Split Ends

by Jacquelin Thomas

  “Hey, Kylie, you want to ride with me to work? I have an early client this morning—and one tomorrow, if you’re interested.”

  “Thank you so much. I’m running so late.”

  She surveys my face. “You okay?”

  I nod. “I just didn’t sleep well.”

  When we arrive at work, Miss Marilee greets us with a smile. “Hello, ladies.”

  “Morning, Miss Marilee,” I say in response.

  After I have everything prepared, I navigate to the break room to make myself a cup of hot tea to calm my still frazzled nerves.

  Not only does my mama know where I live but she also knows where I work. How long before she comes into the salon to start trouble?

  Rhyann doesn’t come in until noon, so I don’t really have anyone to talk to. I keep my eyes glued to the door just in case my mama decides to bust up in here. I pray that she won’t, but with her, you never know what she’ll do.

  I’ve got to find a way to tell Miss Marilee the truth. I don’t want her finding out any other way. I toy with the idea of telling her later today. I’m working until five, and she’s leaving around that time because she has to teach Bible study at her church at six.

  Out of the blue, Mimi comes in with Chandler.

  “Kylie, hey, girl,” she greets me. “Chandler wants dreadlocks, so he’s here to see Marsha.”

  I smile. “I’ll check you in.”

  While I’m checking him in on the computer, he smiles back.

  “You’re checked in,” I say as calmly and professionally as I can manage. “Your stylist will be with you shortly.”

  “Thank you, Kylie. It’s good to see you.”

  “You, too.”

  Mimi’s mouth tightens as she stands there beside Chandler, tapping her foot impatiently.

  He looks over at her and asks, “What’s up with you?”

  “You need to come on,” Mimi snaps. “We don’t have all day.”

  “You go on,” Chandler tells her. “You need a whole lot more work done than I do.”

  Mimi rolls her eyes at him before stomping off.

  “She really doesn’t like you talking to me,” I whisper to Chandler. “I told you, I’m not gonna come between you and your sister.”

  He dismisses my words with a wave of his hand. “You’re not,” he replies. “I’m not going to let Mimi dictate who I’m friends with or who I date. You shouldn’t, either. I think her boyfriend is a joke, but she doesn’t want to hear it. She’s quick to tell me to mind my own business.”

  I shift uncomfortably in my chair because I can feel the heat of his gaze on me. Finally, Marsha comes to take him to her station.

  A few minutes later, Rhyann rushes up to the reception desk. “Looks like you and Chandler are really hitting it off.”

  “Mimi’s not too happy about it,” I respond gloomily.

  “That’s her problem.”

  “How do you feel about it?” I ask.

  She waggles her hand. “Chandler’s cool and all, but I do worry about him playing games with you. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “I’m not really looking for a boyfriend,” I tell her with a shrug. “Just some friends to hang out with, so you don’t have anything to worry about.”

  She smiles, not believing me for a second. “I think Chandler’s going to look cute with dreads, don’t you think?”

  I nod in agreement. “Your brother’s look is really nice. I like Brady’s hair a lot.”

  Rhyann made a face. “Please don’t tell Brady that. He’s so conceited.”

  We chuckle.

  “Seriously, Rhyann,” I say. “I’m really not looking for a relationship with Chandler or anyone. If it happens, it happens.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Rhyann says.

  Chandler comes over to me when Marsha’s finished with him.

  I break into a big grin. “Your hair looks good.”

  “I don’t know,” he responds, tilting his head back and forth. “I have all these little twists sticking out everywhere.”

  “Your hair looks nice.”

  Mimi joins us. “Kylie’s right. You look nice, Chandler.”

  He places an arm around her. “So do you, Mimi. You working that weave.”

  “You don’t have to tell everybody,” she tells him and gives him a sharp jab in the arm.

  Laughing, I ring up his list of services and give him the total.

  He pays me for his services and Mimi’s. He’s such a nice brother, I think to myself.

