HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW! #WRITEAPAGEADAY #BLOGCHATTER
The tendril of hair tumbled onto the floor, curling into
a spiral. Merina always savoured the moment when the shape of the head was
revealed, and her customer’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Merina, you’re a genius with scissors! I love what you
have done with my hair!”
Those words always made her smile because they were proof
that she had chosen her profession wisely. Not for her were those unwieldy
medical tomes that her father would have liked her to pick up.
“No, Dad, I hate the sight of blood. You know that!”
“What do you want to do when you grow into an adult?”
“I want to be a hair stylist!”
The reply had left her parents speechless. Her father had
shaken her till she burst out crying.
“Are you crazy? You know what people will call you? A
barber!”
The disgust in his voice did not shake her resolve even
though it pierced her heart.
“What is wrong in being a barber? Haven’t you always
preached about dignity of labour?”
Her retort drew a slap from her irate father. Her mother
rushed to her defence.
“Stop it! She is too grown up for you to lay a hand on
her.” Her voice shook as she rushed to her trembling daughter.
Merina’s scissors travelled over her customer’s head,
following a path that was already etched in her mind. Every snip, every little
trim was just so! Perfect! Well thought out! She knew at first glance the best
haircut that every customer deserved. She recalled Mrs. Rose, the one who had
taught her everything to do with hair, patting her on her shoulder.
“Merina, you have a gift. Even I cannot hold a candle to
your talent. You were born to style hair. You will go far in life, as long as
you do not get distracted.”
Merina had no intention of getting distracted in any way.
This was her happy place, the haven where she could lose herself, leaving her
worries behind. Her father’s ill health, her mother’s onset of dementia and her
young brother, Andrew’s, educational expenses. As long as she could cut hair,
she knew that she could run the household on the generous tips she received
from jubilant customers.
“Did you know that Annie’s daughter eloped with the
gardener?”
“That strapping young man? I’m not surprised! The way the
two were carrying on…!”
“Psst, remember that doctor who was arrested for
supplying drugs…?”
The gossip that her ‘ladies’ indulged in kept Merina
amused. She was invisible to them, just an efficient hairdresser who knew how
to keep her ears and lips sealed. Little did they know that her razor-sharp
mind stayed alert, filing all these pieces of information away, her placidly
attractive face revealing nothing. Her hands would continue to create magic
even as they chatted with one another, and her fingers massaged their scalps so
expertly that their voices would falter as drowsiness set in.
“Merina, you have magic in your fingers!” The words would
urge her on to learn more techniques on how to please her customers.
Soon, the salon had women clamouring to take appointments only with Merina, which suited her well. Over the years, her father passed away, her mother had to be settled in a retirement home and her brother turned into a leading lawyer. Life could not be more perfect.
“Merina, I love her. She is perfect; just the girl I was looking for!”
Her brother’s voice rose in frustration as she shook her
head, refusing to listen to him. “Andew, she is a gold digger. She will strip
you of everything and leave you hanging.”
“I am a lawyer, for God’s sake! I am not naïve. Please
meet her once, Merina! Please!”
She finally gave in.
The restaurant was packed when she got there after work.
Andrew waved to her from a discreet corner. There she sat, the girl who had
stolen her brother’s heart! The beautiful gold digger with red hair and
lustrous eyes!
“Merina, this is Andrea! Andrea, meet my sister, Merina!”
Merina was aware of a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Andrea’s eyes
blazed with an emotion almost akin to dislike as she looked at Merina.
As the days went by, Andrew seemed to move away from his
sister. He would not return her calls and every time she invited him over, he
would give an excuse. He spent all his time with Andrea who seemed to have cast
a spell over him.
Merina was busy with her latest customer. Her scissors
went snip, snip as she smoothened the strands to ensure they fell in place.
Suddenly she heard a familiar name being mentioned.
“I believe his name is Andrew. He does not suspect a
thing, of course. That red haired hussy has her claws in him. He has no idea
that she is cheating on him with a man double her age.”
Merina’s blood boiled. She excused herself for a moment, and
went out of the room. She came back with her mobile, having switched on the
recorder.
The two gossipy ladies were still talking animatedly.
Andrew could not believe his ears.
“Merina, I cannot believe this. Andrea is the love of my
life. What shall I do?”
“My dear boy, you need to make the decision. I do not
want to prejudice you in any way.” Inwardly, her heart was singing.
Two years later, Merina stood in church as Andrew was
getting married to Gloria, the daughter of a close family friend. As the two
intoned their vows, Merina heaved a sigh of relief. She looked around at the crowded
church, throwing a special smile at two ladies who sat right behind her. As
they smiled back, she reached out and took their hands in hers.
“Thank you, dear friends,” she whispered. “If Andrew has
found a nice girl, it is only due to you both. Thank you for helping me to
record all those ‘facts’ about Andrea, and making them sound so believable!”
It had been so easy. All it had taken was the promise of
a lifetime of free haircuts.
Southern Living
I am participating in the #WriteAPageADay Challenge by #Blogchatter in the month of February.
Comments
Post a Comment