New Boss New Look by Deke Cutter

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My wife gave me the once over, approving my tie and making sure my suit and shirt were spotless and wrinkle free. Then she said, "remember honey, this guy is going to be seeing what kind of team player you are. He is known for being a bit quirky and expecting his orders and his suggestions to be carried out. I know this is a new management style for you to deal with. But remember, Barry (my former boss) had to sell to this real estate trust because he wasn’t a good enough businessman or leader."

"I know, Kate. I am a bit nervous, and I guess I must loosen up a bit because Mr. Harris knows what he wants and knows how to run a successful organization. Kiss for luck?" With that, I was out the door and on my way to my office in a building just two blocks from the large U-shaped strip mall that I managed. I checked to make sure nothing had gone awry overnight and that everything was ready for Mr. Harris’s arrival. Our receptionist, Mildred, was on time and looking professional. The maintenance team was on standby. Jake Harris arrived ten minutes early. He was a large man who looked to be in his mid-50s but could have been anywhere within 10 years on either side of that. He was big framed but not fat. I pegged him for an outdoorsman or possibly a guy who simply went to the trouble of staying in shape. He was clean shaven and wore his hair in a short to medium businessman’s cut. His suit looked to be of good quality, but not designer. Same with his shoes.

"Tom, I’m pleased to meet you," he said. "I’ve heard some good things about you, and I’ve looked over your reports and the statistics for your property portfolio. Barry Mills was lucky to have you. You know my way of doing things is very much to show a real commitment to the merchants and to make that a two-way street, as you will see. I may surprise you but trust me when I say that anything that happens will be for the good of the company and your future. Now, please call me Jake. I parked over at mall, so why don’t we walk over before it gets too hot." We walked to the mall and made small talk along the way. When we arrived Jake asked me who had the best coffee among the various food serving establishments. Luckily for me, I am a caffeine fiend and directed him to the most unlikely place a pizza restaurant that also served Greek food and opened for full breakfasts. We were greeted by Mary who knew me, and I introduced Jake. Mary seated us, brought menus and coffee. She then brought her brother, Stavros who owned the restaurant. Jake invited him to sit for a moment and immediately charmed the man and had me taking notes on how Stavros thought the mall needed to improve. We both ordered breakfast, insisted on paying and left a big tip. When we left, Jake explained that this was his way, be a customer as well as a landlord, listen to their issues, fix what you can, be honest with them with what you can’t.

We visited several more stores and shops and I was finding this to be a real learning experience. After checking in with the newly expanded pharmacy, Jake stopped me for a moment. "Our next stop is going to be the barber shop that’s in the little breezeway up ahead. I need a haircut and you sure look like you could use one too. I assume you aren’t a regular customer there."

"Well, no Jake, I usually go to another place…."

"Yes, I could tell. That is an expensive looking cut and very nice. Today, however, we are going to the barber. I’ll be getting a nice tight taper and I want you to step up into that barber chair and ask for a Number Two Buzz cut all over. It will signify the start of our new relationship and will serve as a reminder that It is what’s inside that counts."

"OK Jake, let’s do this," I said. I was nearly cr*pping my pants. I liked my hair just the way it was. Soft dark brown waves that were thick and framed my face well. Kate loved my hair too and I knew this change would shock her. But she did tell me to be a team player.

"Good man," Jake said as he led me to my fate. We walked in to find two of the barbers free and one working on, of all people, Stavros from the restaurant.

"Jake and Tom, so nice to see you again so soon, called Stavros." He said to Jake, "the gentleman cutting my hair is Robert and these two are his son Bobby and his nephew Vito. All are excellent barbers. Boys, you know Tom, who manages the mall, and this is his new Boss Mr. Jacob Harris of Harris Retail Trust." The two young barbers shook our hands and Robert welcomed us warmly.

Jake asked Vito and Bobby if they had time to "take care of us." Both young barbers jumped at the chance. Jake got into Vito’s chair, and I took that ‘long walk’ (actually only a couple of steps) to Bobby’s. Jake immediately started to explain, as we were being caped up that he wanted a good short, tapered cut, just long enough to comb over to the side. Then he mentioned that I was going for a big change. "Yes," I stated, somehow mustering a smile, "I’m going for a Number two buzz all over, never had one before, I think it’s time."

