Headmaster - Part 3 by buzztob

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Headmaster (Part 3)
by
buzztob


Returning to school on the Friday was a surprise in some ways. Simon and I did not receive as many snide remarks as I was expecting. I suppose it could have been the fact that the two of us had the same haircuts albeit mine was a little shorter. Quite a few people asked if they could feel the back of our heads. We explained that it was more like sandpaper now compared to when we first had it done. They were asking where we had it done and what did we ask for, but both Simon and I were quite none committal in our replies. It was whilst walking down the corridor after break to our next class when we saw Mr Yard walking down towards us. He stopped in front of us and enquired if we had been to see Mr Grey, we both said yes in unison. Mr Yard walked around us and said "Excellent haircuts, now see if you can persuade others to join your club and left us with a smile on his face. I looked at Simon and said "Now we are the Yard Boys, let’s see who we can get to join our club". Simon just smiled and said that he had a few people in mind who would join the club, voluntary or involuntary! We set about our task informing likely candidates of the Headmasters new dress code and the consequences of not abiding to the new rules. A few just looked puzzled at us and said that their parents had not mentioned receiving a letter regarding the new policy. All we said was to get ahead of the game before they felt the wrath of the Headmaster. We told them where to go and to ask for a Simon special. Over the next few days, it was really surprising to see the number of people who had fallen for our trick. Even the Headmaster commented to Simon and I that we had really started a trend at the school. Little did he know, what had initiated the change.

A week had gone by since our epic haircut and both Simon and I said that we should go back to see Mr Grey and get sorted out. It was the Monday of the second week when I saw Mr Yard walking down the corridor. He had obviously had a haircut over the weekend but it was not until I was in front of him that I saw he had a completely different haircut. He saw me looking at him and just smiled "It’s called a horseshoe flattop Petterson, a cut that Mr Grey is an expert at, from his army days. Are we going to see this style around the school?" I just smiled and said "who knows sir, but it is a fantastic haircut". With that he carried on down the corridor. I couldn’t wait to catch up with Simon and tell him what I had just seen. When I finally caught up with him and explained the haircut Mr Yard had received, we both looked at each other and in unison said "Friday after school".

The week passed slowly, but on the Thursday afternoon as we were walking down the corridor, Jackson our deputy head boy approached us and enquired where we had got our haircut. We told him Mr Grey on the high street, to which he replied "You went to that place. I thought it was only for old geezers". We explained that we would be happy to inform Mr Yard that Jackson thought he was an old geezer as it was him that had inspired us to go to Mr Grey. Jackson started to back track a little and tried to get himself out of the hole he had dug. It was then I had the great idea of getting him to come with us on Friday after school and we would forget about informing Mr Yard of his comments. Jackson squirmed for a few seconds then informed us that he could do with a trim and would go with us. I informed him that we could all get the same haircut to which he agreed. After he left us, Simon looked at me and said "I thought we were going to get that flattop haircut?" "We are, didn’t want to scare Jackson off before we got him there". I couldn’t wait to see his reaction when the clippers started to peel his coiffed hairstyle off!

On Friday, Jackson was waiting for us at the school gate. We made our way to Mr Greys shop. On entering, Mr Grey had an elderly gentleman in the chair who just seemed to be getting the back and sides of his hair trimmed up as he didn’t have that much on top. Mr Grey looked up and greeted us informing us that he was just about finished with his current client. We approached the waiting area and took a seat. Jackson was swivelling his head around taking in the interior of the shop. Shortly after, Mr Grey was brushing down his client, removed the cape and went to the cash desk to receive payment. Upon returning to the barber’s chair, he looked across and asked who the new client was. We informed him that he was "Jackson, our deputy head boy". We also informed Mr Grey that Jackson thought this shop was for old geezers and not someone of his age. Mr Grey raised an eyebrow and looked at Jackson. We added that we told him Mr Yard came to this shop and threatened to inform Mr Yard that Jackson thought he was on old geezer. Jackson was squirming in his chair and started to get a bit of colour in his cheeks. Mr Grey informed us that Mr Yard was a few years younger than him, so what did that make him, ancient?

