http://snipintime.com Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:37:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 London, Finally! http://snipintime.com/2009/02/london-finally/ http://snipintime.com/2009/02/london-finally/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:37:41 +0000 Jen http://snipintime.com/?p=43 Vidal, Michele & Charles were at the airport to see me off. Michele begging Vidal to let her go with me. Charles tickled to death that I was getting away from Sunny, telling me that I’m going to fall in love with some rich handsome man, & never come back to America. And I’m sure Vidal was there to make sure that I board the plane.

Thankfully, the week went quickly. Sunny did not take my departure well. After all of his ranting & raving, he threatened that he might not still want me when I got back from London. The scene was ugly, while he called me an assortment of names. To my surprise, I was not upset about his response. It dawned on me, he was almost exactly like Andrew & my Mom. Explained why they liked him so much. When I cried to him that I couldn’t take Sal with me, he shrugged it off, saying that I shouldn’t have my son anyway. That Maria was a better mother than I was.
Vidal purchased first class tickets for me. It was exciting to be on the plane. The people flying to London were interesting to talk with, so the flight was fun And the service was excellent.
Beverly was charming as always. Her entire staff were at their flat, waiting for my arrival. I almost felt like royalty. They took my baggage to my room quickly, & when I prepared for bed that evening, I was surprised to see that my clothing & personal belongings were placed into drawers & hanging neatly in the closets.
The next morning, breakfast was waiting for me. Beverly looked beautiful as always.
“Sleep well?” she asked as I walked into the breakfast room.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Your Home is Beautiful, Bev.”
Beverly was sitting at the table, sipping tea, as she read the paper, smoking a cigarette. The sun was shining in from the balcony behind her, on her hair, causing Golden highlights to glisten.
“Thank You CeCe. We have a busy day together today.”
“Will I get your accent when I talk also?” I loved to listen to her speak.
A big chuckled roared from her.
“Well maybe, maybe!”
I laughed with her. I was surprised to find myself so comfortable in her home. The apartment was elegantly furnished & decorated. My bedroom had French Provincial styled furniture, the walls were decorated in pastel shades of green, blue & lavender. Pure white thick carpeting, even in the bathroom. It was stunning!
The rest of the apartment had different styles of furniture in each room, & it all worked together, with decorative colors, blending & complimenting each room.
I had the feeling that this was going to be a very happy living in London.
]]> http://snipintime.com/2009/02/london-finally/feed/ Getting Sal http://snipintime.com/2009/02/getting-sal/ http://snipintime.com/2009/02/getting-sal/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:46:56 +0000 Jen http://snipintime.com/?p=41 The next morning I was awake at 5am. I didn’t get to my Mothers house the night before. When everyone heard that I was going to London for the Summer, the drinks started flowing like water, & a small party commenced.

I arrived at my Mothers at 8am.
“What are you doing here?” Her tone was the usual crudeness. Sal was sitting at the kitchen table having breakfast.
“I’m here to take Sal with me.”
“What? Your not taking him anywhere!”
“Mom, let’s not fight,please. I’m leaving for London next week & I have to get his passport done.”
“What? London. Passport? What are you talking about?”
“Vidal is sending me to London for the Summer. I’m going to study cutting & coloring there, & I’m taking Sal with me.” Sal was now sitting on my lap, hugging me to him. I hugged back just as tightly as I kissed him several times.
“Your not taking my son!”
“Mom, he’s my son. I’m taking him.”
“No your not! And no your not!”
I hated when her eyes got that blaze in them. I knew that this was going to end badly. So did Sal, since he started to whimper in my arms. I gently cradled him & whispered that it was o’kay, but, the both of us knew in our hearts that it was not going to be o’kay.
Andrew walked into the apartment. He was shocked to see me there.
“What’s going on?” he asked, a cigarette hanging from his mouth.
“She thinks that she can come in my house, & take my son to London!”
Andrew removed the cigarette from his lips as he sat across the table from me. My Mom was standing across the room, fists resting stiffly on her hips, legs spread in her combative stance. I knew that I was in for another bad situation. As I stiffened by body, Sal snuggled closer to me, almost as if he was trying to crawle into me. I held him tighter. Andrew came over & tried to take Sal from my lap, but Sal shook his head no, & I held him tighter.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I want to hold Sal.” His dark eyes flashed daggers to me.
“No. Leave him alone!”
“No Daddy.” cried Sal.
“Come to me Sal. Let go of CeCe, I want you over by me.” Andrew was insistent, & pulled Sal from my arms with such force that Sal cried out.
