Ice Read Online Free PDF Page B

"Add moisture."
"Exactly." Mama said nodding.
"What have you been using on your hair, hand soap?" Dawn asked me. Everyone laughed, even Mama.
I looked down, debating whether I would just turn and run out or stay.
"Well, let's get you in the chair and get started," Dawn said. "We'll make it right,"
"Go on. Ice," Marna coached.
Reluctantly. I walked across the shop, past the other chairs and women and got into the chair reserved for me. Dawn came around and started to prepare the sink for my shampoo.
"You use a blow-dryer too much," she began. "especially with your dry hair. Why don't you give your hair a break and put it in cornrows?"
"No," I said sharply.
One of the women who was having it done turned to look my way.
"It's not for me," I added and gave Mama a look that told her I would get up and leave if they didn't listen.
"Just suggesting," Dawn said. "What do you say, we do a press and cut. Lena? I'd bring it to here," she said pinching my hair at my chin. Mama nodded. Dawn looked at my face and smiled. "You've really never been to a beauty shop before, huh?"
"Not because of me," Mama said.
"This is going to look great." Dawn told me. "I'm going to insert a full head of weave, apply styling mousse and set your hair with a flat iron, curling the front down and the back up. You'll see. Great." she said.
Mama stepped back, nodded at Dawn and they began. I closed my eyes like someone about to go into an operating room and tried to shut out all the talk and laughter by listening to Daddy's music replay in my head.
When it was finally over. Dawn turned me around and stood behind me as proud as any artist. I gazed at myself in the mirror, amazed at the difference in my appearance. Not only did I appear older and more sophisticated. but Mama was right: I did have most of her good facial features, maybe even better because of my stronger mouth and bigger eves and more prominent cheekbones-- features I had inherited from Daddy.
"Well?" Dawn said. "You haven't said a word all the time I've been working. What do you have to say now?"
"She loves it. Don't you, Ice?" Mama asked, her eyes pressuring me to respond positively.
I nodded.
"Yes. I think I do," I admitted.
Mama let out a trapped breath, and she and Dawn laughed. Mama really looked pleased and that made her face even softer and younger. Anger always aged her instantly, like a dark hand waved mai'cally in front of her.
"Now we'll do her eyebrows and I'll get her straight on her makeup," she told Dawn. "We're off to get her a nice dress."
"Are you going to a prom or something?" Dawn asked me. I looked at Mama.
"No, she's going on her first real date."
"First? You're kidding me. Lena Goodman."
"I wish I was," Mama said. "We've got a lot of time to make up." Dawn raised her eyebrows, looked at me and nodded.
"I bet." she said. "And I bet she will," she added.
Everyone but me laughed.
"Okay," Dawn said. "I gave you the best cut I could. Remember, before you go to sleep every night, prepare your hair for its own beauty rest. Apply a small amount of the moisturizer your Mama just bought for you, and to stop hair breakage, don't wear no hair band. We have satin sleep caps. Lena. Maybe you oughta get one for her."
"Yes," Mama said. "Absolutely."
Mama was on a tear now, spirited by our success at the beauty parlor. We took a cab to the Gallery at Market East and to Drawbridge's
Department Store where Daddy had a twenty-percent discount, When I saw the price of the clothes. I didn't think it mattered if he had a discount or not, but cost didn't matter to Mama. She wouldn't let a little thing like breaking our budget for a couple of months stand in her way.
"I don't want you wearing those granny clothes young -girls parade around in these days. Most of them look like sacks from thrift shops. And those clodhoppers they wear... I swear it's like girls are ashamed to show what they got anymore, or else they don't have it and don't have anything to show."
I tried to explain styles and trends