The Diamond Horseshoe by ckbald

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The Diamond Horseshoe by ckbald

This story is completely made up. I have particular images and scenes that interest me. I basically write stories for myself, and happily share them here. This is a multi-part story, and I’ve actually finished it, unlike A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words and The Scholarship Student. I’m waiting for inspiration on both of them.

Part 1

Jerry Garner had to admit he was excited by the recent, and unexpected, turn of events. At fifty-five, he’d been out of the business for nearly six years. He had reigned for almost eight years as one of Hollywood’s biggest, most bankable young actors, recognized worldwide as Vince "Raven" Rodgers, the fearless and heroic star of a half dozen cheesy, money-making action movies, filled with more explosions than meaningful dialogue, and gorgeous women, both the evil ones, and those in need of rescuing, inevitably drawn to Raven’s absurdly muscular physique and lush, raven locks. The money he earned from those movies allowed him to eventually seek out roles in smaller, independent films. At first Jerry was put off by the demand that he audition for roles in movies directed by both established auteurs and younger, maverick directors, but, after he received two Oscar nominations for actor in a supporting role, he kept his mouth shut. He earned his first nomination playing Milton Berle in a critically acclaimed film about the early days of television, and the second a couple of years later playing Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach in a biopic about Chuck Cooper. Both Berle and Auerbach were cigar aficionados, and along with the Oscar nominations, Jerry acquired a taste for fine cigars, so much so that he had a walk-in humidor built off his study in his Hollywood Hills home. At the same time, he realized he was weary of acting, of being in front of the camera, and, after a somewhat bumpy beginning, transitioned full-time to directing. Over the next dozen or so years, Jerry was at the helm of several Oscar and Emmy nominated films, winning a directing Oscar for a mid-career film about the many illicit loves of Britain’s KIng Edward VII. Jerry presented a distinct figure on the set, Cuban cigar in hand, raven hair prematurely and over time shading to a rugged salt and pepper, and, also over time, packing an additional 40 pounds onto his 5 '10' ' inch frame. Although still fairly fit, Jerry no longer had or wanted Raven Rodgers’ sculpted muscles. He topped out at a "dad body" 200 pounds, but he’d enjoyed a hell of a lot of delicious home-cooked meals over the years, all prepared with love and skill by Robbie Mortimer, the then unknown British actor he’d cast as "Bertie" in his film about Edward VII. The two men had hit it off immediately, spending extra time together so that Jerry could properly teach Robbie how to cut, light, and savor a good cigar, a well-known indulgence of the King, and a detail the film playfully highlighted. By the time the film had wrapped, their relationship was just getting started. Robbie, who was six years younger than Jerry, had packed up his London flat and moved into Jerry’s home in the Hollywood hills. In order to play the role of the King, Robbie had grown a full beard, gained some extra weight to achieve the King’s stoutness, and shaved his head, making it easier for make-up to affix various hairpieces mimicking Bertie’s gradual hair loss as he aged. Robbie’s acting skills, and Jerry’s direction earned him an Oscar for actor in a lead role. Robbie took a little time off after his win, maintaining, much to Jerry’s delight, the weight, the shaved head, and the beard. With his partner’s encouragement, Jerry grew out his own beard, now as ruggedly salt and pepper as his hair.
When Robbie was ready to return to work, he was offered the role of the manipulative, ruthless oldest sibling of a powerful San Francisco family with interests in politics, publishing, and wine, in a series created for Screenflix. His character had a serious Napoleon complex, making Robbie, at 5’8", with his stoutness, his chrome dome and tightly trimmed beard, and dressed in sharp, expensive custom made suits, perfect for the role of a man using his "look", rather than any real skills or knowledge, in an attempt to dominate and gain access. In the series premier, his character, Emerson Channing, having basically been handed the job of publisher of his family’s newspaper, elegantly fired up a big ring gauge cigar (from Jerry’s humidor at home) at the first staff meeting with his editors and reporters, and announced after several leisurely puffs, "I want my newsroom to smell like a godd*&#n newsroom!" After that episode, Emerson was never without a Cohiba with at least a 56 ring gauge, in the newsroom, city hall, or the bedroom, since the show’s blend of publishing, politics, and lots of hot sex, straight and gay, made it an instant smash.
The show ran for four seasons, with Jerry guest directing most of the episodes in the last two seasons, garnering several nominations and two Emmy wins for best director. Jerry and Robbie both basically retired after the series ended, They traveled extensively for a few years. Jerry researched and acquired more fine cigars. They renovated their kitchen so that Robbie had the finest appliances and all the space he needed to pursue his passion for cooking and fine food. They hosted monthly fine cuisine and cigar evenings for friends they’d made on the various movie and tv projects they’d been involved in, and two years ago they’d launched a podcast, essentially recording the magic evenings at home with friends, and their enjoyment and discussion of food and cigars. In a sly nod to the roles that launched their careers, they called the podcast "Raven and Bertie". Soon they had a substantial number of subscribers, many of whom listened because they were longtime fans of Vince "Raven" Rodgers. Robbie talked about cooking and the meals being enjoyed in an accessible, everyday manner, but Jerry turned out to be the natural host, listening in a way that encouraged and sustained the conversation, relating anecdotes from the sets of his movies and tv shows, and passionately sharing his love of cigars.