I informed Mr Grey that Jackson was going first as he was the new boy. As Jackson approached the chair I casually asked if he had seen Mr Yard this week? He turned around and said he had stayed out of his way just in case we had told Mr Yard what he had said. So, Jackson had no idea what was about to happen. As Mr Grey secured the cape around Jacksons head, he took out his comb and started to comb his hair out. Just as he was about to ask Jackson how he wanted it, I intervened and informed Mr Grey that the three of us were getting the same haircut as Mr Yard. Mr Grey looked at me and I just winked at him, a smile came to his face. With that, he pumped up the chair and turned it towards the waiting area. Jackson would have no idea until it was too late. Mr Grey turned to the counter behind the chair and picked up some clippers. He informed us that he had just bought these clippers from the USA along with some additional guards. I asked him what they were and he replied "Oster Hair Clippers". He had decided to get some new stuff as with all the additional clients he was now getting from our school, his old equipment just didn’t seem to be up to the job. He switched on the new clippers which gave out a higher pitched hum than the old ones, took off the blade and said he was replacing it with a five 0 blade. None of us knew what he was on about, but we quickly saw the result, all, except Jackson. In no time, Mr Grey had removed the hair on the sides and back right up to the crown, carefully not allowing any hair to fall in front of Jackson. It was just about then, that I think Jackson realized that he was in for a short haircut. Mr Grey changed his comb, picked up a rather larger one, placed it at the front of Jacksons head and lifted the hair on the top. The clippers glided over the comb, removing a large chunk of hair which landed in Jacksons lap. His eyes really opened up as the hair hit the cape but Mr Grey wasted no time in picking up more hair and removing that. After about five swipes off the top, he placed the clippers down, picked up his dryer and a brush and started to push the hair from the front to the back. He applied some spray to the hair and continued to blow dry the top. Once he was satisfied, Mr Grey picked up the clippers again, told Jackson to sit upright and stay perfectly still. He positioned the clippers about an inch from the front of Jacksons head, switched them on and proceeded to push the clippers all the way to the back of his head. There was nothing left once the pass was completed. Mr Grey moved the clippers across a little and removed another batch of hair. The process was repeated on the other side. All that was left was a ‘U’ shape on the top of Jacksons head. Mr Grey then positioned the comb at the front of Jacksons head, lifted the hair a little and removed what was sticking out of the top of his comb. This procedure was repeated all over the top of Jacksons head. He was now the owner of a ‘horseshoe flattop’. Mr Grey turned to us and asked if it was to be exactly the same as Mr Yard to which we said yes. Jackson was brushed down and Mr Grey started to remove the cape. Jackson thinking it was all over started to get up off the chair but Mr Grey told him to stay seated as there just one more thing to do. The cape was secured again but not as tightly and a towel tucked in around the neck. Mr Grey then whipped up some lather in a mug and started to spread this around the back and sides of the head, and an amount was placed on the top of his head where the hair had been removed by the clippers. In an instant, Mr Grey was removing the lather with a razor taking great care to finish off the haircut. After being wiped down with the towel to remove any excess lather, Mr Grey turned the chair towards the mirror. The look on Jacksons face was priceless. Mr Grey asked if it was an ok haircut from someone as old as him. Jackson just nodded and as soon as the cape was removed, he shot out of the chair grabbed his blazer, put the money on the counter and left the shop.
Mr Grey turned to us and said "He had no idea what haircut he was getting did he?" We had to confess that we had already decided to get the same haircut as Mr Yard, but when Jackson started to mouth off about this place and it only being for old geezers, we decided that he needed to be taught a lesson. Still smiling he asked who was next, quick as a flash I said that it was me as I didn’t want an ‘ancient guy’ running out of steam half way through my haircut. Mr Grey just laughed and told me not to be so cheeky. As I made my way to his chair, he turned to Simon and asked if he would be kind enough to go out back and make him a cup of tea as he didn’t want to run out of steam with two haircuts still to give. Simon made his way out the back and Mr Grey fixed the cape around me. He then asked me what my Christian name was as he only knew me as Petterson. I told him my name was Garry, but all my friends called me ‘Doc’. It took a while for him to realise, then he just said "Oh I see, GP, hence Doc" I told him that he was correct, and asked his, to which he replied Mr Grey!

Simon returned with his cup of tea and as he pumped up the chair he just said "Same again?" to which I nodded. Whilst he was starting to cut my hair, he asked how school was going and had I decided what I was going to do when I left. I informed him that I was going to university for accountancy. He just nodded, turned to Simon and asked the same question. Simon informed him that he hadn’t finalised anything and as he wasn’t as smart as me, would just get a job. It was then he surprised me a little when he said that he was thinking of becoming a barber. He had spoken to his dad who said it was a good choice as people were always going to need to have their haircut. Mr Grey stopped cutting my hair, turned to Simon and said "You can come and get some experience here if you want, say a Friday after school and on Saturdays. With all the new trade I am getting now from the area, it’s hard for an ancient person like me to keep on top of things, keeping the shop clean and tidy. I’ll pay you of course, but you would be able to see if you really want to follow the trade when you leave school". Simon readily agreed to the proposal and asked if he could start tomorrow. Mr Grey agreed and started cutting my hair again. It was a real rush when he started to sculpt the top and then place the lather around my head and on the strip cut out on the top of my head. For me, it was over rather quickly, but at least I would get to see Mr Grey give another of his specialities to Simon.

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