Hairdresser

**it took some time for him to perfect art of making a ponytail. Then he discovered a trick unknown to even best hairdressers. Instead of twisting the bunch of hair to make sure it does not come undone before it's tied, one can rotate the whole body. Rica simply had to turn around in place, while her father held the gathered hair above her head. Just like dancing, really.

She never forgets, "*talaga naman*", the aunties whisper among themselves these days. A remarkable child. She was only a little thing then, but she noticed all, didn't she, never missed anything, committed even details to memory. A very smart kid, but too serious, a sad kid.

They must have guessed that, recently, she has cheated on her promise to behave and save Big Lady. But only on nights when her father comes home late and drunk, and refuses to read the old letters from Paris\-\-\-indeed, she has been a very good girl. She's six and grown up now, so, even if his refusal has multiplied beyond her ten fingers, she always make sure that her nightly tears remained small and few. Like tonight, when she hoped her father will come home early, as he promised again. Earlier, Rica watched TV to forget, to make sure the tears won't amount mouthful. She hates waiting. Big Lady hates that, too, because then she'll have to clean up till the early hours of the morning.

Why Paris? Why three years and even more?*Aba*, this is getting too much now. The aunties never agree with her mother's decision to work here, on a fake visa, as a domestic *helper\-\-\-\-ay naku***, **taking care of others people's children, while, across the ocean, her own baby cries herself to sleep? *Talaga naman*! She wants to earn good money and build us a house. Remember, I only work in a factory.... Her father had always defended her wife, until recently, when all take about her return was shelved. It seems she must extend her stay, because her employer might help her to become "legal".Then she can come home for a visit and got back there to work some more\-\-\-

The lid clatters off the pot. Beneath her room, the kitchen is stirring again. Rica sits up on the bed\-\-\-the big one has returned? But she made sure the pot and plates were clean, even the cups, before she went to bed. she turns off the lamp to listen in the dark. Expectant ears, hungry for the phone's overseas beep. Her mother used to call each month and write her postcards, also long love letters, even if she couldn't read yet. With happy snaps, of course. Earlier this year, she sent one of herself and the baby of her employer.

Cutlery noise. Does she also check them? This has never happened before, her coming back after a lean meal. Perhaps, she's licking a spoon for any trace of saltiness, searching between the prongs of a fork. Unknown to Rica, Big Lady is wise, an old hand in this business**.

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