Part 2

As he sat shivering on a cold January Chicago day, in the small city park across the street from Wayne’s Barber Shop, Jerry ran a hand through his thick, and now more-salt-than-pepper-hair, probably, he was hoping, for the last time for the foreseeable future. He smiled as he thought about his imminent return to the biz, not as a director, but as an actor, the star of a new Screenflix series about the bartenders and patrons of a neighborhood gay bar in Chicago. His friend, and the show’s creator, Brian Carey, had pitched it as a contemporary dramady, a "Cheers" for the 21st century, with, unlike "Cheers", some sex. Okay, lot’s of sex, both straight and queer. Brian was a writer and a showrunner on "Lineage", the earlier show on Screenflix that starred Robbie, with many episodes directed by Jerry, and he had remained close to both men. He had approached Jerry with an idea for a new show, his passion project, and indicated that he would only pursue it if Jerry agreed to play the lead character. Jerry’s initial response was, "I’m retired. I’m fat. And I’m happy. Are you crazy?" Brian had quickly retorted, "It’s because you’re fat and happy that you’re ideal for the role of Bud!" Bud Callahan was based on Brian’s older brother, Bobby Carey, a former Marine who, upon leaving the military, had come out as gay. He took a chunk of his savings and opened up The Golden Shamrock, a tavern on Chicago’s north side where Bobby made sure everyone felt welcome. Bobby was gregarious, curious, and a skillful raconteur. And sadly, he died of a heart attack a few years ago. Then Covid hit, and The Golden Shamrock just didn’t make it. And after years of friendship with Jerry, and monthly attendance at their cuisine and cigar evenings, plus the success of the podcast, Brian realized that Jerry and Bobby were so much alike. That’s when he got the idea for a show based on Bobby and his bar and the patrons, with Jerry playing Bud Callahan, a gay former Marine, and the owner of and a bartender at The Diamond Horseshoe, a northside Chicago bar where everyone was welcome.
Jerry was brought back to the present moment by shouts of greeting. The actors playing the team behind the bar at The Diamond Horseshoe, as well as Brian Carey, the show’s creator and showrunner, were walking up the sidewalk towards Jerry.

"Remind me who’s crazy idea it was to actually film the show in Chicago, and then relocate us to the Arctic permanently," Alexander Kim only half-jokingly complained, grimacing at Jerry, whose idea it had been to film in the Windy City, for authenticity's sake. Kim was a rising young late 20-something actor who had made his name in some popular Korean films before moving to Hollywood, and landing a couple of supporting roles in a couple successful Indy films. He was playing a character named Daniel, who was working as one of the bartenders at The Diamond Horseshoe to help pay for his graduate studies in finance at nearby Northwestern University.

"Arctic! It’s 35 degrees out, man, that’s balmy for January in Chicago," laughed Mark Morales. Mark Morales was 40-years-old and an ensemble member in one of Chicago’s award-winning local theater companies, and his character, Eddie, was another former Marine, and the other gay bartender at The Diamond Horseshoe. His character Eddie’s nickname at The Diamond Horseshoe was "Bulldog."

"You're lucky, too,…," Mark continued, running his hand playfully up the back of Alexander’s head of lush black hair, "cause you gonna be losing this extra layer of warmth real soon!"

