Chapter 61 Junie
Junie
Junie and Tina are at June’s a handful of days after the county fair, and Tina is still carrying around her brassy pie trophy,
the one for first place. Today she’s set the trophy up on a box stack, pulling it down to shine it with a cloth while she
waits between clients. Junie is in the middle of trimming Susie Worley’s hair—she’s a lovely local woman who works every other
day at the pre-K down the street.
“How am I on length?” Junie asks Susie in their reflection in the mirror.
“Great,” Susie says. “You always know.”
Junie adds a few last snips and begins blowing out Susie’s hair. It doesn’t take long, and before she knows it Susie is sending
her a payment on Venmo and taking off out the door.
In the pause Junie turns to Tina. “Between you and me, I’m starting to wonder if it’s in Georgia’s best interest—for her own
well-being—to head back to Atlanta,” she says. “And I never would’ve imagined myself saying that.”
“Well, a lot has changed recently . . .” Tina says.
Junie drops into the empty chair and lets out a puff of breath. “She’s just in rough shape. I think I might need to send Eddie
in.”
“That bad, huh?” Tina says.
Junie had filled in the rest of the family on the genetic test and the events surrounding it in the days since the fair, so
Tina didn’t look surprised at the news. “It’s typical of Georgia, though. She can’t make a mistake on anything. Let alone
something like that. About you.”
Junie lets the quiet sit between them. She’s had so many versions of this same conversation with Tina, Cece, and Daddy over
the last few days, it’s starting to feel like talking in circles.
There’s a knock at the door, and Tina calls out, “Come on in, Luanne!”
When no one enters and a few moments later a second knock comes, Tina and Junie exchange a confused look, knowing Luanne would
have walked right in—especially by now. Junie gets out of the chair, and together they head for the door. When Tina pulls
it open, a short, thin man stands outside. He’s wearing a medium-brown suit and small wire-frame glasses, and his stringy
hair could definitely use a cut.
He extends his hand. “Leonard Bulstead. I’m from the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. I was hoping to come in and look
around.”
“Oh, hi,” Junie says, stepping out alongside Tina and pulling the door shut behind them. “We’re actually not open right now—temporarily
closed. The shop is under renovation, so we’re not seeing clients.”
Leonard pulls a face. “There was a report that business is still being done at this establishment while it’s under construction.”
Junie gasps in faux horror. “Oh goodness, no! I’m not sure who got that idea.”
Leonard nods briefly and his face seems to relax. He scans the outside of the building and walks over to the front window,
where he peeks in.
Tina clears her throat. “We’d obviously never cut hair in a construction zone.” She pulls a hand to her chest.
“This station that’s set up—it looks operational. I’m going to have to go in.”
Junie breaks into a theatrical sob and looks to Tina. “I guess I’ll have to tell him.”
Tina falters for only a second before jumping in. “If you must.” She adds her own sigh for dramatic effect.
“I’m undergoing treatment for cancer.” Junie brings the back of her hand to her forehead like she’s seen done in the old movies.
“I needed my aunt Tina here to cut my hair off because it started falling out.” Junie slides the wig side to side. “See? Not
a stitch of it mine. But thanks to my mama—God rest her soul—I have my pick of all these wigs she collected and then deeded
to my aunt here.”
When Leonard looks away, Junie tucks away the pair of scissors that was sticking out of her apron and winks at Tina.
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that,” Leonard says, pulling at his collar in discomfort. “Wow, I think I really put my foot in
it. Of course your own aunt would help with that. And it’s not business.” He looks straight ahead, like he’s doing the math
on the situation.
“Yes, sir,” Junie says in the saddest tone she can muster. “I’m also quite frail these days, so I’m certainly not up to working,
being on my feet, walking around and standing for long periods of time. And my poor aunt here has been at my bedside night
and day.”
Leonard’s face leaps with shock and a flash of guilt. “Goodness, yes, of course you wouldn’t be working.”
Junie coughs dramatically and heaves.
Even Tina steps back a little at the deep guttural sound.
Leonard practically jumps back. “Is she ok?” he asks Tina.
Tina rushes over and pat-pats Junie’s back. “There you go, honey.” It’s almost like she’s burping a baby, but Leonard doesn’t
ask questions.
“My apologies for the intrusion,” he says. “That’ll be it for me.”
Junie leans on Tina dramatically as if for support. “Thank you,” she says.
Leonard takes a few steps back. “I simply cannot believe someone would report a sick woman.” He tuts. “What a disgrace.”
Junie nods. “I’m not sure, sir. Probably someone with a heart of ice.” She smiles but tries to make it look tired.
He walks to his car, and Junie and Tina wave as he pulls out of the lot. By the grace of God, it is thirty seconds later when
Ms. Luanne pulls in from the opposite direction. Junie is in stitches when their client climbs out of the vehicle.
“What’s all this about? My hair can’t be in that bad of a state,” Luanne says as she approaches the shop.
“Junie just scared off the licensing board guy,” Tina says.
“I have to be able to use it to my advantage, come on!” Junie continues giggling. “I should ask Michaela about a role in the
next production.”
The three women tumble into the shop laughing at the good luck and Junie’s quick thinking.
Junie’s first thought after the coast is clear is how fun it will be to tell Georgia the story, but then she remembers how
Georgia is doing, that this will likely not get the laugh it should. She stops and texts Eddie to see if he can go talk to
her, help her, use his skills to swing her out of this funk.
Before she’s even started on Ms. Luanne, the reply comes in.
Eddie: Of course.