People like to say that woman can’t get along for longer than it takes them to start thinking about gossiping to their friends. If that’s true than this little hair snipping adventure with Ralph’s mystery woman is going to be hell and a half. I can’t stop thinking that I should call Anna while waiting for the shower to stop running.
I hear her singing nonsense words in the shower through the door, but they don’t sound dreadful. I sit on the edge of my bed and put my head in my palms. This life that Ralph likes to live…what part do I play in it? What kind of a man brings over a mistress in the middle of the night? Should I be concerned for myself more than I already have been?
“I’m not cut out for this man.” I say pulling my hair. Then again he isn’t cut out for me either. I think about the way he yelled at me as if he had any right to be upset at me.
I don’t know that he wanted me to be in his room last night, but I do know he had never been that loving before. I don’t know anything about love, but I do know when men want something they are very able to change in order to get it. They act sweet and nice until they get what they want. Men aren’t monsters but they are smart.
I hear the shower stop and fix my posture and the frown on my face. I wait while I do my make-up and after what seems like an eternity she exits the bathroom. She’s wearing a white dress and heels and her blonde hair is brushed out making it look as soft as cotton candy.
“Did I take long?” She asks biting her lip and I sigh.
“Not like I’m on a schedule. Let’s go.” I say snatching up my purse and shoving the money into a pocket. I twist my hair up and put it in a hat.
“You aren’t going to do your hair?” She asks rushing out the door after me and I roll my eyes.
“What would be the point? They’re just going to take it down anyway. I think the brushing I gave it will do just fine for the hair dresser.” I say tugging at the hair that hangs well past my shoulder.
“Right. I know a place just a couple miles from here if you want to go there.” She says opening the front door for me.
“I suppose.” I say walking through realizing that I have no way of going anywhere. I don’t have a car and I’d rather drop dead than set foot in one of Ralph’s.
“Do you know where the bus stop is?” I ask and she looks at me and giggles.
“Bus stop? We can take my car.” She says waltzing off before I can object. What’s wrong with the bus? I follow after her to the drive way at the side of the house. Oh I wish I could afford a house like this for me and dad. I wish I could afford the cars like this for us.
“Go ahead and get in. Isn’t it beautiful? I just had it cleaned two days ago.” She says starting the engine. It’s a beautiful white car that my dad would kick me for not knowing the name of. I’ve heard him go on and on about cars and the ones he wants.
“Going for a theme are we?” I say and she looks at me and cocks her head to the side. “The white?” I open the door and sit in the passenger side and she smiles at me. I stare at her wondering what is going on inside that pretty little head of hers.
“I never told you. My Name is Clara. What’s yours?” She asks pulling out of the driveway and onto the road. I’m tied to this girl for the rest of the day now.
“Ruth.” I say simply and she smiles.
“That’s such a wonderful name. Oh don’t your names go well together! Ralph and Ruth.” She says and I roll my eyes and shift to look out the window. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset by bringing him up.” She says and I sigh.
“It’s not your fault.” I say, but I keep looking out at the world rushing by.
“You know. He never mentioned you to me except maybe once or twice I heard him talking on the phone about getting married.” She says and I wish she would just stop talking, but she doesn’t. “I heard him talking about marrying some girl. I thought it was me…” She said and I turn around to look at her. She looks so pained I can’t help but feel bad for her.
“Oh…” I say because I don’t know what else I could say.
“He said she was pretty and seemed to have a bit of a bite to her. That’s when I knew it wasn’t me. I’m too soft, Ralph prefers woman that aren’t soft.” Clara say and I wonder why she still sleeps with him.
“You love him.” I say and Clara smiles sadly. Her bottom lip quivers and she laughs and nods.
“I do.” She says and I see her blinking away tears. “Unless you want to crash can you hand me the tissues that are in my purse?” She says, and I rush to get the tissues. I need something to do so that I don’t have to look at the pain on her face.
“How far are we from the salon?” I ask to change the subject and Clara jumps on the opportunity.
“Not too far anymore.” She says dabbing her under eyes careful not to smudge her makeup. “You’re going to love it! I always wanted to have a girl’s day here, and now I’m finally getting it. Though this isn’t quite how I imagined it.” She laughs.
