I ever spoke. “I know why you called us back here, and I think
it’s unfair.” She jerked a finger in Kelly’s direction. “She’s been
harassing me, and I’m not taking any of her bullshit anymore.”
“Have you filed a harassment claim with Blitz?”
“Harassing you?” Kelly interrupted. “You’re the one who
sends me threatening text messages all the time.”
I held up a hand. “Stop. I asked a question, Patrice. Did you
file a harassment claim with Blitz?”
24
Pitifully Ugly
“No.”
“You’ve both been warned three times that bringing this
issue to work was unacceptable, and now you’ve made a scene in
front of customers. Your employment here is terminated effective
today. You’ll both leave through the back entrance after Blitz
collects your things.”
Patrice’s face turned blood red, but before she could open her
mouth, I went on. “If you cause another commotion in this salon,
I’ll have you escorted out by the New Orleans Police Department.
Are we clear?” I’d heard Kalen use that line, and I hoped that I
sounded as tough as she did, even though my knees were banging
together under the desk.
Both women got up without another word, and fortunately,
Blitz was one step ahead. She’d already had a couple of the stylists
box up Patrice and Kelly’s workstations while we talked.
“Were you really going to call the police on them?” Blitz
asked when we were alone again.
“I was hoping that scared them, but if they caused enough of
a ruckus, I might’ve.”
Blitz and I sank down into the office chairs and sighed with
relief. Blitz let lose a tiny chuckle. “They both drew down on each
other with cans of hair spray. It was beginning to look like an
Old West shootout. All this was over a smooth-talking punk that
probably didn’t give a rat’s ass for either of them.”
“At least they didn’t pull scissors.” I rested my head on the
back of the chair and looked over at Blitz. “I’m glad it’s over. Kalen
said they were beginning to affect morale among the staff.”
Blitz nodded, then looked at me wide-eyed. “You look great.
When did you get it cut?” She pointed at my head, and for a
minute, I’d forgotten my new look.
“The guy I’m about to hire did it. I think he’s gonna fit in
great here.” So much for keeping my changes quiet.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, I apologized to the customers that
witnessed the fight and gave them all a discount on their next
visit.”
“Marion Caznyk, you handled this perfectly. I’m proud of
you.”
2
Robin Alexander
She shot me a look. “If you’re proud of me, call me Blitz.”
“It’s a deal, Blitzen. Now I have to get back home and get to
work. First on the agenda is to give Marvin a call and get the ball
rolling.”
Blitz went back to her duties, leaving me alone to wander.
Before I took the long walk home, I strolled through the salon
and chatted with a few of the staff. Of the four salons, the Canal
Street location was the largest, complete with six tanning beds,
eight stylists, and four massage therapists. Things had changed
a lot from the day when my mom first put out her shingle as a
beautician in the sixties.
I applauded my decision to walk the two and a half miles
back to my apartment. I could’ve driven, but for a January day, it
wasn’t all that cold. I’d used the walk to the salon to build up my
courage; it sure beat getting back on the treadmill.
I smiled at the strides I’d made in one day. I’d gotten a new
haircut and found a new employee. Though the situation was
thrust upon me, I’d handled a tense situation without throwing
up. Yes, Pitifully Ugly was making headway.
2
Pitifully Ugly
Chapter 4
Play with your own toys.
When I arrived back at the apartment, Hailey and Fuzzy were
on their way out again. Maybe my confidence was bolstered by
the day’s events, but I actually looked forward to attempting small
talk. “Hi,” I said with a smile as they descended the steps.
“Um, hey,” Hailey said with something akin to a smile. Her
brow wrinkled as she looked at my hair again. “We’re just heading
out. I promised Fuzzy chicken on a stick.”
She seemed sort of nervous and was edging past me. “Okay,
enjoy then.”
She nodded and headed briskly toward the gate. “Good to see
you,” she called over her shoulder.
The past two times we ran into each other, she seemed like
she wanted to talk, and I was the one running away. Maybe that’s
what she expected of me. Then again, maybe she was just really
hungry.
When I got into my apartment, I booted up my computer,
hoping that Newbie had written. While I waited, I gave Marvin
a call.
“Oh, my God! Are you kidding me? Canal Street?” he
whispered excitedly into the phone. “I’ll give my notice today
before I leave. Oh, Ms. Brycen, you won’t be disappointed. I’ll do
right by you. Thank you so much.”
“It’s Shannon, please, and you’re welcome.”
As I laid out the salary and benefits, I logged into my account
2
Robin Alexander
with the Rainbow Room and was disappointed to see that there
were no new messages from Newbie. Perhaps that was why I did
what I did next.
Marvin explained that he was going to meet a few people for
drinks later at a bar that was only two blocks from my place. “Oh,
come on, please. My friends are stylists, too, but I won’t tell them
who you are.”
I accepted his invitation, but as I ended the call, I pondered
my sanity. Kalen would not be pleased that I would be “getting
too familiar” with a future staff member. I reasoned that it was
only a couple of drinks. It was a work thing, really. Besides, I was
feeling a bit spunky.
I arrived at the bar promptly at seven and was greeted by
Marvin, who was flat out giddy. He took me by the hand and
introduced me to two of his friends who I assumed were a couple.
“Ike and Ben, meet my new friend, Shannon.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Shannon.” Ike pulled out a chair
for me. “Marvin’s been all a-twitter about meeting you. He’s a
matchmaker, you know.”
I shook Ike and Ben’s hands and felt like a celebrity. They
fawned over my hair and argued about who would look best in my
jacket. My vote went to Ben. The soft brown suede leather looked
good with his dark eyes and hair when he tried it on.
“Frankly, I think the blazer looks better on her.”
I turned and looked into the dark eyes of the stylist who had
given me her card at the salon. I smiled back up at her, trying to
remember her name.
“Alicia, join us,” Marvin pulled another chair from the
adjoining table and shoved it close to mine. “She has a boot
fetish.” Marvin gave me a nudge. “I’ll bet before the night is over,
she’ll be trying to get yours off your feet.”
I hid my blush by looking down at the black leather boots
that Alicia was wearing. “Those are nice,” I managed to say. Her