章 1: Chapter 1
There is a point in your life that you just stop, to think or maybe blame the world for what you are going through. Even though you know it is no one's fault but fates or maybe your own. I detest my life with every fiber of my being but am such a coward that I will not end it like most teens my age. I'm distracted but my hands move on their own as I finish the last detail on my client's hair. It has been so many years of doing this that my hands already know what to do.
I try to hurry but also pay attention to all the details and do my best job. These clients are my source of income and one unhappy client can bring my whole reputation down. Puerto Rico is a place where the word of one unhappy customer is practically law. Especially for someone working on her own. One unhappy customer and I will lose my hard-earned clientele. I make sure the hairstyle is as she wants, I recheck my hand work and the design, I tighten it to make it secure and last long.
"Done." I say after I spray her hair with hair spray and smile at my client as she practically screams in happiness. I always cover the mirrors before I start which most times brings me heat with them and I uncover them once finished, you cannot imagen the satisfaction I feel when I hear their gleeful screams. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! Now I don't have to go crazy tomorrow." She says hugging me and paying me my fee. I say my goodbye and take my leave.
Tomorrow is our prom and she did not have any time to get her hair ready since she has other things to get done. This week has been hectic for me, since I've had to fit ten to fifteen girls into my schedule daily. None want to go to professional salons to get their hair done and tomorrow I have my whole day booked to do all their make-ups before the prom. I am not looking forward to that. I finished school in a government approved 'Avanza' program.
To save money the program and the public school unites their students to make one big prom for all. All the girls are ecstatic, all but me. I guess that is not on my bucket list, I do like parties and dancing, but I don't want to be a part of this. Girls between our ages are demons re-incarnated. They are the worst critics and a nightmare to satisfy. Thankfully, I have many years of practice and it's not the first time I've had to deal with them. Everyone in Quintana know that the best hair stylist in this area is me.
Even if they do go bonkers and turn to she-devils on me, they know they always get what they want and more. Quintana is a low-income apartment project in San Juan PR. I learned to do hair, make-up, piercings, acrylic nails, manicures and pedicures since I was ten to earn the money for my personal things. Since my parents wouldn't do it themselves. I got myself a part-time job at a clothing store on the weekends when I turned fifteen.
I close my client's front door as I walk out of her place and pull my cellphone out to look at the time, I panic. It's going to be ten pm, my parents are going to murder me if they are up. I sigh deeply to calm my rapid beating heart and hurry my step. Normally at this time my parents are asleep or high as a kite. Either way they do not notice me coming in, so I get at least six hours of sleep before my routinely wake up call. Which is a belt buckle to the back or my head, or a broom stick to the back.
They each take turns to see who breaks it quicker on me. My parent's apartment building is right slap middle of the projects and is a fifteen to twenty-minute walk from my client's home. It is very dark out, fair warning never be out at night by yourself in the streets of Puerto Rico, especially if you live near or in the projects like I do. I watch my step and keep my eyes peeled for anything suspicious. I pray to the heavens I get home before a drive by sets out.
These people do not know the meaning of take it out on whoever did whatever to you and not on the innocent. If they find whoever it is, they are looking for, the least they care is if there is anyone near or with them. They have done it many times. That's why many people from here work until they drop, to move out of here for fear of their lives and their children's. Many people, especially children have died by the hands of these idiots. I try to hurry and pass by the drug dealers' corner.
I hate passing through here, but I don't have a choice tonight. "Hey Analiah, wait up" I hear my name being called from the exact spot I am trying to avoid. I fist up my hands on my side, stomp my foot on the ground and groan annoyed. Dang Stephen, I turn and glare at the dang monkey brute heading my way. He smiles at me ignoring my glare, "What's the hurry?" he asks smirking at me. If only he knew how much I hate his guts he would magically disappear.
He leans against the nearest car to me and folds his huge arms in front of his chest. "What time is it Stephen?" I ask instead folding my arms against my chest and tapping my foot on the ground in annoyance. He looks at his watch and smiles. I have a feeling I know what is going to come out of that filthy mouth of his.
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