Growing Up - End of Term - Part 2 by buzztob

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Growing Up - End of Term - Part 2
by
buzztob



Steve switched the sign back on and unlocked the door to his shop at 1300 hours. He told me to stick around, as a number of the old crowd would be in later for a clean up before tonight’s party. It wasn’t long before the door opened and his afternoon session began. I had climbed onto dad’s old red leather barber’s chair just to the right of Steve. The trade was steady throughout the afternoon and it was great to watch Steve in full flow. Although Steve still preferred short haircuts, it was a business he ran and he would cut customers hair however they wanted it. Most of the elder customers only had trims round the back and sides, the middle aged clientele varied from longish styles with the hair left over their ears, to a bold few who had Steve reduce the length of their hair so that skin could be seen. Then there was my age group and their styles varied tremendously but most seemed to prefer short haircuts. The shop seemed to fill up with school kids so I guessed that school was out. Most of the coming into the shop greeted Steve by name. He seemed to know most of them and chatted to them constantly as he cut their hair. Most were in for trims, tidying up their short haircuts ready for the weekend. The shop was very busy with all the chairs taken and a number of other standing against the wall. Steve was going flat out but he would not cut corners, everyone deserved the best that he could do. It was great to see how popular he had become in a relatively short period of time. I asked Steve if he wanted another drink, which he gratefully accepted and as he didn’t have to make it would also save him some time. I went out the back and shortly returned with his coffee. I was just about to get back into my dad’s chair when the door opened and in walked Mark and Simon. We greeted each other and they said that they had come for a tidy up before tonight. Two more for the party! Steve looked around and told them that he would be at least 2 hours before he could cut their hair. They seemed disappointed and said that they could not wait that long. Simon had to go somewhere before they went home to get changed. Simon said sorry and got back to cutting the blond haired guy sitting in the chair. Simon shrugged his shoulder, turned to Steve and asked him if he would mind if I cut their hair. I was just about to say something when Steve said that it was up to them, but he would take no responsibility for the outcome of the cut. Simon looked at me grabbed hold of my arm and pulled me out of the chair. Just like old times was all he said! Steve said that dad’s things were in the cupboard by the washbasin. I turned to Simon and told him that I couldn’t cut his hair. He just said ‘look all I want is a quick trim. Just buzz the lot off and cut it without the attachment’. Reluctantly, I took out the equipment from the cupboard, laid the items out and placed the cape around Simon and asked him if, he was sure. ‘Yes, let’s go, I’ve got other things to do before tonight’. I picked up the clippers, switched them on and started to remove the hair at the back of Simon’s head. It didn’t take me long to get back into the swing of things and I actually started to enjoy it. When I had finished clipping the hair off his head, I asked Steve if he had a Mach3 that I could use. He went out to the back storeroom and came back with a brand new razor in his hand. I spread some lather around the sides and along the nape of his neck and finished off the cut. Once I had cleaned him up, I removed the cape and Mark replaced him in the chair. Mark wanted the sides and back shaved and the top taken down with the #000 blade. I wrapped the cape around him, picked up the clippers and starting at the front of his head, slowly removed the ½" of growth Mark had sprouted since his last haircut. It didn’t take me long to finish with the clippers. I switched them off, dusted his head to remove the loose hair then applied the lather around the sides and back. I picked up the Mach3 and carefully removed the stubble around Marks head. I applied another application of lather and shaved against the hair growth. I wiped off the surplus and cleaned Mark up. Removed the cape and told them to settle up with Steve. Steve smiled and said ‘Because it was only an apprentice haircut, he would charge them only half price’. As the lads were leaving, they turned and said that they would see me tonight. I was cleaning up when one of the lads waiting said that all he wanted was a buzzcut and he would be happy for me to do it, as he wanted to get home. Steve said that it was up to me. I agreed and told the lad to jump into the chair. I placed the cape around him, started to comb out his hair and asked him how short he wanted to go. ‘Cut it as short as you can without shaving it’. I asked Steve if he still had the #00000 blade and he told me that it was in the draw. ‘Make sure he knows what he is letting himself in for’ was all Steve said. I collected the blade from the draw, placed it on the clippers and asked the lad if he realised how short this was going to be, thinking back to my own experience. He just nodded and said that it was OK. I decided to play safe and cut just a small patch at the side of his head. I asked him again if it was OK? He looked in the mirror, ran his hand over the patch and said that it was great, cut the rest off. The clippers sprung into action and I removed the hair off his head. I dusted him off, finished edging the cut and showed him the back of his head with a hand mirror. He broke into a big smile and said that it was