"Wow, that’s a big change Tom. Are you sure?" Bobby asked this with a bit of concern. He knew that I went to the fancy men’s salon, and I am sure he was stunned by this turn of events.

"Heck, Bobby, its only hair. I’m sure you will do a great job." With that, my shearing began. I heard the clippers a few seconds before they dug into the hair that just reached my collar. I felt them climbing up my neck quite high and then pulling away. This was repeated. As I looked in the mirror in front of me, I looked the same, but I knew the damage was starting to mount up. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Jake’s chair was facing me and he seemed to be enjoying ‘the show.’ Bobby, having completed the decimation of that back of my head had now started at the bottom of my left sideburn and was moving up quickly toward the crown. After a couple of runs, I could see the stubble, and slowly my ear was uncovered. Soon the same treatment was completed on the other side. I braced myself for the removal of my remaining hair on top, but Bobby stopped loosened the cape, removed the strip and tucked a towel in behind me.

"I’m going to clean up the edges before I go to work on the top," he said. "Do you want to keep the sideburns? It’s a personal preference with buzzcuts."

Jake interjected, "It’s up to you, Tom, but I’ve always thought long sideburns look out of place with a buzzcut."

What could I say? "I agree with Jake, let’s take them off, just leave a little tab ending at the ear opening."

I don’t think I had ever had the warm shaving cream treatment before. It was a very interesting experience. That was over too soon. In a few moments he had wiped off the excess cream and I found myself staring at the clippers as Bobby the barber plunged them into my hairline. So much hair was falling! I had a great head of hair, but I never realized how much was up there. Oh my, how long would it take to grow it back. When he had finished, he continued to run the clippers all over my head, making sure he hadn’t missed any stragglers. Then he said to me, "I know you asked for a Number two all over, but can I suggest you let me just do a slight taper around the edges with a one and a half guard? It will hardly be noticeable, but it will make the cut last a little longer before you need to come back in." (COME BACK IN! my brain screamed) I looked nonchalantly in Jake’s direction, and he gave me the slightest nod, so I agreed.

In a few minutes our cuts were completed. Jake still looked pretty much like Jake. I, however, looked in the mirror, and couldn’t quite recognize myself. I didn’t look nearly as bad as I thought I would. In fact, I hated to admit that I just looked different. I also found that I loved how rubbing my head felt. Once we paid, Jake and I talked with Robert about his concerns and ways to get his shop more notice.

Outside, Jake slapped me on the back and said, "Tom, you took that haircut like a man. You may not be ready to accept it, but you look da*n good with short hair. I’ll let you in on a secret. I did a stint in the military, and I learned a lot about how people react to pressure and surprise. I’ve done this test on seventeen men over the last several years. Some have refused, some have broke down crying before, during or after their haircut, but only a handful have done as well as you. I think you have a real future in my businesses. How do feel?"

"Well sir, my wife and I talked this morning, and she gave a pep talk about showing you that I know how to be a team player. As much as I liked my hair before it was cut, it seemed like a small thing when I realized that it was building a pretty big bridge with Robert and, hopefully with you. I won’t lie, I am surprised that the haircut looks as good as I think it does and I hope my wife Kate agrees. I also won’t lie that I’d like to think that I can grow my hair back some day, but you are the boss, and I will accept your direction on this."

Jake smiled and said, "well, let’s see how things go. I think you have a new barber for the near future and there were quite a few short haircuts on those charts on their wall."

When I got home that night, Kate had arrived before me, and as is our custom, the first home starts cooking dinner. She had her back to so, I said "honey, close your eyes." She did. "Okay, keep them closed, now turn around." She did. "Now open them."

"Oh my G-d, your hair!" She immediately reached for my head and started rubbing it. This brought Little Tom to attention which she noticed as I pulled her closer. "Honey, I think I like it! Why, what happened?"

So, I told her the story, we ate dinner and had a very early night of exploration of all the sensations and elation that went with my newly shorn head. I wonder what Jake will have in store for me next.

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