After a twenty-hour boat ride to Miami, Alicia stayed in a detention center for a month before a social worker assigned her work as a seamstress. When her work assignment ended, she was sent to work in a hostel, a place where the host trade room and board for work. While she worked, she practiced English and enrolled in a nine-month academy for Fashion and Cosmetology. When she was done with her school, she decided to start over in Detroit, MI.
When Alicia arrived in Detroit, MI, she stayed in a hotel for a few nights before finding a small apartment on the Southwest side of Detroit. The little belongings she possessed she carried inside two small suitcases; most of the contents contained the clothes she wore. Most are unraveling sewn ten times over; however, they have reached the limit. Her underwear and bras lost the elastic and could not maintain a snug fit.
With the money she saved, Alicia could only afford a low-income public housing apartment that was a box. The kitchen and the bedroom were in the same area. The bathroom was small. To use the sink, Alicia had to leave the bathroom door open. The plumbing to her bathtub was far overdue for maintenance. The tub did not have knobs to turn on the water. It really did not matter anyway. The stubs were fused tight from substantial rust damage. Alicia had bought a cheap gardening hose to jerry-rig it to the sink using duct tape to amend the sink's faucet to take baths.
The heat was provided by a rusted coil radiator that has existed since the building's construction. The window baseboards rot from termites and dry rot. To keep the room warm, Alicia used black plastic garbage bags and duct tape to cover the windows during the winter months.
Alicia knew her funds were limited and soon to run out. She quickly sought employment in the cultural district where the Latinos and Jamaicans crowd the city's southwest section. She obtained a part-time job at a beauty salon as a mani-pedicurist and another at a Spanish Dry Cleaners.
As a dry cleaner, her skills as a seamstress were an advantage for her to obtain the job. However, she had to be trained to operate the machinery, work the register, and sort abandoned clothes. While sorting through the abandoned clothes, Alicia saw a red satin dress. The fabric held her attention for at least a good minute. She observed the garb and noticed that it would fit her curves perfectly. Alicia, she regretted she had to put it in the thrift store box as it was store policy.
Obtaining two jobs gave Alicia pride. Even though Alicia was making some money, her income was well below the poverty margin, which made it necessary to manage her disposable income carefully. Both jobs brought in approximately $500 a month. Yet, with the combination of her rent, utilities, food, and her booth rental at the salon, Alicia was at $73.67 for her monthly income. The food she ate mostly came from church soup kitchens or low-quality items available at her local corner store. Alicia appreciated the meals from the church. It was of higher quality in test and freshness, whereas the corner store sold her food that was out of date, high calories, and low in nutrition.
Even though Alicia worried about her financial situation, she could not help but to worry more about her sister. She felt guilty, leaving her sister behind in an abusive environment. She tried to call Yasmin daily; if not, every two to three days to check in on her. The conversations they had were heartbreaking! Yasmin gave reports of Fernando's physical and sexual abuse. Alicia could only console her with the promises of rescue.
"I am doing the best I can," Alicia says to her sister with a heavy Cuban accent.
"Hurry, please. Father is getting worse. He comes into my room at night and rapes me. Alicia's sister says as she cries over the phone. "Calm down, sister. Give me more time. I am saving as much as I can." Alicia replied in a shameful tone. She wanted to help her sister, but she was in no position. She could barely take care of herself. "I have to go, Fernando is coming.
"Yasmin, have faith. I am coming." Alicia replied before Yasmin hung up.
*****
Alicia had regular days at the salon and got along with her coworkers. She worked with another mani-pedicurist. Whenever she called in sick, the majority of her clients went to Alicia. It was late spring, and of all days, her coworker called in sick; it had to be the day that one of the salon's major clients," Carmen Knight," visited the shop for a scheduled manicure.
Carmen is a 33-year-old first-generation Jamaican, who had the body of a goddess. The light reflected well on her smooth mahogany skin. Her body was curved perfectly as her dress hugged her shape gracefully. Her hair and makeup complimented her dark Nubian features.
Carmen appeared to be the perfect woman, but she had a huge flaw. She had a cavalier attitude and loved to be the center of attention. In other words, she was a diva. Carmen was quick to assert her wants and needs in a demanding manner. A few weeks back, one of the nail techs mistakenly cut her cuticle. In a quick-tempered whim, she slapped the manicurist. Alicia made her objective to avoid working on Carmen, but today it was unavoidable.
"Where is the other girl?" asked Carmen with a diva attitude. "She's out sick today." replied one of the hairstylists.
"Call that bitch up. I don't have time for her to be sick today." Carmen belligerently stated in a demanding voice.
"Ms. Night…please be reasonable." said another hairstylist with fear in her voice.
"Reasonable!" said Carmen.
"I am quite reasonable when I spend my money here! Now get her ass on the phone and tell her I said to get her ass down here now!"
"Ma'am, I am sure Alicia will do a good job. If you don't like the work, it will be on the house." said the head hairstylist.
Carmen ponders her predicament for a moment. She sashayed toward Alicia's workstation and took a seat. Carmen startled Alicia and made her feel self-conscious.
"You're new to her? Your name is Alicia, right?" Carmen asked.
"Yes!" replied Alicia.
"How long have you worked here?"
"For three months," said Alicia.
"For three months? I don't know why I haven't noticed you before," Carmen stated. Alicia looked her in the face. `
"You're a pretty girl, I know men who would pay top dollar just to meet you," replied Carmen as she sized up Alicia.
"What are you talking about?" asked Alicia. Carmen laughs in amusement.
"I am talking about getting paid, I am talking about putting that pretty little face of yours on the map," said Carmen in a confident tone.
"Excuse me?" Alicia replied.
"Drop the naïve act. You know what I am talking about!" said Carmen.
"Prostitution," Alicia replied with a twisted look upon her face.
"Honey, I am more than a prostitute," Carmen smiled."
Alicia continued to work until she finished. Carmen examined her nails and was quite impressed. She reached into her purse, removed a stylish black UV coated business card, and snobbishly dropped it on Alicia's worktable.
"If you change your mind, you have my number," Carmen replied as she walked towards the stylist. "I hope you are true to your word."
Carmen walked out without paying. The stylist walked over to Alicia and gave her the money that Carmen owed. Alicia tore up the card and put the money in her apron pocket.