history
Macy McAlister met Dean Flannery while she was working the register at a 7-11 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Dean was instantly taken by Macy’s looks and wound up frequenting the convenience store every day just to see her. After a couple months of flirtation, Macy finally agreed to a date. They wed two years into the relationship, and welcomed their first and only child, Savannah Meredith, into their lives three years later.
Macy hopped around jobs, from the 7-11 to various waitressing stints, until settling in as a receptionist for an optometrist while Dean put his efforts into handyman work. The small family maintained lower middle-class status, saving their pennies for annual summer vacations and tucking away a few funds for their daughter’s future. They attended a local Methodist church every Sunday and holiday, Savvy easily adopting her mother’s devotion to the faith and joining the choir. All in all, their lives went along without a hitch until teenage angst set in.
As Savvy’s eyes opened to the world around her, she became increasingly upset by the plague of injustices and discriminations. She found herself biting her tongue during church services, and looked forward to attending solely for her position in choir, though even that became less appealing as she was enrolled in her school choir. Not particularly the rebellious type, she painstakingly explained to her mother that though her faith in God remained, she could no longer subject herself to the religion. This introduced tension to the family for the first time, and remains a sensitive matter.
While straying from the church was emotionally taxing, Savannah found herself more inclined to speak her mind on issues she took to heart, occasionally to the chagrin of her classmates who had previously known her to be quiet and introverted. This change in her had been partially inspired by her part-time job as a barista, which required the effort to be sociable, and had a great affect on her personal growth.
By the time graduation drew near, Savvy realized her inclination toward cosmetology. Dean and Macy had sporadically discussed how they would finance their daughter’s education through the years, but their worries were for naught when she chose The Paul Mitchell School in Raleigh. Between their savings and her own, Savvy's tuition was in the clear. She remained passionate throughout the courses and was thrilled to begin her career. Following her certification and trials at a couple salons, she found a perfect fit as a stylist and worked her way up to a colorist at Alter EGO.
Savannah chose to continue to live with her parents, as despite the religious debate, life moved along pretty smoothly. Of course, she occasionally mulled over the idea of finding her own place, occasionally feeling a desire to move on, but living rent-free was simply too appealing. It wasn’t until her great aunt passed and bequeathed her house in Philadelphia to Savvy that she realized she’d never truly considered living alone, and certainly not outside of Raleigh. Once the grief waned - as the two had been close - she decided to take the opportunity to begin her life as an actual responsible adult.