ABC (American Born Chinese)

"Please sit."

I sit. I hang my bag on the arm and lean back for her to put the towel on my back. I lie back fully and wait for the water. She sprays, and says something. I don't understand. I make a sound that shows that I didn't understand. She repeats herself. I just agree. She holds up the sprayer and drenches my hair. It's warm. I like when people touch my hair.

"Is the water....?"

I didn't quite catch that. I agree and say it's okay. She continues and massages my temple and forehead.

"Is the water too hot?"

"It's okay," I said.

She stops spraying my hair. She disappears and when she returns she lathers my hair with shampoo. She starts to intensely wash and massage my hair. One dollar less. Her nails scratch hard. I pray to God that my head won't bleed.

"Does it...?"

"It's okay," I said.

She continues to roughly massage my hair. That's a new technique. She presses her fingers on the back of my head, as if she's trying to open an egg.

I remember now how to say, "Do it lighter." But my mouth continues to stay shut. I don't want to have repeat myself and that's usually what happens when I speak. My face cringes, hoping she will notice but she doesn't. She rinses my hair. She puts in conditioner. Repeat technique. My scalp burns.

She towels off my hair.

"Thanks."

"Don't be modest."

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My scalp is still burning and I'm sitting on my fat ass, eating Madeleines, preparing for a heart attack.