I was about to walk out the door after my bill was paid when

Marvin said softly, “Come back and see me, Ms. Brycen.”

I whirled on one heel, wondering how he knew who I was. I’d

paid in cash. He smiled back at me. “Yes, I know who you are. I

interviewed at one of your salons. You obviously don’t remember

me.”When we opened the first two salons, I sat in on a few of the

interviews, but it was Kalen who ultimately did the hiring. I hated

the process, and it was all one maddening blur. I always felt sorry

for the nervous interviewee that I wanted to hire them all. That’s

when Kalen took over alone.

“Forgive me. I’m afraid you’re right. I don’t remember you.”

He frowned slightly. “I kind of thought you were head hunting

so to speak.”

“Are you unhappy here?” I asked softly.

He looked over his shoulder, then back at me. “I’ve just always

wanted to work at one of your salons. You have a magnificent

reputation.”

I liked Marvin, and what he did with my hair was amazing.

“My sister is out of town for two weeks, but when she gets back,

I’ll talk it over with her. I have your card, so I’ll give you a call.”

He hugged me and planted a kiss on my cheek before I knew

what was happening. Then he shrank back. “Oh, too forward,” he

said as he covered his face with his hands.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll call you one way or another.”

I actually had a spring in my step as I walked home. Maybe it

was the new diet or what felt like pounds of hair that had been cut

away, but I felt lighter. I was nearly skipping into the courtyard

when I passed Hailey sitting on a bench.

“Whoa,” she said with a look of surprise. “I almost didn’t

recognize you.”

I was immediately self-conscious. “Is that bad?”

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“No.” Hailey shook her head. “Amazing…your hair…it looks

fantastic.”

I ducked my head, embarrassed by her appraisal. “Well,

thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Who’s your stylist?”

“His name is Marvin. He’s moving to a salon on Canal Street

in two weeks. When he gets new cards made up, I’ll give you

one.”“Please do,” Hailey said with a smile.

One thing was for sure, Marvin was about to have a new job,

whether Kalen agreed or not.

It was my day. I had a new look and a bunch of messages in

my inbox. I scanned them all until I found Newbie.

Hi, P.U.,

I haven’t visited many places yet, but I did go to Fiorella’s on

your suggestion, and you’re right. The chicken was delicious! I

won’t be able to go there often, or I’ll do damage to my waistline.

I’m falling in love with this city. All the old architecture is

beautiful. And the people I’ve encountered have been friendly.

Atlanta is much colder in the winter, but I find the wind

blowing off the river to be bone chil ing. I imagine that the

summers here are much like they are back home, muggy and hot.

That’s fine by me. I’m cold-natured.

Oh, I found a place in the Quarter that makes a mean

chocolate cheesecake. I’ll have to avoid it in the future, too.

As you mentioned earlier, I’ve been getting a few creepy e-

mails, too. I’m glad you’re normal…even if you’re kind of rabid.

So have you been brave enough to go out with any of the people

you’ve met here?

Newbie

I read her e-mail a couple of times, actually a dozen. If she

found the wind coming off the river bone chilling and she’d been

in the Quarter, then she had been in my neighborhood. And she’d

gone to Fiorella’s. I wondered if we’d passed each other on the

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street. Even though she would never figure out where I lived, I was

still apprehensive to reveal that she’d been close to my apartment.

I wondered if she happened to live close by.

Hi, Newbie,

So you tried out Fiorella’s. Good for you. There are so many

places here to eat good food. You should try Maspero’s next.

They’re near the Quarter, too. Anything on the menu is good.

You’re right about our summers. They are hot and muggy

and sometimes downright oppressive. I don’t care for the cold,

either, but I miss it when the heat feels like it’s going to melt my

hair off.

I haven’t been brave enough to take up any offers yet. I did

get a haircut today, and one of the stylists gave me her card. I

don’t have any plans to call her, but it was nice to be noticed.

How about you? Gone on any dates yet?

Was she flirting with me? What if she asked me to meet her

in person? That was a sobering thought. I liked the mystique of

not knowing who she was, and although it might be nice to meet

her one day, the thought made me nervous.

One thing was for sure. Things were looking up, and I had a

glimmer of prospects. I couldn’t date a stylist from another salon.

Kalen would kill me for one thing, and it would be a conflict in

my opinion. Oh, but it was a sweet moment when she handed me

her card.

I didn’t hear from Newbie again that night nor the next day.

Unlike the last time, I didn’t get disappointed. I knew she would

eventually respond.

As luck would have it, there was a problem at the store on

Canal Street. The manager, Blitz, as she liked to call herself, was

caught in the crossfire between two stylists. Tension had been

brewing between the two for a while over a guy they were both

dating. The two had almost come to blows in the back of a packed

salon, and I’d been called for backup.

