Camp Sissy Curls (Second Summer)--part30
I pulled the brim of my baseball cap down as far as I could over my face. I glued my eyes to the pavement and made for the entrance as quickly as possible, given my bow legged waddle.
I was determined to get in, done, and out as fast as I could. And I was desperate to keep my face hidden, so it wouldn't be seen. And so I wouldn't see the horrors around me. I'd only have to hear them.
From my very first steps in the crowded parking lot, I heard tons of gasps and giggles and laughter and cries of disbelief at the sight of me. And of course, much taunting and teasing.
But I kept on course, watching one foot stepping in front of the other.
Inside the Mall, I quickly glanced up to get my bearings. I knew, from last summer, where the beauty salon was. And off I headed, with great haste, to the sounds of laughter and biting comments and remarks.
Probably what I heard most were really questions. "Is that a boy or a girl???" and "Is he or she wearing diapers???" and "What's a Wannabee???" and the like. And thankfully, no one actually engaged me.
In the salon, standing in front of the receptionist at the counter, I heard (my face was still buried under the brim of my cap) her giggle.
"Uhmmm....oh my!!!....ahh....can I help you young lady?....ohhh, I mean young man....Ahhhh!!!" And she just gave up in frustration and simply asked. "Can I help you?"
I didn't look up. And the salon became fairly silent. Customers and beauticians certainly dumbstruck, for the moment, at the spectacle of me.
"My name's Pat." I mumbled under my brim. "I have a one o'clock hair appointment."
"Yes, we have you down here." She said, scrolling her finger down a waitng list. "Follow me please!"
I was glad to not have to wait for my appointment. "Quick and dirty" was my goal.
In front of the styling chair, the receptionist said. "This is Chloe. She'll be doing your hair."
"Hi, it's....ahhh....Pat. Right?" She chuckled. And she sounded fairly young.
I just nodded my head up and down.
"Well, have a seat Pat and we'll get started." She said.
I sat down and she tied an apron around me and removed my baseball cap---my security blanket! But that had to be.
"Gosh!" She said, moving her hands around my wad of braiding. "Braids!!!"
I took a quick glance at her and myself in the mirror. And she was very cute! But no time for thoughts of that. In, done, and out as fast as possible, was my only thought.
"Would you like a shampoo?" The obligatory first question.
"No, it's clean!" Quick and dirty, I thought.
"Well, what would you like to have done today?" She asked, undoing my braids.
"Just my bangs trimmed and about a quarter inch off the hair length, to get rid of any split ends. That's all!" I replied, very business like.
"Okay then." And she brushed me out and started with my bangs first.
And as she clipped away at them, she quietly asked, with some hesitation. "Uhmmm....I don't mean to be rude but, " and she paused for a moment and whispered, "uhmmm....are you a boy or a girl???"
"Neither!" I liked short and to the point.
"Okay....Pat!"
A minute later came. "What's Camp Sissy Curls and what's a Wannabee???"
"A place and a thing!" I tersely replied.
And then, "are you wearing diap...."
I immediately cut her off in frustration.
"Listen Chloe. If you leave me alone and keep your mouth shut and don't ask any more questions, I'll leave a ten buck tip!"
That silenced her. But with her silence, I became more acutely aware of everyone else in the salon. The giggles and laughs. The questioning remarks and hurtful comments. The disgusted looks on the faces of many of the patrons.
I guess the worst came from a sweet, pretty little girl of maybe four or five. As her mother lifted her onto a booster seat in the styling chair next to me, she innocently, but loudly called out. "Is that a boy or a girl Mommy and why's he wearing diapers???"
The place exploded in laughter, as the mother scolded her daughter. "Hush up Rachael, mind your own business!"
And the mother glared over at me, in disgust, and mouthed a single, unspoken word. I could read her lips. The word was "pervert".
I started to well up in tears. It really hurt to be seen as a pervert, especially in front of an innocent little girl.
Mercifully, Chloe quickly AND quietly finished all the hair trimming.
"You gotta braid it all back up like it was, so I can fit my cap over it." I told her.
Apron off and cap on. Wham, bam, thank you ma'm! And I headed to the counter to settle up. The floor was my guide again, as I struggled to drown out the sound of the jeering customers.
As I paid and left a ten dollar tip, the receptionist said. "I think I remember you now! Weren't you in here last summer for a perm?"
"No!!!" I grumbled.
Outside in the Mall, I took a deep breath. "One down, two to go!" I said, under my breath.
I hustled as quickly as I could for the food court, keeping to the sides of the Mall, in an effort to be more inconspicuous. But I still was very conspicuous, of course.
Bum patting, by girls and boys alike; with taunts of "Need a diaper change baby???" and "Are you wet and poopy snookums???" and such, was the most common occurrence. Well, that and the proverbial question of "Are you a boy or a girl???"
Last in line at Burger King, for a quick soda, I felt another bum pat from behind and heard a quick whisper over my shoulder.
"Having fun Stephie???"
Oh hell, I thought in panic. Somebody's recognized me!