Chapter 2: Talisha the Magnificent
My face must have been as red as a fire truck after Mama kept flattering me. I didn't know if I should have felt proud or ashamed. Mama told me that it was polite to feel modest because all of this was new to me. Mama and I have been to every shop and boutique there was. Trying on this and trying on that, I forgot who we were shopping for after a while. Everywhere we went Mama kept talking about my makeover to the shop keepers and then they started gawking at and talking about "how my skin is fair as porcelain" and "how my hair so long and black like fine suede" and let's not forget about "how my eyes are big and beautiful as orbs of topaz." I was flattered, do not get me wrong but everyone was swooning over me like some type of model or movie star. "All righty dear" Mama said almost out of breath from jabbering all day long. "Here is some money for your hair and nails." She reached in her bra and pulled out a couple hundred bucks. "Thank you." I said taking the money from her hand and placing it in my bra. "I got some help with the bags, I am going to run along home to get dinner started" she added "I will be home soon" I told her with a smile and we went our separate ways. After a few short steps I arrived at the hair and nail boutique. I went in and sat in the styling chair, and waited to be serviced. A lady with deep purple hair and hot pink glasses walked up to me. "Hello my name is Min, I will be your stylist today" she said with her hand out for a hand shake. "Great my name is Talisha Fukushima, nice to meet you." I say with a smile and I shake her hand. "What can I do for you today?" She asked "A Mani –Pedi would be nice and I want my hair to stay long, just cut me a china bang and round my ends." I instruct "We can do!" Said Min and she clapped her hands. Four other ladies came from out of the back with a foot tub, polish, stool, and other tools. After an hour or two, I was all finished. "You know Mrs. Fukushima, You are quite the looker, you do not look like the other ladies around here, Where are you from?" Min inquired "New York City, My Mother was from here" I tell her. The lady is silent in her thoughts "Was your mother, by any chance Kiyoko Fukushima?" she asked "Yes, how do you know her?" I asked "We went to school together" she said. "I am very sorry for your lost" She said and hugged me. "Thank you Min" I hug her back. "Your mother was quite the looker herself, everyone used to call her Kiyoko the Magnificent." She said with a chuckle. "Wow, mom never told me about that." I say jokingly "Now that she has gone it is your duty to carry her title." She says with a smile. I laugh and say my good byes. As I was walking back to the shrine I thought about what Min had said. Was I really the beauty that everyone said that I was? I finally made it home after a little while; I could smell the aroma of stew in the air as I climbed the stairs to the shrine. Papa was sitting underneath the sacred tree, I went over to go sit with him "How was business today Papa?" I asked "It was fair enough Ta-…" Papa paused a he gazed at me "Is there something wrong?" I asked him "No, my child I was just lost for words." He replied "I know that you probably have been hearing it all day from Mama but, you are beautiful my dear." He said "Thank you Papa" I reply. "I know that it may seem far way, but one day you will fall in love, any man that cannot acknowledge your beauty and admire your worth is a fool." He tells me. Just then Mama had called to us for dinner. My life has never been like this, the joys of shopping, family meals, and laughter. I can never express my gratitude to Mama and Papa for coming to come get me. I am finally living, the life that I so desperately desired. I wish that Mom could see me like this, all frilly and stuff. I know that she might have been as bad as Mama. I will embrace my new beginning and carry the title bestowed upon me 'Talisha the Magnificent'.