“What is wrong with you Andrew?” I got up from my chair, going up to him to retrieve my son. Sal was crying full force now. I was trying not to cry. The anger was rising in my chest. Suddenly I feel a pull on my shoulder. It was Mom. The next thing I felt was a punch to my face.
“Get out of my house. Do you hear me? Get out!”
With tears streaming down my face, I pushed her with all of my strength. She fell back into the wall. I then sprang on her with all of my anger. Punches went flying at her face, her chest, any place that I could reach. Andrew put Sal down, & pulled me away from my mother. Her lip was bleeding, & she had several red welts on her face. I had never struck her before. I hated myself for doing it now.
Sal was holding onto my body, crying, with his beautiful little head resting on my hip. I stroked his hair, wiping my tears with the other hand. Mom was screaming all sorts of profanity at me, demanding that I leave. With Sal still holding onto me, I picked up my purse, then scooped Sal up into my arms, started walking towards the door
Suddenly my head jerked back. I dropped Sal from my arms, turned enough to see that Andrew was pulling my hair.
“Leave this house alone.” spit splattered all over my face.
“Your not taking this kid any where.”
“Get out!” She was screaming from the sink as she washed the blood from her face. “Get out you tramp. And don’t ever try to take my son again!”
Andrew pulled open the apartment door & threw me into the hallway, slamming the door behind me.
A neighbor that lived in the apartment above my mom held the door for me, as I sobbed, leaving the building.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
All that I could do was nod my head.
“Can I do something for you?”
“I need a cab,” I sobbed through my hands.
He hailed a cab down, helped me get in the passenger seat.
“Where are you going?” His voice was soft. I knew he overheard many of the arguments that occurred in the apartment.
I stopped crying long enough to tell the cab driver where to take me. I thanked this kind stranger. He winked, closed the cab door & walked away.
I was still crying when I got back to my apartment. As I kicked off my heels, I called Vidal.
]]> http://snipintime.com/2009/02/getting-sal/feed/ London Bound! Part 2 http://snipintime.com/2009/01/london-bound-2/ http://snipintime.com/2009/01/london-bound-2/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:53:16 +0000 Jen http://snipintime.com/?p=38 My heart was beating so quickly in my chest. LONDON! ME!!
I was thrilled and frightened at the same time.
“Vidal”, was my voice cracking? “I can’t go to London?” It was a question, rather than a statement.
“Yes you can,CeCe. I’ve made all of the arrangements for you, your plane ticket is already ordered. You have to go get your passport tomorrow morning. I’ll do your clients for you, until you get to work. I want for you to leave this week-end.Beverly will meet you at the airport, show you around, introduce you to some key people, then fly here Monday. So you’ll have her for two days to help you to settle in. What are your concerns?”
Vidal come around from his desk and sat next to me on the couch. He took my hand in his, gave a gentle squeeze.
“CeCe, you are so talented,” His voice was low and gentle. “I want for you to have this training. It will be a huge stepping stone for you. What are you troubled about?”
“How long will I be there?” My mind was whirling. What about Sal?
“Can I bring Sal?” I couldn’t go months without seeing my son.
“You’ll be there for the Summer. London is wonderful in the Summer. I don’t think that you should bring him, but, you can if you must. Beverly will find a nanny for him.”
“Why do you want me to go? Who will manage this Salon?” The fear was taking hold. Vidal held my hand tighter.
“CeCe,” a chuckle rose from his chest, “Your my star stylist. Your terrific with hair coloring. I want for you to learn and develop more advanced techniques, so that you’ll be able to teach this staff, & we will be the best team in New York. I see very big things for you in this industry.”
” But, Vidal, I’ve told you several times, I’m going to law school. This is just my means to save money to pay for school.”
” Yes,yes, my dear CeCe.” He lite another cigarette. “I’m aware of your goals. I also know that your thinking of marrying that man. I’m thinking of a way that you can earn a lot more money, faster, go to school, and have your son live with you, WITHOUT, having to marry someone that your not in love with!”
I looked deeply into his eyes, and for the first time I saw the deepness of his friendship. There was genuine care in his eyes.
“Now, my girl,” he got up and walked to the desk, “Will you do this? Will you do this for yourself, your son, and, for me?”
There was a knock on the office door.
“Can I come in?”
It was Michele.
“Yes, come in Michele.” Vidal answered.
“Hey guys, are you joining us across the street?”
“We are coming right now.” answered Vidal has he winked at me. “Go ahead CeCe, I’ll close up. Meet all of you there in about half an hour.”
I stood up and walked to the door in a half daze. Michele asked if I was okay, & all I could do was nod my head. London. London! LONDON!!
