THE BEAUTY SHOP

I HAVE NEGLECTED TO MENTION THAT I DID FIND SOME CLOTHING IN THE CLOTHING ROOM, BUT TO ME IT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING AN OLD LADY WOULD WEAR. THE SWEET LADY IN THE CLOTHING ROOM TOOK A MOMENT TO SIZE ME UP. "I WOULD SAY ABOUT A 16" SHE SAID. SHE CHEERFULLY WENT THROUGH THE HANGERS AND FOLDED CLOTHING AND BROUGHT ME A SMALL PILE OF CLOTHES. "NOW, YOU GO AND TRY THOSE ON SUGAR, AND LET'S SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE!" I WENT TO A ROOM WITH A MIRROR, AND SAW WITH DISMAY THAT THEY SEEMED TO BE CLOTHES THAT AN OLD LADY WOULD WEAR. THE SKIRTS WERE DARK AND OF SOME KIND OF COTTON FABRIC, AND CAME TO JUST BELOW MY KNEE. THIS WAS IN THE ERA OF MINI-SKIRTS, AND THESE JUST SEEMED TOO LONG. SCHOOLS IN THAT DAY DID NOT ALLOW GIRLS TO WEAR PANTS TO SCHOOL, IT HAD TO BE A DRESS OR SKIRT. THEY WERE ACTUALLY VERY NICE SKIRTS, BUT MY YOUNG EYE COULD NOT SEE THE QUALITY. THE BLOUSES WERE OF PASTEL COLORS, AND CAME UP TO MY NECK AND DOWN TO MY ELBOWS. THEY HAD PRETTY PEARL BUTTONS AND LACE COLLARS. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECT FOR CHURCH, BUT I WASN'T GOING TO CHURCH, I WAS GOING TO HIGH-SCHOOL! I DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK LIKE A CHURCH LADY. I TRIED EVERYTHING ON, AND WHEN I WENT OUT TO SHOW THEM OFF, THE CLOTHING LADY JUST BEAMED. "DON'T YOU LOOK DARLING!" SHE GUSHED. "YOU WILL BE THE BEST DRESSED YOUNG LADY IN SCHOOL!" I COULD NOT EXPRESS MY FEELINGS, AS I WOULD NOT HAVE HURT THAT DEAR WOMAN FOR ANYTHING. I THANKED HER, AND SHE SAID WE WERE NOT DONE YET. SHE HANDED ME ANOTHER PILE OF SHORTS AND TOPS, (ONLY TO PLAY IN MIND YOU) SOME PANTS AND A SWEATER, SOME GRANNY PANTIE UNDERWEAR, SOME ANKLE SOCKS (KNEE SOCKS WERE THE FASHION) AND SOME VERY POINTY COTTON BRAS. SHE WAS GRINNING AND LEANED IN CLOSE. "I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU! TOMORROW, WE GO TO ATLANTA TO GET SOME SHOES! TWO PAIR FOR SCHOOL AND A PAIR FOR CHURCH! AND THEN, WE WILL HAVE LUNCH! YOU WILL LOOK PERFECT IN YOUR NEW CLOTHES, AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE BEAUTICIAN FOR YOU THIS AFTERNOON. WONT' YOU LOOK SO PRETTY!" "UM, YES MA'AM" I ANSWERED. I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE TRIP TO ATLANTA, BUT NOT SURE ABOUT THE BEAUTY SHOP. MY HAIR WAS RATHER LONG, AND I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO CUT IT. LOOKING BACK, I THINK IT WAS RATHER MOUSY AND NOT SO NEAT. ALL I DID EACH DAY WAS BRUSH IT AND GO. I SUPPOSED THAT IT WOULDN'T HURT TO HAVE A SMALL MAKE-OVER.
