Scissors is the blog's first fictional post. It's a story about a 14 year old named Vanessa and her struggle with family. Also most of all hair. Follow Vanessa and their journey to figuring out who they are.
"He didn't mean it."
Fourteen years of hard work flushed down the drain. My mother looks at me in shock.
"Last night Nicky and I were playing with the scissors and he probably got ideas."
Her eyes widened, "You let him play with scissors!"
"Yes I did, but I was right there the entire time."
She puts her hands around my head.
"I think we're lucky it's hair this time and not your fingers."
She sighs, "Tomorrow we're going to Nina's to fix this. Nicky is never seeing scissors again -and lock your door!"
I run up to my room and celebrate.
Confession Time: I've hated my hair since I was eight years old. When all of my boy friends and I were playing basketball, things got really intense. One of the boys pulled my ponytail and I fell to the ground. It was ok, I was a tough eight year old and I could deal with some illegal moves. Although my mother was there and told me to come in the house. That day she told me I couldn't play ball anymore. From that day on I've wanted nothing to do with my ponytail. It was just a burden to me. My mother adores my hair. She gives braids and buns that make my head hurt. When she has time she'll take two hours straightening it. She thinks I'm a doll.My teacher ,Mrs.Fey, always has her hands in it. "Vanessa, you're an angel." I often imagine pushing her into a desk and saying, Mrs. Fey, your back is broken!” I hate it, all of it. I've waited for this day for a very long time. I can't wait to visit Nina.
Nina is my mother's really good friend. She went from doing hair in her living room to having her own salon.
"Girl this is a travesty."
My mother finally found someone to attend her funeral.
"It's fixable and since she's a pretty girl she'll rock it."
Nina snaps at my head with precision and quickness. In only fifteen minutes I have a pixie cut. My bang is the longest part of my whole head. I keep having to push it back from getting in my eyes. I love it though.
"Thank you Nina, she looks beautiful." My mother is lying to be polite. To her, I look nothing more than neat.
My mother opens the door to the house. From on top of the staircase we hear, "Three sons!" My mother stomps her feet, "Brandon shut up! Brandon and I burst into laughter. "You all think this is funny?” Brandon, holding in his laughter, "She looks great. She looks dashing really. Don't you look dashing? '' I nod my head. "She looks elegant and powerful.” All women with short hair do. My mother , finally calm, "Go up to your room". Brandon grabs my hands. He whispers in my ear "Come on little bro”
Confession Time: I love myself ten times more with short hair than I even did with it down to my back. I wish I could kiss myself. I asked Brandon how he thinks I look and he said I could never look ugly, Which isn't an answer. He let me have some of his clothes today. He knows mother would never let me wear them. "You're fourteen, not four. You should do whatever you want.”
It's 7:00 and I'm wearing my brother's shirt and pants.
I comb my hair. I keep looking at myself. I feel like this is how I should look.
My mother lays her hand on her forehead. "Why are you wearing Brandon's clothes?"
I can't answer or even speak for that matter.
Brandon walks into the kitchen and says, "You look nice!"
My mother turns around, "Why is she in your clothes?”
"I gave them to her," he says nonchalantly.
She laughs and says, "Go upstairs and change."
"She's wearing a shirt not a jockstrap!"
Brandon never yells. No one ever yells at mother.
"Who are you talking to?"
"Oh come on mom she's too old for that!"
"I don't like it!”
"It's completely casual and no one knows it's mine but us."
"BRANDON I DON'T WANT HER WEARING IT!"
Crying starts from upstairs.
"You're really passionate about some pants. Most girls barely want to cover their thighs!"
My mother pushes in her chair and turns to him . "Your sister looks ridiculous and now you've woken up my son."
Brandon gets me to walk out the door and I whisper to him, "Thank you!"
Confession Time: Today at school everyone said I looked nice. Riley said I looked like Leonardo DiCaprio from the 90s, which is definitely a compliment. Tiffany said, "No offense but you look better this way." I do Tiffany,none taken. Evan called me the coolest dude. I feel happier with my hair this way than I ever did with it down to my back. I never want to wear my clothes again. I never want my hair long again.
I'm in the hospital now and Nicholas is sick again.
"What's wrong with him Brandon?"
"I don't know anymore."
Nicholas was born 3 months early. He doesn't talk very much and he can't walk well.
Mother comes through the doors with him in her arms.
"Big boy!” I yell.
I grabbed him from my mother.
He smiles at me, "V!"
Nicky's body is really warm but he's still smiling.
"It's only a fever. I've got a prescription so he'll be ok.”
It's 9:00 at night and I'm getting food. I hear my mother's footsteps so I try to hurry.I grab my sandwich and walk quickly out. She stops me, "Brandon was right today. I shouldn't be so hard on you. I'm sorry.”I don't feel like talking to her right now.
I walk up and in the middle, her voice cracking, "Just don't grow up too fast on me."
Confession Time:Nicky is a good brother and he wouldn't hurt anyone. Sometimes he's curious though. I mean he's more curious than most three year olds. One time he broke grandma's vase and thought it was hilarious. So now we can't leave anything fragile unattended because he'll break it just for laughs. He'll imitate us too. One day he ripped up mother's letters. I think he was just trying to help. He just wants to be like us. So it wouldn't be surprising if he cut my hair. It would be believable. That day it was really hot. I had sweat all over my face and I just couldn't take it anymore. I was going to die if I had to do one more day like that. So I cut really big chunks of it. I made it look messy but I wasn't sure if she would believe me. If she didn't I would just tell her. She could finally know something about her daughter for once. She still treats Nicky well though. I'm sure Nicky wouldn't mind that I blamed him anyway. He would be happy he helped. I can't put into words my happiness about my hair or my brother's pants. It's like my whole life I've been Clark Kent and today I was Superman. When I leave her house I'll be able to wear whatever I want and I won't be her doll anymore.I'll be the cutest boy ever.
