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“Got some competition?”Brooklyn asked through her laughs. Was I intimidated by Chi Chi’s looks? Every woman in the bar was appealing, so why did she get under my skin so much.
“It’s because she reminds you of yourself,” Red said in my ear, answering my unspoken question.
“I am nothing like her,” I responded, locking my eyes on Red for the first time. She wore no make-up and her face looked fresh and young. I noticed her freckles, and bright red eyelashes. If I wasn’t sure it was her, I wouldn’t have recognized her. “Stop staring. It’s rude,” she said, turning back to her coffee.
“Red is self-conscious about her freckles. I think they’re cute,” Brooklyn said, giving Red a wink.
“I like them,” I said, trying to convince Red that she had no reason to feel uncomfortable.
“Fuck y’all. Are we gonna work out or what?” Brooklyn laughed again, and I joined her, as Red stomped off.
“I love fucking with her. It’s funny as shit to see her get so worked up over something so silly.” The other ladies had made their way to the bar, and I greeted each of them with a hug, except for Chi Chi, who sat too high on her horse for me to reach.
“Yoga! I just love yoga. It cleanses the body and relaxes the mind,” Katina said, as she walked off in the same direction as Red.
“So does an enema, but you don’t see me sticking one up my ass every morning.” The room erupted into laughter as Punkin graced us with her presence, and her wonderful choice of words. While the rest of us were dressed to exercise, Punkin wore jeans and a sweatshirt, full make-up, and earrings that looked like peppermints.
“Are you not joining us, Punkin?” I asked, as we made our way out the side door and into the alley.
“I’ll get y’all some water when you pass out from a heat stroke.” She replied, lighting a cigarette before giving me a hug. Outside, a large mat covered part of the street as everyone took their places. I chose last, considering I was the newest, and wished I had chosen to go first. The only spot left was the one next to Chi Chi, and I would rather have stabbed myself in the face with a fork than have to sit next to her. But, I took my seat as if it didn’t bother me, noticing by the snickers coming from Red and Brooklyn that I was set up. Bitches.
“Punkin, hit play, please,” Brooklyn said, prompting Punkin to hit the play button on the small CD player before taking her seat beside it. A warm, encouraging voice filled the air as we were told the position to assume to begin the exercise. Only ten minutes in, and Red was talking, interrupting the silence.
“I was thinking. If we did this everyday for the next few days, when we go out for Dallas’ birthday, I’ll be loose.”
“You’re already loose.” Mary said, causing everyone to break position, so they could laugh.
“Al has a big mouth,” Red threw back, encouraging the rest of us to cheer her on, and pump Mary up for a comeback.
“I’m here! I’m here!” Maddie said, as she burst out the door and ran to take a seat beside me. “What did I miss?”
“Mary said Red was loose and Red said her husband had a big mouth. Now we are waiting on Mary to throw something back at her,” I explained to Maddie in a rush of breath, as I held the plank position.
“I got one for you, Mary,” Maddie said, assuming the same position as everyone else in the group. “Red is scared of the dark.”
“Maddie I will come over there and punch you in the fucking vagina if you don’t shut up,” Red said, as we changed positions, with a laugh.
“I can’t hear the fucking tape!” Brooklyn snapped, looking around to see everyone moving.
“Locust position.”
“Thanks, Punkin!” Brooklyn yelled from the back of the room. “I could hear if you bitches would shut up.” Another round of laughter and then silence, for about five minutes.
“How much longer we got? I’m ready for a cigarette,” Red complained.
“Here honey. I have one,” Punkin offered, standing and making her way to Red.
“Punkin don’t give her a cigarette. We doin’ yoga,” Katina said, on a huff.
“Says the only fucking non-smoker out here,” Brooklyn added, agreeing with Red that it was time for a smoke break.
“Dallas don’t smoke.” Katina threw back in defense.
“Hell, yes she does.”Punkin said, walking in between all of us, as her cigarette dangled from the corner of her mouth. “Don’t ask me how I know, ‘cause I won’t say a damned thing.” I laughed as the CD ended, prompting everyone to act as if we had just done a two-hour workout instead of one lasting only twenty minutes. I was feeling loose, not in the same way as Red, and was ready to lift some weights, when my nemesis decided to announce the same thing.
