“You sure about the puffs and the photoshoot?” Ms. Brielle pulled me from the memory.
I nodded with a hopeful half smile. “We hurt each other. I have to do what I can to apologize for what I said.”
“Look at you, growing up.” Ms. Brielle secured a towel around my neck. She tapped my shoulder and nodded toward the shampoo bowl.
I stood into a stretch as I exited the elevated chair. Ms. Brielle’s fingers massaged, rubbed, and scrubbed away the stress of trying to find Aunt Tanya to apologize. A few more happy memories of my last year with Mom floated through my mind. The last memory of her showing me how to hold Keylisa. “So what hairstyle is Keylisa wearing?”
“Tanya found this cute pigtail variation to try. You know your sister is gonna love whatever we do to her hair. She hasn’t hit puberty yet.” Ms. Brielle paused with a dramatic sigh. “You remember the good ol days.”
My phone buzzed. I tapped the side to silence the sound and return to my homework. Moments later, the phone buzzed so much it began to move back and forth. The small space on my writing desk between the keyboard and raised edge vibrated. Instagram notifications filled my screen. Tens turned to dozens and hundreds in a few moments.
“JeShaun!” Aunt Tanya’s shrill voice cut through the air.
A frustrated groan gurgled up my throat and across my lips as I stood to leave my room.
“JeShaun!”
I took a deep breath. At least she decided to speak to me today. “I’m coming.”
“You in trouble again?” Keylisa peeked her head out of her door as I passed by on my way to the stairs.
I shook my head. “No more than usual. I guess. Have no idea… I tell you when I get back.”
“If you make it back.” Keylisa giggled as I stuck my tongue out at her on the way down the stairs. “Yes.”
Aunt Tanya waved her phone around. “So now you have nothing to say?”
“Say… I don’t know what you’re talking about, Aunt Tanya. I’ve tried to apologize to you for--” I leaned my head back to avoid running into her phone.
Aunt Tanya shoved her phone in my face. “You’re so popular these days. Going to college and changing your hair is all anyone is talking about on my brand’s Instagram page. Hope you’re happy, littl — JeShaun.”
“I’m not happy about them talking about me on your page. You said almost all publicity is good publicity if you do things right. How is my posing for the pictures with the hairstyle you want not a good thing?” Confusion covered my face. I searched for the right words and courage to say I’m sorry. For real. Again. Seemed like she sensed the direction I wanted the conversation to go.
Aunt Tanya shook her head. “Don’t remember saying that, but it sounds like me. Not sure this is the kind of attention I want. Some of these people are being low down, personal, and nasty toward me for choosing to promote natural hair. They act like I’m forcing them to come to my Instagram page.”
“You said haters come with success.” She smiled. See, I’m listening is what I wanted to say. The pain from before sat right behind her eyes. No way I’d slide a slick comment into the conversation, yet. Too soon. “Maybe Uncle Corey is right.”
The sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs leading onto the second floor. “Most days. Though I don’t want to brag. Right about what?”
“Hi, Uncle Corey.” I jogged over and gave him a half hug. “Aunt Tanya’s page blew up when she posted my pics, again. Now she’s angry because of… I don’t know what.”
Uncle Corey squeezed me back. He strolled over to Aunt Tanya and kissed her on the forehead and cheek. “I told you both what to do. This can be a huge positive for the brand and this whole straight hairuation.”
“Hairuation… you’ve been around Aunt Tanya too long. That’s not a word.” I chuckled. My laughed faded away as Aunt Tanya stared me down.
Uncle Corey smirked. “She knows I’m right.”
“You always think you’re right” Aunt Tanya crossed her arms.
Uncle Corey shrugged. He picked up a pile of papers from the edge of the table he’d been looking over before leaving for work. “What can I say? Feel like I’ve been on a winning streak since I fell in love with you. Almost like I can’t lose.”
“Charm bucket.” Aunt Tanya smiled.
Charm bucket? I hope I’m not this corny and easy to appease when I get old. “I just agreed to do what you wanted. How am I in trouble for this? These people started acting crazy and talking about me on their own.”
“On their own after your mini tantrum provoked them. Now they won’t get off my page.” Aunt Tanya framed her forehead with her hands. “This is unreal. Going viral again… for this.”
Uncle Corey left the room for a moment with the pile of papers.
“Is JeShaun on punishment yet? Cause if so, I want her ice cream. You said good girls deserve ice cream. My grades are up. I’m the best hair model. I deserve ice cream. I’m a very good girl.” Keylisa bounced down onto the landing, skipping the last step.
Did she just gun for my ice cream? I’m not a bad person for wanting to make decisions about my own hair. I’m not bad. I deserve ice cream, too.
“I need to go for a run.” Aunt Tanya pulled her locks out of her face.
Uncle Corey caught her arm before she lowered it. “Good.