great, just what he had wanted. I removed the cape, looked at Steve and he nodded to me, ‘half price’. I looked around the shop and there were still a number of lads waiting for haircuts. Steve’s reputation was surely spreading fast. I went out back, came back with a brush and started to clean up around my chair. I moved towards Steve’s chair and collected the mound of hair that was accumulating there. He just smiled and said thanks. I put the clipping in the bin and returned the brush to the back room. When I returned, someone else was in "my" chair. He asked for a crewcut with a short tapered neck. I looked at Steve and said that I would be charging him for my services. He just laughed. This carried on for the next couple of hours with Steve doing the proper haircuts and me just buzzing people’s heads. Trade eased off at around 1700 hours and we both managed to take a quick break. I had just made another coffee when the door opened and in walked Dave. He grabbed my hand and said that it good to see me. He raised his other hand and rubbed my head. ‘See Steve has already had his hands on you!’ I just laughed and said that I thought that it was great. Dave hadn’t changed much. He still supported his skinhead cut but had clearly been pumping iron. His body looked great. We had just finished catching up when the door opened and a couple of guys who used to be at school with us come in. we exchanged greetings, one got in the chair and Steve placed the cape around him. Dave asked me if Steve had shown me his new pride and joy? I looked at Steve and he said that he had not. With a prompt from Dave, Steve removed part of his shirt to reveal a striking tattoo of a tigers’ head on his shoulder. Dave said that he was going to do a lions’ head on the other shoulder next week. Steve said that it was not definite and he was still thinking about it, but Dave just smiled and said ‘we’ll see’. Dave placed an arm around my shoulder and escorted me towards the back of the shop. We stopped in front of the locked door, he opened it and pushed me in. he switched on the lights and there laid out before me was all of Dave’s equipment. The walls were covered with beautiful drawings of all types of creatures. He also had some drawings of tattoos I had seen in magazines about tribal markings. I couldn’t take my eyes off the art that was all over the walls. He told me that he was still building his portfolio but soon he hoped to do his art full-time. Dave then looked at me and said that he had been watching me since I entered and he had a new design that he had been working on that he wanted me to see. He handed me a picture of a bird with brightly coloured feathers and a long wispy tail. I said that it was really good. He said that he was pleased that I liked it as he had drawn it especially for me. I looked at Dave and slowly shook my head. There was no way that I was going to have a tattoo. But Dave in his normal persuasive manner had my shirt off in no time and he was cleaning up my shoulder where he had decided that his art should go. I shuffled in his chair as he got everything ready. He scrubbed his hands and wiped them with antiseptic. He unpacked the needle and wipes; washed his hands again, put on gloves and asked me if I was ready. He explained that this session was just to outline the shape and put in some basic colour. It would take another couple of sessions before it was completely finished. I steadied myself and the tingling sensation began to envelope my body. Dave slowly and carefully, did the outline of the bird, talking to me all the time telling me what he was doing and wiping the surface with his swabs. After about 40 minutes, Dave said that was enough for today. He cleaned up the area and placed a dressing over his work. I put my shirt back on and was surprised at how little pain there had been. I got up and Dave said that he would be out soon; he just wanted to clean up. I walked back into the main shop and saw that Steve had lathered up the head of another customer. It was dad. Steve saw me come into the shop. He turned the chair so that dad had his back to me when I approached. Steve put his hand out, gave me the razor and pushed me towards dad. Steve kept talking to him as I went forward and started to remove the lather off the top of his head. I was just about to burst out laughing when dad must have caught a glimpse of me in the mirror as suddenly he said ‘hi son, how are you?’ I handed the razor to Steve and gave him a big hug. I asked Steve to finish dad off. Dad’s hand came out from under the cape and ran it over my head, complimenting me on an excellent haircut. He said that he couldn’t wait to catch up on things and that he had a few surprises for me tonight. I told him that I had another one for him and started to describe the tattoo that Dave had started on my shoulder. He just looked over and smiled.

Dad asked what plans I had for the summer vacation. I told him that I had been unsuccessful in the jobs that I had applied for and that I would be down to sign on bright and early on Monday until I could find something. Steve then said that if I was looking for a job, I could work here during my vacation, it would really be a help to him. I wasn’t too sure but dad thought that it was a great idea. Steve said ‘OK, sorted, be here by 0900 hours tomorrow and don’t be late!’ Steve finished off dad’s head. Dave came out of his studio and we all helped Steve to clear away. Steve switched off the sign and we all left, looking forward to the party tonight. Personally, I was looking forward to tomorrow when I could get to cut some more hair. I would really enjoy this vacation!

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