Jeremy's Wonderful Summer by HenryZ_Z@yahoo.com

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Jeremy Wendell was having the summer of his life. He'd always been kind of a scrawny kid up through Elementary school. He had just completed seventh grade and had a bit of a growth spurt. His dad had recently started a demanding new job after being laid off for a few months so he wasn't home a lot, and his Mom had recently picked up more hours at her job. That wonderful summer Jeremy was basically a free range kid.

Jeremy had the most Freedom he'd ever had in his life. He rode his bike all day, bought a skateboard with his paper route money and even managed to buy some cool skateboard and surf style clothes at the coolest store in the mall. Best of all one day up at the video arcade he'd become friends with Alex Parker.

Alex Parker was hands down the coolest kid in the school. Long wavy dark hair that spilled down into his eyes and touched his shoulders. He had the coolest skateboard and all the coolest clothes. When they were hanging out at the arcade girls would whisper amongst themselves. Is that little Jeremy with Alex? He is turning into a real stud muffin this summer!

And Jeremy was. All that time in the sun had bleached his light brown hair golden blonde. Money had been tight the previous semester so Dad had skipped a few trips to the barbershop. And the brutal summer butch haircut he was usually subjected to after school let out was also skipped. Jeremy attributed this to his Newfound maturity and new degree of freedom. His controlling parents were finally letting him branch out onto his own. He could make his own decisions about hair and clothes.

A few weeks before school started Jeremy's mother slipped him a $10 bill. Your dad's really busy and doesn't have time to take you to the barber. Here's $10 to get a haircut before school starts.

Another good sign! Such Newfound freedom. He was in charge of his own haircut! If he had gone to crusty old Rays barber shop where his dad always took him, he'd have enough for the brutal haircut inflicted on him with plenty left over for some comic books and video games.

But Jeremy had his sights set higher: Armando's Emporium. A fancy salon inside the areas most upscale mall. He'd passed it a few times when he and Alex were cruising the mall looking at the latest skater sneaks. There were big full color pictures in the waiting area of very cool looking clients with gorgeous hair sporting the latest trendy style.It was even part of the local slang, a hot looking young guy was referred to as an Armando Guy. Jeremy had even heard it whispered about him when he hung with Alex at the Mall. Girls would giggle...little Jeremy's such an Armando Guy now!

Of course $10 didn't go very far at Armando's. So Jeremy dipped in to his paper route money and made an appointment.

He took a seat in the styling chair and the pretty young stylist girl combed out his golden tresses. Oh you have the most gorgeous natural highlights she cooed. I have clients who pay a lot of money for this! The other stylist girls started to gather around and gush over Jeremy's mane.

Just then Armando himself came in from the back room and walked right up to Jeremy's chair. Oh my. He said in his thick European accent, it's not often I get to work with a blank slate. Girls I'm going to take this one, all of you watch and learn.

Jeremy was sent back to the shampoo girl for a long fragrant shampoo and rinse.

Armando then began to work his artistry. He explained to the girls that Jeremy had the rare almost perfect head of hair. A little bit of tweaking and it would be gorgeous. He cut in some subtle layers. He snipped here and there and showed some different techniques. The result was a cascading feathered golden Mane that hung beautifully framed Jeremy's well tanned face.

After he was done, Armando said this one turned out pretty good. If you'll let us snap a few photos for our Lobby wall I'll give you a discount. So Jeremy was sent back to a back room where they had a little photo studio. It was official. He was now an Armando Guy!

Afterward Jeremy was so pumped up he went straight to the arcade and hung out with Alex and the gang. He could feel the appreciative stare of all the younger Junior High girls. And even some of the high school babes were starting to notice him as well.

Jeremy rode his bike home on cloud 9. He walked in to the kitchen and his mom said now don't forget about that haircut Jeremy. School starts next week.

Jeremy said mom! I just came back from Armando's! And he told her the story about his amazing haircut and how it turned out so good that he would now be featured on the wall. His mom looked him over and said, well I guess it does look a little bit neater. But it doesn't look like he took very much off. Will have to see what your father has to say.

Just then Dad came in the kitchen door. Howard his mom said. Jeremy said he just came back from a new Barber shop. Never heard of it before I think it's called Orlando's? He wants to know what we think of his haircut.

Armando's mom! Jeremy blurted out. It's in the Silver Creek mall!

Jeremy's dad was steamed. Do you think I was born yesterday! No self-respecting Barber would let a kid walk out of his shop with that mop! He'd lose his license! You didn't get a haircut. You blew that money at that video arcade you're always wasting your time at. Get in the car. I guess I'm going to have to take you to Ray's myself. We thought you were mature enough to do something as simple as take yourself to the barbershop. Boy were we wrong.

Jeremy attempted to stammer out the story. But he knew it was futile. His dad was in a mood. He sulked his way out to the car knowing that his fate was sealed.

The whole ride to Ray's was silent. That was actually worse than if his dad had given him a scolding lecture.

They pulled into the dusty gravel parking lot. The bell rang as they opened the glass door to the shop. A ceiling fan stirred the stale air listlessly. The place was empty. Jeremy reluctantly plunked himself down in the worn and grimy leather chair.

