Sally had been working for Mrs. Crowley for weeks now, but she didn’t like the job at all. She missed her old office and longed to go back there. She couldn’t stand Mrs. Crowley’s sharp tongue and was constantly on edge around her. She wished she could just quit, but she needed the job to pay her bills.
As she sat at her desk, lost in thought, her phone rang. It was the HR department calling, informing her that Mrs. Crowley was taken ill and that she wouldn’t be coming in for the day. Sally couldn’t help but feel a little relieved at the news. She wouldn’t have to deal with Mrs. Crowley’s constant criticism and could work in peace.
But just as she was starting to relax, her boss, Mr. Robert, arrived at the office. He asked to speak with her and Sally’s heart sank. She wondered if he was going to criticize her work or if he was going to tell her that she wasn’t doing a good job.
As Sally sat waiting in the conference room for Mr. Robert to arrive, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of nervousness wash over her. She had never been one for big changes, and the thought of taking over Mrs. Crowley’s job filled her with a sense of apprehension.
As she sat there, her mind began to wander. She thought about how much she missed her old job and how she longed to go back to the way things were before. But then she reminded herself of the opportunity that lay before her. This was a chance to prove herself, to show that she was capable of handling more responsibility.
Finally, Mr. Robert walked into the room and took a seat across from her. He began to explain the situation with Mrs. Crowley and how they needed someone to step in and take over her responsibilities. He looked at Sally and said, “We’ve been watching you, Miss Pierce, and we think you have the potential to do this job.”
Sally felt a surge of pride and excitement at the thought of being offered such an important role. But she also felt a sense of dread. What if she wasn’t up to the task? What if she failed?
Mr. Robert continued to explain the job duties and what would be expected of her. As he spoke, Sally felt a sense of determination rise within her. She would do whatever it took to succeed in this new position.
After the meeting was over, Sally walked back to her desk feeling both elated and scared. She knew that this new job would be a challenge, but she was ready to face it head-on. She sat down at her desk and began to make a list of all the things she needed to do to prepare for this new role. She was determined to make a success of it, no matter what.
Sally couldn’t wait to tell Edith about her new assignment. She worked diligently throughout the day, trying to make sure everything was perfect for the Spring party. As she typed away at her computer, her mind kept drifting off to the possibilities of what she could do for the event.
“I could have a flower wall,” she thought excitedly. “And maybe we could have a dessert table with mini cupcakes and macarons.”
Sally couldn’t help but smile as she worked. She was determined to make this party the best one the company had ever seen.
As the afternoon drew closer, Sally’s excitement grew. She couldn’t wait to tell Edith about her new assignment and bounce ideas off of her.
Finally, the workday ended, and Sally rushed out of the office and straight to Edith’s salon.
“Edith, you won’t believe what happened today!” Sally exclaimed as soon as she walked in.
Edith smiled warmly at her. “What happened, dear?”
“I’ve been given the task of organizing the company’s Spring party!” Sally said, her excitement bubbling over.
Edith clapped her hands together. “That’s wonderful, Sally! I’m so proud of you.”
Edith nods along and asks, “That’s great news, dear! Do you have time to stay a little longer? I could really use your help with something.”
Sally hesitates for a moment, but she knows how much Edith has helped her, and decides to stay to return the favor.
“Sure, Edith,” she says with a smile.
“Great,” said Edith. She then picked up the phone and dialed a number. “Hello, Mrs. Fenton? This is Edith from the salon. Yes, I just wanted to let you know that I can take you now if you’re still able to come in. Perfect, I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
After hanging up, Edith turned back to Sally.
Edith turns to Sally with a smile. “Mrs Fenton’s daughter needs a hairdo for a special occasion, and I told her you’re the perfect example of how a young woman can look neat and polished.”
Sally feels a mix of nervousness and excitement. “Oh, wow, Edith. That’s really kind of you to say.”
Edith chuckles. “It’s true, Sally. You always look so put together. I know you’ll do a great job.”
Sally nods, feeling the weight of the responsibility. “I’ll do my best. When do I need to start?”
Edith checks her schedule. “Mrs Fenton and her daughter are coming in tomorrow afternoon. Can you come in a bit early to help me set up?”