“Well.” Michele was dying of curiosity. “Are you going to tell me? Do I have to stand on my head first?”
“I’m going to London next week.” Until I said those words, I didn’t believe I had heard Vidal right. I suddenly realized that I had decided that I would go. I had to go to my Mothers house & pack my son’s stuff tonight. I had to tell Sunny that I was going to London. I had so many things to prepare for.
“London?” Michele shrieked as she grabbed my shoulders & shook me. “How wonderful! Why? When & how long for?”
Michele’s burst of excitement allowed for my excitement to surface and suddenly I was laughing & crying at the same time. We were crossing the street when I remembered that I never cleaned up my station, and left most of my tip money in my drawer. I started to turn back, when Michele grabbed my arm, pulling me across the street.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I forgot my tips.”
“You don’t need them. I’ll pay for your food & drinks. You could pay me back tomorrow.”
“O’kay. Just go in my drawer tomorrow & take out what I owe you. I’m going for my passport in the morning. I have to get Sal & bring him also for his passport.”
“Your taking Sal? How wonderful? Can I come too?” She giggled like a little girl.

]]> http://snipintime.com/2009/01/london-bound-2/feed/ London Bound! http://snipintime.com/2009/01/london-bound/ http://snipintime.com/2009/01/london-bound/#comments Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:33:10 +0000 Jen http://snipintime.com/?p=35 I was a warm early summer day in Manhattan. I felt exceptionally good today, went for my jog though Central Park, worked out at the gym for an hour, I felt like a new person. There were clients in the lounge waiting for Michele, Brad, & myself.
“Good Morning, everyone.” I yelled out with a wave of my hand.
“Agnes,” I walked into the employees lounge, “Would you mind getting me a cup of coffee, please?”
“Want it in here?”
“No, at my station,please,” As I slipped my smock over my dress, “And find out what my client is getting done, Shampoo her if it’s just a cut. Thank you Agnes”

As I walked out into the salon, Vidal gently reached out for my arm.
“Before you leave tonight, come to my office, CeCe!”
“Sure.” I continued to walk towards my client, who was now sitting in my chair. Her hair was being brushed by Agnes, but it wasn’t washed, so I knew that it was question & answer time. As I reached for my cup of coffee, I silently said a prayer that my Angels were there with me, as I did every morning when I arrived to work.
The day went by quickly & pretty much uneventful. All of us were busy all day, Josef & Brad did their catty bickering with each other all day, which kept clients & staff laughing constantly. Vidal spent most of his day in the office. He had cut back on the amounts of clients he would do a day, preferring to talk to business associates on the phone. He purchased a building in Queens recently, & was working with the contractors daily. Beverly was back in London, but would return to NYC, after school was out.
Michele had met a guy at Ammies about two months earlier, and she was head over heels in love. Maria, one of the manicurist got married last month, and announced that she was three months pregnant today. Of course Josef said something ‘nastily funny’ about that, which cause Maria to blush, & the whole salon to laugh out loud. I was ‘casually’ dating Sunny, which shocked everyone except Charles. Charles & I had become close friend since the incident with my shoulder. He knew that I was determined to get married now, & my reasons for this decision. He didn’t agree with me, which he stated often when we talked, but he was a good friend, & advised me when I needed him. Dating Sunny was comfortable. Not exciting, but, he was very kind & generous to me. I still never wore the bracelet, but Sunny never asked about it, which I was happy about. I assumed that he thought, at least I have it & in time, I would wear it.
All of us were cleaning up. We were planning to go across to the bar for burgers & drinks. I was starving, since I had to work though my lunch break. As I packed up my purse, Vidal stuck his head out of his office door.
“CeCe,” he called out. “Don’t forget, before you go.”
“Oh, I’ll be right in, Vidal.” I was walking to the lounge as I answered him.
“Is our CeCe in trouble?” Josef quirked around , almost like a ballerina, placing one hand on his hip.
“Possibly Josef. You never know with me.” I responded, with a twirl of my own, raising my hands above my head, imitating his motion.
“Oh, goodness,CeCe, you have no grace, it’s a good thing your pretty to look at girl!” reacting to my unbalanced twirl, & the both of us chuckled.

“What’s up Vidal?”
Vidal office was so pleasant. Very European style, but comfortable, & masculine.
“Have a seat,please,” He gestured with his hand to the sofa facing his desk. “I’ll be one second.”
I placed myself directly in the center of the sofa. This placed me directly in front of Vidal, so that when we spoke our eyes met straight on. I always disliked, when talking to a person, not to have direct eye contact. It was of my opinion, a deceitfulness in character, when engaged in conversation, the other party glances around your being, rather than talk directly to you .
