“What type?” Zing asked.
“The type that picks up lonely women in beauty shops.”
“Day or night!” the butch called out. She made the ‘call me’ signal to Zing.
Nell sat down in an empty chair, pulling Zing into the chair beside her. Nell handed Zing a magazine, saying, “Here. You can read this while we wait our turn.”
Zing glanced at the cover of the magazine and gasped. “I didn’t know cats were aliens.” She scanned the article then said, “It all makes sense now doesn’t it? So, what do you think. . . ?Are the aliens wearing cat suits or do the aliens look like cats to begin with?”
Nell laughed. “You’re so funny.”
“Thank you,” Zing said.
Carol leaned over to Miracle and whispered, “Your friend over there is a little nutso.”
“She’s not nutso,” Miracle said back. “She’s new to earth. She’s a guardian angel and after a while, she’ll get used to how things work down here on earth.”
Carol shook her head. “You’re both friggin’ nuts.”
“All right, ladies,” Sammy announced, hand on hip. “I am at your disposal. Who’s first?”
“Nell,” Zing said. “Fix her first.”
“Nell it is,” Sammy said. “Come on, girl. Are you ready for a whole new you?”
Nell stood, saying, “I’m ready. I just hope Dove likes the new me.”
Zing frowned. At the mention of Dove’s name, she felt a sudden pang in her chest. She didn’t know what that feeling was, but she knew she didn’t like it. Not one little bit.
***
By the time Sammy was done, Zing had a trim and texture to give her hair lift; Miracle had a bob; and Carol’s hair looked like it had been cut with a dull hedge clipper, which, oddly enough, suited her personality. Sammy had managed to keep Nell’s hair thick, with a jag here, a snip there, and combed over in such a way that it hid the stitches.
They all stood back and admired their new hair in the shop’s mirrors.
“You look beautiful, Nell,” Zing said. “Even more beautiful than before you lost your hair.”
Nell blushed. “Do you think Dove will like it?”
Carol scowled. “Who cares? You’ve never even actually met the woman and it doesn’t look like you ever will.”
“You’re just mad because I have somebody and you don’t,” Nell said.
“Please, don’t fight,” Zing pleaded. “This is supposed to be a good moment.”
Miracle diverted Carol’s attention, by saying, “Wow, Carol. You look. . . hot.”
Carol turned to the mirror and actually smiled at her own reflection. “You’re right. I don’t look half bad. Sammy, you are a genius.”
Miracle whipped out her black American Express card and handed it to Sammy. “Give yourself an enormous tip, honey.”
Carol pulled her wallet out of her jacket pocket.
“Oh no, this is my treat,” Miracle said. “No arguments, either. I have three oil wells in West Texas named after me. I can afford it.”
“Why is the card black?” Zing asked.
“It means she’s loaded,” Carol said out of the side of her mouth.
Zing was puzzled.
“She means that Miracle can buy anything she wants,” Nell said. “And thank you so much, Miracle.”
“Yes, thank you,” Carol said. “With my new do, I might even get a date someday.”
“Oh, you will,” Miracle replied, winking at Carol. Her voice lowered to a sexy timbre as she said, “I’m sure of that.”
Carol pretended to study the shelves of product, unable to meet Miracle’s direct gaze.
“Is that what you call flirting?” Zing whispered to Sammy while the others examined themselves in the mirror again, mesmerized by their transformations.
“You bet it is,” Sammy said.
“I want to try it. It looks fun.”
“Oh, baby girl, it is,” Sammy said.
Zing turned back to the mirror and practiced winking at her own reflection.
***
Later that night, Zing wasn’t surprised when Annabelle appeared in her bedroom.
“Your hair looks really nice,” Annabelle said. She sat on the bed beside Zing.
Zing self-consciously fluffed her curls. “Thank you. I was a little worried in the beginning. It was my first haircut. Sammy washed it and made it smell nice, too. Oh, and he gave me this,” Zing said, handing Annabelle a magazine.
Annabelle looked at the cover. “Alien cats?”
“I know, right? I have so much to learn.”
“And remember you only have twenty eight days left,” Annabelle said. She raised her eyebrows and stared pointedly at Zing.