Sally nods again, feeling a sense of gratitude toward Edith for giving her this opportunity. “Sure, I can come in early. Thank you for thinking of me, Edith.”
As Sally settles in a chair, she hears the bell chime at the front of the salon. Edith quickly walks up to greet her next client.
“Good afternoon, Alice,” Edith says as she opens the door for her.
“Hello, Edith,” Mrs. Fenton replies, “this is my daughter, Pia.”
“Nice to meet you, Pia,” Edith says, shaking her hand. “And this is Sally. She has done a wonderful job with her hair. It’s a perfect example of how a young woman can look.”
Sally smiles as she greets Mrs. Fenton and Pia. “Hi, nice to meet you both.”
Mrs. Fenton responds, “Thank you, Edith. Pia needs a new hairdo and I was hoping you could help.”
Edith takes a closer look at Pia’s hair, a long brown bob. “Of course, we can help with that. Sally, do you have any suggestions?”
Sally takes a step closer to Pia and gently touches her hair. “I think we could give her a nice neat updo, with some curls maybe?”
Pia looks in the mirror and frowns. “I don’t want it as short as her.”
Edith turns to Pia and says, “It’s alright, we can make it longer if you prefer.”
Mrs. Fenton nods in agreement. “Yes, Pia doesn’t like it when her hair is too short.”
Edith washed Pia’s hair and trimmed it a lot shorter, but Pia didn’t seem pleased with the new length. Edith rolled over the perm trolley and selected a set of grey rods, starting to wind Pia’s hair around them. “Don’t worry, dear,” Edith reassured Pia. “It’s going to look fabulous, trust me.”
“But I don’t want it to be curly,” Pia protested.
“It won’t be too curly, just a little bit of body and wave,” Edith replied, trying to convince her.
“But I don’t like curls,” Pia insisted.
“It won’t be like Shirley Temple curls,” Edith laughed. “It’ll be more like beachy waves, perfect for the summer.”
Pia looked at Edith doubtfully, but Edith continued to work her magic with the perm rods. “You have such beautiful hair,” she complimented Pia. “It’s going to look even more stunning once we’re finished here.”
Sally watched the process with interest, admiring Edith’s expertise. “You’re going to love it,” Sally chimed in. “Trust me, my hair looked so amazing when Edith was done with it.”
Pia looked over at Sally and then back at Edith, still unsure. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice wavering.
Edith begins to wind Pia’s hair tightly around the gray perm rods, carefully separating each section of hair with the protective cotton to prevent overlapping. Sally watches nervously as Edith proceeds, noticing how uncomfortable Pia looks in the mirror.
Edith notices Pia’s expression and says, “Don’t worry, dear, it will look great! The curls will be bouncy and full of life. You’ll see!”
“But I don’t want curls,” Pia says, her voice rising with each word. “I just wanted a trim!”
“Trust me, darling,” Alice reassures her daughter. “You’ll look so pretty with curls!”
Edith finishes winding Pia’s hair and applies the perming lotion. Sally notices Pia’s eyes grow wide as she smells the foul odour of the perming lotion.
“Mom, what did you get me into?” Pia whispers.
“Shh, it’s going to be okay,” Alice says, patting her daughter’s hand.
Edith sets the timer for the perm and begins to clean up. “Just wait and see,” she tells Pia, “you’ll love it!”
Edith covers Pia’s head with a plastic cap and guides her to the warmed up dryer.
Sally takes a seat in the empty chair, feeling the excitement bubble up inside her. Edith starts washing Sally’s hair, and Sally lets out a contented sigh as the warm water trickles down her scalp.
“It’s grown so much,” Edith comments as she massages shampoo into Sally’s hair. “It’s time we give you a proper set.”
Sally nods, feeling a bit nervous but also excited to see the end result. Edith washes and conditions Sally’s hair thoroughly, and then sets to work sectioning off her hair and rolling it onto the small curlers.
As Edith winds Sally’s hair onto the rods, Sally starts to feel more and more relaxed. She closes her eyes and listens to the sound of the rollers as they click into place. It feels like time stands still, and she’s lost in the moment.
“Are you falling asleep on me, dear?” Edith teases, and Sally opens her eyes with a start.
