Mount Rushmore Vacation by David Gordon

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It was the beginning of summer break, i was 13 and my younger brother Ryan was 11. My name is William. I had gotten both Ryan and me thru the second half of the school year without getting a haircut. My hair was longer than Ryans. My hair was blonde and over my ears and almost to my shoulder blades in back and if i pulled my bangs down i could kiss the tips of bangs. Ryan's hair was very dirty blonde and was over his ears, his bangs were to his nostrils of his nose, and the back touched his collar.

The 70s was a time of boys had long hair. I had manage to be busy with a school activity or something and sorry mom, by the time we got to the salon they were closed. Dad had enough vacation time to take most of our summer break, he had gotten the RV tuned up and he was taking the family around the United States.

The day after school let out we left in the RV, we visited a few places and then pulled into a RV traveling park at the base of Mount Rushmore. While we were helping dad set the RV up for sleeping and hooking up the power and water, there was a kid my age that walked by, his red hair was cut so short, i laughed to myself what a geek to have such short hair.

The next day we had just finished breakfast and Ryan was helping mom clean the dishes from breakfast, i told dad i was going to take a walk. I had walked 5 RVs down from ours when i saw the same kid as yesterday, he jumped out of his lawn chair and said hi. His name was David. The whole time we talked as we walked around the RV park, i could not stop looking at his short hair. He was a cool kid, we spent a couple days hanging out.

During the day of the 3rd day, Dad, Ryan and i had taken a walk to get rid of the garbage. As we walked back towards our RV we had to pass by David's family RV. David was sitting on one of the stools without a shirt on and his dad was giving David a haircut. Both Ryan and I started giggling at the fact David already had short hair and his dad was cutting it shorter. Dad spoke up to David's dad, wow i thought David's hair was short already. Daniel (David's dad) responded i give him a haircut every two weeks duing the summer and he will have a H&T crewcut during the school year unless he gets into trouble, then he meets with Mr. Punishment (Daniel's nikename for his paddle to spank with) then he gets sat down and all his hair is sheared off.

Ryan and I still giggling when Daniel says your boys need a haircut, I would be happy to clean them up for you. I stopped giggling and grabbed dad's arm, let go dad. Dad said yes they need haircuts, i will give you that, but their mom would kill me if I brought them back with their hair that short, pointing at David's head. Daniel said well I don't have to cut it this short, shaking the top of David's head. The longest attachment i have is a #8 which would leave their hair about an inch long. I grabbed dad's arm again lets go, Dad says their mom has been on me to get them haircuts, i looked at dad, Dad i don't want a haircut lets go. Daniel said leave them with me and come back in a half hour and they will be cleaned up. Dad said well i guess that will be ok, that will be one thing my wifebe off my back about.

As dad walked off towards our RV, Daniel looked sternly at me, you and your brother have a seat and keep your mouth shut, i will be done with David in a minute and then we can get rid of those mops. A couple minutes later Daniel said ok David your done. As David stood up, Daniel said as he looked at me, get on the stool son! I didn't move. Daniel raised his voice, I told you get on the stool son, do as your told. Again I didn't move, i said you can do Ryans first, i dont want a haircut. Daniel said if I have to ask you one more time, you will have a meeting with Mr. Punishment first, David spoke up, William get on the stool before you make things worse.

I reluctantly got up and walked to the stool and sat down, David spoke up again, it would be best if you take your shirt off. I took it off and David grabbed it. Daniel grabbed a comb and started brushing out my hair, it snagged a few times. My bangs were down in my face, covering my eyes. He then grabbed a chunk of my bangs with scissors cut them off, dropping the chunk of hair in my lap, he then grabbed another hunk and cut it and dropped it in my lap again. He continued grabbing hunks of hair and cutting it off all over my head. Daniel said that should be good, i can now use the clippers to finish without the clippers getting snagged. I looked at him thru the tears in my eyes, he was taking off the attachment on the clippers, and started sorting through the other attachments.

There it is # 4, as he put the # 4 attachment on the clippers, he said you are going learn a lesson today, i am going to cut your hair shorter than i told your dad. When your dad is talking to someone, you don't try and pull him away and interupt thier conversation, and you don't protest your parent when they tell you something is going to happen, and finally when you are left in the custody of an adult and that adult tells you to do something, you do it without protest. Do you understand what i just told you William, i said yes sir.

As he turned on the clipppers they were right next to my right ear, i jumped. He said sit still and he pushed my head into my chest. Long strands of hair was fallingas he pushed the clippers all over my head. When he finished there was large chunks of hair all over the ground and in my lap. As I stood up the hair in my lap fell to the ground. Ryan nearly ran me over trying to get on the stool. He didn't want to be in trouble. As my hair was being cut, i had tears in my eyes, but i started cryng when i looked in the side rear view mirror of the RV, my hair had never been this short. Daniel changed the attachment to the #8, he did the same thing to Ryan by cutting hunks of hair first then using the clippers, within minutes Ryan was sheared too.

As Ryan was getting out off the stool, dad walked back up. Wow that is shorter than i though they would be, but it will do. I then walked up to dad, dad looked at my haircut then at Ryan's haircut then back at mine. William your hair looks shorter than Ryan's why is that. I didn't say anything, Daniel spoke up,I had to teach him a lesson for disrespecing you and me, and when he was told to get on the stool he refused till i threatened to get Mr. Punishment out. So i cut his hair shorter to teach him a lesson. Daniel then told dad that he suggested getting a set of clipppers cause going to a barbershop every couple weeks can get expensive.

My thinking this was going to be a one time shearing was smashed when dad said he would pick up some clippers on their next trip to the store. Dad asked where do you guys live, David spoke up, we live in Denver, Colorado. Dad said we will be gong thru there in a couple weeks, so our dads exchanged phone numbers.

As we started to walk back to our RV, dad said Ryan you are cleared of any helping mom for the next couple days, William will do all your times, and William you are grounded to our camp site.

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