"Mark is right, this is hot for winter…and I’m never taking this off!" moaned Stan Pilarczcyk in mock distress, pulling his wool cap down tighter on his head. Stan was another Chicago actor, and stand-up comic, who was in his mid-30s, just over six feet tall, and had rich, thick chestnut colored hair and a full beard to match. His character on the show, Jake, worked the earlier shifts at The Diamond Horseshoe so that he could perform late nights at local comedy clubs and improv clubs, similar to what Stan had been doing before landing the gig as Jake.

"Gentleman, it’s time. Wayne is waiting for us. Let the master work his magic," said Jerry. He had seen Wayne’s posts on social media, pictures of clients with perfectly executed flattops of all kinds, and had reached out to him when it was confirmed The Diamond Horseshoe was filming in Chicago. Wayne had eagerly agreed to set aside an entire Tuesday to "shoe" the men of The Diamond Horseshoe for the first time.

Part 3

Once all the introductions had been made, and Wayne had received privileged information about the show, it was time to get down to business. Wayne’s two colleagues, skilled barbers in their own right, had both been given a paid day off, providing the privacy needed so nothing about the show leaked before it would be impossible to keep it secret, once they started shooting exterior shots around Chicago.

Wayne spun his classic Koken chair around, patted the headrest, and said," Who’s up first?"
Alexander and Stan made simultaneous moves towards the chair, but Alexander got their first.
"You ready to kiss the K-pop look goodbye?" chuckled Wayne as he threw a cape around Alexander and then fastened a Sanek strip around his neck.
"When you put it like that, I’ve been ready," laughed Alexander, pushing his stylishly cut deep black locks back off his forehead for the last time. "I don’t know anymore how many times I’ve been mistaken for one of the guys in BTS, and always by some screaming gang of kids. Damn, now I just hope this cut gets me all the woofs and none of the screams! " Alexander had early on made his preference for bears and the men of BLUF known to the rest of the cast.

"Yeah, no one's gonna mistake you for anything other than a Marine," laughed Wayne, taking the triple aught clippers and quickly carving a guideline all the way around Alexander’s head, from temple to temple. Jerry, Mark, and Stan all gave exaggerated gasps at the stark contrast between the remaining black hair and the pale stubble of the curving line. Wayne had turned the chair so that Alexander was facing away from the mirror behind him, and towards the other members of the cast.
"D*&%m that is short," Jerry muttered, loudly enough for Alexander to hear.
"Brrrr! Baby, it’s cold outside…," sang Mark, laughing and out of tune.
Alexander reached up and ran both hands along the shaved line, his hands meeting in the back.
"Oh s*&%t that’s short!", he said, with a mixture of awe and excitement, looking out at the other guys. "Keep going, man!" he exclaimed, glancing up at Wayne.
"I’m just getting started," Wayne smiled. "A lot more hair is going to fall!"

Brian had assumed the role of official photographer, and was cautiously circling around Wayne and the chair, capturing the conversation and the shearing. He couldn’t help grinning. It hadn’t taken him long to agree with, in fact he’d been moved to tears by, Jerry’s idea that a horseshoe flattie was the cut that the men of The Diamond Horseshoe would be wearing, and all to honor his older brother who’s story (jazzed up a bit to appeal to viewers used to the no-holds-barred nature of the successful shows currently streaming) their show was based on. When it had come time to cast the show, he’d thrown his net far and wide, and he’d lucked out with Mark, Alexander, and Stan. Their auditions had been in LA, and once the three men had accepted the offer, and Jerry (along with Robbie) and Alexander made arrangements to move to Chicago, Brian had asked Jerry and Robbie to host one of their cuisine and cigar evenings so the cast could start getting to know each other. It was also when Brian planned to show them all a photo of Bobby, a photo in which the barber had just tightened up his signature flattop. He and Jerry had rehearsed what they would say should any of their actors balk at the idea, ask for something less extreme, or run for the door. They need not have worried. Once they heard Bobby’s story, they were so inspired that when Brian finally showed them the photo, there was a chorus of "Hell, yeahs!"
"My tata Hector had a flattop. I would run my hand all over it when he came to visit us as kids," remembered Mark.
"Woof! Hot AF!" growled Alexander.
"Vintage masculinity. That is so my aesthetic, and I’ve never had the balls to top my look off with a classic cut like this," said Stan, who indeed looked as if he’d stepped out of the 1950s, whether performing one of his routines, or walking around Chicago.