AFTER LUNCH, I WAS GIVEN DIRECTIONS TO THE BEAUTY SHOP. IT WAS A VERY SMALL BEAUTY SHOP WITH ONLY ONE CHAIR, ONE SINK, ONE DRYER AND ONE BEAUTICIAN. I STOOD SHYLY WHILE SHE FINISHED WITH ONE OF THE MATRONS FROM ANOTHER COTTAGE. THE BEAUTICIAN WAS YET ANOTHER OLDER LADY, A BIT STOUT WITH BIG BREASTS AND BIG HIPS. HER DRESS WAS GREY-BLUE, AND SHE WORE AN APRON THAT COVERED HER CHEST AND LACED IN THE BACK. SHE HAD STURDY LEGS AND FEET SHOD WITH YET ANOTHER PAIR OF BLACK LEATHER LACE-UP SHOES. (I WAS BEGINNING TO SEE A PATTERN HERE). SHE HAD VERY LARGE ARMS, AND BLUE HAIR. SHE WORE GLASSES AND CHATTED GAILY WITH THE OTHER MATRON. SOON, THE OTHER MATRON WAS DONE, AND LEFT THE SHOP. "WELL, COME ON IN DARLIN" SAID THE BEAUTICIAN. "THEY SAID YOU WAS MY ONE O'CLOCK. GIT ON UP HERE IN THIS CHAIR, PUT THIS BIB ON AND LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT YOU". SHE LIFTED THE LOCKS OF MY RATHER STRAW-LIKE HAIR AND TURNED ME THIS WAY AND THAT IN THE BEAUTY CHAIR. "SUGAR, YOU GOT TO GET RID OF THIS STUFF. IT IS DRY AND FEELS LIKE SOMETHING A COW WOULD EAT. AIN'T YER FAULT THOUGH, I DON'T SUPPOSE ANYONE HAS SHOWED YOU HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YER HAIR. TELL YOU WHAT, LET ME FIX IT FOR YOU AND YOU WILL LOOK GREAT". I ASKED HER IF SHE REALLY THOUGHT SHE SHOULD CUT MY HAIR. SHE EXPLAINED, "LOOK BABY, YOU WANT TO GET RID OF THEM SPLIT ENDS AND DRY HAIR. YOU WILL LOOK SO MUCH NICER WITH YOUR HAIR SHINING AND HEALTHY. I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU, DON'T WORRY. NOW, HOP UP TO THE SINK AND LET'S GET STARTED!" I SAT IN THE CHAIR, AND LEANED BACK WITH THE APRON OVER MY CHEST. THE BEAUTICIAN RAN THE WATER AND WHILE SHE WAITED FOR IT TO WARM UP, BEGAN TO SET OUT SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER. I JUST SAT THERE, NOT WANTING TO CAUSE TROUBLE. I DIDN'T WANT HER TO TELL THE MATRON THAT I HAD BEEN DIFFICULT, THE PICTURE OF THAT PADDLE HANGING ON THE WALL STAYED WITH ME ALL THE TIME. SHE TOLD ME TO LAY BACK, AND I DID WITH AN APRON OVER MY CHEST AND MY HAIR STREAMING INTO THE SINK. I HEARD A SQUIRTING NOISE, AND THEN A FRESH SCENT, RATHER OF FLOWERS. STRONG HANDS WERE WORKING AND MASSAGING THE SOAP INTO MY HAIR AND SCALP. HER ARMS WERE QUITE FLABBY AND THE LOOSE SKIN FLAPPED AGAINST MY EARS AND CHEEKS. SHE LEANED OVER TO GET A BETTER ANGLE AND HER EXPANSIVE BREASTS ALMOST SMOTHERED ME. THE FLAPPING CONTINUED, AND WHILE I AVOIDED SUFFOCATION, I REALIZED THAT IT WAS QUITE NICE TO HAVE SOMEONE DO THIS FOR ME. SHE RINSED, AND SAID SHE WAS GOING IN FOR ANOTHER SCRUB. MORE SHAMPOO, MORE FLAPPING, MORE SUFFOCATION, MORE SCRUBBING. THEN, WHEN I THOUGHT THAT I COULD NOT SURVIVE THIS "MOTHERLY" TREATMENT, SHE RINSED AGAIN. I STARTED TO GET UP AND SHE TOLD ME TO STAY PUT, SHE WANTED TO CONDITION MY HAIR. SQUIRT, FLORAL SCENT, FLAP AND SMOTHER, SHE WAS AT IT WITH GUSTO. FINALLY, SHE PRONOUNCED ME WASHED AND CONDITIONED AND WRAPPED A TOWEL AROUND MY HAIR. "OVER TO THE CHAIR SUGAR, LETS SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS" SHE SAID AS SHE POINTED TO MY TURBAN WRAPPED, FRESHLY SCRUBBED AND CONDITIONED HEAD. SHE GENTLY COMBED ME OUT AND STOOD BACK TO STUDY HER OPTIONS. "NOW, DON'T GET UPSET, BUT THIS IS COMING OFF" SHE SAID. "TELL YOU WHAT, JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES AND DON'T LOOK". THIS DID NOT SOUND GOOD TO ME. AGAIN, THE PADDLE SPECTRE AROSE AND I DID NOT PROTEST. SHE SNIPPED AND CUT LONG STRANDS FROM MY