I shook my head. “You want us to what?”
“Take some time to explore the pros and cons of the other person’s perspective about JeShaun having her hair straightened each week doing an Instagram Makeover.” Uncle Corey crossed his arms and smiled.
Buzz. Buzz. I looked but knew better than to pick up my phone. “Takeover. You were almost cool. Instagram takeover, Uncle Corey. I’m down if Aunt Tanya and Ms. Brielle are cool.”
“How is Brielle involved in any of this?” Aunt Tanya said.
I took in a deep breath. “Until I decide what I want to do, I want her to do my hair. Instead of you.”
“You want… what the hell?” Aunt Tanya’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “I need to take another run.”
Uncle Corey reached for his wife’s hand and took my hand. “Tanya, look at her.”
“You want me to cry.” Aunt Tanya’s voice sounded thicker than normal.
Uncle Corey shook his head. “No, I want you to recognize the pinky promise Gummi bear grubber you sang with at the old salon is gone. You have a young woman on your hands. Who you hurt with what you did. Look at her.”
“I like Gummi bears.” Keylisa mumbled as she hugged Aunt Tanya’s waist tighter.
The tear I’d forced down snuck to the top of my eye and escaped. Traitor.
“Look at her.” Uncle Corey wiped the tear from my face.
Aunt Tanya dropped her head. “JeShaun… If Brielle doesn’t object, I don’t mind. You guys have a great time when she does your hair.”
“If she does the styles, my participation in the photoshoot is back on.” I gave her the tiniest smile.
Aunt Tanya sniffed. “For real?”
“Yes,” I smiled at Uncle Corey. “I apologize for being disrespectful. On the post. For my tone.”
Keylisa released Aunt Tanya. She smiled from ear to ear as she threw her arms around me. “You’ll only have to do one photoshoot a year when you’re working for me.”
I laughed. “Oh yeah?”
Keylisa nodded with a big Kool-aid grin. “Yep. We can shake on it. That’s official.”
“Only if you promise to do something fun and new with my hair. I’m tired of twists.” I smiled and winked at Uncle Corey.
Aunt Tanya huffed as she disappeared out of the door. Seconds later she reappeared laughing while throwing decorative pillows at me from her bed.
The morning sun peeked through the window as Ms. Brielle entered the salon through the back door. I remember when she recommended Aunt Tanya have a jungle gym and swings put in the backyard. Not only did I love it, her business increased because the mothers had somewhere for their children to play on nice days outside. A picnic table for the kids who want to sit, play on the phone in the sun, draw, or read. For the ones who don’t want to be outside, they just chill in the waiting area.
Ms. Brielle used to do my hair when Aunt Tanya had to go to the World Natural Hair Show, work with her celebrity clients like Maya Hatton, and when she and Uncle Corey go on their couple’s only getaways. I can tell her when I don’t like the style and she’ll change it without an attitude. Her, my mom, and Aunt Tanya went to high school together, so she’s like part of the family.
Music filled the air as Brielle turned to her favorite R&B station. Each morning she’d prep the shop and dance around. On the mornings after a hot date she enjoyed, she’d sing, well, what she called singing. Uncle Corey said she called cats.
“Ms. Brielle,” I tapped her on the shoulder.
Brielle jumped and all the towels she carried flew into the air.
I caught as many of the towels as possible to keep the load to replace the ones she dropped to a minimum. Shop rule number three, you dirty the towel — you wash the towel.
“JeShaun, you almost gave me a heart attack.” Brielle placed the towels on the counter next to the half wall separating the front of the shop where she and mom styled clients from the back of the shop. Instead of renting the chairs, Aunt Tanya and Brielle were licensed to teach cosmetology. So they’d apprentice students in the afternoon Monday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday they both ran two chairs in the shop.
I blushed. “Sorry. Aunt Tanya and I got in a bit of a disagreement.”
“Girl, please, y’all aired all your dirty laundry on her Instagram account and gave some much needed drama and spice to the natural hair community. All the blogs, most of the forums, a few YouTubers, and Black Twitter have chimed in on your bit of a disagreement.” Brielle chuckled as she finished refolding the towels.
I cleared my throat. “Dang, really, Black Twitter. Maybe I do need to go back to counseling. I didn’t think I said anything so bad Black Twitter would get involved.”
“Girl. You made some valid points. They may have landed better in person instead of on Instagram.” Brielle turned down the volume on the speakers. “So wassup?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Aunt Tanya and I have reached an agreement.”
“Corey stepped in. I’m so glad she married that man.” Brielle motioned for me to continue talking.
I gave her a weak smile. “I agreed to do the photoshoot and not have my hair chemically altered while we do whatever it is we’re about to do before I make a decision if you style my hair for me.”
“Aw, that’s great, baby girl. Of course, I love doing your hair. We always have so much fun together.” Brielle paused and drummed her fingers on her knees. “How does Tanya feel about all of this? Did she cry?”
I shook my head. “Mmm. Almost then she laughed and threw pillows at me.”
“Good, that means she knows she is responsible for this mess. I’ve been telling her to let you be more involved with your own hair for years. I see your face when she does your hair.” Brielle chuckled. “Someone is bored
