Eighth grade. Mama got drunk and caught her hair on fire when a former student turned beautician, Anthony, came over. They were drinking and doing hair. She tried to light a cigarette when her hair was combed forward in her face. Poof. Burned her bangs.
I learned a lot from her bad decisions. Every time Mama went too far drinking, there were consequences.
August 8, 1987. Mama got drunk at my cousin Connie’s wedding in Rayville, Louisiana and walked around with a lump of potato salad in her hair the whole day. I was 16.
Excerpt from Care & Feeding by Chela Gutierrez
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