January 9, 2010

Sunday Scribblings 197: Extreme


I told her I wanted it different--extreme.  But I hadn't meant this.

At most, I thought she'd shorten it to chin length and add highlights; but not make it spiky blue!  I forced my eyes to blink and gave the best fake smile I could muster.

"It's--it's--"  I couldn't think of a word other than FREAK.

"Extreme, huh?  Huh?"  Her comb waved at the mirror.  She chomped her gum and glowed with the success of her artistry.

"Yeah."  I gulped.  What would Chuck say?  Probably something about a Smurf on crack.  And the kids?  Double gulp.  If I hadn't totally embarrassed them by now, this would do the trick.  I paid.  I left Sophie counting the obligatory tip on my way out the door.

I decompressed in the car for thirty minutes.  Katie had ballet lessons in an hour; I couldn't sit here all day.

"I can do this," I told myself.  "I am strong.  I am capable."  And a freak, said a small voice at the back of my head.  "No!" I shouted into the empty car.  "I am NOT a freak."  An elderly woman strolling into the salon shot me a worried glance.

I drove home fluctuating between the feeling of excitment about doing something crazy and feeling crazy about being excited.  I took a deep breath before entering the house.  Tally, the lab, noticed me first.  She barked as I entered through the back door and panted excitedly.  I gave her the routine biscuit.  Katie saw me next.  She was on her way to the pantry.

"Wow.  You look...different."  She gave a puzzled smile but hurried on to get a granola bar.

Jeffery, my ten year old, saw me from his spot on the couch.  "Hey Mom, I like your haircut.  What's for dinner?"

At least he knew what was good for him.  "Your favorite," I said, as reward.

Chuck came in and kissed me on the cheek.  I waited for the snide remarks but nothing came.  He jabbered on about his day and some client who didn't follow through on a deal.  Finally he stopped long enough to look at me--really look.

"Did you do something different?" he asked.

"Just a little color," I said.  "Nothing too extreme."

20 comments :

  1. I want to smack Chuck, I know what that feels like, isn't he a pain. Hahaha.

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  2. A nice touch of the maritals at the end!

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  3. Brilliant ending! Those risky haircuts always leave you feeling a bit conflicted don't they (especially the next morning!) Jae

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  4. Love the way you got extreme in at the end!

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  5. I loved this! Isn't that just like a husband to not notice the extreme. :-)

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  6. Love this! The family response is spot on. The build up followed by the lack of any reaction is a winner.

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  7. Very good! It's fun and easy to read. I really enjoyed it!

    I've given you a Blog Award over at my blog http://StarlightBlog.com Don't worry if you don't have the time to do the whole award thingy. It's mostly in acknowledgement of your great blog.

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  8. Are you really saying that your hair was BLUE & they said nothing beyond, "something different?"
    If so, then you must be one extreme person already & it just fit what you do all the time! Way to go!

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  9. spiky blue LOL - that would be a bit much though these days anything goes with hair color. One my fortieth birthday I was driving an old van to town and In A Gadda Da Vida came on the radio and I realized I was just an old hippy and went and bought hair dye and dyed my hair red. My husband walked in from work and laughed for a half hour. I think I'd have preferred your hubby's reaction :)

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  10. hahaha! How fun! Too bad I can truly relate. I've had SO many bad hairdos and only recently found a girl I absolutely love. Of course, she started out by saying, "I can FIX your hair." Grr!!

    But what great "scribblings." You read easily--a good sign. Do you have more for this story?

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  11. Stan, exactly.
    Mary Anne, an award? Yay! Thank you.
    Brenda, this didn't happen to me, it's fiction; although I've had pink streaks before.
    Dee, laughed for a half hour? You poor thing. I might've been tempted to add another color for that. ;)
    M. Gray, that's one of the nicest things you could say to me (reads easily). No, I don't have more of this story. I just wrote it for Scribblings.

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  12. absolutely wow!

    I am sorry for the late arrival to Sunday Scribblings but I had to pay you a visit :)

    Happy SS

    Extreme 'Caution'

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  13. This one is awesome. It is well written and funny. Nice work. Since my wife is a hair dresser it really struck a funny bone. I cannot tell you how many times she has come home with different hair color and style and I have not noticed. However, she has never done the blue spikey thing.

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  14. Excellent, just excellent. Loved every word of it. :)

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