Dark Or Cream

“Did you?! Alright, yeah, that sounds like Ebony. She stays on that phone, honey. Last time she was in the shop I threatened to stop doing her hair for good if she didn’t stop playing with that Facebook b.s. I don’t even do social networks.”

“Well, you should. It’s good for business. That’s not the point, though. I made a page on this dating website called pof.com, and I didn’t think anything would come of it, aside from a few more men in my inbox. But, guess what? I met this guy. He’s a white guy.”

“Rewind, say what, now?”

“He’s a white guy.”

“O…kay…” Isis processed that information, and she trained her eyes on her client’s hair, not saying anything as Kaja continued.

“He has a lawn mower repair shop somewhere in town and probably lives out on the outskirts, but he’s local. He’s fun. He’s—well, just an all-around okay guy. I like him.”

“Mmmhmm…What about the other fella?”

“Okay, so Ebony sent this guy my way at the party, who’s friends with Ramses, which made me skeptical. I thought he’d be immature, but—let me tell you!—I could barely concentrate on whether he was childish or not for staring at his sexy lips! Isis, he was a walking Nubian god!”

“Don’t blaspheme, heathen,” Isis chuckled.

“You know what I’m saying, girl. He was finer than baby hair, and my body told me loud and clear it’s been too long. Whew! Isis, I want to get to know both of them. It’s not like I’m being dishonest. They know. I just want your opinion.”

“Truth or sugar-coated?”

Kaja’s head snapped back and a surprised smile teased her lips. “Be real with me, always.”

“Then, truth be told, I don’t see a problem with dating two men at one time, as long as you’re being upfront with both of them and, in your sweet case, not being physical with both of them. However, honey chile, I gotta be blunt and tell you I don’t think dating a white boy is what you need to be doing.”

“Huh? What’s his race have to do with anything? We’re a progressive, open minded generation. Don’t tell me you ascribe to the archaic belief races shouldn’t mix.”

“Have I ever said anything like that before? I’m not saying that now. I’m saying you personally might prefer to stick with your own kind.”

Kaja tried to understand what her friend was trying to get across, but she was drawing a blank because apparently Isis was giving her advice specifically tailored to Kaj. Kaja couldn’t see why she, specifically, didn’t need to date someone who wasn’t her “own kind,” whatever that meant, and she was slightly offended. Was there something about her Isis considered only suitable for a particular type of men? Kaja rejected that idea because it implied she wasn’t good enough for white men, and she didn’t believe for one second that her closest friend, besides Ebony, would think that way. Isis couldn’t possibly think one race was better than another race, and she definitely wouldn’t think Kaja wasn’t good enough for anyone, regardless of race. “What are you implying, Isis? I have to admit, I’m not liking the general direction of the conversation, but I asked for it.”

Isis stopped doing hair and parked her hands on her hips, giving Kaja her full attention. She didn’t want to say, but as Kaja had pointed out, she had asked for it. “Kaja, you’re a beautiful, voluptuous, whole lot of woman, and historically white men prefer women with a little less meat on their bones. I’m not being racist. That’s just what it is, and don’t look like that cause I’m not saying anything everybody don’t already know. They like Barbie types. You’re super fly and sexy to me, and every black man I know who knows you thinks the same because black men appreciate a thick, fine woman with hips and booty. It’s a cultural thing. Not to mention, you ever tried explaining to a white person how weave works or what you gotta do to your hair at night to keep it pressed and perfect? I’m telling you, the first time white boy sees you in a do-rag, he’s going to look at you differently.”

Ice took her hairpins and positioned them around her client’s head. She led the woman to a hair dryer and sat her in the chair to heat set the style. When she came back around to Kaja, Kaj had schooled her face not to reflect the hurt she’d felt at being told she was too much woman, as in heavy. Kaja wasn’t a size four and had never aspired to be. She was happy with her size, even if she was a little on the overweight side. She worked out three times a week and ate healthy. Hell, she probably lived a healthier lifestyle than Isis. She knew her friend hadn’t meant the comment as an insult, but that didn’t take away the sting. Essentially, Isis was saying she thought Kaja was too big to appeal to someone like Eric.

“He’s seen my pictures, first of all, and you’re getting ahead of yourself worrying about him seeing me in a do-rag. That would suggest we’d be sleeping together, and we haven’t even gotten past the first date,” Kaja pointed out.

“But, has he seen full body pictures? Either way, I’m not saying don’t go out with him this time, but keep it friendly. Don’t let yourself get caught up in the mystique of dating someone who’s probably worlds different from the men we know. There’s nothing wrong with interracial dating. But, face it; it leads to awkward social situations, and I know you’re sensitive, Kaja. So, I’m saying all this because I love you and don’t want you to get hurt. I’ve never seen your confidence waver. Messing with a white boy who has you questioning everything that makes you beautiful—like your fluffy figure and your kinky hair—is the road to self-doubt.” She gave Kaja a mark-my-words look, and Kaja swallowed the food for thought. She had to admit some of what Isis was saying made sense to her, which made Kaja question her own views. Some of it had a pretty racially provocative bent that she didn’t want to embrace.

“Alright, girl. I gotta get back to this restaurant and make sure nobody’s hungry when they leave Cooking by Kaj. I got that coconut creme pie today. You want me to send you over a slice?”

“Yesss! And, let me know how your dates turn out.”

“I can tell you about the one with Ramses’ friend as soon as Ebony and I come in on Saturday morning to get our hair done. You’ll have to wait for the date with Eric until I see you next week.” Kaja picked up her purse and prepared to leave.

Isis called to her. “Kaja, I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings, baby…Ultimately, whatever makes you happy, I support.”

Kaja smiled genuinely and thanked her. “I know, Ice. You’re just telling it how you see it, but know what? I do think times have changed. Just like not every black person acts the same, not every white person acts the same. Who knows what sort of person Eric will be?”

“Have a good time, love. That’s all that matters.”