Lavonne on the Job: The Hair Salon

By Sheila Murdock

This is it.

 

Lavonne Mack has had it.

 

It is time, and nothing is changing her mind.

 

The end of the road working in corporate America as a marketing manager is here, and she is shedding no tears. This is the beginning of a new beginning, and she can't be any happier to get started on her new career.

 

Her next job?

 

An out-of-order, far-gone hair salon.

 

And she's never had her work cut out for her as much as she has it now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sheila Murdock
• Release date: Feb 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798227117670

Book preview

1

The elevator couldn’t descend to the parking garage fast enough. I couldn’t believe this was my very last day at this place. The last day in corporate America, and if I had it my way, I would never come back no matter how much they paid me—not ever—because not everything was about money. This was it. I had all I could take from a career that no one respected anyone in. No one cared about helping anyone get ahead except for themselves, but it was really no surprise because it had always been this way—a dog-eat-dog world in every way—so I knew it was definitely time for me to end my stay and find another way.

Shit!

The elevator stopped . . . and opened.

Oh, Lavonne! I’m so sorry to hear you’re leaving! Jennifer said as she rushed into the elevator with her blonde hair in her signature sloppy bun; she knew not to try and give me a farewell hug; instead, she tried to give me a sympathetic stare all the while probably thinking that I was fired.

Stop it, I thought. Time for me to move on, I said with a genuine smile.

She stared at me as her piercing-blue eyes almost bulged out through her black thick-frame glasses. I sometimes thought she looked like the essence of madness. You didn’t like it here?

It’s just time for me to move on, I repeated, and I didn’t want to have to do it again.

The elevator stopped once again as more people got on. I got out.

Well, good luck, she said with a smile.

Thank you, I said without looking back.

I walked over to the stairwell and walked down two more flights of stairs to get to my car. I didn’t wanna talk to anyone else. I didn’t need anyone’s sympathy because I sure as hell didn’t get it while I worked here. I was doing what I said I was doing—moving on. Moving on from the bullshit. Moving on from the disrespect.

But was I really moving on from all of it?

Because I had to be real. Very real. I really wasn’t moving on from all of that bullshit and much more, I was just moving on with it to a different place—wherever that place was gonna be—because nowhere was drama free.

I walked over to my car. I came to a hard stop before I approached it. I almost dropped my box. What are you doing here?

It was my assistant, Milla Ives. I thought she was still working inside. I’d bid her a farewell that I was getting out of this hell. But now she was standing right next to my car . . .

With a box in her hands.

And it wasn’t one of my boxes since I was holding the last one I was taking out from my office for the last time.

Lavonne, listen to me.

I’m listening, I said, as I stared at her in complete confusion.

I feel the same as you. I’ve had it with being here, too. I don’t know what I’m doing, but what I do know is that I need to get out of here just as much as you do.

You quit, too? I asked.

She let out a deep sigh as she tried to smile. Yes.

Wow, I said, as I took a quick look around to see if someone was getting us on video because I didn’t know why I found this sort of unbelievable.

Like I said, I feel the same as you. I don’t like it here, in fact, I hate it. I hate it so much. And I have for some time. I think the way they’ve treated you should be a crime. You were here for well over ten years and have been passed over for so many promotions for people who didn’t have even half the qualifications as you; they were just the right skin tone and gender. I see how you have made the company a much better place, and I couldn’t ask for a better boss. I will follow you anywhere, wherever you go next. I don’t wanna spend one more minute here. You’re the best person I’ve ever worked for.

I was truly touched by what she said. I really loved Milla. She was by far one of the best assistants any boss could have. She worked just as hard as I did, but she never seemed to have been appreciated by anyone for her hard work other than by me. But I just didn’t know if it was gonna work out with the two of us going together on another job journey. Milla. I don’t even know what I’m gonna do yet. All I know is that I had to leave here. I honestly didn’t expect all of this. I thought you were gonna start working for Tillman tomorrow?

Are you fuckin’ kidding me? There’s no way I wanted to work for that chauvinistic shithead. Can’t stand him at all, and I always felt like I was gonna vomit when he would talk all close to me in his classic condescending manner with his stomach-turning cigarette breath he tries to cover up with bunch of bad mints; made me fuckin’ sick. He’s nothing but an arrogant bully who thinks he’s above women just because he’s a man. I feel he only got as far as he has because he is a man. Yeah, it’s hard to think that shit like this still exists, but it does.

I grinned. Yeah, it does and as we both know it always will.

He’s also too vain for me to have to deal with every day; thinks he looks a million times better than he does when to me he looks like a porn star. I hate him, Lavonne, I really do.

I laughed. Well, you should never have to work for someone you don’t like, especially when they’re the reason why you don’t like them and they don’t make any effort to wanna be a better person. There are way too many jobs out there and better people to work with and work for.

And I want to be your assistant to wherever you go next. I don’t want to stay here in this mess, Lavonne.

Yeah, who would?