We drive a few more minutes making idle conversation. Well, conversation implies both of us were talking, I’d say that she was more talking to herself than to me. I’m not the best company when I’m upset, and I hate that I’m being so cold toward her, I really do, but I can’t seem to shake this foul mood.
She drives into the parking lot of a little store on a strip. It reminds me of the place my mom used to take me when I was a little girl. I smile at the memory. Getting my hair cut were some of the only fond moments I had with my mother.
“You see! I knew you’d love it. Isn’t it the cutest little thing?! I get my haircut here all the time you don’t even have to make an appointment.” She says as we get out of the car.
“I used to get my hair cut at a place like this with my mother. She would take me to get a smoothie once we put our names in, and then we would come back right when they called our names. It was like magic.” I say staring at the bold black colors against the orange back drop.
“That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.” Clara says, and I feel myself blush. I didn’t mean to share that much.
We walk up to the door and this time I open the glass door for her. She thanks me and walks past me into the salon. The room is bustling with woman cutting hair and getting their hair cut. The air is thick with chatter and the smell of shampoo and hair spray. I remember this well. I haven’t gotten a hair cut in so long.
“Clara! Our darling little angel!” I hear a woman call. She leaves her client in her chair and hurries over to greet Clara with a hug.
“Donny! How are you? You all seem busy.” Clara says waving to the other girls cutting hair.
“Oh we are! I couldn’t be happier about it. Who is this?” The bubbly woman says looking directly at me. I can see why her and Clara get along so well.
“I’m Ruth. Clara wanted to show me here today.” I say gesturing toward Clara and she smiles and nods.
“She wants to get her hair cut, and I knew you would do her up well. After all look at me. I haven’t let anyone else touch my hair since I met Donny. I think that’s the only reason I’ve stayed so pretty.” Clara says and Donny waves her off with an eye roll.
“Do you mind taking off your hat? I want to see what I’m working with before I slot you in.” Donny says the crow’s feet around her eyes puckering.
I take off my hat and let the knot at the top of my head tumble down. Donny approaches me and immediately starts touching my hair. Clara comes closer, but makes sure not to touch me. I guess someone can tell I’m uncomfortable.
“Doesn’t she have the most beautiful hair? It’s so long.” Clara say tugging at her bob. She can’t seriously be jealous of my hair when hers looks like that?
“Soft too! Are you sure you want to cut it?” Donny asks me playing with my hair causing it to poof up bit by bit.
“I’m positive.” I say. It’s time for a change that’s in my control.
“Well if you don’t want it I do. What do you say Clara do you think I can pull it off?” Donny asks pulling a piece of hair over her head around her face. I laugh and so does Clara.
“I don’t know about that one Donny.” She says laughing through her hand.
Donny pulls away and pretends to be upset. Mumbling something about being the most glamourous one in the shop. We all laugh and Donny pencils us in and tells us to have a seat while we wait.
“Isn’t she something?” Clara says as we sit down on the chairs near the entrance.
I look over at Donny in all her joyful glory. She’s talking to the client in her chair and the girl raises her hand to her mouth to laugh.
“Yes. She’s seems like an extraordinary person.” I say and Clara smiles at me.
“Well she was able to make you laugh, so I should say so.” She says and I chuckle.
“I’m sorry about how this started, and how I’ve been acting toward you. I was just slightly hurt by the fact that all Ralph wanted out of me was a night in his bed.” I say and Clara nods looking down at her lap.
“How did you meet Donny?” I ask before she can reply with something sappy.
“Oh. She used to babysit me when she was in high school. Our parents have stayed in contact ever since, so it’s hard not to know her. Not that I wouldn’t want to; She’s the best!” Clara says looking over at Donny. I wonder what it was like having a babysitter like her. I never had one because mom always stayed home our neighbor babysat me if it was ever needed.
“She must’ve been fun. I never had a babysitter take care of me.” I say picking at my nail.
“It’s not as fun as it sounds. I was devastated when I found out she was being payed to stay with me. I thought we were friends.” She says laughing at herself.
“Well we won’t be getting called for a good while. Do you want to get something to eat?” She asks and I’m about to say no when I remember I didn’t eat any breakfast.
“Something small.” I say because I don’t have much money.
“Of course.” She says and I can’t help, but feel like she means the exact opposite.
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