Excited chatter brought Brian’s focus back to the here and now, and filming Alexander’s haircut. Wayne had plowed the clippers up from the initial curving line to where Alexander’s head just started to round over to the top. The wider swath of dark stubble separating the hair on top of his head from the hair left below the temple gave him the look of a circus clown, and Stan and Mark were busy snapping pictures with their phones. Wayne used a pair of scissors to eliminate most of the bulk on the top of Alexander’s head, slicing through his thick hair, and tossing it into his lap, where it joined the hair already removed by the earlier work of the clippers. He rubbed a little product into the hair left on top, blow dried that hair into a stiff upright position, then took up the clippers and touched down in the center of Alexander’s head, ready to create the centerpiece of the "shoe". Wayne had no need for a comb, gracefully guiding the humming pair of clippers as he carved out Alexander’s landing strip, leaving behind even less stubble than he had on the sides and back. Satisfied with the width of the landing strip, Wayne picked up his comb, and using it as a guide, he ran the clippers over it, leveling the horseshoe shaped ring of hair surrounding the landing strip down to about an inch at its longest in front. He blended the beveled edges of the horseshoe into the sides and back, using a smaller pair of clippers to erase the initial guideline. He then used the same clippers and slid them through the hair left below Alexander’s temples, flicking the hair onto the pile of jet black hair covering his lap.
"How short are we going, gents? I’d like to straight razor shave the back, sides, and landing strip. I could use a foil shaver, but…", Wayne said.
"Bobby always had his shaved bald with a…"
"Razor shaved!" interrupted Jerry, Alexander, Mark, and Stan.
"...a razor," chuckled Brian.
Wayne wrapped a hot towel around Alexander’s head and gathered his shaving supplies, while the other men discussed who was getting "shoe-ed" next. The two younger men agreed that Jerry should have that honor, and that Stan would follow Jerry, and Mark would go at the end, since his hair, a grown out buzz cut, was already shorter than everyone else’s.

Alexander audibly sighed as Wayne spread shaving cream on the back and sides of his head, leaving the last bit for the landing strip. The three others jumped up and moved in closer to watch Wayne shave first with the grain, and then, for a tight AF look, a second time against the grain. Wayne wiped the last bit of shaving cream off of the now completely smooth hairless parts of Alexander’s head. Four pairs of hands immediately began palming the back of his head and brushing their fingertips across the level deck that seemed to just fade into the smooth bald crown. Wayne turned the chair around to face the mirrors.
"THIS. IS. SO. TIGHT!" Alexander shouted, pumping his fist in the air. He jumped up from the chair and gently pushed the other guys out of the way. He walked up to the mirror, leaned in and cocked his head from side to side, gently rubbing his hand up and down the back of his head, and across the deck on top. His grin was a mile wide.

Part 4

"Okay, hotshot, out of the way! You can’t have all the fun." Jerry said as he climbed into the barber chair Wayne had just finished brushing off. When Wayne finished caping him and fastening the Sanek strip around his neck, he spun the chair back around so it faced away from the mirrors. He looked down at Jerry and asked in all innocence, "What are we doing today, Buddy?"
"Shoe me!"
Stan and Mark resumed their seats in the waiting area, and Brian picked his phone back up, ready to record Jerry’s transformation. Alexander was still admiring his hot new look, in a mirror behind a chair two down from Wayne’s. He abruptly turned around, facing the guys.
"Hey fellas, anyone mind if I step outside for a bit," he asked, pulling out a cigar he’d tucked into his shirt pocket, "I want to give this bad ass look a test run."
"Wait! What? You wanna puff and stroll in the cold, cold Arctic?" Mark asked, trying not to laugh.
"You bet," retorted Alexander with a devilish grin.
"Here, wear these," said Brian, offering him his pair of Oakleys, "I don’t want people wondering why Alexander Kim is in Chicago, not right now."
"Who’s gonna recognize me now?" he asked, reaching for the glasses, and running his other hand holding the unlit Plasencia Alma del Campo Gordo cigar across his deck.
"Put the glasses on!" Brian retorted sternly.
Alexander held up a hand as if to say "Okay, okay" and slid the glasses on with a wry smile.
"I’ll text you guys in a little while," he said, "and I won’t go far."