  “Hey, did you get a cell phone yet?” he asks me. I’d been telling him for the past couple of days that I was getting a prepaid one. I decided to break down and get one after Rhyann told me I was probably the only teen in Los Angeles without a cell phone.

  “I’m getting one on Saturday.”

  “Don’t forget to give me the number,” he tells me.

  “I won’t.”

  Mimi pushes him toward the door. “C’mon, we need to get home. Mother wants me to clean out my closet, and I don’t want to hear her nagging me about it. You can call Kylie later.”

  Once they leave, Rhyann walks up to the reception desk. “You know, I asked Mimi why she’s acting that way.”

  I glance over at her. “What did she say?”

  “Just that she and her brother are getting close and she doesn’t want to share him with anyone right now.”

  “Do you believe her?”

  Rhyann meets my gaze. “I guess I have to take her word for it. B.F.F.’s don’t lie to each other.”

  Her words feel like a stab to my chest. I’ve been lying to all of them about my mother. Any time now, and my lie will be exposed.

  I take my lunch break at two o’clock. Rhyann has a lull in shampooing hair so she ventures into the break room to sit and talk with me. When a client comes into the salon, she has to hurry back to work.

  I finish my lunch in solitude. Afterward, I head off to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Greeting customers with tuna salad breath is not cool.

  My nerves prickle every time I glimpse a black Ford Explorer parked across the street. I check the door every now and then to see if I can spot her lurking outside somewhere, but I don’t see her anywhere.

  My work shift ends two hours later, and still no sight of Mama.

  Humming softly, I pack up my stuff and leave the salon on my way to the bus stop. I’m so grateful that Mama had the good sense to stay away.

  At least until I have a chance to explain everything to Miss Marilee. I would’ve talked to her after I got off, but she was with a client and would be with her for a while. She was putting in a weave, which China was going to have to finish, because Miss Marilee had to leave before she had time to complete it. I decide I’ll just wait and talk to her tomorrow.

  Miss Lucy is on me as soon as I get home. “Did you talk to Marilee?”

  “No, ma’am,” I answer. “I am gonna tell her, I promise.”

  “Honey, what are you so afraid of ? Marilee isn’t gonna turn on you. She’s not like that, Kylie.”

  “You’re right, Miss Lucy. I’ve already decided to tell her tomorrow. She had a lot going on today, but I will tell her as soon as I get to work.”

  Dinner is ready, so we sit down to eat and discuss our day. Miss Lucy is in some pain, so she called the doctor and is going to see him tomorrow. The woman across the hall is driving her.

  “It’s a bunch of nice folks here in this building,” she tells me.

  I agree.

  When we finish eating, I offer to clean up to give Miss Lucy a break.

  Chandler calls me shortly after eight.

  “What are you up to?” he asks.

  “I just finished cleaning up the kitchen,” I say. “I was thinking about doing some reading before you called. You saved me from reading Gone With the Wind for the twentieth time.”

  “I just finished up some laundry,” he says darkly. “I’m glad it’s done. I hate washing clothes.”

  I smile. “You do
laundry? I thought maybe you had the housekeeper do it or something.”

  “No, that’s Mimi,” he responds. “My mother started making me do my own laundry once I turned thirteen.”

  “I’ve been washing my own stuff since I was about twelve years old, I think.”

  He’s not going to talk about that for long, and our conversation turns to our plans for the summer.

  “I plan on enjoying these next few weeks,” Chandler tells me. “I’m almost done with the summer course I had to take.”

  “Are you nervous about going to Stony Hills Prep?” I ask. “Rhyann loves it there.”

  “A little,” he admits. “That’s just because I don’t know what to expect.”

  “I heard Mimi say that you’re going to be playing football for the school.”

  “Yeah,” Chandler confirms. “They have a pretty good team.”

  We talk about the beach, favorite foods, movies, and practically everything under the sun. Chandler and I laugh as we watch the same sitcom while chatting.

  He changes the subject by asking, “Kylie, when can we go out on a real date?”

  I chuckle. “Chandler, you’re about as subtle as a man wearing a cross-your-heart bra.”

