Free Growing Pains by Dwayne S. Joseph

hips, one hand gripping a styling comb, and said, “You either did or didn’t.”
    For Heather, life was all about the yeas or nays, dos or don’ts. “To be’s” or “not to be’s.” There were no uncertainties with her. If she was going to do something, she did it. If she was going to say something, she just said it. And if she was feeling something for someone, she didn’t take the time to analyze and try to figure out if what she was feeling was real or not, she just felt it and went for it. In Heather’s mind, the world was black and white. There were no shades of gray with her.
    Although Heather’s “it was or it wasn’t” mentality had brought her a few bumps and bruises along the way to happiness, Deahnna often wished she could have been more like her at times. But life experiences had made Deahnna a thinker, a contemplator.
    â€œSo?” Heather pressed, spinning Deahnna around in the styling chair she was planted in.
    Deahnna hesitated for a pensive moment, and then smiled. “I did.”
    Heather smiled, exposing a gap between her two front teeth. “Aw, shit!” she said. “I want details, honey. Now!”
    â€œYes,” someone said from a chair to Heather’s right. “Details!”
    Heather rolled her eyes, sucked her teeth, and looked over. “Excuse you, Rico, but I don’t remember ever hearing anyone say, ‘Rico, please be a part of this conversation. ’”
    Rico Rose, whose real name was Richard, but who insisted on being called Rico, gave Heather a scowl. “Uh, excuse you, sister dear, but we all know that, I, Rico Suave, need no invitation. Nothing is sacred to these ears.”
    Heather rolled her eyes again. “Yes, we all know, queen Dumbo. It’s hard for anything to be kept sacred from those big-ass flappers. Now, kindly A, B, C your way out of our conversation.”
    Deahnna and the other two clients inside of Heather’s styling salon laughed out loud.
    Rico rolled his eyes at his sister, and then looked at Deahnna. “Excuse me, Deahnna, while someone over there chooses to be a rude ass, can you please enlighten us as to whom it is who has you open?”
    â€œI didn’t say he has me open,” Deahnna said.
    â€œYes, brother dear, she didn’t say all that.”
    Rico “hmph’d.” “Sister dear, please. Deahnna is interested in a man. Shit, she may as well be open, because you know that don’t happen.”
    Heather nodded. “OK,” she said. “I will give you that.” She looked back to Deahnna. “So speak, girl. Who has you open?”
    Deahanna shook her head. “As I said, I’m not open. I’m just . . . intrigued.”
    â€œWhat’s his name?” Heather asked.
    â€œJawan White.”
    Heather thought about it for a moment. “Nope. Never heard of him before.”
    â€œNeither have I,” Rico said.
    Deahnna looked at him. “Trust me, Rico, he doesn’t hang out on your side of the playground.”
    Rico raised his eyebrows. “You’d be surprised to find out who does,” he said. “I could give you some stories.”
    â€œThe only thing we want you to give, brother dear,” Heather cut in, “is your attention back to Marie’s hair.”
    Rico rolled his eyes again as his client, Marie, nodded and said, “Amen.”
    â€œSo, girl, tell me about this Jawan White.”
    Deahnna smiled. “He teaches eleventh grade English.”
    â€œIs he cute?”
    Deahnna nodded. “Very. And he’s very nice, too. Seems really genuine and down to earth.”
    â€œHmm. Is he taken?”
    Deahnna shook her head. “I don’t think so. I didn’t see a ring on his finger.”
    â€œMeans nothing,” Rico cut in as he braided Marie’s hair. “I know plenty of men with rings on their fingers.”
    â€œI would tell him to