Vidal closed the ledger.
“Good day today.”
“Yes,”
“CeCe, I’ve been thinking of this for awhile,” he reached for & lite a cigarette. I did the same thing & reached for the ashtray at the end of the sofa. ” discussed it with Beverly, & she agreed that I should speak with you about it.”
He was looking directly at me, those beautiful eyes, handsome face.
“What do you need?”
“I don’t need anything,” He smiled. I loved his smile. “I want to do something for you, & in return, you will be doing something for me, us, the salon.”
“For me?” I was intrigued, “What are you doing for me?”
“I want for you to go to London for the summer!”
“What?” I couldn’t believe what I heard
“Right,” His smile got bigger, “Beverly will there one more week. We want for you to go there, you will live in our flat, our servants are there all year, so you’ll have people to help you with anything you’ll need there. I’ve already spoken to associates of mine, & you will be training with some of the best stylist in London. How soon can you leave?”

]]> http://snipintime.com/2009/01/london-bound/feed/ Another Year Gone http://snipintime.com/2008/10/another-year-gone/ http://snipintime.com/2008/10/another-year-gone/#comments Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:25:00 +0000 Jen http://snipintime.com/2008/10/another-year-gone/ “Happy Birthday To You. Happy Birthday To You.” Michele, Vidal , Josef, (who elected himself as my personal nurse/bodyguard), the whole staff from the salon were singing off key. It was my birthday! We were at Ammies, celebrating my birthday. As I looked around, into each of their faces, I saw for the first time, how very lucky I was. This group of maybe the craziest bunch of men & women, were so happy to spend ‘my birthday’ with me & not being the least bit embarrassed that they sounded awful. I laughed so hard, it brought tears to my eyes.
“Hey, Baby,” I looked up, it was my Viet Nam soldier, Richard. Damned, this was one sexy guy. Damned, this was one sick in the head guy. Damned, one night, just one night, would I go to hell, for just one night?
“Richard,” I reached up my check for him to kiss, getting a very pleasant sniff of his cologne. “What are you doing here?” He was dressed really sharp, not his usual army clothing.
“Michele told me you guys will be here tonight.” he glanced over to Michele & gave her a wink. A small twinge of jealousy stabbed me.
“Did she now?”
“Happy birthday, sexy. What are you drinking, let me buy you a drink.”
“Ah,” I looked over to Vidal, who was observing everything,”What am I drinking, Boss?”
“Mocha Vodka Martini’s”, he answered with that half grin of his. Beverly was in London this week, So Vidal & I were able to spend a lot of time discussing the salon & where he wants to take all of his salons. I haven’t been able to work behind my chair yet, since the incident at my Mom’s place, but I was well enough to do paper work, answer phones, & delegated the work load. That gave Vidal & myself a lot of time to talk business & expansion.
I glanced back at Richard, he raised his hand & made the peace sign.
“Gotcha babe”, backing way from our table.
I looked over towards Michele, saw her eyes following Richard. I suspected that she liked him, but, Michele was hunting. What she was hunting for was a mystery, but it was known by all of us, that the girl was looking hard, but looking in all of the wrong places.
“What ya need guy?” Nikki was working tonight at Ammies.
“Mocha something?”
“For CeCe?”
“Yeah!”
Nikki mixed the intricate drink & a few seconds later, presented the glass to Richard.
“What do I Owe You?”
“Nothing my friend,” Nikki smiled into Richards blue eyes, “CeCe’s drinks tonight are on me. That girl has been though hell. Glad to see all of her friends around her. She doesn’t need to know that I’ve got her tab, just sit it in front of her.”
“I can’t do that!”
“Yeah, you can, man! Just let it go. Give her the drink & baste in her thank you. That’s a special lady there, she doesn’t need to know that I’ve got her bill, Okay Brother?”
“Then, you must accept this!”, Richard slid a twenty dollar bill across the bar towards Nikki. She looked into his eyes, & with a flash of glimmering teeth, nodded her head, laying her hand over the twenty.

“Hi, CeCe,” I looked over my right shoulder, towards a familiar voice, & there stood Sunny.
“Sunny,” my voice cracked. It had been a few months since I requested that he not patronize the salon any longer.
“What’s with your arm?” I still had to use a sling.
“Oh, just an accident.”
