Chapter 3

Excuse Any Mistakes

SONG: I AM NOT MY HAIR (INDIA ARIE FT AKON)

27th November, 2019 (NEXT MORNING)

I grabbed my school shoes, sat on the edge of my bed and began putting it on for school.  As I was about to put on the other side, my puppy Trixee ran in, grabbed my shoe and ran out my room.

"Trixee!!" I shouted

I got up and dashed behind her, she ran out in the front yard and I chased her. I had finally caught her, when thunder began to crack followed by a down pour of rain.

My hair

I screamed as I ran inside quickly and went to my room. I went straight for my towel and began patting dry my flat ironed hair to prevent the water from creating frizz and my curls to come back to life. I made my way in front of my mirror.

"No, No, No" I panicked as I watched at how my hair was beginning to frizz and shrink.

"Summer we leaving in 10 minutes!" My mom shouted

"Ok!!" I watched myself in the mirror "Ok you've got to do something about this hair" I quickly ran to the drawer in my room and grabbed my flat iron "This should do the trick" I plugged it in and waited for it to heat up.

What the-

I picked it up and tested it to realize it was still cold. I checked to see if it was secured in the plug , which it was ,but the light on the iron was not on. I frantically flipped the switch and still nothing. I began screaming.

This cannot be happening to me

My dad  and mom rushed to my doorway.

"Sweetie what is- Oh my god!" my mother exclaimed when she saw my hair. It was slowly becoming an afro. She rushed over and took up the flat iron quickly and began parting my hair and passing it to see that my curls had still remained.

"What's wrong with this thing?!" she exclaimed hitting it against her palm.

"I think  it's not working anymore dear, she will have to get a new one." My dad said. "I'll buy one for you later on today, so just wrap up your hair in the puffy thing and lets go, you're already late for school."

"What!!" both my mother and I shouted at him.

"You cannot possibly expect her to go to school like this, she looks-"  my mother's rant was cut off by my dad.

"Beautiful."  He said  "She looks beautiful, so Summer come on and let me get you to school." He said more stern letting us know he was serious then he went back down stairs.

"I'll talk to him" my mother followed him.

I began brushing my hair to put it in a high puff and it was like I didn't know how to handle my own hair. I quickly searched a youtube video and carefully followed every step.  After I was done, I cringed at my hair. I quickly got my backpack and made my way downstairs but stopped when I heard my mom and dad arguing.

"Trudy, I am not letting my daughter miss school because her hair is not ironed. My daughter is a black girl, who is beautiful with and without straight hair. You may have your own insecurities but do not carry my child down that road with you." He said. "You expect her to be perfect, hell you expect every fucking thing to be perfect and no one can be their true self with you."

My eyes widen because I have never heard my dad cursed before.

"How dare you talk to me like that?!"

My dad sighed "You know what, I'm done with this conversation. I have to get Summer to school. Summer!!"  he shouted as he went out the front door slamming it.

This was going to be a long day

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AT SCHOOL

As I walked through the hallway as I earned stares from everyone.

"Summer wait up."  I heard, I turned around to see josh but he halted with wide eyes when he saw my hair.

Damn

"Hey " I said as he cautiously walked towards me

"What's that on your head?"  he asked and I felt my heart immediately shatter.

"What do you mean it's my hair"

"Damn how come it's not straight?"

I rolled my eyes at his shallowness  "My flat iron was not working this morning, so I had just  put it into a puff" I touched my high puff  "You like?" I asked with confidence that was slowly going away with every response I got from him.

He looked at me "uhhh,...umm...I kinda like it straight better." he responded truthfully

This is  the reason why I didn't want to come to school with natural hair. The constant disapprovals and disgust I get from the students at this school, makes me feel like anything but a human being.

I felt Different. Like I didn't belong

"oh" I said softly while looking down.

"I spoke to my parents about us."  he said making me look up shocked

Josh was not excited to tell his parents that I was his girlfriend. I mean I know that I didn't tell my parents about him because my parents will throw a fit, especially my dad. But his parents were cool with him having relationships and I'm not his first girlfriend. Every time we spoke on the topic of his parents knowing about me, he would change the topic and talk about something totally different. His parent were rich white people.

And I'm his first black girlfriend.

"That's great."  I said

"Yeah they would like to meet you but ummm....." he trailed off

I narrowed my eyes at him "What?"

"Before you come to meet them"  he scratched the back of his neck  "could you like iron your hair or use something to make it straight"

My vision began to blur and I guessed he realized because he quickly tried to take back his words.

"Uh I dont mean....I like it...It's just Its big but it's nice tho...but... uh..."  I held up my hand to him stopping his rant.

"Understood"

His face held an awkward look  "Um well I'm going to class ok, later Sum" He was about to kiss my forehead but he stopped  when his face came in contact with my curls in my high puff, which made him just pat my shoulder before he left.

I wanted to cry, I wanted to hide forever. I ran into the bathroom into one of the stalls and I let the tears that was being held up, fall.

