didn’t realize she’d have to check out so soon.
“No, checkout’s at eleven, but I can give you til twelve if you need it, not like I’m gonna get to cleaning your room anytime soon.”
“Actualy, I was thinking of one more night.”
“Whatever suits you. Anything else?” She clicked her polished fingertips on the counter.
“Yes, I was wondering if you have a scissors I could borrow.”
“Let’s see. There should be one around here somewhere.” She rifled through drawers and shuffled papers. “Whatcha need it for?”
Libby’s face warmed, she wanted to lie, but couldn’t think fast enough. “For my hair.”
The woman examined Libby closely. “I see. Needing a new look are you?”
Libby nodded.
“Wel who am I to interfere? It’s your business. Here you go.” She handed over a pair of scissors. “Be sure to return them.”
“I wil, I promise.” Libby took them and quickly went to her room.
Less than thirty minutes later, Libby returned the scissors. The woman stood behind the counter, adding numbers on a smal desk calculator. She looked up as Libby entered.
“Wel, let’s see your handiwork.”
Libby turned around revealing her shortened tresses. She meant for her hair to reach below her shoulders, but the length was crooked and each time she tried to fix it, the other side became uneven.
“Oh honey, that’s the worse haircut I’ve ever seen.” Libby’s heart fel. She knew it wasn’t great, but she didn’t realize it was so bad.
“Come around back here and I’l fix it up if you like.” Libby hesitated, not sure if she should.
“Come on, I won’t bite your head off. I’m pretty handy with a scissors. I cut al my boys’ hair, saves a heap a money. I cut Jimmy’s hair too, up until he got arrested and sent off to prison.
That man is a fool if ever I saw one.”
“Wel, if you’re sure.”
“Course I am. I was al signed up for cosmetology school when I got pregnant with Jimmy, Jr. Shattered my dreams until I saw the little bugger. Cutest thing you ever did see.”
“By the way, I’m DarLynn.”
“I’m Jil.” She offered her hand along with the fake name. It would be a long time before she trusted someone with the truth.
“Nice to meet you Jil.” DarLynn shook her hand. “Take your coat off and sit right here.” She puled a smal kitchen stool into the middle of her narrow kitchen.
Libby took off her coat, laid it on a sofa covered with an old bedspread then sat on the stool. DarLynn grabbed a comb and worked through Libby’s hacked up hair.
“You just can’t cut your own hair. Bangs yes, but the rest, forget it. Never works.” She began to snip away, talking as she went. Libby relaxed at the touch of the young woman’s hands and her constant chatter.
“Not too many young girls come to stay at the Twilight, at least not without a guy hanging on ‘em.”
Libby worried this would happen. She couldn’t talk about herself, or she’d get shipped back.
“Reminds me of myself at your age. Trouble everywhere I turned. Those were some awful times. At least til I met Jimmy. My lord, he was a good looking piece of man. Don’t get me wrong, he’s stil damn fine, just life’s been catching up with him. You gotta boyfriend?”
“No. Not anymore.” Libby pretended it didn’t matter.
“I see. Wel honey, you’re better off without him. If he was too dim to see how wonderful you are, he was the wrong one.” She snipped and combed, then suddenly paused. “He didn’t hit you did he?” DarLynn popped in front of Libby, her face etched with concern.
“Oh no, nothing like that. He just broke it off. Actualy, he had his brother do it.”
DarLynn looked outraged. “That’s terrible.” She resumed her trimming. “I tel ya, I had a guy break up with me. He walked out of a restaurant while I was in the ladies room. Can you imagine? Stuck me with the bil too. Honey, I tel you, men are pigs. No getting around it.”
She couldn’t ever imagine Peter leaving her stranded on a date, but then again, he didn’t bother to break up with her himself either.
“He leave you for another girl? That’s what a lot of ‘em do.”
“I don’t think so, but he plays in a band, so I guess there could be someone else.” Another girl hadn’t occurred to her until now. It made her stomach hurt. Whether it was from lack of food or thinking about Peter she couldn’t say.
“A musician. Oh honey, love a rocker and