Salon du Monde
by Jake Barnes
My wife got us an appointment for Wednesday morning. Wednesday is her day off. She has her nails done every so often, and lately I have been going with her. I can trim my own fingernails, but since my hip operation, toes are a problem.
I was nervous the first time. I was in a woman's world. Out of my element. I learned to relax and think of England, so to speak. Having a woman play with your toes is, well, distracting. Especially when she's wearing a shirt with an open collar under her smock.
The girls at the salon are Vietnamese. They are all about the same size. The girl who does my wife's nails is Kim. Kim is a beauty. She has a little smile on her face as if she had a secret. I tell my wife that I bet she is full of hell.
The girl who does my nails has a round and rosy face. She is cheery and talkative, but I can't understand a word she says. There is a third girl, too. She is slender but formless in her black pants and smock. She wears round wire-rimmed glasses.
I sit there reading a magazine while the woman clips my claws. From time to time I watch Kim's face. I am amused by her look of concentration. To her this is serious business! That's all right, too, I think. That's good. It doesn't matter what you do in life; it's how you do it. I admire a crackerjack mechanic more than a so-so surgeon.
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Author's Note
What inspired me to write the story? See second paragraph.
Good use of details -
"The girl who does my nails has a round and rosy face. She is cheery and talkative, but I can't understand a word she says. There is a third girl, too. She is slender but formless in her black pants and smock. She wears round wire-rimmed glasses."
Enjoyed the piece.
Refreshing perspective. I liked the slender formless girl in wire-rimmed glasses. Nice touch.
This is very sweet. Did you ever see the Seinfeld where George brought his father to the salon because he'd fought in Viet Nam and understood them and they were making fun of him the whole time?
Oh, and fv*.
Enjoyed this one, Jake. You capture the scene perfectly.
Wonderful story. I especially enjoyed the morale at the end: it's not easy to pull that off. People don't like the wagging finger in their face. Especially so-so surgeons might take offense after reading this.
Wonderful story. I especially enjoyed the morale at the end: it's not easy to pull that off. People don't like the wagging finger in their face. Especially so-so surgeons might take offense after reading this.
You capture the sense of nervousness well, Jake. I have also tagged along with my wife to the salon a couple times even though it wasn't something i much cared to do. Well done.
You're a good writer, Jake. I look forward to reading more you your work!
Jake enjoyed this in many ways. Good writing and good lesson. I think a surgeon would be insulted to be called a crackerjack surgeon. The AMA is a strange club. But then I've been improperly sliced and diced one too many times.