A Tester of Endurance by SailorNaruto52

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Author’s Note: Don’t know if any of you remember me but I wrote a few stories a few years ago and I guess I’m starting to come back. Might continue a series or two I wrote previously. Anyway hope you all enjoy this story about one of our favorite flattoped Senators.

The Results were flying in and it was a close race. Jon Tester was nervously pacing around the room running his hands through his perfectly flat light brown hair. He had just had his flat freshened up at his barber this morning in preparation for his expected win. However with the current numbers he felt that he might have to show off his freshly flattened top for a concession speech. His campaign manager was attempting to assuage his fear but Jon was still unsure of what his move might be in the chance that he lost. The portly man could only hope that the results yet to come would sway the election in his direction.

Matt Rosendale however was completely elated rubbing his closely cropped grey hair feeling that rubbing his head could only improve the already great luck that he was having. When he initially decided to run he was unsure of his chances. Tester had been a senator for quite a while and had won all of his senate races since 2006. When looking at the results at the current moment he couldn’t help but feel good about his chances. He was glad that he had had his wife give him a fresh trim this morning. He would look his absolute best while giving his victory speech and finally unseating the incumbent Democrat Tester. Matt Rosendale in the current moment was on the top of the world and riding higher.

As the night went on the two men’s moods slowly changed. Jon was getting more and more confident as more votes for him came in and he couldn’t help but run his hand proudly over the top of his tall flattop beaming from ear to ear with a giant grin. Matt on the other hand had gone from confidently rubbing his crew cut into an aggravated and aggressive gripping of his head in his hands. The results continued to come in and before they both knew it the results of the election had been decided. Although the race had been fairly close, the winner had been decided.
Jon Tester had beaten out Matt Rosendale with 49 percent of the vote going to Tester and 48 percent of the vote going to Rosendale.

Both of the men delivered their respective speeches. Jon couldn’t help but feel elated at his win and the energy of hope that he had radiated throughout the room. Jon stood proud and in all the pictures from the speech you could see his proud plush flattop on display. The concession speech from Matt on the other hand was solem and dour. Rosendale’s speech couldn’t help but feel bitter and spiteful. He failed to inspire any real action. Both Men commended the other on their well run race and moved on not really interacting with the other. Until a few months later.

Jon was back in Montana as the senate had taken their yearly recess. His flattop was quite overgrown. You could still see the general shape of the flattop however it was drooping on the sides of the top and you could definitely tell that Jon needed to have his top freshened up. Jon was walking towards the entrance of the same barbershop that he had been going to for years with his reliable barber Jerry when he noticed his most recent competitor walking his way.

"Hello there Mr Rosendale," Jon gave Matt a wave and a smile. "How are you doing on this fine Montana day?"

Matt Rosendale had not noticed the senator but as soon as the bellowing voice hit his ears he had to look. The portly man of his ire was in his sights with his overgrown flattop. Despite the disdain within his heart. Matt responded quite simply.

"I’m doing quite well, Senator Tester how are you today?"

"I’m quite alright. Just going to have my flat freshened up. As you can see," Jon ran his hand across his head. "I’m quite overdue."

"You know I’m quite overdue myself senator," Matt said as he walked up rubbing his somewhat shaggy looking overgrown crewcut. "I might join you. It’s getting long enough to comb since my wife’s been on vacation."

Jon opened the door to the barbershop and held it for Matt to grab. The barbershop they both stepped into had all the comforts of home and a familiar old timey feel to it. With the leather throne like barber chair and black and white tile flooring any customer could feel welcome. The barbershop owner Jerry greeted every customer with a smile that often off-played the stern look most men with bald heads had.

"Hello Jon having a fine day today?"

"Yes Jerry and you might also recognized my friend here Mr. Rosendale. I believe we might both be in need of your services."

Matt gave a wave as Jerry looked them both up and down. Boy howdy did they look like they hadn’t seen a barbershop in a few months. But it was no matter if he would fix them up soon enough.

"Alright then Senator and Mr. Rosendale. Happy to service both of you today. So," Jerry shook out his cape and turned his chair toward the two politicians. "Which one of you hippies is first?"

The two men laughed and a smile went across Matt’s face as an idea creeped into his head. Oh boy, this could be interesting.

"I actually have a bit of a fun idea, Senator Tester. A little friendly competition if you don’t mind."

"Well what were you thinking of Mr. Rosendale?"

"I was wondering if we could have a friendly little armwrestling fight. The winner gets to decide the loser’s haircut."

Jon gulped and ran a hand through his flattop.

