Beauty-Shop the Coldest Summer Ever

By Barbara E. Blackwell

This will be an unforgettable night that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Who in the hell told them that the summer time couldn't be cold.

Sit back and see why it snows when the sun is shinning on a hot breezy evening. Sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone and move on. This close knit of people will soon learn what life is really all about and how cold summer can be.

Enjoy...

The mystery, secrets, jealousy, lies and gossip will leave you on the edge of your seat, that will enlighten and provoke your thoughts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491869802

Barbara E. Blackwell

She is the mother of one son, Michael and has been a correction officer for 24 years. She enjoys writing, traveling and cooking. She is currently writing her third book and hopes her reading audience enjoys reading a good book. She credits her talent to her late father James O. Blackwell for encouraging her to follow her dreams and never giving up and believing in her when no one else did.

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AuthorHouse™ LLC

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© 2014 Barbara E. Blackwell. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/11/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-6982-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-6976-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-6980-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014904130

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

About the Author

To my readers

By Barbara E. Blackwell

Dedications

In loving memory of my mother and father

Sarah B. Blackwell      1930-2000

James O. Blackwell      1930-2005

In loving memory of my daughter and godson

Lillian Bernice Blackwell      1974-1975

Robert Black Williams      1977-2013

This book is a revised copy of Beauty Shop-Philly Style and title changed to fit the story. Characters in this book are not real, but are purely fictional and any similarity to persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

This book is for your reading pleasures.

Please enjoy

Acknowledgments

To my son Michael J. Blackwell, for all the love you give me. To my brothers, James Izzy Isabella, Joshua Blackwell, James H. Blackwell, Lester Geter, Timothy Blackwell, David Blackwell, Kevin Geter and Samuel Blackwell. To my sisters, Lorraine Bailey, Margaret Blackwell, Sarah Blackwell-Collins and a very special sister Renee Davis-Conover, for the good times and bad times, lots of love, kisses and hugs. To my granddaughters Brittany, Bernice and Bobby . . . you’re beauty.

To my best friends, Vanessa Green, Angela Benson, Lisa Richardson and Linda Lupton-Williams . . . you’re the best.

Special thanks to radio personality the late Butterball (WDAS-FM) Philadelphia, PA., whom I admired and has passed on, Rest in Peace and to the WDAS-FM family for the wonderful music throughout the years. Special thanks to Mr. Thomas Woolfolk, for giving me a head start and believing in me as a person.

And most of all, I give thanks to God for giving me the knowledge, wisdom, strength and never forsaking me, when others did.

Chapter 1

It’s around 7:00 am; on a hot and steaming summer morning, with a soft breeze blowing through the air as the crew began to arrive at the beauty shop.

As Twain, Bonquisha and Pam arrive for work, they notices two white ladies sitting in a blue car across the street, slumped down in the seat, with the window part opened, looking suspicious and looking like two stake-out cops. Out of curiosity, Bonquisha thinks she recognizes the ladies and began to walk towards the car.

Twain who is walking behind Bonquisha and feeling nerves says, Girl be careful, you don’t know who could be in that car! Hmm . . . they might want to take me for a ride or something.

Bonquisha turns and tells Twain; Keep quiet then began to move closer to the car and saw that the ladies sitting in the car, was her mother and her sister Meg.

Then all of a sudden Twain shouted, Don’t go near that car . . . Girl . . . you got to be careful around here . . . they might snatch your petty ass and take off.

Bonquisha turns and shouts, Shut-up Twain! Then continue to walk towards the car and realized it’s really her mother and says, Mom . . . What are you doing here? Is everything alright? You don’t have to be scared to roll the window down; it’s safe to talk with the window down. So what brings you and Meg down here?

Her mother said softly, Calm down baby . . . I couldn’t sleep last night, because I was worried about you and wanted to know how you were doing. So I told your sister to get dress and take a ride with me.

Bonquisha’ seventeen year old sister Megan; is strapped in her seat with a can of mace in her hand and a small club in the other, butts-in and says, Hi Sis . . . When are you going to hang with your own kind?

Just what do you mean by that Megan? she said with a snap in her voice.

Baby . . . Don’t pay Meg any mind. I’m not trying to interfere in your life, but your father is worried about you, because he hasn’t heard from you since you had that argument with him two months ago. He’s also worried about you working down here in this neighborhood and you know how he is . . . Please!! When you get a chance, call him. That’s all I wanted to tell you. Her mom said.

Ok Mom . . . I’ll call you later and tell dad . . . I’ll chat with him later.

She leaned over and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek; then looked at her sister and said, Bye girl!

Her mother smiles, while reminding her to keep her promise to call home. As Bonquisha watch them drive off and began walking towards the shop nearly getting hit by a car, with a puzzle look on her face and wondering what in the hell is really going on with her family.

Twain shouts, Girl . . . watch where you’re going . . . what in the hell did she say to you? Who was that?

She never answered him and continued to walk toward the shop and never thought in her wildest dream, that her mother along with her sister would be caught dead in this neighborhood, especially this time in the morning. Twain still was curious about the ladies in the car, but she still didn’t say a word. In the back of her mind she knows they were up to something, but can’t put her hands on it. Pam was also curious but she didn’t say a word either, because she is in a bad mood and has a nasty attitude about her so call date she had last night. Things didn’t go well for her at all and she just wanted Twain to shut his big mouth and go sit down somewhere.

