Something to Talk About by Melanie Woods Schuster

so docile when confined to a braid was lively and vigorous in its new state. Gigi applied the chemicals so exper tl y that Alicia didn’t sense any discomfort through the process, she just sat back and let Gigi do her work. After she was rins ed out the relaxer, she applied fragrant neutralizing shampoo.  While her fingers massaged Alicia’s scalp , Gigi asked what had brought about the transition.
    “ Mija , I thought you would never cut this hair. What made you do it? I don’t think it was just because you wanted to donate it to a worthy organization,” she said sagely.
    Alicia was so enjoying the smell of the shampoo and her aunt’s thorough massaging of her scalp she was almost asleep, but the question roused her out of her lull. “You’re right, Tia, it wasn’t just because I thought Locks of Love is a great organization. I’ve decided I can look better than I do and it’s time I paid more attention to my appearance. I’m a career woman, not a schlumpy college student”
    “Hmm,” was all Gigi said, but it was plain she didn’t quite believe her niece’s story.
    “And I’m tired of looking like Adam’s little sister,” Alicia added. “We were out running one day and we both had on sweats and baseball caps and I heard this woman say to her friend, “Oh, look. Twins!” I don’t think Adam heard it, but it really bothered me. Adam is a good-looking man, but I don’t want to look like him,” she grumbled.
    Gigi smiled to herself as she rinsed every bit of shampoo out. While she was applying a conditioner that smelled like something delicious to eat, she probed gently. “So would I be wrong to say that you might be trying to catch a certain man’s eye?”
    Alicia’s eyes opened in alarm and the look on her aunt’s face was hardly reassuring. Gigi had the dreamy, satisfied look of a yenta whose fondest wish is about to come true; she looked like she was about to start planning a wedding.
    “Tia, it’s not like that. Well, maybe it is, but please don’t say anything to anyone, at least not yet He doesn’t have a clue and I don’t want—” Her barrage of words was cut off by Gigi .
    “ Chica , please, I am nothing if not discreet. Do you have any idea how many secrets I carry around with me? All women confide in their hairstylists and I’ve been doing hair since I got off the boat, practically. Can’t you just imagine how many things I know? Pregnancies, divorces, abortions, affairs, there isn’t much that people don’t tell me. I know everybody’s business, honey, here in Detroit and in Miami, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Chicago, too! Tia knows how to keep her mouth shut, don’t worry.” But I think your Adam has more than a clue, mija , she thought After Alicia’s hair was relaxed, conditioned, and lightly toweled dry, Gigi shaped it into a chic layered style with longer pieces caressing her nape and uneven bangs framing her face. It was shockingly becoming as the style drew attention to her big eyes and high cheekbones and made her sexy mouth even sexier. She looked sophisticated and charming, yet she looked like herself. Best of all, Alicia loved the feeling of lightness when she shook her head. She ran her hands through it and was excited to see it fall right back into place, thanks to her aunt’s expert cutting.
    “Why didn’t I do this years ago?” marveled Alicia. “This feels so good!”
    “And it looks fantastic, even if I do say so,” Gigi said confidentl y. “You are so beautiful, Alicia. The bo ys won’t believe it’s their littl e sister,” she teased.
    Alicia smiled again, thinking about her family’s reaction. “You’re coming over for breakfast next Sunday, aren’t you? Papi and Mami and the boys will be home, finally. I can’t wait to see everyone.”
    Her brothers both played for the Detroit Tigers and they, as well as Jose, had been on the road for almost three weeks with games in Cleveland, Minnesota, and Arizona. Her mother had naturally gone too