Growing Up - End of Term Part 1 by buzztob

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Growing Up - End of Term â€" Part 1
by
buzztob


The end of the first year at University was fast approaching and I was really looking forward to going home for a break. I had been in regular contact with dad who informed me that Steve had successfully graduated from Hairdressing College, not that it was ever in doubt. Steve had found what he thought was an ideal site for his business. The shop was just off the main high street in the local town. There was only one other place cutting men’s hair in the town and that was a unisex establishment. Steve, with the help of my dad and a couple of his friends, had redecorated the place, and was now open for business. Dad had seemed a bit upset when he informed me, as it meant that his garage would be redundant. All of dad’s friends were now using Steve for their haircuts. Dad decided that Steve should have all of his equipment including his beloved red leather barbers’ chair, providing, Steve would still cut his hair each week. I couldn’t wait to get home and meet up with Steve again.

Exams were out of the way and it was time to pack-up and head home. I had moved all of my belongings into the accommodation I would be renting next year along with five other guys. All I had was a holdall and my laptop to carry home. When I arrived home, it was mid-morning. Mom was in the kitchen preparing a special meal for that night. After a quick chat with her, I grabbed a shower, changed my clothes and told mom that I would be home in time to meet dad. She told me that he would be late tonight, as he was dropping by Steve’s for his regular visit. Great, I would be there anyway.

I turned off the main street at the second junction to be greeted by an illuminated barbers pole. The sign above the shop said ‘Steve’s Barbershop’. I had to admit that it looked very impressive. I couldn’t wait to get inside. When I opened the door, the smell of a barber’s shop hit me straight in the face. Steve was cutting someone’s hair and two other people were waiting. He looked up as I entered and a huge smile spread over his face. He turned off the clippers, extended his hand and said ‘Great to see you. Go out back, second door on the right, mines white no sugar!’ he went back to cutting the customers hair. I walked slowly through the shop thinking how big and spacious the place was. The floor had black and white tiles arranged in a symmetrical pattern. Along the back wall, Steve had installed nine chairs for waiting customers. In front, were two barber’s chairs, with washbasins, large mirrors and worktops. The cash register was mounted on a curved counter that I was passing to go through to the back. Steve had mounted a number of posters and different hairstyle pictures all around the walls, but one that caught my eye, was just by the cash register. It was a poster advertising tattoos with Dave’s name underneath.

Entering the back passage, a door was on the right, which was signed as toilets. A door on the left had a piece of card covering the sign and the second door on the right opened into a storeroom with a sink, refrigerator, kettle and a small table. I made the coffee and took Steve’s out to him. I placed Steve’s coffee on the counter beside him and took up a seat by the cash register. I didn’t like to interrupt Steve, as he always believed that you concentrate on the persons’ hair you are cutting and keep them informed on what you are doing. Customers do not like to be ignored.

Steve was slowly reducing the head of thick black hair in front of him. The clippers were busy peeling off the hair at the back of the guy’s head. Steve reduced the length on both sides, then stood in front of the guy and asked him how short he wanted the top? The answer was a #4. Steve sought out the attachment placed it on the clippers and started on the top of his head. He went over the top a couple of times just to make sure that he had caught all of the hair. He then removed the attachment and blended the sides into the top. The customer gave his nod of approval and Steve switched the clippers off. He brushed off the loose hair, carefully placed some lather around the nape of his neck and with his straight razor finished off the haircut. He wiped off the excess lather and cleaned the customer up. The cape was removed and the guy eased out of the chair, checking his hair in the mirror. Steve looked across at the other customer but he said that he was only waiting for his friend. Steve took the money and the two walked out.

I looked up at Steve and smiled at him. I told him that the shop was very impressive and that I was glad he had finally made it. Steve looked at his watch and said that it was lunchtime. He went to the front door, switched off the sign and locked the door. He turned around and said to me ‘lunch or haircut first?’ Silly question! I was up, and in the chair before he had time to move. The cape was placed around me and Steve stared at me in the mirror and asked how I wanted it cut. I didn’t really know what I wanted, so I said ‘give me whatever dad is wearing’. Steve asked if I had seen dad and I said no as he was still at work. He smiled and asked if, I was sure. All I could say was ‘Yes, surprise me’.

Steve picked up the clippers, checked the blade, applied some oil, and switched them on. He started to remove the hair from the side of my head and I felt the clippers going high on my head. I thought of asking him what style it was going to be, but then thought I would look forward to the surprise. He quickly removed the hair at the back and other side of my head. He then turned the chair slightly so I was facing him, switched the clippers back on and removed the hair on the top of my head. He brushed the surface clean, picked up another set of clippers and repeated the whole process again. This was going to be a short haircut. When he finished, he wiped off all the loose hair, placed a towel around my shoulders and told me to lean forward over the washbasin. The hot water was soon gushing over my head and Steve’s hand gently working its way over the entire scalp. He then applied a cold substance to my head and began to massage my head working up a good lather from the shampoo. The hot water removed the soap and Steve wrapped the towel around my head. As I sat back in the chair, he removed the excess water with the towel. I then heard the lather being dispensed and Steve gently smoothed it all over my head. It was then said ‘Don’t tell me dad is a chromedome!’ Steve just smiled and said ‘happened about 4 weeks ago. Striped the whole lot off. He is due in tonight for a clean-up. Boy will he get a surprise when he sees you’. Steve proceeded to shave my head, then reapplied the lather and went against the hair growth. His straight razor must have been really sharp, as I hardly felt a thing as he slowly shave my head. He cleaned me up then applied a couple of substances to his hands and started to massage my scalp. It felt really soothing as his hands moved across my head. As the substances started to dry off, the shine on my head was noticeable. I looked at Steve and said that it looked great, all he said was ‘Welcome home’. The cape was removed and Steve announced that he had sandwiches in the refrigerator out back. As we walked through the shop, I asked him about the tattoo poster. He just indicated the locked door on the left and said that it was Dave’s place. He uses it mainly at weekends to do his art. Works out really well. He should be around later this afternoon with some of the old crowd. We have been invited to your house tonight as your dad was keen for us to have a bit of a party. My hand strayed to my head and I gently rubbed the smooth surface. I just looked at Steve and smiled.

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