Adventure by Ethan Fox

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Adventure, that’s definitely what I knew was in store for me. I was running a hand through my red grown out hair in the backseat of my dad’s ford truck on the two hour drive from home to St Andrews Military Academy. I would be spending my high school years at the Texan military school. Nervous, excited, many emotions flooded my mind as I watched the scenery flash by in the window. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like exactly, I had thoughts about being yelled at and having to do pushups at 5am in a military uniform. I was a scrawny kid, the exercise could do me good.My dad said that I could use the discipline and that’d it make me into a better man. I knew he was right, but that didn’t make it less intimidating.

I must’ve fallen into an abundance of worried daydreams as it wasn’t long until I heard my dad’s booming voice from the front of the truck call out, "Carter, we’re here," he had parked the car and got out. I took a heavy sigh and mustered up the courage to open the door and climb out as well. I shut the door and took in the sight. St Andrews was huge, clocking in at about four buildings. There were maybe one hundred cars parked in the parking lot, all parents sending off their kids for their first year. My nerves started to take over as I looked around. There were many men, military uniforms directing the new students on their way and talking to their parents. I was quickly realising that this was my last moment with my dad for months, and my last moment before military school. A few seconds later a man who must’ve been in his 40s in a St Andrew’s came over and shook my dad’s hand. He gave my dad some paperwork to sign and then shook my hand as well, "What’s your name son?" "Carter Williams, sir-" I responded, with proper Texan etiquette.
"Do you played any sports?" was the man’s next question.
I simply nodded, "Baseball sir."
"What a coincidence," He let out a hefty laugh, "I’m Mr. Peterson, I’m the baseball coach here at Saint Andrews. What position do you play son?"
"First base," As I responded, a gust of wind blew my hair into my eyes.
The man just laughed and clapped me on the shoulder, "You won’t have to worry about that for long, the first stop is the barbershop. I bet you’re just dying that get rid of all that hair aren’t you boy." I tried my best to return a chuckle for the joke, but it barely came out, "yessir," I finally nodded.

Mr. Peterson told me to enter through the gym and athletic facility door. I shared one last goodbye hug with my dad and I was off on my own at a military school. The adventure was about to begin, and the next step would be one large leap into it: the haircut. Never in my life has my auburn mane not been collar length and never have I not had bangs. Parting ways with my hair was something I struggled to come to terms with on the car ride, but I told myself that everyone has to do it. We’d all fit together, hundreds of baldies, all nervous yet hopeful. Once I entered the gym, I was again pointed in another direction, and this time it was the last step before my induction to St Andrews was complete. The line to the barbershop. The barbershop and quartermaster was a separate building behind the athletic facility, but after a short walk on the pathway between buildings my hand touched the door that would seal my fate as a St Andrews cadet. I opened the door and then I saw the line for the first time. I could barely take four steps before reaching the back of the line. It was full of boys my age, all shifting nervously, trying their hardest to stay still and breathe normally. Looking around the boys in front of me, I saw one boy leaving the barbershop and I couldn’t believe my eyes, he had been completely shaven bald, barely even a shadow of stubble had been left. He was rubbing his head softly like it was as if even he couldn’t believe it.

After ten minutes the line had finally moved and I had entered the barbershop. There were four waiting chairs along the wall, and I slid into the fourth chair and watched the process. The two cadets in the chair were being scalped systematically by the two barbers. Each barber passed through with the clippers methodically and purposely, rendering each cadet almost completely bald. Once those two cadets stood up, rubbed their heads for the first time, and checked their mirror, two more cadets took their place. This meant that I was now second in line for the great big chop. I shifted down two chairs and I was starting to sweat just a little bit, the nerves were setting in. I watched the haircuts intently as I awaited the same fate for my own locks. I let out a shaky breath as the two cadets were let out of the chairs, scalps almost glowing underneath the barbershop’s lights. It was time. I walked out of my chair and slowly walked over to the far corner’s chair. The barber cracked open the cape after getting the previous boy’s hair off it. I felt like my shoes were filled with cement. Out of the corner of my eye as I was walking to my doom, I saw Mr. Peterson standing outside the door. I sighed, finally sitting down in the chair. The blue St Andrews cape was wrapped around my body, confining me to my fate of being a baldy, a new cadet. I heard the clippers roar to life, and then the barber picked up my bangs and placed the clippers right at my hairline. I looked directly at Mr. Peterson and made eye contact, he gave a smile and a thumbs up. I took one last breath in as my transformation to cadet was about to go underway.

I felt the cold medal of the clippers rip through my locks, right down the center of my head. I tried not to inhale too sharply or show any surprise. I could immediately feel the air conditioning in the room on the top of my head. The barber brought the clippers back and made a pass right next to the first one, he was moving rapidly as he sheared the top of my head bald. I must’ve looked like a grandpa as I saw Mr. Peterson chuckling. My head was pressed down to the chest and for a moment the clippers were away from my scalp. That didn’t last long as I felt them traveling up the back of my skull, and after a few more moments I could tell that there was nothing left in its path. My left and right sideburns were quickly stripped off too. I knew before I even looked by the fact that I could feel every draft in the room, that I was truly now a St Andrews Cadet. The barber turned off the clippers, and brushed the top of my head off with the duster, a simply euphoric feeling. He uncapped me and I stepped up, slowly I turned around and my suspicions were confirmed. Not even a shadow of my red hair was left, the light shade of red made it look like I was completely cue ball bald. I reached a hand up to my hair and felt the sensation. My hair was rough like sandpaper when rubbing it backwards and soft like velvet when rubbing forwards. I walked out of the barbershop where Mr Peterson was waiting. He rubbed the top of my head with a sturdy but affectionate rub and said, "Now that’s a handsome boy. I’ll be seeing you on the fields." I smiled, muttered a thank you sir and went on my way to the quartermaster.

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