I usually do not take too many risks and could be considered a creature of habit or at least one of a conservative nature. I don't change things that do not need changing and especially when I like the results of whatever it is. That goes with the restaurant choices I have, the stores I shop in, and the salon I get my hair cut at. Megan had been cutting my hair now for over five years. She and my ex fiancé Becky had been best friends since they were five. Living near each other and going to the same schools their whole life made it so they were constantly around each other and were rarely seen alone without the other. Becky and I met during a psychology class in college and began dating within a month. She was pretty, she was cute, and she was a flirt. Unfortunately that led to our downfall as a couple.
After we graduated, I got a job near Becky's home town with the two of us planning a future together. During one of our trips home before our last semester I was introduced to Megan who had attended a cosmetology program and was working at a salon in town. Becky insisted I let her do my hair much to my reluctance of change and the fact that she was a student. Megan did a great job on my hair and I instantly found her to be very pleasant and compassionate for her customers. Her personality could make you forget your day and you would just be consumed in her beautiful nature. Combined with the fact that she was Becky's best friend I now had a new stylist for the foreseeable future.
We double dated with Megan and her boyfriend Mark who became engaged during the first summer we were home. I was happy for them because they were both good people and cared about others which made them an incredible couple. Becky went crazy helping Megan prepare for her wedding and I enjoyed watching the two girls get more excited each day as the wedding date drew near. Unfortunately on the day of the wedding Becky decided to cozy up to her ex-boyfriend who was in attendance all day and night. It seems that they had separated when they went off to different schools and now were in the midst of rekindling on the day of Megan's wedding. I avoided making a scene at the reception and decided to leave early since the only friendly faces were the bride and groom who did not have time to spend wallowing in my problem. That left me off on my own and I was emotionally devastated. My new job, the new home I bought, and everything else since graduation was obtained based on me being with Becky. Change did not work for me in this case and it was too late to go home. I now lived somewhere I didn't want to be.
For the first couple of years I tried telling myself it didn't hurt. But it did. Once I realized it and stopped feeling sorry for myself I became fully functional as an adult again. I could talk to others and even had a few dates. And the good thing was that when the dates didn't pan out it had nothing to do with Becky who wasn't a factor in my feelings anymore.
Megan still was my stylist and at first she was very quiet when I would come in. She eventually let me in on the fact that she did not approve of what had happened at her wedding and the commotion that Becky had caused. I am not sure what commotion she was talking about because I didn't cause any and had left early. She and Becky were no longer talking and Megan wanted me to know she felt really bad for what had happened that day. At one point she stopped cutting my hair, started crying, and then almost sat in my lap as she hugged me. And that is who I always thought Megan was. Kind and compassionate. And that is also what kept us as good friends. On occasions over the next few years I was invited over for different barbecues or super bowl parties making sure each time there was no chance of seeing Becky.
About a year ago I found out that Mark's company gone through a major downsizing and that he was let go. Megan didn't ask for help but I knew she could use it. I was still single with a good income living in a very affordable home. With a non-discussed motive I started making sure I tipped her quite generously on each visit. I even tried to tell her once that all I had was a one hundred dollar bill and that she would have to take it. I met some resistance at first but then told her that I am very uncomfortable with the discussion and to just take it which she did. She also walked around the counter and gave me another big hug.
I also made sure I got my haircut on a more frequent basis and didn't meet any other resistance to my tipping. She also allowed me to hand her a few one hundred dollar bills with the agreement that I would take it back whenever she felt she was back on track. It took about six months before Mark found work and in the meantime I made sure she was ok financially each time I visited her. If nothing else I was getting used to the hugs I was getting.
Mid-afternoon on a Tuesday I decided to take some comp time and call it quits so I could go home early. I had been working late most days and when the project I was on was completed I figured it was due to me. First order of business that day was to stop and see Megan on the way home. I had missed her for the last six weeks and my hair was being ruffled in back by my collar. I looked like an unkempt duck. Plus I needed a low key friendly conversation to relieve the pressure of working so many hours lately.
The salon was empty when I walked in and it was just Megan and a newer girl named Carly working. I had said hello to Carly a few times while I was there but didn't know too much about her. When Carly recognized me as one of Megan's customers she got up and walked to the back of the salon to allow Megan to attend to me. Something was lingering from their conversation that my arrival interrupted because Megan watched her until she got out of earshot before she turned back to me and started talking.
"Can you do me a favor? Carly is hurting for money right now and we aren't getting too many walk-ins. Plus the last couple of people in here today have all been my regulars. Would it be OK if she did you today?"
"Sure, but you know I don't like change? I am a little more scraggly than usual so she will have her work cut out for her."
"Thank you. You are a sweetheart."
And with that said I was the beneficiary of another one of Megan's hugs. It was consistent with her. Thinking of others first. She called back to a gracious Carly and told her she could take me that day and that she had to make a quick call if Carly didn't mind. I don't think she really had a call to make but I went along with it.
As she worked on my head mop I found Carly to be warm and fuzzy too. She wasn't Megan but she did have a very pleasant chair voice and liked to touch when she talked and worked. She seemed real nervous though and I tried to talk her slowly to put her at ease but that wasn't it. She was hurting for money and her thoughts were in two places. With me and with her problems. So I just came out and asked.
"Megan said you are struggling and could use some help." I said causing her to stop cutting and stare at me.
"Well unless you want to be my sugar daddy I don't think you can help me as much as I need." Carly said with an uncomfortable laugh.
Good, she can be just as up-front as I was. That will make it easier.
"How much money do you need?"