"Oh I’m not too sure about that," Jon started rubbing his stomach from the nerves. "I mean I don’t see too many flat surfaces. So it wouldn’t be fair. Right Jerry?"

"Actually I think I have the perfect table in the back for this. I like to lay my tools on it sometimes. Why don’t I go get it."

Jerry went in the back room and brought a square table that was just the right size and height for both Jon and Matt to have their armwrestling bought.

"Look at that Senator Tester. The perfect table. No excuse now."

"Well I don’t know. I mean I’ve had the same haircut for quite awhile now. Not sure about any change."

"I understand Senator. I know that you’re probably just afraid of losing. Wouldn’t want to change that perfect streak or your haircut."

Jon was taken aback by Matt’s candid comments and suddenly a fire was lit in him.

"You know what Mr. Rosedale. I think I’ll agree to this friendly match. What could it hurt."

"That’s what I like to hear senator."

Both men stood up to the table and put their arms down. Jon’s right against Matt’s left and Jerry was absolutely riveted getting ready to watch the match. Both men agreed to countdown and as soon as both said 3 they were off. Rosendale and Tester were at it again. A rematch in the form of armwrestling.

At first neither man gave headway and all that one could see was the shaking of both men’s arms. However slowly Jon was gaining the advantage. One could see that Matt’s arm was being moved closer and closer to touching the table. Once again it seemed as if Jon would be victorious. Once again he would triumph. However slowly a rage built up in Matt and Jon’s impressive lead was being lost. Matt pushed back Jon’s arm bit by bit until all of a sudden…SLAM. A winner had been decided. Jon’s arm was down on the table with Matt’s on top. For the first time in quite a while Jon had lost to his opponent and thus his hair would be on the chopping block.

Matt rubbed his hands together as he thought of all the possible options for him to inflict upon the large Senator. He pondered a head shave, considered a short buzzcut, and buzzed around the idea of a high and tight. Suddenly, the perfect option popped into his head and it took all his will to not release a cackle. Yes, this would be quite the change for Senator Tester and his perfectly plush pile.

"Well good effort Senator Tester," Matt shook Jon’s hand. "But it would seem that you are the one in the hot seat so to speak."

"Oh Matt," Jon nervously ran his hand across the plush pile atop his head. "Are you sure you really wanna go through with this? I mean is there even that much to cut."

"Trust me Senator, I believe there is plenty. Now to get in that chair and let Jerry take care of what I want."

"C’mon Jon," Jerry Turned the Chair towards the Senator, cape in hand. "Fair is fair."

Jon let out a sigh and settled his large frame into the chair. Jerry took out a sanitation strip and put it around Jon’s thick neck. He then snapped the cape into place and ran a comb through Jon’s lush brown hair. Jon’s hair was long enough that the comb could actually affect the flat shape atop Jon’s head. If the senator ever grew it longer he would have strong lush brown locks. However that didn’t seem to be what was on Matt’s mind today.

Matt motioned for Jerry to come over and he began whispering his wishes to Jerry. Jon could feel himself starting to sweat as the two men discussed the fate of his treasured flattop. What if they decided to shave my Head? Or what if they just buzzed me down really short? Oh I sure hope they don’t give me a dreadful high and tight? I can’t even imagine something worse than a brutally short marine style haircut. These thoughts coursed through his head as Matt and Jerry talked. Before he even knew it Jerry came back over and turned Jon toward the mirror.

"Well I’m not sure if you’ll enjoy this but it will certainly be something different for you Jon."

Jerry grabbed his balding clippers and his comb. Just before he was getting ready to go Matt piped up.

"Actually Jerry if you wouldn’t mind could you turn Senator Tester away from the Mirror? I want it to be a big surprise when he sees the final product."

"Sorry Jon, but I think it would be easier for me to work if you aren’t watching the whole time."

Jerry said as he turned Jon back away from the mirror.

"Okay then," Jon gripped the barber chair even tighter. "That’s okay."

"Well okay then," Jerry turned on his Oster balding clippers. "Let’s get started."

Jerry placed his clippers right at the sideburn and moved the clippers up removing the soft brown pelt revealing stark white skin underneath that had not been seen the sun in awhile. He continued his assault on the back and sides and a sizeable amount of brown hair was beginning to collect on the cape. Jon was still a bit nervous but figured that maybe he would just be getting some white walls instead of his usual #1 on the side. While definitely a change it wouldn’t be that different and he would adjust as it grew. All of that changed as Jerry went straight up to the crown making sure to remove part of the plush brown top as he went over his work. Now Jon knew he was definitely in for it. Brown hair just kept collecting in Jon’s lap as Jerry peeled the back and sides of Jon’s head. Then when Jerry finished clipping the back and sides he turned the clippers off and ran his comb through Jon’s top. Now the real big part of the haircut would begin.