I could not be myself, I could not be naked, I was only liked when I'm anything else than being naturally myself. I don't want to have curly hair, I don't want have dark skin, I don't want to be labelled as ghetto whenever I'm not doing something good. ..............I don't wanna be a black girl.

-----------------------------------------------------------

THAT EVENING WHEN SUMMER FATHER PICKED HER UP FROM SCHOOL

"How was your day today Summer?" He asked making me sigh.

My day was horrible. I earned stares from everyone including all of my teachers. I was sent to the back of the class because I was told that my hair was too big and blocked some of the students. My friends Jessica and Emily avoided walking with me in the hallways, and I sat by myself for lunch. My boyfriend avoided contact with me as much as possible and I skipped the evening period crying in the bathroom until school was dismissed.

"Fine" I replied lowly.

He knew better so instead of going straight home he pulled up to an ice cream parlour before going home. He knew I loved ice cream with everything in me. I looked at him as he unbuckled his seat belt.

"Summer Harris, you have 10 seconds to unbuckle your seat belt  and go into that ice cream parlour, otherwise we going home." he smirked

I smiled and quickly got out the car and went into the ice cream parlour. I love my dad he was totally different to my mother, he always made me feel free, loved, wanted and all the good stuff.

---------------------------------------------------------------

I quietly observed the the small duplex houses as my dad drove pass them. Some were not in good condition and some were in a good enough condition. Guys were on the street gambling on the pavement while some were in the basket ball court playing ball. Girls were sitting on the steps of their homes with their girlfriends laughing loudly  while some of the younger girls were playing double dutch. Yes, I was in the hood, BridgeWood. We was on our way home from the ice cream parlor when my dad decided to check on my Aunt Camille. I had to admit here was totally different compared to where I lived. It was full of life while in my neighborhood, itwas quiet and still. Here, everyone  associated and talked to one another, it's like they all knew each other. In Jade Hills everyone kept to themselves, and was competing to be better than one another. My dad had finally pulled up in front of my Aunt's home. A few guys were in front of her gate talking to one another. My dad honked the horn to let her know we was here before we came out of the car locking it.

She came outside and smiled when she saw us and walked to the small gate opening it for us.

"Rashad would your black ass move from my gate with your friends?" she said harshly as one of the guys who I assumed was Rashad smiled at her showcasing his braces.

"Sorry Ma'am, I ain't mean to block your way" he said as he looked at her with a smile that would make you  forget what you was arguing about and instantly forgive him.

My Aunt looked at him and smiled "What you doing in front my gate anyway, you lookin' for trouble again?" she asked him as my dad squeezed passed her and went inside to put the ice cream we had brought for her in the fridge. But i stayed watching the scene unfold.

Rashad passed his hand over his waves and looked down smiling showing his dimples "No Ma'am, I'm just chillin' you know." he then looked at me and I couldn't pull myself from staring at him.

I had to admit he was cute, he was dark skinned, looked like 6'2. He had chrome braces and dimples in his cheeks. He wasn't to muscular but he wast skinny either.

"Stop staring at my niece boy" my aunt tapped him upside his head making me giggle.

He smacked his lips as he laughed a little "I'm sorry Ma'am."  he said then looked back at me licking his lips "She beautiful tho"

I felt my cheeks burning as I looked away.

"mhm I hear you" My aunt said as she stared at us both "Come Summer lets go inside your dad probably getting impatient waitin' on our asses"  she said as she moved to the side to let me pass to go in the gate.

"Bye Summer" I looked back to see Rashad lookin' at me. I waved at him, I couldn't speak because he mad me so shy.

My aunt stared between us both  before walking up behind me laughing  and mumbling to herself  "Rashad, Rashad, Rashad"

Rashad

-----------------------------------------------------

My dad and my aunt sat at her dining table talking to one another while my mind was only on Rashad. Why was I thinking about him he is

Ghetto. A Thug

"You ok baby?" my dad asked. I snapped out of my thoughts

"Huh, yeah. I'm just going to go to the bathroom." I said excusing myself and going to the bathroom. I went to the sink and splashed water on my face and looked up to the mirror making myself jump.

Rashad thought I was beautiful ..............with my natural hair

I passed my hand in my puff. How could he possibly think I'm beautiful with my hair looking like this. I was a mess, and he thought that I was still beautiful. I felt my heart beat a little harder than usual, like it now came to life. Rashad's compliment actually made forget that my hair was the way it was today, he made me forget about what happened today. I smiled as I thought about Rashad.

It's amazing how one word or sentence you say to someone can turn their day around. Rashad Turned mine around for the better.

--------------------------------------------------------

Tell me ya'll thoughts on this chapter?

What about the characters?

Summer?

Summer's mom?

Summer's Dad

Aunt Camille?

Summer's friends?

Rashad?

I hope yall enjoying it so far tho.

VOTE  COMMENT  FOLLOW  AND SHARE GUYS. THANK YOUUUU