by Doris Miller
Around ten young white, Hispanic and black pre-teen boys are walking down the organization hallway with sodas and drinks in their hands as they chit-chat. One of the boys says, “Man I can’t wait until Mike and Mitch come back from Puerto Rico!”
“I can’t wait either,” another boy says.
“Neither can I,” says a third boy. The boys go to the meeting room doorway then go into the organization meeting room.
The boys enter the organization meeting room where there are around a couple of hundred people inside.
Diane D and Charlotte sit on stools on the side of the room next to each other as Marilyn stands behind them fixing their shirt collars saying to them, “Muchachas arreglar tu ropa.”
Diane D turns and looks at Marilyn as Charlotte says, “Okay Mom. By the way, when is Dad going to bring my bag?”
“Pronto Charlotte. Tu papa esta llegando.”
“Is he going to have those dancers from Africa sent here to perform with us, like he did before?” asks Diane D.
“Esta tratando de Diane. Ya lo veremos muy pronto.” Marilyn finish fixing Diane D‘s and Charlotte’s collars as she looks to the side and says, “Y ahi el esta.” Diane D and Charlotte turn their heads and look towards the doorway.
Dante Charlotte’s dad, a dark complexion African man comes in the room. He approaches Marilyn, Charlotte and Diane D. “Hey Dad,” Charlotte says.
“Hey Charlotte,” Dante says as he hugs Marilyn. He then hugs Charlotte and Diane D and says, “Hey Diane.”
“You brought my bag Daddy?”
“Of course I did Charlotte, because If I don’t bring it, you’ll never let me hear the end of it.”
“You got that right,” Marilyn laughs.
“So here you go,” Dante says as he hands a brown bag to Charlotte.
“Thanks Dad,” Charlotte says as she takes the bag and opens it.
Diane D looks at Dante and asks, “Hey Uncle Dante, I know you were able to get the dancers from Africa to perform with us again, didn’t you?”
“I’m sorry Diane, the dancers from Africa said they won’t be able to make it here for this upcoming performance because they already have other commitments, but said they will definitely be here for your next show,” Dante says.
“Oh, okay. That’s cool.”
Nicolas, Mickey and Michael approach Diane D, Charlotte, Marilyn and Dante. Everyone else in the room start to sit down and face the front of the room as Mary, Margarita, Barry and Tomas go to the front of the room.
Mary and Margarita go and stand behind the long table as Barry and Tomas stand beside them. The young teen boys go to the front of the crowd. They turn around and sit down facing Mary, Margarita, Barry and Tomas as Mary starts to shout, “Okay now listen up everybody!“ The entire crowd listens to Mary as Mary shouts, “We have to do a fashion show and performances tomorrow night!”
“So is everybody ready for their performances tomorrow night?” Margarita shouts.
“Yeah we’re ready,” everyone cheers and shouts.
The following morning at the Diaz-Davison Dominican Salon, a couple of Dominican beauticians Rosa and Gladys, are working in their booths, working on black female clients hairs. The other Dominican beauticians Bonnie, Miriam and Clara are standing at one of the empty booths chit-chatting. Mary suddenly comes into the salon followed by several women of different backgrounds and sizes. Mary says to the beauticians, “Buenos dias, senoras.”
“Buenos dias, Mary,” the beauticians say.
Mary points to the women as she tells the beauticians, “Estas son las senoras que van a modelar en el Fashion Show esta noche.”
“Oh, esta bien,” says the beauticians.
Mary turns to the women behind her and says, “Step right in here ladies!” The women enter the salon as Mary leads some of them to the empty booth chairs, “Have a seat right here.” Mary leads the other ladies to a row of empty chairs along the wall, “And the rest of you take a seat here.“ The rest of the women sit on the chairs along the wall. Margarita, Marilyn, Nancy and Charlotte suddenly come from the back office. They approach Mary and the women. The women become excited seeing Margarita, Marilyn, Nancy and Charlotte and says, “Hi!”
“Hi ladies!” Margarita says. “I see you all made it here! Ready for the Fashion Show tonight?”
“We sure are," says one of the women.
“Wow it’s so exciting to see you Miss Margarita!” says a second woman. “We see you have two of the Dianettes here with you!”
“Yeah my granddaughters Charlotte and Nancy.”
“Hi Charlotte and Nancy! Nice to see you two!”
“Hi,” Charlotte and Nancy say.
“Where’s Diane D?” asks a third woman.
“Oh Diane is working at the hospital right now,” Margarita says.
“She is?”
“Yes.”
“Does she be here at times?” asks a fourth woman.
“Yes she takes over the salon every so often when she‘s not working at the hospital or when she‘s not teaching an exercise class.”
“She teaches an exercise class?” asks a fifth woman.
“Yeah. She does personal training too.”
“Personal training?”
“Yes, so she doesn’t really have much time to be here in the salon.”
“Wow personal training. That‘s nice! Diane D seems to do everything.”
“Yes so she gets tired sometimes and just wants to go straight home when she finishes doing those things.”
“Oh.”
Margarita turns to Bonnie, Miriam and Clara and says, “Girls?” Bonnie, Miriam and Clara look at Margarita as Margarita tells them, “Despues de que termino con las senoras, dar a estas mujeres un lavado y un conjunto.”
“Muy bien Margarita,” Clara says. “Oh Margarita, Raquel and Daisy called and said they are running late today and said they won’t be here until this afternoon.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.” Margarita turns to the women and says, “Well ladies, two of my employees are running late today. I guess I’ll have to work on some of your hairs.” Margarita smiles at Charlotte and Nancy and says, “Unless my granddaughters are willing to make some extra money and work on some of your hairs.” Margarita says to Charlotte and Nancy, “Que te parece Charlotte y Nancy? Chicas desea hacer algun dinero extra y trabajar sobre el pelo de estas senoras?”
Charlotte and Nancy annoyingly fold their arms and look at Margarita as Charlotte says, “Ah, vamos Grandma. Usted sabe que yo no soy bueno en hacer el pelo.”
“Yo tampoco,” says Nancy.
“Okay,” Margarita says holding her hands up. “Sorry I asked.”
Marilyn turns to the women on the chairs and says, “Don’t worry ladies. I’ll work on your hair.”
“Yeah me too,” Mary says.
“Okay,” the women say.
Marilyn points to one of the women and tells her, “You, follow me right here.” The woman gets up as Marilyn leads her to one of the booths.
Mary tells another woman, “And you can come with me to that booth right there.”
“Okay.” The woman gets up as Mary leads her to one of the other booths. Marilyn and Mary have the women sitting in the chairs at the booth and start working on the women’s hair.
Margarita turns to the other women on the chair and tells them, “I’ll be right back ladies.”
“Okay,” the ladies say.
Margarita turns to Marilyn and Mary and says to them, “Marilyn, Mary, voy a volver a la oficina. Volvere pronto.”
“Esta bien Mama,” Marilyn and Mary say. Margarita, Charlotte and Nancy turn and walk back to the back office.
Chapter 7
Showtime At The Theater