Flattop High part 4 by Ben Aldy

---

My dad pulled up in front of Plano High to drop me off.

"Have a great first day, son! I’ll be thinking about you."

I looked out of the window at all the boys and girls talking and cutting up. It was a typical high school scene... except every boy had his hair cut into a classic flattop.

"Remember, just walk over to the barbershop when you’re done for the day."

I stepped out of the car just as the bell rang. I had memorized my homeroom number, 322, and headed to the second floor of building 3.

As I maneuvered the halls and stairs, I caught a few strange looks, but that was to be expected. With my Brylcreemed contour haircut I was clearly the new guy.

I took a seat in the middle of the classroom on the third row. The boy in front of me turned around to say hello.

"I’m JB, are you new here? Well, I mean, clearly I can see you’re new here...."

"Yeah, hi. I’m Josh. Just moved here this past week."

"They may not have told you, but we’re the Plano Flattops. You’re going to want to get a flattop."

"Yeah, I knew."

"There’s a good barbershop in town, Jackson’s, that’s where we all go."

"Yeah, I know."

"You going there this afternoon?"

"Actually, I went yesterday."

"Huh?"

The teacher at the front stood from her desk and began to write her name on the board: "Mrs. Jackson."

"Welcome everyone." The class quieted. "I’m Mrs. Jackson. Please say ‘here’ when I call your name."

She called the roll. "... Zach Richardson...". "Here." "...Josh Thorpe...". "Here." "...Elizabeth Williams...". "Here."

I looked to my right to see Elizabeth, and she looked back at me and smiled. Her beauty was breathtaking... so I quickly turned my attention back to Zach.

"If you knew we were the Plano Flattops, why did you get your haircut like that? I mean it looks nice and all, but... and how’d you get it cut on Sunday?"

"My dad bought Jackson’s barbershop."

"And he doesn’t know how to cut a flattop?! We’re all in trouble!"

"He knows how to cut a flattop. He’s been a military barber until now. I just didn’t want a flattop."

The bell rings. I say goodbye to Zach and head to building 2 for Biology. In the hallway, I notice Elizabeth is walking my way.

"Are you headed to Biology, room 202?" she asks.

"Yeah. You, too?"

"Yeah. Welcome to Plano."

"Thanks. It seems like a nice place. Have you lived here long?"

"Only my whole life," she says. "I can show you around sometime, if you like."

"That would great!"

We head into class together. About 10 flattops look my way.

To be continued.

---