Wayne had to take a little less time with Jerry’s shoe since his sexily graying hair was shorter than Alexander’s. He had removed Jerry’s full beard and provided a razor shave to boot. When he spun him around to face the mirror, Jerry smiled broadly.
"Another work of art!" he proclaimed. "Wayne, I’ll be a regular!"
"I took yours a little higher up the sides and over the top here, and leveled the front deck a little shorter, giving you what I think of as a ‘I’m in charge here’ vibe," explained Wayne.
Jerry’s rigid high and tight horseshoe flattie with a bald landing strip, back, and sides, accompanied by the precisely trimmed regulation military style mustache that Wayne had left, made him look like a classic Marine DI. His twinkling green eyes, and the dimples that appeared when he smiled, softened the look, and were the features that Brian had assured Jerry were going to make Bud Callahan and The Diamond Horseshoe successful. As Jerry stood up from the barber chair, Mark jumped up from his chair, stood at attention, and bellowed, "OORah! Buddy Callahan, sir!"
"OORah, Bulldog!" Jerry bellowed back, and then, still in character as Buddy, "Josh Kowalczyk (Stan’s character on the show) get your ass in Wayne’s chair now!" Jerry’s green eyes twinkled with glee.
"Hey, Wayne, can you give me the same high and tight shoe, and stache, you gave Jerry?" Stan asked, "If that’s okay with you ‘Bud’?"
Jerry leaned down over the barber chair so that he was eye to eye with Stan. "Run your hand over the deck. Now down the back," he said, grinning and gently tugging on his mustache with his thumb and forefinger as Stan did as he was told. "Nice, right? Wayne, tighten Kowalczyk up, make him look like a Marine."
"OORah," exclaimed Stan!
As Wayne got to work carving his guideline through Stan’s rich, chestnut locks, Jerry admitted that, like Alexander, he wanted to give his new flattie a test run, and that he was going to go find some coffee and join Alexander for a cigar. He texted Alexander, found out that he was strolling a couple blocks away, and that they would meet at the neighborhood coffee shop Wayne recommended, then come back to the park across the street from the barber shop for cigars and conversation, and wait for Stan and Mark to be transformed into Josh and "Bulldog."
Before Brian could finish his reminder, Jerry slid his sunglasses across his bald sides, stuck his unlit cigar in his mouth, and made it out the door. The remaining two men of The Diamond Horseshoe laughed, eager to be "shoe-ed" and test driving their tight cuts in the cold Chicago late morning.

Just over an hour later, "Bud", "Daniel", "Eddie, aka "Bulldog", and "Josh" were out front of Wayne’s Barbershop, running their hands over the decks of their own and each other’s horseshoe flattops, palming the bald backs of their heads, taking pictures, and puffing contendedly on their stogies. Jerry joked that the theme song for The Diamond Horseshoe, if there was even going to be a theme song, needed to contain the lyric "where everybody knows your ‘shoe’", and then had to explain to Alexander that he was riffing on the theme song from the old TV show, "Cheers". Brian had arranged with Wayne to provide regular maintenance on the cuts, and now they were just waiting for Brian and Wayne to finish up with the paperwork.

"How long does paperwork take to sign?" grumbled Alexander, "I’m ready for some food."

"I’ll go check," offered Jerry. He turned and pushed open the door of the shop. "Hey, guys, let’s go get some lun…," he stopped short. Brian was caped up, and Wayne was plowing his clippers through the golden blond hair above the guideline he’d already carefully carved around Brian’s head.
"No way are you fellas having all the fun," laughed Brian, "so I told Wayne to ‘shoe’ me."
"Impressive, and much appreciated," said Jerry.
"You guys go get some lunch. I’ll catch up with you later," answered Brian, "and put sunglasses on!"

Epilogue

The Diamond Horseshoe ran for five seasons, the series finale airing two years ago. The show won numerous Emmy Awards, for the series itself, for writing and directing, and acting awards for Alexander Kim and Stan Pilarczyk. Alexander currently stars as a queer LA private investigator in a hot neo-noir series set in the near future. His character sports a precisely cut horseshoe flattop, and is never without a big ring gauge cigar. Mark and Stan are both in Chicago. Mark directs more plays now for the theater company, and takes an occasional role in one of the productions. A couple of his plays have transferred to Broadway. Stan appears in local stage productions, and also runs his own comedy club. He calls it Vintage. Wayne keeps both of their horseshoe flatties tight on a weekly basis. Jerry and Robbie are back home in LA, now just hosting evenings at home and traveling. Jerry is officially retired. He and Robbie and Alexander and Alexander’s husband get together regularly. Jerry found an LA barber with skills to rival Wayne’s, and he and Alexander also meet weekly for tune-ups. Alexander’s shoe is now as military precise as Jerry’s.

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