CLAUDETTE:

Patsy you know dis is the latest dance move! Yes Novelette you get it! Yes Patsy you are di best baby mudda!

PATSY:

Enough! Claudette, I’m a married woman I’m not trying to be nobody’s baby’s momma.

NOVELETTE:

No but you’re going to be the best.

She attempts to pay NOVELETTE, but NOVELETTE waves her away.

NOVELETTE:

But don’t be telling everybody because you know how dem stay already.

PATSY laughs and heads towards the shop door.

PATSY:

Can I look for you in church on Sunday?

NOVELETTE:

Look very hard!

PATSY:

I’m going to pray for you child.

PATSY exits stage.

NOVELETTE:

Ok, lunchtime! Claudette run next door to Maxine, and see if she has any of that fly fish ready and get me steamed rice with it.

She takes the money out of her bosom and pays her.

DIANA:

Get me a piece of bread pudding and a soup and tell her to put some dumpling in it this time. How can a woman make soup with no dumpling? That’s a lazy woman. Tell her to put it on my tab.

MARCIA:

Claudette, a beef patty please.

She hands her some money and CLAUDETTE proceeds to leave.

NOVELETTE:

And don’t spend all day over there chatting with Maxine. Come, Marcia, I ready for you.

ENID comes rushing in as MARCIA is seated in the chair.

ENID:

Miss Novelette, I’m going to need your magic!

NOVELETTE:

Miss Enid! Is that you! My God I haven’t seen you in ages. The last time I seen you was at…

ENID:

Aston’s funeral. It’s been that long. I’ve been staying at my daughter’s place for awhile. You know it was hard being in the house all alone so I was just helping her out with the kids.

NOVELETTE:

Nice. How’s your grandchildren doing?

ENID:

Big. You know how they grow up overnight. Would you believe, Little Liddia is already wearing a training bra?

NOVELETTE:

Little Liddy! Little Liddy got bitty titties!

ENID:

Girl, she has a bra, make-up, cell phone and everything! How’s your Renee doing?

NOVELETTE:

Away in university. Just got me a call from her last night. “Mommy, send me some money, I need to buy a biology book.” Well as long as she’s studying the biology in the book and not with no boy! Dese kids nowadays! But I miss her, the house is so quiet.

ENID:

I know…

NOVELETTE:

But really how you doing?

ENID:

Novelette I’m good real good. But you ain’t going to believe this but—

NOVELETTE:

Miss Enid don’t say another word, get in my chair!

NOVELETTE and Miss ENID rush towards the chair. NOVELETTE attempts to push MARCIA out of the chair.

Marcia get up, Miss Enid is here!

MARCIA:

Hey but I was next!

SHARMAINE:

I’m sorry Miss Enid, but I—

NOVELETTE:

Respect your elders! And learn the value of patience.

SHARMAINE:

But—

DIANA:

Lord, Sharmaine. It’s much more graceful to act as a lady than a common street fighter, fighting over a hairdressing chair! Lord, that is so common.