Happy Tuesday!! It’s #BlogBattle time.

#BlogBattle is a weekly short story challenge using a single word for inspiration.  Hosted by the talented Rachael Ritchey.  This weeks word:  Rage

This is a continuation of my previous story, Catch and Release.  My last character Nita, the cosmetology student, brought back memories of my days in Cosmetology School, and prompted me to to explore her character further.

All the Rage

My alarm clock wakes me up early Saturday morning.  As I rub my eyes and stretch, I realize my alarm clock woke me up!!  That means I actually slept!! I jump out of bed to get ready for my workday at the Cosmetology School, finishing off my uniform with my name tag that reads, “Nita.”

When I arrive I walk into the break room.  My Friend Michael is already there putting things into his locker.  “Good morning Michael” I say in my most cheerful singsong voice.

He turns with a hand to his chest, and a dramatic gasp, “Why are we so cheery this morning Sunshine?”

I grab him by both shoulders and shake him, “I slept Michael, I actually slept!!”

“So I guess that means you’ll be having frog-legs for dinner tonight.”

“Very funny…but no.”  As we get ourselves together to start our day, I tell him, “I confronted those pesky varmints last night.”

“Oh, do tell, but chop, chop Buttercup our patrons are waiting…walk and talk…walk and talk,” he says as he puts on his required uniform lab coat.

“Well, after my fit of rage, I walked right out there brandishing my flashlight to end the incessant noise once and for all.”

“With a flashlight?” Michael says flatly. “In a fit of rage,” he replies even more flatly.

“Well, ok, it wasn’t that dramatic, but I went out there and I had to let the frog go, its little friends had gathered around it.  I was talking to myself as I let it out of the container, pleading that they just be quiet.  Funny thing is, one of the frogs looked at me and I think he actually understood me.”

Michael stops right in front of me, lays the back of his hand against my forehead, takes his palm and feels my cheek then says, “You need to get out more Cupcake.”

“I’m serious Michael, that’s what happened,” I say as I smack his shoulder.

By this time we have arrived at our stations, which are right next to each other.  Our patrons are waiting for us in the waiting area.  It’s time to start another hectic Saturday of back to back haircuts, perms, color and shampoo sets.

It’s 8:00 on a Saturday morning, and the waiting room is filled with senior citizens eager for their weekly coiffure.  Most of the other students complain about working on “all these old people” but it doesn’t bother me so much.  I actually enjoy listening to their stories.  Some of them have lived some full, rich lives, and they love to reminisce of simpler times.  I especially look forward to my weekly appointment with Sophia.  I walk to the waiting area to greet her.

Once I get her seated at the shampoo bowl, she doesn’t hesitate to begin her weekly monologue starting with Hank and I…

She goes on and on about the various things her and her husband did during the week.  As much as I want to work in a trendy shop one day, I will definitely miss my mornings with Sophia.  Her and Hank were obviously the couple to know when they were younger, and from what I can tell, they still are.  They travel, entertain and just enjoy life.  Sophia keeps up on all the latest trends by reading various magazines that get delivered to her home.  When talking about anything new, her favorite catchphrase is, it’s “all the rage.”

I begin to comb out her damp hair; she begins to tell me more about her week.  I don’t have to say much, I mostly listen, nod and smile.  “Oh Nita, the other day I went to the mall, to that sophisticated department store to buy a few outfits for my upcoming trip.  The young sales girl was simply dreadful, so unfriendly, nothing like you at all.  But I found the cutest white pedal pushers and light blue sleeveless blouse.” With a gleam in her eye, she says, “Oh, I can’t wait until Hank sees me in those pedal pushers…you know, back in the day they were all the rage…and he tells me when he first saw me in those, he couldn’t keep his eyes off of me.”  She lets out a little sigh.

“So what are you and Hank up to today?” I ask.

“Oh, actually my Hank isn’t feeling well today, so my grandson will be picking me up, you know the one I have told you about?”  She says nonchalantly.

“I hope Hank is alright, it’s nothing serious is it?” With genuine concern I question as I look over at Michael and we look at each other with one eyebrow raised.

“Oh no, it’s not serious at all.”  She waves her hand back and forth like she’s swatting a fly.  “He’s just taking it easy, we have plans with my grandson tomorrow, so he wants to be sure he is well rested.”

“Oh good, I’m glad he’s ok, you’re all set, let’s get you under the dryer.”  Once I get her settled I head to the break room for a much-needed cup of coffee.  Michael is already in there when I walk in and he emphatically says, “Sweet Pea, Miss Sophia is playing matchmaker.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh puh-lease…Hank is resting?  Those two are joined at the hip; she never goes anywhere without him.  So what does this grandson do?”

“Uh…I think he’s a banker or something.”  Sounding a little frustrated I say, “I don’t remember, he always sounded kind of boring if you ask me.  Michael, what am I going to do?”

He smooths down my hair with both hands and says, “Just go with the flow, Gingersnap.”

I finish my coffee, Michael and I head back to our stations, I get Sophia back in my chair.  I’m almost done when Michael leans next to me and whispers, “Is it just me, or did it get hot in here” as he tilts his head towards the direction of a guy who looks like he stepped off the cover of GQ…and is heading our way.

I playfully jab Michael in the ribs with my elbow, and under my breath say to him, “Don’t you think you should go check on your patron?”

“Oh no, Puddin’ Pop, she can wait, this I’ve got to see.” He says with too much enthusiasm.

“Hello Grandma, are you about ready?” Mr. GQ says with a voice that could melt butter.

“Oh good, Jason, you’re here already.  I’d like you to meet Nita.” Sophia gushes.

I extend my hand to him and say, “Sophia has told me a lot about you.”  At the same time he says, “My grandma has told me a lot about you.”

We laugh as we shake hands.  “Grandma talks about you so much, I feel like we’re friends already.”  He says with a smile as he holds my hand a moment longer.

Sophia claps her hands together and says, “Oh Nita, I have a brilliant idea.  Join us tomorrow for the Wine Tasting Fest at the beach.  It will be fun, you know they are all the rage these days.  Jason what do you think?”

“I think that is a great idea…what do you say Nita?  You know you want to say yes, after all, it is all the rage.”  He says with a wink.

“Well if you put it that way, how can I possibly say no?”

 

© 2015 Carrie Ann