“What have you been up to?’ Sunny had managed to place himself between his friends & My business prospects were getting VERY thin. 0% of nothing is still 50%

]]> http://snipintime.com/2008/10/another-year-gone/feed/ Painful Memories http://snipintime.com/2008/10/painful-memories/ http://snipintime.com/2008/10/painful-memories/#comments Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:16:00 +0000 Jen http://snipintime.com/2008/10/painful-memories/ I woke up feeling ‘GREAT’. Spring was around the corner again! My son will be seven years old in a few weeks. My God! Seven! Where did the years fly to? Sal started first grade this past Fall. I intended to go to the first Parent-Teachers night, but my Mom never told me when it was, so I got very upset again with her. Since that really big fight we had last year, I’d decided not to push my points with her anymore. I feared Sal got the repercussions, when no one was around to see. He had gotten a lot quieter as time past, I feared for what it might be. I feared to find out. So, like a coward, I backed down & backed out, when our ‘talks’ got a little heated.
I was dressing to go get Sal. He needed clothes, & I wanted to find out what he wanted for his birthday, plus ask him about his birthday party.
I no longer had the key to Moms apartment. as I approached the building door, someone was leaving the building, I was able to walk in. As I approached the apartment door, I noticed that it was silent on the other side. Ignoring my thoughts, I knocked. Silence. I knocked again, “Mom,” I called through the door. Silent. “Mom,” I called out louder, still knocking on the door.
“Mom, Sal, It’s me,” It was getting very warm in the hallway. Beads of perspiration was forming on my forehead & neck. “Mom, answer the door,Please?” I knew my voice was loud, My heart was starting to beat faster. “Please God,” I silently prayed, “Please make her answer this dammed door.” Memories came rushing through my head. A little girl, hands cupped over her mouth so no one could hear her crying. Visions that I didn’t want to remember.
“Mom,” almost a whisper, “Mom, please let me in.”
I didn’t hear the building door open, nor did I hear my name, until I felt a hand on my shoulder.
“CeCe,”
Startled, I looked to my right. There stood Andrew, with a puzzled look on his face. I could smell Scotch on his breath.
“CeCe, why are you just standing there?”
I hated this man. The man that my Mom lived with, worshipped, beg, borrowed & stole for. This man, that I used to refer to as my ‘Dad’.
“Mommies not answering. She knew I was coming.” I was almost in tears, struggling to hold my composure, wanting to scream.
Andrew unlocked the apartment door, & I followed him in. There, sitting on the couch was my Mother, eyes squinting, lips held tight. On the chair in that room, sat my son, hands clasped tightly on his little lap, eyes wide, full of fear.
When Sal saw me, he attempted to get off of the chair to come to me. Mom glanced over at him, & my son stopped, slid back into the chair. I saw his little mouth quiver, afraid to cry. I ran to him, scooped him into my arms.
“It’s o’kay now Sal, it’s o’kay.” I held him as tight as I could, his small frame pushing closer to me.
“Why didn’t you answer the door, Mom?”
“I don’t want you coming here every week.”
She got off of the couch & walked into the kitchen where Andrew sat.
“I told you two days ago, I was coming today. I’m taking Sal shopping, & looking for his birthday party stuff. Did you send out the invites to his friends at school?”
“He is NOT having a birthday party!”
“What?” Andrew looked at her, shock written all over his face,”What are you talking about, Marie?”
“Just what I said,” She raised her nose to the ceiling, “I want an end to this. I don’t want you here! Do you understand me?” She screamed at me, her eyes ablaze.
With Sal still in my arms, I walked towards the door. My sons little legs were wrapped around my waste tightly, his grip on my neck getting tighter with every step that I took.
I was right at the frame of the doorway to the hall, when suddenly, there was a pinching pain in my shoulder. It took my breath away for a second. Sal was openly crying now. I heard Andrew say something. I kept walking, the stinging getting worse with every breath.
As I reached for the outside door, I saw Andrew grab me by the wrist.
“You can’t go out there,” he was saying. My back felt wet, but I knew that it wasn’t sweat. “Come on, come on,” he was pulling me back into the apartment.
As we got to the apartment door, she came towards me, hands extended. As I turned away, to protect Sal from being removed from my arm, I felt her push the knife deeper into my shoulder. A scream escaped my throat as I fell to my knees. God, I thought to myself, protect my son!

]]> http://snipintime.com/2008/10/painful-memories/feed/ Sunny’s New Style http://snipintime.com/2008/09/sunnys-new-style/ http://snipintime.com/2008/09/sunnys-new-style/#comments Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:11:00 +0000 Jen http://snipintime.com/2008/09/sunnys-new-style/ Christmas came & went, 1967 was three days away. Vidal has now given me full responsibility of the salon. He had casually mentioned wanting to open another salon in Queens, over the past few months, & now he has started to look for good property seriously.
I started to give Brad more responsibilities, since my clientele was so strong, especially for my hair coloring methods.
