Play The Game. Doug Dixon

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СКАЧАТЬ that’s all you really need ’cause your hair texture is too straight to get a perm,” she replied, combing through my hair. “Let’s wash and condition.”

      Mary escorted me to the station a few chairs down from hers where I sat back and she began washing my hair.

      “You a schoolteacher with Tangie and ’em, huh?”

      “Yep, dealing with bad-ass kids five days a week,” I replied.

      Mary laughed. “I thought about teaching school, but preferred doing hair instead,” she continued, making small talk as she put the conditioner in my hair.

      “Let this set for about twenty minutes and I’ll be back to trim the ends before putting you under the dryer.”

      I nodded and looked over at Peaches, who had just finished with a customer.

      “Who’s next, you or Tangie?” Peaches said, looking at Stephanie.

      Stephanie looked over at Tangie. “You can go first. I’m going to call Curtis to make sure he gets Brandon his things from the store.”

      “Oh, okay.” Tangie got up and walked toward the salon chair. When she pulled off her ball cap, Peaches frowned. “Damn, girl. When was the last time I gave you a perm?”

      “Girl, I don’t know. I had to use hair grease and water just to keep it down all week,” Tangie replied.

      “Umph,” Peaches sounded. “C’mon and sit down so we can get started on this head.”

      Stephanie dialed Curtis and apparently got his voice mail or something, because she hung up the phone in disgust without saying a word and sat back in her chair, frowning.

      “You okay over there?” Tangie asked, seeing Stephanie’s face.

      “Hell, no. Now he’s not answering the phone. Bastard.”

      Peaches looked up at Stephanie as she combed through Tangie’s hair. “What’s the matter? Your man tripping?”

      “Girl, that ain’t—”

      “Men ain’t shit sometime,” a voice interrupted Stephanie.

      “Amen to that,” Peaches replied as she turned toward this skinny sista standing near the door.

      “I got a court case pending now because of my ex,” she continued.

      “Are you serious? What happened?” Peaches asked.

      “Girl, I had a feeling he was cheating on me but could never prove it. Then one night I followed him and caught his ass cheating with the fucking cleaning lady at his job,” the girl continued.

      “Whaaat?” someone shouted.

      “What did you do?” Peaches asked.

      “Shit, what any other nigga would do. I kicked that bitch ass. Then threw his shit out my fucking house.”

      Everyone laughed.

      “You know how you can find out if your man cheating?” Peaches asked. Everyone waited in anticipation.

      “When his ass comes home late, let him sleep the rest of the night away. But early the next morning, run his ass some hot bath water and have him sit in the tub. If his dick floats up to the top, that means his ass has been out there fucking around ’cause he ain’t got no more strength down there.”

      The entire salon burst out laughing.

      “I’m serious—a heavy dick will sink to the bottom, but an empty one will float,” the sista continued.

      Another girl stood up. “Girl, my man started off giving me roses, cards, and other nice gifts. But now the only thing he gives me is grief. He had the nerve one night to ask me to stop by the store and get some condoms on my way to his house. Shiiiit, I told his ass I’m already bringing the pussy, now I got to bring the damn condoms, too?”

      There was continued laughter.

      “Needless to say, he’s my ex now,” she continued.

      “Your ex? I thought you two were getting married next year,” Peaches said, concerned.

      “We were until I called Psychic Cindy on his ass and she told me he was cheating.”

      “A psychic, girl?” Stephanie asked.

      “Hell, yeah. Psychic Cindy is the shit. She told me things about myself that only me and God knows. That’s why I believe she was telling the truth. Months later, just like she said, I came home one day and caught him in the act. On the same sheets I lay my ass on every night.”

      “Wow!” Stephanie replied.

      “That’s right. There’s no price on happiness. Whatever works, girl,” Peaches continued.

      This went on and on throughout the course of getting our hair done. By the time Mary had finished my hair, I’d developed an appetite. When Stephanie’s hair was done, we all gathered our things and said our good-byes as we walked to the door of the salon.

      “Are you guys hungry?” I asked as we exited.

      “Hell, yeah, I’m starving,” Tangie replied.

      Stephanie looked confused at the question and didn’t respond.

      “What about you, Stephanie? You want to go to the Cheesecake Factory?” I asked.

      She paused for a moment. “I don’t know. Let me call Curtis.”

      “What? Forget his ass. He didn’t even pick up the damn phone when you called the first time.”

      Wrinkles formed on Stephanie’s forehead. “Forget it, you’re right—let’s go to the Cheesecake Factory.”

      CHAPTER 10

      Tangie

      After lunch I decided to let my class have study time, primarily because my head was killing me from the new hairdo that Peaches had given me two days ago. Since I’d never had braids, I decided to try it to change my look. It was cute but the price you pay to stay beautiful can have some very painful consequences.

      As I sat at my desk with eyes closed, I massaged the sore areas, trying to concentrate on something pleasant, when I was suddenly interrupted by the sound of paper crumpling in my right ear.

      “Ms. Jackson, can I finish painting my pictures?” an irritating voice sounded. When I looked up, it was Tina standing next to me, holding some drawings.

      “Excuse me?” I was staring at her with my eyes half-open.

      “Is it okay if I finish watercoloring my drawings?”

      I forced a smile. “Uh, sure, Tina. Let me get the watercolors out of the storage closet.”

      She СКАЧАТЬ