Natural Beauty Read Online Free PDF Page A

every day, but that was about it. I didn't go hang out with
my girls on the weekends like I used to. I went to work because I had to pay
the bills. Going clubbing wasn't a necessity, so I didn't do it. I just didn't
feel cute enough to get into my tiny little outfits and party. Instead, I spent
all my spare time in my apartment watching YouTube videos about natural hair
care trying to find the right combination of things to do with my hair in order
to make me love it.
    After
a month and a half of this, I think my friends started to worry.
    "Mahogany
Brown, you better open up this door before I knock it down," Marin said
while banging on my front door. I wasn't in the mood for Marin. I would have
hidden under the bed or something, but I knew she wasn't kidding about the
knocking down the door thing. I didn't need one of my neighbors calling the
police or something. Going down to the station to bail my sister-in-law out of
jail was not what I considered a fun Sunday afternoon.
    "I'm
coming!" I yelled as I made my way to the front door. Before opening, I
slapped on a silk scarf. I was not in the mood to talk hair. Especially
with Marin. Her hair was amazing. She had these beautiful sisterlocks that reached down to the middle of her back. I
had often admired her hair. But I was too chicken to take the step into
dreadlocks. They were so permanent. What if I changed my mind after a year or
something? I'd have to cut them all off and start over. What if Vinny didn't like them? Vinny . Well, I guess I
didn't really have to worry about what he would or wouldn't like any more.
    "What
are you doing here, Marin?" I asked as I opened the door. Considering she
and my brother lived all the way in Philadelphia, it wasn't like her showing up
at my door was a regular occurrence. It wasn't that I didn't like my
sister-in-law. She was awesome. I loved her and I totally understand why my
brother married her the same day they met. She had one of those big
personalities that you couldn't help but love. She could start talking to a
complete stranger on the bus and ten minutes later have a new best friend. I
think she had about three thousand and twenty eight best friends.
    "Is
that how you greet me? I haven't seen you in two months. Get over here and give
your big sister a hug." She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me
tight. For a little thing she sure had a strong grip. Marin walked in and went
straight to the kitchen. She reached under in my cabinet and pulled out my tea
kettle. In her mind, there was no problem that couldn't be fixed with hot tea,
warm milk, or a cold ginger beer. So she always had one of the three with her
at all times.
    Once
the tea was made, she set it down on the coffee table and said, "Okay,
tell me what's going on."
    I
wasn't a big fan of tea, but I took a sip anyway just to delay having to speak. "Nothing. I'm fine," I said finally.
    "No
you're not. No one is fine right after breaking up a relationship as long as
yours and Vinny's ."
    I
shrugged. "Maybe I'm not fine, but I'm getting there."
    "Mahogany,
you don't have to get there alone," she said. "You have family, you have friends. Don't shut
people out."
    I
closed my eyes tightly to seal in tears. She was right. I had been blocking
people out. "You know what I think the problem is?" I said with my
eyes still closed. "Everyone I know reminds me of him. Every time I see
someone, I think about the first time I introduced them to Vinny ."
    Marin
nodded. "I understand that. The first time I met him was a week after I
married your brother. I knew then and there he wasn't the one for you."
    Opening
my eyes I said, "What do you mean?"
    Marin
took a sip of tea. "It was just a feeling. That's why I didn't say
anything. But now I know that first instinct was right."
    "What
first instinct? What did you think of him? Why didn't you tell me?"
    "I
learned a long time ago that you don't get involved in other people's love
lives. Especially women. No offense, but women can be
so