My relationship with my ‘Mom’, was still strained, but for my son, we called a truce. If we don’t talk to each other, then we can’t fight. I was allowed to take my son on shopping trips & outings again, thankfully. We always had such fun together, but, going home, the both of us would fall silent. I prayed that I would soon be in law school, with the promise of having my son live with me.
Josef & Agness were shivering from the cold, watching me try to open the salon doors. It was so cold this morning in the city, with the wind stinging your face, making your eyes tear. The lock was frozen, & the key was getting jammed.
“Give me that”, Josef said gruffly, “I’m freezing to death, & your piddling with this!”
“Good, you do it”, as I stood back from the door.
“Now, now, children, play nice. Just get us in the damn store!” Agnes’ face was so red from the wind & cold.
Finally, the key turned in the lock. We rushed into the warmth of the salon, Josef went to the back to turn the lights on, the music started playing in the back ground. Agnes put a pot of coffee on, as I went to the safe to get the register cash. I was entering information into the ledger, when a burst of cold air swept across my face. I looked up, & there was Sunny, with that sideways grin on his face.
“Good Morning Sunny,” I tried to sound respectful, but indifferent.
I could see Josef walking briskly towards the desk.
“Hey, how are you man?” Josef placed himself cleverly between Sunny & me.
“Good, good,” replied Sunny, “I just wanted to speak with CeCe a minute.”
Josef looked at me, then walked over to his station, getting it set up for the day, carefully me & Sunny though the mirror.
“Is something wrong with your hair?” It looked fine to me, but I really didn’t care.
“The cuts good, He said, brushing it with his fingers. ” Did you open the gift?”
“Oh, yes,” I got up & walked over to my station, removed the box from my drawer quickly & walked back to where Sunny was standing, holding the box out to him.
His eyes looked at the box & back to me, with a puzzled look on his face.
“What’s this?”
“Sunny, I can’t accept such a expensive gift!,” Please God, I thought to myself, let this go smoothly.
“Yes you can!” His tone was indigent, & demanding.
“Sunny”, I lite a cigarette, & took a sip of coffee that Agnes brought over to me, “The gesture is very nice, but, I can’t accept a gift of that magnitude from a client. I appreciate your generosity, but, you must take it back.”
“NO!”, His eyes were ablaze. I almost got frightened for a moment, & was relieved to see Vidal walk thru the doors.
“Good morning everyone” Vidal yelled out, as he hurried to remove his coat in the back.
“You can’t do this to me, Cece,” His tone was full of anger. “I searched high & low for this to give you. Your keeping it!”
Vidal was now sitting in my station chair holding the cup of coffee that Agnes prepared for him, just watching Sunny & me.
“No, Sunny.” I placed the box on the desk in front of Sunny. “I cannot accept it & I won’t.”
This man raised fear in me now. I was not going to be forced to do anything, by any man, that I didn’t want to do anymore. I disliked feeling fear, especially, when it concerned a man. Josef & Agnes became silent. Vidal watched closely.
“Sunny,” I took a deep breath & swallowed hard, “I’m sorry to upset you, but, I think that maybe you should go somewhere else for your haircuts from now on.”
I hoped that I sounded strong. I hoped that Vidal would support my decision.
“Right, yes, I will go somewhere else! See you around, CeCe!” He turned, pulled the door open & left the salon, leaving the box on the desk.
“Josef. Take this out to him, please.” I motioned to the box. Josef ran out the door, stopped Sunny a few doors down, retuning with the box in hand.
“Said he never takes back anything he gives or says.” With a shrug of his shoulders, Josef placed the box on my station. Our clients were starting to come thru the doors. Another day, another dollar.

]]> http://snipintime.com/2008/09/sunnys-new-style/feed/ Sparkling Style http://snipintime.com/2008/09/sparkling-style/ http://snipintime.com/2008/09/sparkling-style/#comments Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:40:00 +0000 Jen http://snipintime.com/2008/09/sparkling-style/ The snow was falling like a pure white blanket. I didn’t like the snow, but I loved to watch it come down from the sky, and cover the ground & trees, as if the heavens were purifying the land. It made everything look so clean, & the air had a crisp, clean fragrance.
Christmas was two weeks away. I was busier with my life than I had ever been. Brad, I recruited as my ‘personal’ assistant in the salon. Vidal had left for London with his family for Thanksgiving, to be returning the end of this week. Michele was in love again. Josef & Brad had a thing going on between them. Charles was flirting with anything in a skirt, as usual.
