HER CHOICE

"Thanks for your patronage ma'am" I said to the customer whose hair I just finished making

"Thanks, it's beautiful, I am certain my husband gonna love it" she beams while looking at herself in the mirror

"Of course, he will"

"Thanks once again, how much is my bill? She asked

" since you are my first customer today, you would get a ten percent off"

"Really"

"Yes"

"Oh thanks"

"You are welcome, you can pay over there" I said pointing to where my sister was.

"Okay"

Humming a song which words I knew not, I set to arrange the combs and equipment I just finished using

"Bye Jenny" the customer waved

"Oh bye, do have a nice day" I waved back

"And you too" she said leaving the shop

I continued my cleaning

"Jenny" I heard my little sister called

I decided to ignore her knowing fully well that she is calling to nag me

"Jennifer Arielle Lawrence!! She yelled

"You know you don't have to shout my name" I turned to face her with the tiniest smile

"When you pretended not to hear me the first time, you left with no choice at all then to call you in a way which you won't resist" she said leaving the counter to stand in front of me with a scowl evident on her countenance

"So sorry mom, what on earth did I do this time to warrant this? I asked

"Jenny, no doubt, I know you have a good heart and love giving discounts and all that"

"Yeah, so" I asked playing with my fingernails, I kinda knew where this is heading to

"Please and please, you can't afford to give discount anymore"

" I don't see why, it encourages the customers to patronize our service more"

"Yes, I know but if you continue to give out charity, we would be out on the street in no time"

"What do mean? I asked confused

"Maybe it had been a mistake hiding it from in the first place, I always thought I could handle it but it getting out of hand"

"Can you stop beating around the bush and go straight to the point?" I said getting impatient

Instead of answering, she drag one of the seats toward me, she signaled me to sit, which I reluctantly did.

Men, this is going to be a long lecture, I thought mentally rolling my eyes.

"You know, you've been a big support to Jesse and I ever since mom and dad died and I am super grateful for that but sometimes you act like a fool, before you talk, I am not trying to insult you or something but it's a fact" she said staring down at me

"I really don't know what you mean, can you please speak in clear terms" I said trying to process everything she said to no avail

"You in life, it is not every time you give charity, they are times you just have charged the right amount for a service but ever since I started working with you, you never had that sense of business and if you continue like that, we would have no choice but to close down the shop" she said

"I don't see any reason why the shop is going to close, I mean we are doing well right, right" I repeated when she didn't answer

I mean everything is going well, I do have up to 3 to 5 customers daily.

Instead of speaking, she went to her desk and bought some envelopes

"What are these? I asked glaring at the envelope as if they are a threat

"Bills Jenny, Bills waiting to be paid" she replied

"How come they are these much? I asked

She dragged another seat closer to me, I guess she is tired of standing.

"I never really wanted to drag you into this J" she said looking remorseful

"Why Joyce? I asked wondering why she couldn't trust me even when I told her to

"Look, ever since you made in charge of the accounts, I promised myself not to bother you, I thought I could take care of stuff but you kept giving discounts upon discounts, even when I always told not to, you never listen, you always thought I don't like giving but it isn't, the bills just keep piling up" she complained with tears threatening to drop from her eyes

"You would have told me"

"I know but I wanted to handle it myself, I never knew I was incompetent" She said

"You are not, you've been handling this for two years, seeing this envelope, I mean how did you manage to handle it? I asked scanning through the content of the envelope, damn these a lot of bills

"Well, I took some part-time job" She said

"What!!! I screamed shocked and extremely surprised

"Yeah" She laughed

"How did you manage to do it? I asked

"You know those times when I keep out late and you always thought I hang out with my friends" she said

"Yeah"

"Well, I don't hang out, I work as a waitress in a restaurant, night shift only, 3 times a week"

"Really"

"Yeah, well, unfortunately, the restaurant has closed up, so we have to rely on the shop to pay our bills" She said

"Joyce, why didn't you tell me? I asked

"I just wanted to do something for the family, you know everything has always been you, I know it isn't easy to carry the loads of the family on shoulders"

"But I have never complained" I said

"I heard you crying one time in your room"

"When was that? I asked

"Two years ago, I heard you saying you can't raise two kids but you going to try among a list of other things, I decided to do whatever it is to help" she said with a smug

"Come here" I said opening my arms to hug her

"You know, you don't have to try so hard" I whispered to her

"Woo woo, what going on here? A familiar voice asked

"Jesse" Joyce called

"Wanna join the family hug? I asked already knowing the answer

"Why not" he said bending to wrap his arms around us.

I smiled my babies are now grown up

TBC...