Robin Alexander: Pitifully Ugly

“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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Robin Alexander

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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Pitifully Ugly

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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Robin Alexander

“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