Jerry fired his clippers back up and put his comb towards the crown of Jon’s head and zipped the clippers right across the comb. He continued his work taking small sections and reducing the plush 2 inch overgrown top down to a nice 3 ⁄ 4s of inch. The dense brown hair was collecting on top of Jon’s head and he could feel just how short Jerry was going. Jon let out a gulp and Jerry chuckled a bit to himself. The barber finished flattening off the senator's top and all of the formerly plush top was in Jon’s lap and he couldn’t help but stare down at the sizable pile in his lap. Jerry blended in the sides of his head and Jon was certain that Jerry would be done with the haircut. Definitely shorter than the usual flattop but nothing too crazy. However, Jon’s mind quickly changed as Jerry placed his clippers an inch back from the hairline and dragged the clippers right back across his head.

Jon was even more shocked when Jerry did it a second and third time widening the landing strip. It was then that Jon realized exactly what kind of haircut it was that Mr. Rosendale had decided on for him. Jon was getting shoed. All of a sudden Jon could feel how cold his head was now that most of his soft brown pelt was off his head and most of his head was bare. Jerry continued his work and after lots of blending Jerry was done. Jerry turned the chair around and revealed to Jon the results of his work.

Jon couldn’t believe that person looking back at him in his reflection. The only remnants of his formerly plush and thick flattop was a small tiara of brown hair on the top of his head. The rest pale white and newly uncovered skin. Jon took his hands from out underneath the cape and ran his hands all over his head. He couldn’t believe that he was really feeling his bare head and he felt almost sick to his stomach.

"Well, what are your thoughts Jon?"

"I’m not entirely sure," Jon gave his landing strip a rub. "But I guess I’ll adjust to this. You did a great job."

"Oh I’m afraid Jerry’s not quite done yet," Matt hollered with a giant grin on his face. "There’s still the razor shave."

"I believe Mr. Rosdenale back there is quite right Jon."

Jon took in another big gulp.

"Okay then Jerry."

Matt was in complete heaven even though he had lost the election to Tester he couldn’t help but feel he was getting rewarded now seeing the big guy losing his mind over getting shoed. Matt confidently ran a hand through his overgrown haircut. I could still definitely use a haircut though. He thought to himself. Seeing Jon’s face pale as Jerry lathered up the landing strip and back and sides. Matt drank in the perfectly paled face as Jerry scraped off all the lather from Jon’s head.

Eventually Jerry was done and wiped off the remaining lather off of Jon’s head. Jerry removed the sanitation strip and cape and let Jon out of the barber’s chair. Jon still couldn’t believe the new shoe that crowned his head. What would his constituents think? More importantly, what would his wife think? Matt then snuck up on Jon and put his arm around his shoulder.

"Looking nice and shoed Senator," Matt gave the top of Jon’s head a rub. "Hoo boy, that sure is quite short."

"Yeah. Yeah it sure is Mr. Rosendale." Jon said with a forlorn look.

"Well, guess it’s my turn to get my ears lowered. Don’t put away your clippers just yet Jerry."

"I’ll fix you right up Mr. Rosdale. Just gotta clean up the rug that I removed from Jon’s head. You can take a seat in the meantime."

Matt took a seat in the barber’s chair and Jerry continued to sweep up the hair that he had just removed from Jon’s head. Jon continued standing in the barbershop as a courtesy to Matt and he scrolled through his phone checking the various e-mails that his aides and constituents were sending to him. Jerry put the sanitation strip around Matt’s neck and caped him up. As Jerry was doing this Jon saw an email with the subject line "Remember this Gem from the past election" with a video attached. Jon clicked on the video and saw that it was a quote from the very same man that was getting ready to get his haircut. After watching the video he knew that it would give him the perfect opportunity to get some well deserved payback against Mr. Rosendale.

"So what are you thinking about today Mr. Rosendale," Jerry combed through the overgrown grey crewcut. "You definitely have quite a bit more hair on your head than usual."

"Yeah, normally have the wife do it but she hasn’t been on vacation with her sisters. So I was thinking tha-"

"Oh Mr. Rosendale I have quite the proposal from your past self." John said in an almost singsong tone.

"What are you possibly talking about Senator Tester?" Matt turned his head.

"I have the reminder right here." And Jon showed his phone and press play on the video for all 3 men to see.

In the video Matt was doing a press conference while on the campaign trail. Matt remembered it as a fairly standard conference with nothing of note. And then the question came and Matt was immediately cursing his past self. The memory came back to him. He knew he was in trouble.