Bonquisha is a white girl, who talks and acts like she’s black. She comes from a wealthy family and never had to work for anything, but decided to be her own woman and work for a living. Her confident level is so high she knows that she can get any black man she desires. She enjoys doing hair and is one of the best hair dressers at the shop. She loves to dress and most of her friends are black, except her girl friend Mary, who’s nothing but trouble.

She’s currently dating a man by the name of Toast; he’s a big time undercover drug dealer which she is unaware of, because he also owns a successful seafood restaurant that earns him lots of money in the neighborhood, that cover up his drug game. Toast is good to her and there’s nothing she ask for that she can’t get from him and he has never told her how much he loves her; because he holds a deep dark secret that will rock the house.

Twain sees the worried look on her face and anxiously says again, Girl . . . who was that? Do you know those people? Why are you ignoring me?

Bonquisha does not look at him while mumbling under her breath, I’m not ignoring you. That was my mom and sister. She slowly says.

Twain looks at Pam, then at Bonquisha. Why are you looking so puzzled? Did you get some bad news?

Pam adds, Bonquisha, are you ok? What’s wrong?

Yeah . . . I’m Ok she replied.

Pam smiles and says . . .What’s keeping Babs? I’m ready to get this day over with. I know we’re going to be loaded with customers and I hope there’s no bullshit happening today. That lady hair I did yesterday nearly wrecked my nerves and I just don’t feel up to it today. I had a rough night and I’m still tired.

Then why did you come to work with that sink attitude? Twain says.

Pam snaps her fingers and says, Whatever, it my sink attitude and not yours . . . so mind you damn business.

"Yeah . . . it’s called A with an attitude." says Bonquisha.

In the mean while, Pudding, Babs, and Sissy are arriving for work. As Sissy gets out of the car, Twain steps to her and sarcastically say, Girl . . . Do I detect that you’re on time this morning? Hum . . . it’s about time.

Sissy gave him a harsh look and says, So . . . just what do you mean by that.

Girl . . . Don’t pay him any attention . . . you know how he is and he’s probably on the rag and just need a hug. says Pudding.

It’s the first time in three months since Sissy has arrived for work on time. She’s never been on time before; because she is a single mom with three kids and gets them ready for school each morning and on the weekends she takes them to the babysitter. She drives a little red hoopty, which breaks down offend. She’s currently dating a man name Len, who leads a double secret life and her life is about to take a turn for the worst. She’s on time today because her sister Peggy stayed the night and has a job interview at the University and was able to give her a helping hand.

Oh . . . get a life Twain!! Sissy says as she rolled her eyes at him.

Twain responds by saying, Hum . . . then give me your man and I’ll have a wonderful life.

Babs intercede, Ok guys . . . cut the bull . . . it’s too early for that. Let’s go inside and get started, I have a feeling that it’s going to be a busy day.

Then Twain added, It’s about time we go inside . . . we been standing out here for a while waiting for you and I thought some drama was going to kick off out here, but it was Bonquisha’ mom and sister who came to see her.

Damn Twain . . . do you ever shut up? That mouth is going to get you in trouble and what if she didn’t want anybody else to know that her mom was here.

Whatever . . . you say. he replied.

Ok . . . that’s it . . . I’m walking to the store to get something to eat . . . I’m really hungry. says Sissy.

Pam smartly says, Damn girl . . . you just got here and you want something to eat. Didn’t you make breakfast before you left home?

While laughing, Twain jumps in the conversation, Yeah girl . . . you don’t need anything to eat. You have enough body fat to last you though another war.

Don’t you know it’s dangerous to mess with a black woman who is hungry, has three kids and lots of bills? Sissy says while looking though her hand bag for money.

Bonquisha turns around and tell Twain, You’re wrong for saying that to her, she can eat anytime she wants and you’re not paying her food bill.

Pam and Pudding are laughing, as Babs is unlocking the door to the shop. She turns off the alarm, turns the lights and the music on. She pops in a CD by Luke (I think of you).

As everyone is setting up their work station, Babs walks to the back of the shop to make sure everything is still in place and while looking around, she discovered the back door ajar. She turns and yells, Oh hell!! We’ve been robbed! Call the cops. How did they get in here with the alarm on and why didn’t it go off?

At the same time Babs was yelling for someone to call the cops, Don and Suzie Lee, the owners of the Chinese food store next door; enter the shop and excitedly says to everybody, Our store has been broken into, they come though the back door.

Babs runs to the front of the shop and sees the Lee’s and says, What are you doing here? Were you robbed too? Everybody check your equipment, because the pad lock on the door is broken off the back door.

Suzie Lee replies, Yes we were robbed too. The pad lock on our back door is gone too . . . no lock.

My set of hot curlers and can of hair sheen I just brought is missing. Twain yells and adds, All my rollers, rod set and CD’s are missing too, but they didn’t take my CD player. This is the work of pipers.

Suzie Lee speaking in broken English says, They took bags of shrimp, frozen chicken wings, cans of sodas and other items I have not counted. Please call police.

Pudding whispers to Twain, They won’t let us go for a couple pennies and now they want our help. This is some bull here.

Babs walks towards the phone and dial 911 . . ."Hello! I need a police car here at my shop at 01001 NE Columbia Street, I’ve been robbed and the store