Stage VI: Passing

The next social club meeting was held at a local health food restaurant. It was a warm June afternoon, and we'd reserved the patio. A few of us arrived in the lobby lot at about the same time. So we talked for a minute before going in together.

We were about to join the others on the patio when someone behind me called my name. At first, I didn't recognize the pretty Black woman coming toward me. "Heather? Your hair!"
She patted it and smiled a little anxiously. "Thanks."

"I mean, yes, yes I like it. It suits you." She'd cut off all of her straightened hair-at least ten inches. It completely changed her appearance. All previous conversation abruptly stopped when the others realized who she was and what she'd done.

Cameron kissed her hand. "You look lovely my Nubian princess." Even the restaurant owner laughed at the corny line. Cameron smiled. "No, seriously, it looks good".

"Yes. Very African," Harriet said. As she circled Heather, she stopped to pat the back of her head.

Heather smiled while everyone praised her new hair and talked about how refreshingly ethnic it was.

"I've thought about cutting my hair that way, but I'm not sure if it would look right on me," Phoebe said. "You have delicate features. I'm afraid I'd end up looking like a boy."
"No one will think your body belongs to a boy."
Phoebe smiled. "Thanks Mike."

"I can give you the name of my hair stylist. She can advise you on different ways to get the best look," Heather offered.

"OK. I'll think about it."

I smiled at her. "You know, I spoke to Charles this morning. He didn't mention that you'd changed your hair."

Regina frowned. "That's a man for you. It'll probably take him days to even notice the difference."

"I certainly would notice such a drastic change in my woman," Cameron said.

"Actually," Heather said, "He didn't mention it to Dana because he doesn't know I cut it. I had it done just this morning."

The room went quiet again. The others looked at her like she'd lost her mind. They were probably remembering the many times they'd seen Charles combing his fingers through her long hair.
"You've got a lot of nerve," Phoebe said as she stroked her own straight, shoulder length hair. "I wouldn't mess up my hair without discussing it with my man first."

I turned toward her. "I thought you liked it."
"I did. I'm just saying that maybe she made a mistake." The accompanying smirk indicated that she hoped to gain from Heather's mistake.
"Why's it a mistake?" Heather demanded. "He didn't consult me before he damn near shaved his head." Strong personal defense was not in her nature. It only lasted briefly.
Cameron crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "This is a little different." The group mumbled its agreement.

I cut in because I saw that Heather was starting to get upset. "Come on, why does it have to be all that? Why can't she make a change when she wants a new hair style?"

"If she wanted a new hair style, she could have put the part on the other side," Cameron said.
"Or used bigger curlers," Regina said.
"She could have put it in a bun," Marion said.
"But instead, she mutilated herself," Phoebe said, cheerfully. "She looks like one of those rapper teenagers."

"There's only an inch or two left," Adrian said, disdainfully. "What's she going to do when he doesn't like it?"

"Don't worry honey. You can get a wig-or a weave. I know somebody who can work with even that short stuff." Several of the group nodded their encouragement.

"The bottom line," Cameron went on, "is that she shouldn't have shaved her head without talking to Charles first." He left to sit at one of the tables after passing final judgment.
"Hello, everyone." All eyes turned to Charles.

Introduction
Stage I: Fledglings
Stage II: Chocolate Cream
Stage III: Rage & Destroy
Stage IV: Wanna Be Blacks
Stage V: Empowered
Stage VI: Passing