Blitz was red-faced when I arrived and apologetic for having

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to call me in. Kalen had left strict instructions that if there were

any more problems, they’d both have to be let go, and this was a

problem. My stomach was in knots. I’d never had to fire anyone,

and I wasn’t looking forward to it.

I followed Blitz to the back office where she filled me in

on what happened. They’d both made a huge scene in front of

customers. First trading insults that quickly led to a face-to-face

screaming match and some shoving.

“I’ve talked to them both on three separate occasions.” Blitz

pushed the documentation across the desk at me. “They both

signed the warnings. They know better than to pull this shit.”

“I have a guy in mind as one of the replacements, but he’ll

have to give notice to his employer. We won’t have him for two

weeks. Do you think you can cover two slots for that long?”

“I’ve been anticipating this,” Blitz said wearily. “Everybody

knows they’re on the chopping block, and a few have already

volunteered to fill the gap. Plus, Carol at the Rampart location

said she can spare at least one of her staff to help cover.”

I looked down at the warnings in front of me. Blitz had

detailed each incident and the probable outcome if the problems

continued. She’d done a good job of handling the situation, and

I knew that I couldn’t let her or the other employees down by

allowing the two troublemakers to remain.

“Okay, please bring them in.” I sounded a lot calmer than I

felt.Minutes later, Patrice and Kelly were sitting across from

me, and Blitz stood in the corner with her arms folded across her

chest.

Patrice, the bolder of the two, went on the offensive before

I ever spoke. “I know why you called us back here, and I think

it’s unfair.” She jerked a finger in Kelly’s direction. “She’s been

harassing me, and I’m not taking any of her bullshit anymore.”

“Have you filed a harassment claim with Blitz?”

“Harassing you?” Kelly interrupted. “You’re the one who

sends me threatening text messages all the time.”

I held up a hand. “Stop. I asked a question, Patrice. Did you

file a harassment claim with Blitz?”

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“No.”

“You’ve both been warned three times that bringing this

issue to work was unacceptable, and now you’ve made a scene in

front of customers. Your employment here is terminated effective

today. You’ll both leave through the back entrance after Blitz

collects your things.”

Patrice’s face turned blood red, but before she could open her

mouth, I went on. “If you cause another commotion in this salon,

I’ll have you escorted out by the New Orleans Police Department.

Are we clear?” I’d heard Kalen use that line, and I hoped that I

sounded as tough as she did, even though my knees were banging

together under the desk.

Both women got up without another word, and fortunately,

Blitz was one step ahead. She’d already had a couple of the stylists

box up Patrice and Kelly’s workstations while we talked.

“Were you really going to call the police on them?” Blitz

asked when we were alone again.

“I was hoping that scared them, but if they caused enough of

a ruckus, I might’ve.”

Blitz and I sank down into the office chairs and sighed with

relief. Blitz let lose a tiny chuckle. “They both drew down on each

other with cans of hair spray. It was beginning to look like an

Old West shootout. All this was over a smooth-talking punk that

probably didn’t give a rat’s ass for either of them.”

“At least they didn’t pull scissors.” I rested my head on the

back of the chair and looked over at Blitz. “I’m glad it’s over. Kalen

said they were beginning to affect morale among the staff.”

Blitz nodded, then looked at me wide-eyed. “You look great.

When did you get it cut?” She pointed at my head, and for a

minute, I’d forgotten my new look.

“The guy I’m about to hire did it. I think he’s gonna fit in

great here.” So much for keeping my changes quiet.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, I apologized to the customers that

witnessed the fight and gave them all a discount on their next

visit.”

“Marion Caznyk, you handled this perfectly. I’m proud of

you.”

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She shot me a look. “If you’re proud of me, call me Blitz.”

“It’s a deal, Blitzen. Now I have to get back home and get to

work. First on the agenda is to give Marvin a call and get the ball

rolling.”

Blitz went back to her duties, leaving me alone to wander.

Before I took the long walk home, I strolled through the salon

and chatted with a few of the staff. Of the four salons, the Canal

Street location was the largest, complete with six tanning beds,

eight stylists, and four massage therapists. Things had changed

a lot from the day when my mom first put out her shingle as a

beautician in the sixties.

I applauded my decision to walk the two and a half miles

back to my apartment. I could’ve driven, but for a January day, it

wasn’t all that cold. I’d used the walk to the salon to build up my

courage; it sure beat getting back on the treadmill.

I smiled at the strides I’d made in one day. I’d gotten a new

haircut and found a new employee. Though the situation was

thrust upon me, I’d handled a tense situation without throwing

up. Yes, Pitifully Ugly was making headway.

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