Beverly's Magic Abbie Creed   © Copyright 2026 by Abbie Creed

Photo by Kampus Production at Pexels.

The spread of the nasty stuff happened so quickly, people were dying daily causing government officials to do everything they could to try to stop the spread. Our governor chose to shut everything down. Beauty shops, restaurants, stores and businesses closed their doors. Churches were cancelling services or going online, grocery shelves were fast becoming bare, and life came to a screeching halt.

I was very fortunate that I had shopped for everything I needed a few days before everything closed. I hunkered down, was virtually shut in but had the luxuries of T.V, computer, telephones and books. I began to write a few stories and catch up on phone visits with friends I hadn’t called for a long time. It was rather peaceful and I didn’t seem to be too badly affected.

I did have one serious problem though. I have not washed my own hair for over 50 years. That was one thing that I treated myself to every Friday after work. It was always so relaxing to have that special thing for me to look forward to each week. The problem worsened when I realized I didn’t even have any curlers or bobby pins to try to set my own hair after I washed it, and I could not go anywhere to try to purchase those items because everything was closed.

I suffered through it all and it helped me to refrain from looking in the mirror. By the time the shut-in was lifted, my hairbrush and I had become close friends and I always gave thanks the churches had services online and I didn’t have to worry about how I looked. I guess a little pride snuck its way in there.

Covid stopped so many things. Families could not get together, and children could not go to school. However , there was a positive side as well. For the first time in quite a long time, families were taking walks up and down the street. It was a pleasure to see them and neighbors sitting on porches waving at the passersby.

Then came the magic day when they announced some openings if we wore a mask. I gladly put on a mask, even though I knew it would get wet in the process. I called Beveryly, my wonderful hairdresser, to get the very first appointment available, and off I went for a well needed haircut, fresh do, and an adventure with Beverly.

As with all adventures, there is time for planning and time for preparation. This trip required it too. Glasses off? Hearing aids in pocket? Plastic covering my clothing? Water temperature tested. Everything checked out. I was Ok’d to put my head in the bowl and begin the wonderful gentle soaping and messaging of the scalp. Ah! It felt so good! After two gentle messages and rinses, my head was wrapped in a towel, I was whisked off to the Queen’s chair where the magic began.

Watching each parting of the hair and seeing each strand carefully rolled and or pinned was like watching an artist map out plans and envisioning her final product. After she had completed this process, it was off to the dryer for 45 minutes where a calm warm breeze blew gently over my head and sent an occasional breeze to tempt my eyes to close for a short nap or simply to play a quiet game on my cellphone.

It seemed like there was no time at all when the timer went off and I was ushered back to the queen’s chair so the real work could begin. When the rollers and pins were removed, it was time for a strong brushing to relax my hair and wake up every follicle. It feels heavenly! Then Beverly started creating. It is like watching an artist putting the final touches on her painting using a brush, a tease here and there and making sure each curl and wave were exactly in the right place.

The final spray with her magic potion, finished the job and it was time for the viewing. Oh, my! The image in the mirror was the same old wrinkled face, but the finished product of Beverly’s talented artwork had given me a whole new outlook for the week ahead. I had been refreshed, renewed, and transformed. I was a queen for a day all in one short visit! Beverly had worked her magic! Beverly Brokar, a true makeover artist!