She laughed. Well, you know I don’t have a car. I was wondering if you could give me a ride home and we can talk about this some more?

I looked at her as she stared back at me. She was serious. I saw that someone besides me had took all of what they were gonna take from being here and she never showed it once while she was here. She always kept it professional. And just to think it took everything out of me to tell her earlier that I was quitting for personal reasons, and she would be the assistant to someone else tomorrow. I was honestly the lead she followed. Get in.

Thank you, Lavonne, she said with a big smile, as she got into my Mercedes EQS Sedan. Wow, your car is gorgeous. I hope to own something like this one day, she said, as I backed out of my parking space for the last time.

Thank you. I’ve only had it for a few months. I wish I was independently wealthy where I don’t have to work anymore for the rest of my life.

Yeah, don’t we all! she said with a laugh. My goodness, Lavonne. What the fuck did I just do?

You quit like me, obviously. Having seconds thoughts about doing it already?

Fuck no, I don’t!

I laughed. Well, I don’t blame you and it’s all a matter of time before others quit, too. Working there started to get very toxic so I knew my time there was over. I’m glad you decided at the last minute to make the same move I did.

"Yeah, I decided to quit during lunch. I didn’t wanna tell you until you left for the day. I thought I could catch you out here before you left since you said you had to talk to a few people before you got out of there for good. Charla asked me was I quitting because you were resigning—just why the hell was she trying to make it seem like I was doing something worse by quitting, but you were doing something different by resigning? She was like, ‘You aren’t quitting because of Lavonne resigning?’ As if it’s not the same fuckin’ thing."

I laughed once again. I couldn’t believe her mouth! Wow, Milla. I haven’t heard you ever cuss like this and this much at that. You really didn’t like it there just as much as I didn’t, huh?

I didn’t, she reconfirmed, as she stared out the window. I felt like I could only hold on to that job because of you. If you would’ve left a long time ago then I would’ve been right behind you just as I was today. You are by far one of the hardest workers I know, Lavonne, and I was tired of seeing you always getting the shorter end of the stick; now you know what I think they can do with their stick.

I laughed. Yeah, I have some idea!

And I’ll be your assistant at any job, any job you go to next if you need one. If not? Well, I’ll just be on my own.

I smiled. Thank you, Milla. That makes me feel good to hear; very good, in fact. I’ve just been so unhappy there for so long I told my husband that I didn’t know how much more I was gonna be able to take there. He told me to quit a long time ago; said he makes enough at his job to support both of us—he’s right, he does—but I’m not one to be sitting around a big house and do nothing, especially since we don’t have children, if you don’t wanna count our Rottweiler, King.

I’d love to see King, she said with a smile.

You definitely will. He’s still a puppy; beautiful little thing. But I actually love to work, but if I would’ve quit back then, I just didn’t know what I wanted to do if I had. Hell, I still don’t know what it is I wanna do now. Do you?

No, I don’t. I honestly don’t have anything in mind. I’m just happy to be out of there, that’s really all I can think about right now. I feel like I’ve had a million jobs. I’m only in my early 30s, and I feel like I haven’t done anything fulfilling. I feel like all I’ve done is assistant jobs. I feel like I’m not getting anywhere worth getting to. I’ve applied so many times for other jobs just a step above what I’ve done and have never gotten a response.

Just keep trying, Milla. It’s definitely hard out here, especially for us.

She sighed. Yeah, especially for us.

I looked in my rearview mirror as corporate America became a memory behind me as the tall buildings faded in the distance as I drove down the street. Wow. I can’t believe I won’t be going back there tomorrow.

That makes two of us, she said with a smile. I was thinking now about going back to school.

That would be cool. I know you mentioned it to me more than once about doing it, but you didn’t have time, but now you do.

But I still need to work. I can only go part time if I do, and I’ll have to do it online so thank goodness they have schools online now. I’m not into going to any schools in person anymore. Those days have passed for me. I’ve experienced it so there’s no need for me to experience it again.

Been there and done all of it, I said with a smile. And no, I wouldn’t do it again either.

But I just might have to if I can’t find work anytime soon, she honestly said. But all I know right now is that I feel like I’ve had a thousand-pound weight lifted off of me from getting out of there. Whatever is in store ahead of me, I can handle it.

And I know you can, Milla. You’re gonna be all right. We’re both gonna be all right, I said, as Father MC’s Everything’s Gonna Be Alright began playing on the radio.

But I just wasn’t so sure. I knew what I wanted to do next—whatever it was—was probably gonna be nothing like what I’d left behind after being there for over ten years. But whatever it was, I knew I had to give it my all and make an impact wherever it was going to be because it was clear that as much as I did at my now former job, no one appreciated my work and tireless efforts, and I was not going through the same thing at my new job.

2

Ipulled up in my driveway and into the garage to my husband, Naito, waiting for me as he held King. He took the day off just so he could be here for me since he knew it was my last day. He opened my door for me. Hey, honey.

