12 (sequel to 11) by trey

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the following story is true and actually happened to me:

My mom and dad were happy as could be. We had the money, range rovers, 3 mansions, The newest iPhones and iPads, everything anyone could dream of. My uncle on the other hand was in the marines. He left his family and when he came back, his wife married someone else. My dads brother was desperate for some help. So my dad let him stay and he became my second dad. He treated me to sonic occasionally when he got enough money. He got a descent 2012 Toyota Tundra Texas Edition when he got enough money. But he always got haircuts at barbershops even when he came back to nothing. One day, he picked me up from school and decided to trim up his super short crew cut. We went to a barbershop near my school where the barber knew his name. A couple of kids from my school were hanging around outside the convenience store next door. They all knew that a little 12 year old like me that got his haircut at a high end salon in our small town wouldn't come out without nightmares, or at least that's what they told me. I had my haircut super short before for many years but started to leave it a little longer on top. I always had gel in my hair and spiked up the front. My uncle had the same color hair, eyes, and even skintone as me. People said I was his mini-me with longer hair. He was speaking to the barber as the barber wrapped his neck with paper and placed the cape on him. The clippers came to life and off went his hair. The back and sides were bald and the top was cut to a number 3 or 2 but I couldn't tell because of how blonde his roots were. The barber finished up his haircut and cleaned up his neck and sideburns. I was so busy looking at Instagram on my iPhone, it startled me when my uncle told me, "son, why don't you come take a seat." I came over thinking the barber was gonna teach me how to properly use gel or something. The kids were now looking in the window as the barber wrapped the same cape around me he had just used on my uncle. My uncle said the girls are gonna love me if they don't already. The barber said, "same, right?" and I replied, "maybe a little shorter on top." My uncle then said we'll see just start. The first swipe on the side was very chilly. The clipper on my head became cold. I thought he was doing a number 3 on the sides but in reality, he was doing a zero on the sides. He turned off the clippers and switched them to number 3. When he turned them back on, I thought he was fixing the back, but he headed straight for the bangs. The kids outside saw my sadness and could do nothing but sit there and watch my hair be reduced to a regulation crewcut. My uncle was so proud, but I hated him so much. The barber then asked if he wanted my hair white walled. I had no idea what he was talking about. My uncle said yes and next thing you know, I have shaving cream on the sides of my head and a straight razor to the side of my head. The kids in the window looked like they were crying for me. I wasn't going to cry about hair, but I was gonna be angry about it. The barber put after shave on the sides of my head and then powdered me down. When he turned me around, I almost passed out, my hair was so short. I looked exactly like my uncle. I hopped down and my uncle rubbed my head. When he saw my face he got really upset. The barber told me I would see him in 2 weeks. I thought otherwise. I looked in the mirror before hopping in my uncles truck to go home. I looked just like him. I didn't talk to him for the next 2 weeks. On the Friday of our haircuts, he reminded me he would be picking me up to take there. My hair had already grown out about 3/4 of an inch. I finally talked to him. I told him that I was not fond of his little "scheme." He apologized and said I wish I could look like him, he thought this would be a start.when I told him I didn't want my haircut that Friday, he was really bummed. He thought we would bond. I told him I would go get a haircut again on that Friday and on his birthday in the summer. So we went that Friday and the same kids were there. I was a little more excited when we got there because my hair was getting long. My uncle went and then I went. The kids were surprised I wasn't upset. The haircut had grown on me and I kinda liked it. And now occasionally, I still go with him. But that's how I ended up with a military haircut. And I love it. I love being my uncles mini-me. And he now lives right next door and has married well. I now go get a haircut with him in the summer nowadays. We really do look-a-like.

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