  His shout of laughter sounds like music to my ears. “So is that a yes?”

  “Sure. I think I’d really like to get to know you a little better,” I say. “And it’s time you met Miss Lucy. She’s my guardian.”

  “I don’t have a problem with that.”

  “Great.”

  I can’t stop smiling for the rest of the evening. Chandler and I are going on a real date. I still can’t believe that this amazing guy is interested in me.

  Another thought comes to my mind, though, and my smile disappears. What if he’s just trying to get into my pants? Maybe all this is to trick the poor chick into sleeping with him. I glance down at the thin band on my left ring finger. It’s my purity ring.

  If Chandler’s out for sex, then he’s going to be disappointed, because I’m not about to go there with him or anyone else.

  Chapter 12

  Kylie, we’re going to the Keyshia Cole concert,” Rhyann announces while we are folding fresh towels. “Do you want to go? Dee’s picking up tickets this afternoon.”

  “I can’t,” I respond. Deep down, I really want to go with them, but I can’t afford to spend money for recreation. I want to make sure that Miss Lucy and I can get by in case she doesn’t get her disability.

  Miss Marilee has been helping her out with all of that, but we don’t know for sure if she’ll be getting a check. Miss Lucy’s had some problems getting all the information the VA needs from her.

  “You sure you don’t want to go?” Rhyann asks. “We’re going to have a great time. We all ride together in a limo, have dinner first, and then go to the concert.”

  “I can’t because I need to save my money.”

  She realizes that it’s a problem. “I’ll pay for you,” she offers.

  “Naw,” I tell her. “Y’all have fun. Maybe I can go with you next time.”

  “Well, we’re going to get together tonight for dinner. You coming with us for that, right?”

  “Rhyann, I can’t. Don’t get me wrong—I’d love to go, but I need to save.”

  “Kylie, why don’t you let me treat you?” she asks. “I don’t mind. You’re my girl and you need to have some fun sometimes.”

  I try to pass it off as no big deal. “I don’t want you spending your hard-earned money on me. I hope there will be other times for me to join y’all.”

  I meant what I said about never being broke again. Living on the streets wasn’t fun for me, and I intend to avoid it at all costs.

  “I really do understand that you want to save money,” Rhyann says. “Especially after everything you have been through.”

  “I’ma put some aside for recreation, as my Grandma Ellen used to say. She always had some money saved for me to do stuff.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Rhyann says cheerfully. “I usually save half of my paycheck and use the other half on clothes or whatever I need and to eat out or see a movie. I guess it’s the same thing.”

  It’s a shame. I really want to see Keyshia Cole perform live. I love her music and have her entire album on my MP3 player. She’s one of my favorite singers, but concerts and all the eating out that Divine and the girls do—I can’t afford it. They have wealthy parents. As for Rhyann, I don’t know how she keeps up with them. I just know that I don’t have it like that. All I have is Miss Lucy and myself.

  “What’s got you moping all around the place?” Miss Lucy asks me.

  “Nothing.”

  “I know better than that.”

  “The girls are going out for dinner tonight. They invited me along, but I turned them down.”

  “Why didn’t you plan to go with them?” Miss Lucy asks.

  “I didn’t want to spend the money, Miss Lucy. You know that we need to build up our savings for a rainy day.”

  “Honey, you need to have some fun,” she says. “Don’t you worry about me. Things are gonna work out—God has my back. I’m seeing a doctor at the VA hospital, and I spoke to someone this morning who told me that my benefits should start up soon. Things gon’ be just fine.”

  “My mama was always counting her chickens before they hatched, as Grandma Ellen used to say. I’m not counting on anything until you get one of those checks. Until then I’m saving every penny.”

  Miss Lucy laughs. “You think like an old woman. Your grandmother had a strong influence on you.”

  I don’t think it’s so funny. “My mama didn’t do anything but run the streets. She made it to the eleventh grade, then dropped out of school. She used to do hair at my grandma’s house to make money, but that was when she was between men. Whenever she was in love, she forgot about everything and everybody.”