My visits to see my son were still very strained. There was no avoiding an argument with my ‘Mother’, & Andrew couldn’t or wouldn’t support my side at all. Sal seemed to be getting more quiet & withdrawn when I was with him. It disturbed me terribly, but, I didn’t know what to do about it. So, I did nothing, ignoring her remarks about how terrible I was, refusing to feed into her passion to force an argument. I wasn’t going to let her ruin my sons Christmas, so allowing her to rant & rave, keep some peace.
I was active in the anti-was movement now. Parents & young men called almost daily to find out about leaving this country. Mothers & fathers begging me to save their sons was heartbreaking. I felt good trying to help them, & if everyone really prayed for me, like they said they were, well then, I was a very blessed young woman.
Sunny was sitting in my chair, not saying very much as I cut his hair. His eyes almost never left my face & this disturbed me. I didn’t really like this man, & I was sure that he suspected that, but, he continued to flirt with me, & always asked me out after every haircut.
“Want to go for dinner tonight?” He had a huge smile on his face as he paid me for the haircut.
“Sunny,” I let out a deep sigh, “The answer is NO!” He was irritating me, & I just didn’t care if he never came back to the salon.
“Well, Okay.” He chuckled, “See you next month.”
He turned to leave, & then stopped.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” He removed a box, gift wrapped with a bow & card on it from his coat pocket. “Just a little token for being my favorite hairdresser.” Handing the box to me.
“Thank you.” Taking the gift from him. He finally left the salon.
Clients often gave us presents or envelopes with money for the Christmas holiday, so I didn’t think anything of it.
I walked over to my station, placed it in the drawer & lite a cigarette.
“You going to open it?” Josef had that mischievous grin on his face.
“Not right now,” My next client was in my chair.
“Maybe it’s diamonds, CeCe!” Michele got a kick out of Sunny’s determination. She thought that it was romantic.
” I doubt it very much. Don’t you guys have anything to do?”
“Oh, CeCe is getting pissy” Brad chirped in, stroking his raised eyebrow with his pinky.
We all burst into laughter, even my client. It was impossible to stay annoyed about anything in this place. The guys always had something funny to say or do, whenever a stressful situation happened. I was so glad to be working with is group of people. We always rallied around each other with support & genuine care.
At the end of the day, I was packing the gifts that I received from my clients that day, when Michele picked up the box that Sunny gave me.
“You going to open it?” Michele shook the box, holding it to her ear.
“Oh, o’kay, give me the thing!”
I ripped the ribbon & the paper off, quickly opening the box. Michele & I both gasped at the contents.
“Oh my God,” she exclaimed. I held my breath.
Josef jumped out of his chair, & before I knew it, everyone was standing around me. I lifted the bracelet out of the box very gently. It was the most stunning diamond bracelet I had ever seem. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“Man, you have to go out with him now, CeCe.” Agnes said.
“Yes, & I know what your going to have to do for him on that date!” chimed in Brad, with that queenie, mischievous smile on his face.
I was speechless. Michele but her arm around my shoulder. “Well kid, Your going to have to do something now about this guy!”
“I’m returning it to him. And asking him not to come to the salon anymore!”
“What? Are you crazy?” Michele was floored.
“Maybe, it’s not real diamonds.” added Agnes
“That’s right.” Joseph responded taking the bracelet from my hand, holding it up to the lights. “In that case, you just thank him for it next month, & forget about it. Take it to the jeweler up the block tomorrow & let him tell you.”
“Good idea. I’ll do that in the morning.”

]]> http://snipintime.com/2008/09/sparkling-style/feed/ An Angered Client http://snipintime.com/2008/09/an-angered-client/ http://snipintime.com/2008/09/an-angered-client/#comments Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:42:00 +0000 Jen http://snipintime.com/2008/09/an-angered-client/ Thanksgiving was upon us again. Richard, my favorite Vietnam vet was in my chair, going on & on about how the Government was lying to us about the war. How the administration wasn’t helping the vets with medical & emotional problems. I could smell the scent of pot on his clothes & hair, & it disturbed me. I really liked Richard. But he was so angry, & I really didn’t understand why.
“That’s why, I’m going to that rally tonight,” he was saying, “We have to educate the public about the truth!”
“Do you think your group will be able to?” I asked
“Well, we’re going to give it a hell of a try, CeCe. We need to get our boys out of that country. We need more people to drive the new draftees to Canada. There’s a lot of people that don’t want this war to continue, just not enough strength to fight the Government on it. We have to be more active, more anti-war. That is the important step to save our boys!”
“I heard that a lot of guys are going to Canada.” I was blow drying his hair now. “How are they getting there? How is that being arranged?”
