Chapter 50 Junie
Junie
Junie calls the Good Hair Days meeting for the next afternoon with one intention in mind: activating her community to save
the beauty shop. Finally, she’s taking charge of her situation, even if she didn’t choose all of the circumstances.
She stands in front of the women, notebook in hand, reading from the list. “So far I have the Silvers and Michaela and the
community theater folks. Those are direct offers I’ve gotten.”
“Auto guys would totally help,” Cece says. “Not sure what they can do, but maybe give folks a promotion on oil changes or
something. Guys work for free for a day and all labor costs go to the fund. I’ll talk it over with them.”
“Rosalinda said the Brownies want to pitch in too,” Tina says. “Long story short, she called me for an appointment, and I
let her in on the full situation here and how we need to be a little sly about appointments. She told me all about the Brownies
and their community service badges and said she’d come up with a way for them to help.”
“When those darling little girls go door-to-door, boy do they sell,” Georgia says.
Daddy clears his throat. “I’m having lunch tomorrow with a couple guys from the bank. They do community service all the time, and after all the years I’ve put in, they might work something out.”
Junie smiles. This is help that feels good. In fact, she’s decided to relish every day she’s not suffering the chemo yuck.
Just this morning she spent the early hours out in her garden weeding and greeting the newly risen sun with Puds. She feels
better now that everyone knows about the cancer—well, lighter. There’s still the little bit about Georgia and the genetics
test, but Junie’s basking in what she has accomplished for now.
“Ms. Luanne saw me this morning at the store,” Georgia says. “She was so sweet about Junie’s diagnosis, wants to make a prayer
shawl and add your name to their list.”
“I’m not already on it? I thought any wayward soul automatically qualified.” Junie laughs. “In all seriousness, though, they
are the best.”
“I can’t believe what that jock salon pulled on them,” Tina huffs.
“Hang on, is there a hair salon feud?” Daddy asks, looking like his brain is working a mile a minute to keep up. “Sorry, y’all.
You have to remember, I’m new to this.”
Tina fills him in, in great detail, and as she does, Junie pulls up their social media just to check in. When her eyes land
on the latest post, her blood boils. “The All-Star Instagram account . . .”
Georgia pulls out her phone, navigates through a few clicks, and reads it out loud. “Reasons to patronize only licensed facilities . . .”
She stops. “There’s even a graphic, y’all.”
“This is about us, right?” Junie says. “I’m not imagining it?”
Cece grumbles. “Think they’re playing this coy.”
“Ghastly place,” Tina announces.
Cece looks at Georgia. “Payback plan?” The two exchange a smile that suggests they’ve discussed this previously.
“Tina, you have the wigs at your house?” Georgia asks.
Tina nods.
Georgia hops up. “Dad, you’re off duty for the night. Ladies, let’s go grab wigs, then hit the dollar store for TP. We’re
going to roll All-Star.”