“Oh, no, sorry,” Sally says, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“Don’t apologize, love,” Edith says with a smile. “It’s a good sign. Means you’re nice and relaxed.”
Sally smiles back, feeling content and happy. She’s grateful to have found a job she enjoys and a boss who cares about her. She closes her eyes again and lets herself drift away into the feeling of the warm dryer and the small, gentle tugs on her hair as Edith winds it into the perfect curls.
Edith finishes rolling Sally’s hair and puts a hairnet over it. She then walks over to Pia, who is sitting under the dryer, and checks on her.
“Alright, Pia. Let’s see how your hair is doing,” Edith says as she takes off the plastic cap.
Pia looks apprehensive as Edith inspects her hair. “It’s looking good,” Edith reassures her. “Just a little bit longer under the dryer.”
As Sally drifts off into a daydream, Edith interrupts her thoughts. “You’ll be under the hood in a jiffy, Sally,” she says with a smile. “I just have to finish up with Pia first.”
Sally nods and closes her eyes again, enjoying the relaxing atmosphere of the salon. She hears Edith chatting with Alice about Pia’s progress and how well the perming process is going.
Pia emerges from under the hood, and Edith guides her directly to the washing station. Sally takes her place under the hood, feeling the warm air gently blowing on her hair. As she relaxes, she sees Edith remove Pia’s plastic cap and wash out the perming solution.
Sally can hear their voices faintly as she drifts off into her thoughts, enjoying the quiet humming of the dryer.
As Sally gets settled under the hood, she feels the warmth of the dryer and the gentle hum of the machine. It’s soothing, and soon she begins to nod off, drifting into a light sleep.
Suddenly, she feels a gentle tap on her shoulder, and she wakes up to see Edith standing over her.
“Time to check your curls, Sally,” Edith says with a smile.
Sally gets up from under the hood and follows Edith to the mirror. As they approach, Sally sees Pia’s hair for the first time. It’s an old-fashioned style, with stiff, lacquered waves that look like a cloud of hair on her head.
Alice looks ecstatic, while Pia’s face is twisted in a sulky pout.
“It’s wonderful, Edith. You’ve done a fantastic job,” Alice gushes.
Pia rolls her eyes, clearly not pleased with the result.
Edith turns to Sally and checks her curls, nodding in approval.
“Looks like we’ve got another success on our hands,” Edith says with a grin.
Sally can’t help but feel a sense of pride at the praise, even though she knows it’s mostly Edith’s doing.
As they walk back to the styling chairs, Alice continues to rave about the results, while Pia sulks in silence. Sally can’t help but feel a bit sorry for her, but she knows that sometimes, a change in hairstyle can take some getting used to.
After Alice and Pia departed, Edith removed the hairnet and gently started removing the rods from Sally’s hair. Sally told Edith that she did like it curly but not as stiff as Pia’s hair.
“Don’t worry, Sally, I won’t make you look like Pia,” Edith reassured her. “Let’s work on your hair now.”
Edith washed Sally’s hair thoroughly, and while it was still damp, she started working on it with a pin comb, teasing it into a neat helmet of curls. Sally watched as Edith worked, feeling relaxed and content.
Once Edith was satisfied with the curls, she took out her razor and started shaving the back of Sally’s neck and above her ears, giving her a clean and polished look.
“There you go, Sally,” Edith said, stepping back to admire her work. “You look fantastic.”
Sally couldn’t help but smile at her reflection in the mirror. “Thank you, Edith. I feel fantastic too.”
As Sally steps out of the shop, she catches a glimpse of her reflection in the window and can’t help but smile. Her hair looks fantastic, the perfect mix of curls and neatness. She runs her fingers through it, feeling the softness and bounciness of the curls.
“I can’t believe how great it looks,” she thinks to herself, “I never knew my hair could look this good.”
Sally walks down the street, feeling a new confidence within her. Today was such a great day, first with the news of her promotion and now with this amazing hairdo. She can’t wait to show it off to her friends and family, to hear their compliments and see their reactions.
As she walks, she imagines all the things she can do now with her new hairstyle, the different outfits she can wear and the places she can go. Sally can’t help but feel excited about what the future holds, now that she has a new look and a new position at work.
“I’m ready for anything,” she tells herself with a grin.
To Be Continued
