Robin Alexander - Pitifully Ugly

if her head ached at the end of the day or if her brow ever froze

in that position. “Once these phones begin to ring, you won’t be

able to move from where you’re sitting. If you need something or

need to go to the bathroom, you’re gonna have to flag me down

for it.”

My eyebrow rose this time. “Is it that bad?”

“It’s how you choose to look at it. Every time that phone rings,

we’re poised to make money, so that’s not bad.” Blitz smiled.

“Coffee?”

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Robin Alexander

“Yes, and thank you.” I turned and looked at the intimidating

bank of phone lines, then at the computer. I hoped the coffee was

extremely strong.

“Well, who do we have here?” Marvin leaned on the counter

with a broad smile.

“A scared shitless temp.”

“Aww, it’s not that bad.” Marvin guffawed. “I’ve seen Bonnie

ring up a customer, schedule an appointment, and file her nails at

the same time. You’ve got this.”

I wasn’t so sure.

Marvin slapped out a tune on the counter. “Guess who’s

coming to see me today?”

“Hailey,” I said dryly.

Marvin frowned. “Still no good with you two?”

I opened my mouth to reply when the phone rang. That bitch

didn’t stop. It rang so much that at one point I thought I could hear

it ringing when there wasn’t a call. To make matters worse, I was

slow. It took me most of the morning to get used to scheduling the

appointments. When I had to go to the bathroom, I was forced

to wave Blitz over and write it down for her because I couldn’t

stop speaking long enough. She moved in behind me like she was

taking the wheel of a car flying down the highway, reaching over

me to take the controls.

At eleven, it all became one monotonous blur as Hailey

came through the door. The air around her seemed infused with

electricity. She took off her rain-splattered overcoat and hung

it on the rack. The silver-gray pantsuit hugged every delicious

curve and made my mouth go dry. When she turned toward the

receptionist station, her eyes widened when she saw me. A slight

smile curved her lips. I held up a finger as she approached and the

phone rang again. Marvin intercepted her before we had a chance

to speak.

It was hard enough to learn a new system of doing things,

and I was far from getting into a comfortable groove. Hailey’s

presence made it nearly impossible to function. I tried to follow

every move she made. I scheduled two appointments on the

wrong day while watching Blitz shampoo her hair. I wished that

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Pitifully Ugly

I’d volunteered for that position as Blitz ran her fingers through

those wet golden locks. Marvin winked at me when I glanced

over at him. I forced myself then to pay attention to the job at

hand, which lasted until Hailey moved into his chair.

Hailey gestured, holding her hand up to her jawline. I watched

in terror as Marvin held his hands on either side of her face. He

looked at me in the mirror, and I shook my head. Hailey was

the type of woman who could’ve rocked a crew cut, but I loved

that golden mane, the way it flowed down her back. Marvin said

something and turned Hailey’s chair around to where it faced me.

He walked over and toyed with my hair. His fingers came to rest

just below my shoulders. The muscles in my stomach clenched as

Hailey shook her head and motioned toward her collar.

I wanted to hang up on my customer and protest as Hailey

and Marvin discussed a much shorter length. When Marvin

positioned his scissors right at Hailey’s shoulder, I lost it. “No!

It’s too gorgeous, don’t cut it off.”

Marvin and Hailey stared back at me in the mirror with

shocked expressions. Actually, everyone in the salon did. “No,

Mrs. Ronson, I’m sorry, of course you can come in for a cut.

I’m sorry for yelling in your ear.” I sat back down red-faced as I

scheduled her appointment.

When I ended the call, Marvin was standing at my desk with

a bemused smile. “Hailey would like to know exactly how you

want her hair done.”

I looked around Marvin to Hailey, who sat looking at me like

I was insane. “I’m sorry. You’d be lovely no matter what you did

with your hair. It’s just so gorgeous I can’t stand to see you cut it

off.” A couple of customers in the waiting area agreed. I shrugged

and pointed at them as though their opinions should weigh in.

Something in Hailey’s eyes glimmered. She nodded and smiled

at me. The warmth of it turned my insides to jelly.

Marvin took off two inches. Hailey’s wet hair hung down to

the bottom of her shoulder blades. The weight of those two inches

made her hair look thicker. I was mesmerized at how ringlets

formed around her face as her hair began to dry on its own.

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Robin Alexander

“Lunch break.” Blitz came to stand beside me. “Take as long

as you want. You’re still the boss.”

I felt like shackles fell off my hands and feet as I passed her

the headset. I’d been freed, but I still stood at the counter and

watched as Marvin dried Hailey’s hair. My fingers twitched with

envy as he ran his through those golden stands, making the curls

loosen and flow.

“Her cut is on the house,” I whispered so only Blitz could

hear. She nodded and deleted the appointment without hesitation.

I watched as Hailey hugged and tipped Marvin.

She walked over to the counter with her wallet in her hand. I

discreetly pushed it away. “My treat,” I said as she looked at me

in question. “Especially since you let me intervene.”

She ran a hand through her hair. “You like it?” she asked

shyly.

“Yes, I do.” Her shyness became contagious. I looked away as

I said, “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. Why are you working here today?”

I looked back at her then and felt my knees go weak. “Some

of the staff is out with the flu. I had to fill in.”

Hailey nodded as she stuffed her wallet back into her purse.

She reached over and touched my arm. “I have to get back to the

office, but it was really nice to see you.” She smiled, and for a

second, I saw something in her eye that filled me with sadness.

I imagined that she saw the same thing when I looked at her—

longing, regret.

I watched her put on her coat and slip out the door, taking my

heart along with her.

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Pitifully Ugly

Chapter 24

No good deed…you know the rest.

I spent an entire week at the salon and developed a twitch

every time the phone rang at home, a tiny dose of post-war

syndrome. By Monday the following week, I was in bed with

a fever and coughing up things that looked like Yoda. Marvin

took pity on me and went grocery shopping. He showed up at my

apartment wearing a face mask with two sacks in his arms.

“I brought you chicken noodle soup from the deli down the

street,” he said, keeping a distance. “I’ve never had it, but Alicia

swears by it. Some oranges and orange juice. A pint of bourbon,

lemon, and honey for toddies, and a gun in case you want to shoot

yourself.”

“You eat the soup, give me the bourbon and the gun.” I lay on

the couch feeling weak and puny.

Marvin put his hand to my head and looked at me with a

worried expression. “ Caliente ,” he said, shaking his hand. “You’re

very pale. Have you gone to the doctor?”