03: Brad's Tail by burrlypup

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*Perspective changes to Brad*

Sunday, 3pm:

After a long line of dates with hot chicks from the gym, it felt nice to chill with some bros. I always thought Dylan was kind of standoff-ish at the gym, but after meeting him and his flatmate, he's a cool dude. I'm sure the three of us looking like a bunch of bald headed Marine recruits engenders some sense of solidarity. It does suck that Charity has to work tonight, but I'm sure she'll make up for it next weekend. Oh wait, I'm going to be out of town next week... and she knew that.

"Hey, you alright Brad?" Dylan asked, breaking my line of thought.

"Yeah, I'm good. Just can't believe my girl Charity bailed on me tonight. She's always working. I guess that's not a bad thing." I responded. We were glued to the game, but I noticed Dylan and Rob seemed a bit closer than roommates. I'm totally cool with gay dudes, but I'm definitely only into women. When the commercial break started, we all got up to stretch and Rob started doing pull ups on one of those door mounted pull up bars. Naturally, I corrected his form and admired the tan on his head as it was in my clear line of view.

"Man, wish I could get rid of his bathing cap tanline on my head. I'm jealous." I told Rob as I rubbed his smooth scalp. It felt really soft, whereas mine felt rubbery after being shaved.

"Just need to shave it everyday and get some sun. You'll be rid of the whiteness after a few weeks." Rob responded.

"Oh, I meant for until my hair grows back. I don't plan on shaving it again, just figured my girlfriend might get a kick out of seeing me totally bald after I donated all of my hair." I replied, but analyzing my words as I said them. Was it really my idea to donate my hair? I started to wonder. I reached up and felt my tender scalp and realized I may have made a huge mistake. I had hair to my knees just this morning, and now I was totally bald. I wouldn't see Charity for two weeks and she seemed totally alright with that. I texted her a 'hey, want me to bring you dinner?' but she didn't respond. Then I noticed my two buddies looking at me again.

"Hey, sorry I'm zoning out. I should probably head out, I need to clear my head." I told them. Rob and Dylan were hella chill, so I'm definitely going to hang out with them more often.

As I drove home, I realized I needed to blow off some steam so I found myself back at the gym. After a long run on the treadmill, I decided to try and tan my head, so I went back to the tanning booth. As I entered the same booth that Charity and I were in just hours before, I became filled with rage.

My shorn hair was in the trash can! Not donated to some child in need. I picked up the thick red braid and realized that I'd been played for a fool. I felt so humiliated and my ridiculous white bald head was like a badge of my stupidity. I couldn't even look at myself. I stole someones baseball cap from the rack, covered my head and left. As I drove away, I realized I had thrown my four feet of braided hair into my gym bag. I resolved to send it off so some child could still benefit from it. I could not stop thinking about how Charity got into my head and got me to do anything she wanted, making me think donating my hair was my idea. I freakin' loved my hair!

The next morning I woke up hoping it was just a nightmare, but I was still just as bald, my red stubble just returning. It would take years to grow my hair back to even half its length. I made a decision. Rather than feel like a victim and cower as my hair grew back, I would embrace my new bald appearance like the strong, masculine man I am. I pulled my razor out and instead of shaving my face as I usually did, I lathered up my head. With the stubbly face, I looked handsome as ever.

I texted my new buddy Dylan, 'Hey, looks like we'll be twins for a while longer' along with a pic of the razor running down the middle of my head.

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