"This is just a fun question unlike the others in this room," A male reporter with a black buzzcut asked. There was a chuckle after his initial comment "My question is, in the case that the current Senator Tester loses, what do you expect him to do instead of politicking?"

Matt grinned and put on the charm.

"Well that Senator Tester seems like the kind of guy who wins at everything. He just seems like that kind of guy," Once again the reporters chuckled. "I bet you if he lost at anything he'd probably become a barber or something."

The reporters gave off another chuckle and of all the men in the barbershop only two knew the exact incriminating words that would come next.

"You know if Jon Tester did ever lose and become a barber he could have a go at my head. I’d let him do whatever he wanted."

Jon paused the video and Jerry let out a giant laugh. He laughed so hard he literally just started slapping his knee. Matt was clearly blushing from embarrassment and started nervously stuttering. Jon knew exactly at that moment that he had Matt where he wanted him. Jon couldn’t wipe the giant grin from his face even if he wanted to.

"Well, well, you, uh, you know that was just a joke Senator Tester?"

"It was a pretty good idea though. I think I should have go at you. What do you think Jerry?"

"I think that would be a brilliant idea Jon."

Jerry handed Jon the clippers. Jon ran his two fingered hand through Matt’s hair.

"Well, well, what should we do for you today Mr. Rosenberg?"

Matt gulped nervously and gave an attempt towards what he wanted.

"Well you know normally just get a #1 on the back and sides and just clipper over comb the top. Same as my wife does."

"Interesting," Jon put on the #1 blade onto the clippers. "I had a little something different on my mind though Mr. Rosendale."

"Okay." Matt said.

Jon turned the chair around so that Matt was looking away from the mirror.

"It’ll be a nice surprise for you Mr. Rosendale."

Matt gulped knowing that his fate was in the hands of the man he had just forced a shoe on.

"Okay then Senator Tester."

Jon fired up the clippers and ran them straight down the middle of Matt’s head. Sheaves of gray hair were coming off of Matt’s head as Jon ran the clippers all over his head. Matt's head was being cleared of all the overgrowth and all that was left was the 1/8th inch of stubble that the clippers left behind. After a brief session with the clippers Jon was done with the #1 guard and he turned the clippers off.

Matt was relieved for a brief second thinking that Jon was done with the clippers, but shortly he was put back into panic mode when the clippers fired up again. Matt could tell that he was being taken down even shorter as Jon took the bare clippers down the middle of his head. The short grey snipplings were being peeled revealing the white head underneath. Jon was creating a horseshoe shape on top showing making Jon look as if he was naturally losing his hair. Matt could tell exactly the cut that Jon was giving to him and he couldn’t believe what was happening to him. Jon continued his work and moved the clippers up from the bottom so that the only hair that Matt had on his head was 2-3 inch wide strip of 1/8th long hair that dipped around his head. Matt was now sporting an MPB as was inflicted on him by Jon.

Jon turned the chair around and savored the look on Matt’s face as he realized just how severe the MPB cut was that he had received. Jerry was laughing in the corner as Matt felt up his head truly understanding the difference between the #1 guard and the bare clippers. Jon was grinning from ear to ear looking at Matt in the mirror. As he was staring he caught a glimpse of himself again and remembered the new severe shoe he was sporting. While he still missed the deep pile, the shoe was becoming more and more appealing. Jon felt manlier and more virile. He would definitely be able to intimidate his less obedient constituents now.

Matt had lost all of the previous bravado and guts that he had. Matt was now meak and looked like he didn’t want to be seen at all. He really couldn’t help but regret the previous statements that his big mouth had made. Matt was drawing further into himself. Everytime that he rubbed his head he felt sick to his stomach.

Matt was let out of the chair and Jerry swept up all of the grey hair and deposited both Jon and Matt’s hair into the trash can. Jon paid for two haircuts despite Jerry’s insistence to only pay for the one he gave Jon. Both men walked out of the barbershop with quite different emotions on their faces. Jon beaming proud with his new shoe and Matt looking despondent with his MPB.

"Well Mr. Rosenberg," Jon put his arm around Matt. "That was a fun time at the barbershop."

"Yeah I agree Senator Tester."

"Can’t wait for us to go back for a tune up."

"What?" Matt’s face blanched.

"Yep you and me will keep up with these cuts gott make sure my shoe stays sharp and you Mr. Rosenberg," Jon gave Matt a good long noogie with his two fingered hand. "Gotta make sure that your MPB stays nice and in shape."

As he felt the force of Jon’s hand on his bald head he couldn’t help but view this as his own personal Tester of Endurance. And boy oh boy was starting to see the joy in it.

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