AGNERE

AGNERE

short story Maya Cornish // 11

Barbara sat in the salon chair, waiting for the hairdresser to come back and finish her up. It was a peaceful Saturday afternoon, families milling about the town, looking for something to keep their children busy and out of the house so the parents could pretend that they were young again. Pretend that they could make their own decisions without any restrictions. Pretend that their love was fresh and clear as the sky after a cool rain.

As she did every first Saturday of the summer, when the students were let out from school, Barbara came to the hair salon to recolor her hair. She didn’t like the hairdresser when she was younger, preferring to trim and design it herself, but her husband Steve didn’t like her cutting her hair. He liked it long, saying that the way it cascaded down her shoulders and spine reminded him of fall leaves flowing through a stream. Soon, the years were catching up to Barbara, and Steve noticed.

“Why don’t you go to the salon, bring back that color I love so much,” he asked her at the beginning. “I love you so much more with your hair. Won’t you do it for me?”

So then began the ritual. Steve reminding her that her hair was becoming dull, and Barbara going to the salon to reverse the effects of time. clarity

The hairdresser returned, blow-drying the last remnants 52

of water out of Barbara’s wedding day, “I pledge myself hair. Barbara could hear an to you.” ambulance pass by the salon, It got a little tiring to keep up, the noise burying itself in her but as long as Steve was happy, head. Barbara was happy.

“Wow, your hair never Barbara stepped out of the ceases to amaze me,” the salon chair and made her way hairdresser said. “You made to the front, where Steve would a great choice in color, and be waiting. He always liked to your hair takes it in so well! wait in the salon while Barbara You look 10 years younger was there, to make sure that already!” nothing went wrong and be the

“My husband enjoys my first to see the final result. hair, too. He likes to say But Steve wasn’t there. my hair was the reason he Instead there was a police married me.” officer where Steve would

“My husband isn’t as wait. He was young, years of chivalrous as yours! He tells life hadn’t yet begun dragging me that the only thing that his feet as he walked towards has kept him around this Barbara. long is my ass,” laughed the “Are you Barbara Housel? hairdresser. My name is Officer Sparks. I

Steve loved Barbara, and it need to talk with you about your only grew over the time they husband. He had a heart attack, courted, especially after they and the paramedics aren’t sure got married. He didn’t like if he’s going to make it.” it when other guys admired Barbara didn’t know what Barbara, especially when to say. Different feelings were the two of them were young. coming at her all at once, When they would go out on blocking out whatever else a date and a man looked in Officer Sparks was saying. Barbara’s direction, Steve Officer Sparks burst through would take his coat off and Barbara’s thoughts. “Would put it on Barbara, asking you like me to drive you to the her why hospital to she was showing so “Different feelings see how your husband is much skin that day. were coming to her all doing?” Barbara Barbara didn’t like at once, blocking out turned around, as if she didn’t it when Steve was whatever else Officer hear what the police officer angry, particularly Sparks was saying.” said, to face the hairdresser she when it was at her, so she was with only a moment ago. made sure to be careful “You always do such a about where she went, who wonderful job, and I know we she was with, and what she just finished, but I would like to was wearing. As she said at try something different today.” the end of her vow on their