“We have an ‘under ground’ group that receives calls from these kids, or from the parents of these boys, begging us to take their sons to Canada. The ‘group’ makes arrangements to pick the guys up somewhere, it’s a bunch of boys in a van or station wagon & we drive them to Canada. The parents or the boys donate some money to cover gas & expenses for the group. It’s strictly volunteers doing the driving there & back. I do it once a week. But we need more people to help us. These guys are from all over the country, & we can’t get them out of here soon enough.”
“Wow,” I was removing the cape from around Richard. This is such a undertaking I was thinking to myself. “Isn’t that illegal, Richard?”
“Yes, but if it’s done carefully, it’s doable. I’ve been doing it for a long time now. Even got to know some of the guys at the border stop.”
Richard pulled two fifty dollar bills out of his pocket & handed them to me. When I looked down, I saw that he slipped a folded piece of paper with something written on it between the money. When I looked up, he winked at me, saluted & left the salon. I slipped the paper into my jean pocket with my tip, & went to my next client.
It wasn’t until the end of the day, when I was counting my tips, that I read the piece of paper.
“CeCe,” it was in Richards hand writing, ” Here is the address of our meeting place tonight. I’d love for you to come & listen to what is really going on in our country.. Meeting starts at 7PM, we serve coffee & dough nuts. I’ll look for you there. Bring a friend if you want. The more people the better. If you can’t make it, I’ll see you next month for my haircut. Your devoted client, Richard.

]]> http://snipintime.com/2008/09/an-angered-client/feed/ Short Clips Of A Year Ending http://snipintime.com/2008/09/short-clips-of-a-year-ending/ http://snipintime.com/2008/09/short-clips-of-a-year-ending/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:34:00 +0000 Jen http://snipintime.com/2008/09/short-clips-of-a-year-ending/ The year of 1965 was nearly to a close. It had been a year of political unrest & frustrations. North Vietnam was trying to overtake South Vietnam. The U.S. sent Military advisers & then more soldiers. Over 200,000 American troops were in South Vietnam. The war that ‘wasn’t going on’, was now admitted to be real by the government. Anti-war protests were starting up in masses in practically all of the colleges, draft dodgers were fleeing to Canada, & the racial unrest in the country was at an all time peek. Malcolm X, was assassinated, which caused more racial conflict.
We were cleaning up after a very long, busy day at the salon. The doors were locked & Josef was telling Charles, how he could ‘change his life’ for the better, jokingly, if Charles would ‘experiment a new lifestyle’ with him. This was an ongoing joke between those two, & I personally loved the batter between them. Josef, with his, lash batting, wrist flipping, hand on the hip pose, & Charles with his ‘macho’, womanizing attitude, caused the most hilarious scenario, all of us enjoyed.
“Gentleman!”, Vidal held up his hand to Josef & Charles, “May I interrupt this flirtatious moment, please?”
All of us turned to Vidal.
“I’m sorry to interrupt you ‘love birds’, but I need to speak with all of you for a minute.”
The shop was suddenly still.
“Ladies back there,” Vidal motioned to Agnes, Judy, Maria & Lisa, our two manicurists, “I want ALL of you to hear this!”
We all gathered around Vidal.
“Due to this war, & the racial conflict going on in this country right now, I’m asking all of you to please, do NOT, give your personal feeling and/or beliefs to your clients, should you be engaged in a conversation about these subjects. Politics & religion is off limits.”
“Vidal”, Michele spoke up, “Everyone is talking about that stuff!”
“Yes, I know. Listen to them, nod your head in understanding, BUT, do not express your beliefs or feeling on these topics. At best, it might cause a friendly argument, at worst it WILL cost you a customer, may cost ALL of us customers, since we can hear the different discussions going on at other stations. But, for yourselves & each other, keep the conversation neutral.”
“But, Vidal,” I spoke up, “I’m against this war & so are all of us. I think that the Blacks have a right to equality in this country.”
“Good, CeCe, but don’t express your beliefs to the clients. We have some very powerful, & rich clients that come to us. Their beliefs & power is much stronger at the moment than what we have. I’m not saying not to talk about these subjects with them, everyone is talking about it. I’m just asking all of you, not to express to the client your personal beliefs & feelings. Some of these people feel President Johnson is right for keeping the war going, some don’t. Some feel that the Blacks in this country should still be slaves & some don’t. These are very powerful issues. Don’t allow your feeling about them ruin your career, & that is what I fear could happen to some or all of you. Being ‘Black Balled’ right now is not the wisest thing to do. So, guys & gals, protect yourselves & each other. With that said, Beverly is across the street, who ever wants to join us, I’m buying drinks & dinner.”

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