  Miss Lucy doesn’t approve of my tone. “You shouldn’t be talking about your mama like that.”

  “Truth is truth.”

  The telephone rings.

  “Kylie, what are you doing?” Divine asks when I answer.

  “Just sitting here talking to Miss Lucy. What’s up?”

  “We were calling to see if we could come over. We decided since you wouldn’t come out with us, we’d come to you and bring the food, too.”

  I’m delighted, but I don’t show it. “You don’t have to do that, Divine.”

  “We want to do it, so can we please come over?”

  “Let me ask Miss Lucy.”

  “Sure,” Miss Lucy says before I even mouth the question. “Tell them to come right over.”

  “She’s okay with it.”

  “Great, we’ll be right there. We’re not too far from your apartment.”

  “They’re bringing food,” I tell Miss Lucy. “I guess we get to eat real good tonight.”

  “Thank you, Jesus,” she moans with her hands up toward the heavens. “I sho’ was getting tired of chicken.”

  I laugh. “Me, too.”

  When the girls arrive, they greet Miss Lucy and give her hugs.

  We sit down at the dining room table. Rhyann pulls out a pack of paper plates, napkins, and plastic ware, while Alyssa opens the containers of food.

  “I haven’t had seafood in a long time,” I say, my mouth watering at the sight of crab legs, shrimp, baked potatoes, cole slaw, garlic biscuits, and even dessert. “This looks so good.”

  Divine’s gaze travels around the apartment. “It’s really looking nice in here,” she tells me.

  I study her expression to see if she’s being serious or making fun of our place.

  “I’m serious,” she says as if she knows what I’m thinking. “I wouldn’t mind having something like this when I graduate from college.”

  “We’re going to need a whole house if we all go to college and then live together as we build our careers,” Mimi puts in.

  Alyssa laughs. “I don’t think we’re going to be living together that long.
I’m marrying Stephen after we graduate college.”

  “Girl, pleeze,” Divine mutters. “Let’s eat while the food is hot. I’m starving. You and Stephen may not even be together by then.”

  “Whatever . . . ,” Alyssa replies. “Just because you and Madison didn’t make it, don’t hate on me and Stephen.”

  Miss Lucy blesses the food before we all dive in.

  The food is delicious. Even Miss Lucy is enjoying the meal.

  “What’s all that stuff in those bags you brought up here?” I ask Divine, gesturing toward the plastic bags near the door.

  Her face brightens like Santa Claus. “My mom made me clean out my closet. I didn’t know if you could use any of the stuff, so I brought it with me. Take whatever you want.”

  “Thank you,” I respond, my mouth tightening.

  “I brought some stuff for you, too,” Mimi says. “Since you and my brother are ‘talking,’ I thought you might need some dresses to wear when you go out.”

  I swallow hard, fighting back words of anger. I don’t need their hand-me-downs.

  “It’s not pity or anything, Kylie,” Divine quickly adds. “I have to clean out my closet every summer. Mom will take me shopping for back to school, so it’s more of a selfish thing going on. I’m giving to get—I admit it.”

  “So you’d actually be helping her out,” Alyssa says, knowing this is a sore point with me. “That’s what my cousin is trying to say. I already shopped in her closet, so ya’ll might as well check out what’s left.” She stabs a fried shrimp with her fork and sticks it in her mouth.

  I wipe my mouth with a napkin. “I appreciate y’all thinking of me, but why don’t you just take it down to the Salvation Army or Goodwill? There are a lot of people who can use the clothes.”

  “So you’re saying you don’t want them?” Mimi asks.

  I try to soften the blow. “That’s what I’m saying.”

  “Why not?” she wants to know.

  “I don’t need your clothes, Mimi. I like what I have in my closet.”

  “You haven’t even looked at any of it.”

  I get up, wander over to the bags, and pull out clothing. I have to admit that both Divine and Mimi have some beautiful outfits. I check the tags, though, and then turn to Mimi. “Most of this stuff has to be dry-cleaned. I have to save up my money, so I need clothes that I can wash by hand or in a washing machine.”