ever you came in for. She walked the side of safety. She never dared to take a chance with someone’s hair. She always undercut rather than over-cut, she always put less, than more color just to play it safe.
Tammy did not like the bullshit of the salon gossip, she minded her own business, fit in fine and just tried to stay out of the way of everyone. Tammy’s issues were always her boyfriend and his family, and that was the gloom that followed her around, like a halo.
“Hey, guys.” Tammy said as she walked in and headed for her station.
The shop was a pretty nice place, it had a Floridian flair to it, with soft warm colors. Pastel colors were the dominant color theme, mainly with light blue, peach and mauve. As you walked in the door, to the left was the product area, filled with nice colorful displays of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. All were nicely displayed on beautiful, waist high, glass tables, with a towering effect of the products. The idea was to be able to see the products right when you walked in the door, but also be able to comfortably see over them to the reception area. It was effective, as most people stopped on the way, to the front desk, smelling products and looking around.
The desk was nestled in the corner, with an arrangement of large wicker furniture for the sitting area. Palm trees, foliage plants and orchards all surrounding the waiting area.
Maria loved the look. The stations lined the walls on both sides, each with a ½ wall divider about 5 feet high. They gave the privacy that each stylist and her client needed but was open enough that they weren’t separated from the shop and all the activities that went on.
The shampoo room was in the back of the salon. It had 4 shampoo stations and a private room that was used for clients, who required privacy. The back room was where all the operating supplies, and the stylist’s personal items were. It was a warm and inviting salon.
Tammy stood at her station, unloading her stuff, the whole time looking at Maria and Sarah, who seemed lost in thought.
“Okay, what is going on.” Tammy finally approached them and asked.
“Hey, Tammy, I am taking a vacation with Sam and leaving for probably about 3 months. I am just getting everything set for you guys. I had left you a detailed letter at your station, but anyway, that is what is up.” Maria answered Tammy as she smiled at her. She knew what Tammy’s response would be.
“Wow, that is new. I thought you were not sure about Sam?” Tammy responded, just as expected.
“I know, it’s crazy. I guess I just woke up one day and said what the hell. He is always harping at me to go on a long vacation with him, and I get this feeling that he has something planned. I came across that book and I do not know it just hit me like a brick. I think I need to pursue this. I have a million thoughts going through my mind about the trip, about Sam, about myself. You know, Tammy, kind of like what you feel with Dave. You want to, and there are all these reasons that you shouldn’t doubt it, Jesus, Sam is what every woman would want, how stupid of me to keep him waiting like this, but I have felt like I have so much more of me to discover.”
“I know exactly what you mean.” Tammy responded, thinking of her own ‘dilemmas’ with Dave, “I am not ever going to get married, no matter how many times Dave brings it up.”
Maria continued, “And God, the sex is great. Oh, my God, last night, it was unbelievable. He just has that ability to know exactly what to do. You would swear he was a woman and was reading your mind.” Maria added with a good old smirk.
“Real nice, Maria, thanks for adding to the jealousy level.” Tammy slapped her on the shoulder and headed back to read the letter. The whole time, while she was walking away, you could hear her saying under her breath, “must be nice”.
Sarah, who was still a little on the naïve side, giggled and went back to doing her ordering.
Ann was in the shampoo room, getting her stuff ready and was not at all involved in the conversation.
Today was Kathy’s day off, so Maria would have to update her of the trip tomorrow. Which was fine. Kathy was the easiest of them all. Maria had to finish her calls and tell Sam that she would meet up with him later.
Maria took a breather and sat there at the desk, and then started thinking about her trip. As Maria scanned the names on her list, she started to recall some of the experiences in the salon. Some of the names brought back memories of a few, not so typical, events in the salon. There was Mr. Allen, and that was always a reminder of the “clown hair” episode. Just the thought of it started to make Maria laugh.
Mr. Allen was probably about 64 and very uppity. He was serious most of the time and always had an image to uphold. For some reason, he decided that he did not like his grey hair. He was a typical, older gentleman, maybe about 30 percent gray and his natural hair was medium brown. He decided to have Maria color it. The problem was that he wanted to be blonde. Maria explained to him that to be blonde, she would have to lighten all his hair and then apply the blonde color.
Most woman understand this process, at least 70 percent of woman have some sort of color, whether covering gray hair, or adding highlights.
Well, Mr. Allen did not understand this at all. Because, he had naturally dark hair and gray hair, she would have to bleach all his hair, to get the color, he wanted. She tried to convince him that maybe highlights of the color would be best, however, Mr. Allen wanted it all blonde
So, Maria, said whatever, okay, here we go. She explained to him that first the process would entail stripping his natural color out, and it goes from brown, red, orange to yellow; before she can apply the blonde. Okay, he understands, so he thinks he does.
She starts the process and tries to make sure he cannot see himself in the mirror, just to be safe. Go figure she runs out of bleach and must re-apply another application. She washes his hair and then places him under the dryer in the shampoo room, while she runs to the back and mixes the product.
Suddenly, she hears a scream. And Mr. Allen is hyperventilating and screaming, as he has peaked at his hair.
He is now freaking out. Maria goes to the shampoo room and cannot help it, she starts to laugh, here is this uppity man, with bozo red hair, having a total freak out. She starts laughing so hard and had to run outside to control herself and calm herself down; and then go back in and calm him down. In the end, it all worked simply great, but it was total chaos for about ½ hour until she got it blonde; just the way he liked it. She still to the day, whenever she sees him or must call him, she starts to laugh. She cannot help it.
She sat there for a moment looking at his name chuckling. And then strolled on down the list. There were clients that had been booked before the trip was planned, so she needed to figure out, either to get them in, or try to book them with the other stylists. And then comfort them with which ever she did. Most of the names were regular clients that Maria wanted to talk to herself, and Sarah would handle the other calls.
Maria came upon a name that she was not sure why it was on the list and it made her a little uncomfortable. She could vividly remember the day he walked into the salon. He came in as a walk in, mysterious looking, dark hair, and beautiful blue eyes. He stood at the door, seemingly out of his element. He was uncomfortable, it seemed, to be in a salon. Maria was at the front desk and she caught his eye as he came in. His eyes were sky blue, piercingly intense. He was tall and a nice build. But something about his eyes, were just intriguing. She instantly felt this weird connection, what it was, she did not know. She felt like a schoolgirl totally infatuated with a movie star, you know the kind that takes your breath away. So handsome they stop you dead in your tracks.