This Joker blew the haircut money I gave him on those silly video games he plays at the arcade. Said Jeremy's dad to Ray. And then tried to lie about it. Turns out he's not responsible enough to do something as simple as get a haircut. So I brought him in for a short regular boys haircut. And since he blew all that money make it extra short. We need to get our money's worth.

Despite the brutal haircuts he inflicted, Ray was actually kind of a jovial and good-natured old guy. Oh dear he said. Well boys will be boys. He tapped Jeremy on the shoulder and said don't worry son. We'll get you cleaned up and looking real good.

So a short regular boys haircut will be just the ticket for you young man. Mr Wendell I'll Whitewall the sides to make it extra neat and tidy. Would you like me to give him short bangs or a side part?

Very short bangs Mr Wendell said. I'm so tired of seeing his hair flopping in his eyes.

Alrighty then. That's what we'll do. One neat and tidy extra short regular boys haircut with white walls and very short bangs. Don't worry jeremy. This will be a nice easy to maintain haircut for an active young boy like you.

My only concern is that his hair has gotten so long and parted itself in the center it might be hard to get the bangs to lay down flat. But we'll give it a go. If we can't get it to lay down nicely we can always put him in a butch.

Very good said Mr wendell. Yes a Butch would be good but he needs to learn how to take care of his hair and keep it combed in a neat and tidy style. So let's try for the bangs first.

Very well said Ray with a twinkle in his eye. Don't worry son. Once you get used to it you'll really like this neat and tidy new haircut.

And that was that. The Clippers were fired up and cascades of golden hair hit the cape. The artistry Armando had performed and photographed just hours before was quickly dispatched to the grimy Barber Shop floor.

I'll bet it feels nice young Jeremy to get rid of all that bleached and sun damaged hair. Get you back to your regular brown color. Said Ray with a twinkle in his eye.

The hair on top was combed down over Jeremy's eyes. With three blunt slices with the sheers they were chopped a couple inches above Jeremy's brows.

Take them up a little higher Ray, Jeremy's dad said from across the room. His hair grows fast and I don't want it in his eyes again anytime soon.

Very good Mr Wendell. Yes I agree. Extra short bangs will suit young Jeremy just fine.

Then he brought out the thinning shears and started chopping away at the little bit of hair left on top of Jeremy's head. I think these will do the trick said Ray. If we thin it out real good we should be able to get rid of that center part and get everything to lay down and tidy. Good news young jeremy! Ray said with a twinkle in his eye. Looks like we're not going to have to put you in a butch.

Ray held out a hand mirror and Jeremy could see his now brown brutally short bangs plastered down flat high up on his forehead.

A Butch would actually look better thought jeremy. Those brutal short bangs made him look like a kindergartener.

This will be a neat and tidy haircut easy for you to maintain young jeremy! Said Ray.Just brush it down flat every morning and put in some hair groom. You can keep a Butch comb in your pocket to keep it laying flat and tidy throughout the day.

Outstanding work Ray said Mr Wendell. Jeremy you'll have to Fork out some of your paper route money for the butch comb, the brush and the tube of hair groom. I'm just paying for the haircut since you blew the other money I gave you.

Then the straight razor was brought out and white walls were installed along the sides and across the back of Jeremy's scalp. I took the Whitewalls pretty high Mr Wendell said Ray. That'll balance out the short bangs and keep everything looking tidy until his next haircut.

Then Ray broke out this shears and trimmed the bangs up just a little bit more. The secret to a good short regular boys haircut is the bangs have to be absolutely straight! He said. Let me just tidy these up a little bit so they are perfectly straight.

Yes good work Ray! I'll inspect him every morning before he goes out to school to make sure he's keeping it neat and tidy and well-groomed. It's a shame I have to treat my teenager like a boy but he'll have to learn to be responsible.

Well boys will be boys said Ray with a twinkle as he slapped Jeremy on the shoulder. He then doused his freshly shaved White Walls with Bay Rum and took off the cape and brushed Jeremy's skateboarding t-shirt clean of any stray stubble.

The haircut, the tube of hair groom, the butch comb and the brush came to $10 even. Mr Wendell pulled out $6 for the haircut. Jeremy reached into his skater shorts and pulled out four of his own dollars for the rest.

It was silent in the car has they pulled onto the highway. They were headed in a direction opposite of home. Where are we going dad? Said jeremy. I'm supposed to meet Alex and we're going to the mall. (Although Jeremy had already resigned himself to canceling with Alex. He couldn't show up at the mall with this ridiculous haircut.) Mom gave me some money for school clothes and we were going to go shopping.

Jeremy do you still think I was born yesterday! Grumbled Mr. Wendell. After you blew the hard-earned haircut money I gave you on video games! I'm going to have to take you school shopping since you can't be trusted to do it yourself. He pointed down at Jeremy's new plaid Van's skater sneaks. First thing we have to deal with are those ridiculous clown shoes you wasted your money on. They pulled into Johnson and Layman's shoe store in a rundown block of the old downtown. Get out of the car Jeremy we have a lot of shopping to do this afternoon.

END of PART ONE

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