HEAD. MY HAIR PILED ON THE FLOOR. I LOOKED AT IT AND REALIZED THAT IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE THE FLOWING LOCKS THAT I HAD IMAGINED, BUT A PILE OF DIRTY BLOND HAIR. "NO PEEKING NOW" SAID THE BEAUTICIAN AS SHE CIRCLED AROUND ME WITH SCISSORS AND COMB. IT SEEMED TO TAKE FOREVER, AND THEN SHE SAID, "LOOK!" I DID. I WAS STUNNED. OH MY GOODNESS, MY HAIR WAS BEAUTIFUL! IT WAS FLUFFY AND SOFT AND CARESSED MY FACE IN LOVING WAVES. THE SHINE WAS RADIANT AND I JUST LOVED IT. IT WAS QUITE SHORT, BUT REALLY ENHANCED MY FACIAL FEATURES, AND WHERE A CHILD HAD BEEN, A YOUNG LADY EMERGED. I RAN MY FINGERS THROUGH THE SILKY STRANDS AND THE LITTLE GREEN STONE OF MY RING WINKED AT ME.. I TURNED AND THREW MY ARMS AROUND THE BEAUTICIAN. "THANK YOU, OH THANK YOU! I LOVE IT, IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL, I FEEL SO BEAUTIFUL! I CRIED AS I HUGGED HER. SHE LOOKED SO TOUCHED, AND PATTED MY BACK. "SEEMS LIKE YOU BEEN SHORT ON KINDNESS" SHE SAID. THEN, SHE TOLD ME TO COME WITH HER. SHE TOOK ME TO ANOTHER ROOM AND TURNED ON THE LIGHT. IN THAT ROOM FULL OF SHELVES AND CABINETS WERE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF MAKE-UP; POWDERED COMPACTS, LIPSTICKS, MASCARA, EYESHADOW, BLUSH, DEODORANT AND OTHER THINGS. SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE MAKE-UP WAS FOR THE GIRLS WHO WANTED TO SPEND THEIR ALLOWANCE FOR THE WEEK. "ALLOWANCE?' I QUESTIONED. "YES, ALLOWANCE. EVERY ONE GETS .50 CENTS A WEEK FOR ALLOWANCE. MOST OF THE GIRLS BUY MAKE-UP, BUT YOU CAN GET OTHER THINGS AS WELL. I TOLD HER THAT I HAD NO ALLOWANCE OR MONEY, BUT SHE WALKED ME AROUND THE ROOM AND HELD UP DIFFERENT COLORS OF MAKE-UP TO SEE WHICH ONES WOULD COMPLIMENT ME. SHE FILLED A SMALL BAG WITH ITEMS AND PUT IT IN MY HAND. "NOW, YOU GO AND SWEEP UP THE SHOP AND THIS MAKE-UP IS PAYMENT FOR YOUR WORK. THAT WAY, IF THAT MATRON OF YOURS HAS ANY QUESTIONS, TELL HER TO CALL ME!" I JUST STOOD THERE, WONDERING AT HER GENEROSITY. MORE AND MORE I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE WOMEN AT THE HOME WERE KIND AND GENEROUS, SYMPATHETIC AND READY TO MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER. ONLY ONE WOMAN SEEMED TO BE THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT, AND THAT WAS THE MATRON OF OUR COTTAGE. I NOT ONLY SWEPT, BUT CLEANED THE SINK, FOLDED THE TOWELS AND STRAIGHTED THE SHAMPOOS AND CONDITIONERS. I HUGGED THE BEAUTICIAN ONCE AGAIN, THANKED HER, TOOK MY PRECIOUS MAKE-UP AND HEADED BACK TO THE COTTAGE. I KNEW THAT I HAD TO HIDE MY BOUNTY, SO ONCE AGAIN, I MADE A PLACE AT THE BACK OF MY DRAWER. I DIDN'T THINK MY ROOMMATE PATTY WOULD TAKE IT, IN FACT I PLANNED TO SHARE WITH HER, BUT I WASN'T SURE ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER GIRLS. I STILL AVOIDED FRANKIE AND HER CROWD, I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO CAUSE A PROBLEM. SEVERAL TIMES THAT EVENING, I TOOK MY MAKE UP OUT AND HELD EACH ITEM, OPENING AND TOUCHING THE POWDER, TWIRLING THE MASCARA, GENTLY TOCHING THE LIPSTICK TO MY PURSED LIPS. I FOUND MYSELF LOOKING IN EACH MIRROR THAT I PASSED, QUITE PLEASED AT THE NEW GIRL THAT I HAD BECOME. MRS. THOMPSON PRAISED MY NEW LOOK, AND THE MATRON SAID THAT AT LEAST I HAD ENOUGH SENSE TO CUT THAT RAT'S NEST FROM MY HEAD. THE DAY ENDED WITH MY HEART FEELING HAPPY AND EXCITED ABOUT THE TRIP TO ATLANTA THE NEXT DAY. TOMORROW, I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT GETTING SHOES. LOVE, NANASEE