Hey, baby. He extended his arm out to me and helped me up out of the car. I loved it when he did this. He was honestly a great husband. Your last day in corporate America.

Yes, I’m done, I said with certainty.

We kissed.

He handed King to me and got my boxes out of the car. I didn’t know if I would’ve ever been carrying your boxes from your office in here because you decided to abruptly resign.

And I wasn’t the only one who did, I informed him as we entered the house as King gave me some ‘You’re Home!’ licks, as I called them.

For real? Who else did? he asked, as he put my boxes on the kitchen counter.

Milla.

"Milla? Are you serious, baby?"

Yeah, as serious as I’ve ever been, I said, as I took off my Manolo Blahnik BB black calf leather pumps—my go-to pair of shoes I wore for the majority of the time at work—and walked over to the oven where one of my comfort meals was cooking in it, lasagna. Mmmm. Can’t wait until its done. I can already smell it.

It would’ve already been done but I didn’t have the stuff here, and of course I wanted all fresh ingredients.

Thank you, honey.

We kissed once again.

So, Milla quit, too? Wow. I know it was because of you.

Yeah, she said it was, I said, and sat at the kitchen table while he poured me some of the best wine to pair with his lasagna. He put the glass in front of me. Thanks, baby.

Anytime, he replied as he sat across from me.

Yeah, Milla was standing out there right by my car with her box and everything. I actually thought the box was mine that I forgot in my office. She said she wasn’t staying since I wasn’t; said she didn’t wanna work for Tillman.

I don’t blame her. Can’t stand him either.

"Yeah, most who work there can’t. But he’s a man and got ahead of me because of it; I don’t care what anyone says. He came there five years after me, but leapfrogged right over me and got better positions all for being a chauvinistic prick, that’s it."

I’m glad you resigned from that job, baby. I could see how much it was stressing you out as the years went by, and I remember that day you came home in tears telling me that he got that job over you and that he laughed about it. I wanted to go up there and knock his head off—his and that asshole who hired him over you—but I have a career myself.

That’s right, you do, and I want you to keep your engineering career since you’re one of the highest paid ones in your profession and one of the best at it. Especially now.

Yeah, especially now. But it’s obvious that you have a lot of influence over Milla if she decided to quit as well because of you resigning.

And how come I resigned and she quit? I asked with a curious grin.

What?

"That’s what Charla—my exit interviewer—said to Milla. She was her exit interviewer as well. That’s what Milla told me. She said that Milla was quitting, and I was resigning. What’s the difference?"

Job status, he replied with a grin. And you know it, Lavonne.

It shouldn’t be a difference. It’s all the same meaning, just a different word.

Well, you’re right.

And Milla’s job was no way less prestigious than mine.

Never said or thought it was, Lavonne.

I feel that she was the reason why I stayed there for as long as I did, as me with her. She said she wants to be my assistant for whatever I decide to do next.

And have you decided that?

No, not at all. I have no idea.

Well, you don’t have to do anything, you know that. You know I told you that when you said you were definitely gonna resign. You know I can take care of both of us with what I make, he said, as Work to Do by The Isley Brothers began playing on the speakers throughout the house.

I know, but you know I don’t wanna sit around here and not do anything. We don’t have any kids to take care of besides our fur baby, and besides, I like to work. It’s just that I didn’t like working there anymore. I knew when it was time to leave, but I just wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next. Milla said she doesn’t know what she wants to do either, but she said if we don’t end up working together again then she’s gonna go back to school online.

That’s a smart thing to do. She can get more of an education and start getting the kind of jobs you had or whatever else she may want.

I didn’t have a job, Naito, I had a career.

I know, baby. And you can take your marketing manager career skills to any company, not just one in corporate America.

And that’s what I intend to do. Well, Milla and I are going out for lunch tomorrow to talk more about it. It will be a great time for us to talk as friends instead of co-workers because the truth is, we don’t work there anymore so she’s not my assistant anymore.

But I believe she will follow you anywhere, Lavonne, wherever you decide to go next. She even told you that herself.

I smiled. Yeah, you’re right. She said she would!

He laughed. See there! But you really haven’t decided yet, huh?

No, I really haven’t.

Well, I know you’ll think of something soon, and hopefully it’ll include Milla in it as well. But you know that no matter what, my offer still stands about you just staying here and being a true housewife.

I’ll pass, Naito. You know I love to work; it gives me something to do and makes me feel fulfilled. But I admit I lost that fulfillment several years ago working where I used to work. Wow, I can’t believe I’m actually saying I used to work there now.

That’s because like you said, it was definitely time for you to move on. Something out there is definitely better for you; I know it just as much as you know it.

Yeah, I know you do. Now, let’s move on to this lasagna!

King licked his little chops.

Naito and I laughed when he did this. King always knew how to make us laugh when he wasn’t even trying to. That’s what we loved about him, and I really needed all the laughs I could get it right now.

None for you! Naito said as we still