Tricked by buzztob

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Tricked
by
buzztob

It was fast approaching the end of the school year. My parents and I, were going on holiday, the second week of the school holidays. At the time, my hair was over my ears and starting to curl over my collar. Mom had been onto me for over a week, to get a haircut ready for the holidays. I told her I would go for a trim the first week of the school holidays.

Sitting at the table having Sunday lunch, the weekend we broke up from school, mom reminded me that I needed to get a haircut before we went on holiday. She said that both her and my father were busy at work that week, getting ready for the three weeks we would be away. Father added to get it done before my grandparents arrived on the Friday, as they were coming for the weekend before we left, and to collect our dog.

My grandparents had moved to a bungalow at the seaside when they retired, about two years ago. They used to live just around the corner, but now it was over an hour’s drive. I had missed them when they first moved, as I would often pop around to their house, especially on the way home from school. Grandfather would always comment on my hair being too long and that my father should get me sorted out. But I would always laugh it off, telling grandfather that it was the fashion to have long hair, not like his haircut. His hair was always brutally short, and sometimes, he would have the sides and back shaved completely; his way of remembering his military days.

The week went by quickly. I don’t even remember what I had been doing that week, but it was not getting my haircut. Friday arrived, and shortly after my parents arrived home from work, another car pulled into the drive. My grandparents entered the house and after the usual kissing, hugging and handshakes, my father said he would help grandfather with their bags. Once they had settled in, we sat down for a meal.

Grandfather was sitting next to me and kept glancing over, shaking his head as he looked. The conversation turned to the upcoming holiday. Grandfather asked me if I was looking forward to three weeks in the sun. I nodded, and said I couldn’t wait. He said that I would get all hot and bothered with all that hair on my head. It was then mother stated that she had told me to get a haircut that week, but I had totally ignored her.

The adults then started to reminisce about people in the area. Some I knew, others I had no idea who they were talking about. Grandfather asked my father if Jackson, at the top end of the town, was still around. I was unfamiliar with the name. Father said he didn’t know, as he rarely went to that part of town. Grandfather said he might take a trip up there first thing tomorrow morning. Get out from under my parents’ feet, and let them get sorted for the holiday. Grandmother said he could drop her off at Betty’s as she wanted to see her and catch up on the local gossip. Grandfather looked at me and asked if I wanted to go for a car ride with them. Give the two of us time together. I readily agreed, because I knew if I stayed in the house, I would be given numerous jobs to do.

The next morning after breakfast, my grandparents and I left. We dropped grandmother off at Betty’s, and headed into town. It was busy as usual for a Saturday, but we found a parking space. Grandfather said he had a couple of things to do, so off we went on foot. After a short while, I heard grandfather say, looks as though Jackson is still around. I was looking around trying to identify Jackson, when I realised, it was not a person, but a barber’s shop.

Grandfather strode up to the door, opened it and nudged me in. It was a really old-fashioned place that had seen better days. Paint was flaking off the walls, and the flooring had bare patches. At the front of the shop was a big red barber’s chair, a cracked mirror on the wall and various shelves containing clippers, scissors, combs and various tubs. My grandfather bellowed out, Jacko, long time no see, how are thing with you? The man stopped cutting hair, looked at grandfather and smiled. He walked over and shook his hand. He asked if he was just passing through. Grandfather said he was visiting his son for the weekend before they went on holiday and, to collect the dog. He said he thought whilst he was here, he could get a proper haircut off a real barber. The barber looked at the line of people waiting and said he would be about an hour before he could attend to grandfather. He said no worries, we can wait for our haircuts. We sat down. Hold on, he said our haircuts. I suddenly realised that grandfather had tricked me and I would be getting a haircut in this place.

Sitting on the uncomfortable plastic chairs, I could not believe that a barber’s shop like this still existed. Watching ‘Jacko’ at work sent shivers down my spine. People were in and out of his chair rather quickly. He was fast. Most of his haircuts were carried out using various clippers, and he was not afraid of using them. The queue was reducing at a pace.

Next in the chair was a teenager. It really surprised me, that someone of his age, would come here. The statement out of his mouth shocked me even more. He asked for a number 1 on top and the sides skinned. The barber wasted no time in picking up his big black clippers, attaching a plastic thing to them, and started to run them through the lad’s hair. Quite a bit of hair was tumbling down onto the floor and the lad said that it was great to get the hair removed. Once satisfied with the top, ‘Jacko’ picked up some red clippers, and asked the lad how high he wanted the clippers taken. The lad said all the way. The lad’s head was nudged forward, and the clippers placed on his neck. After a couple of passes all the way to the crown you could see the result. What was left, was nothing. It was then that grandfather said to ‘Jacko’, it reminded him of his first day joining up. ‘Jacko’ said that the clippers he had in his hand were balding clippers, and would take the hair right down to the skin, only a razor would get it closer. The back and sides were soon clear of hair. A quick blend of back and sides into the top with the big clippers, and the lad was getting out of the chair.

There were now only two young lads ahead of grandfather. The first one climbed into the chair, was caped and without a word, ‘Jacko’ picked up his black clippers, placed a guard on them and started to strip the hair off the lad’s head.

I saw out of the corner of my eye that grandfather was getting up. I thought he had changed his mind about getting a haircut, but he asked ‘Jacko’, is the newsagents still open around the corner. ‘Jacko’ said it was. Grandfather turned to me and told me to just wait here. He wanted to get a newspaper and some mints for the car ride home tomorrow. Him leaving the shop had me a little nervous. I just hoped he would not be long. No sooner had grandfather left the shop, the cape was being removed from the lad who had ended up with a very short crewcut. ‘Jacko’ looked at the other boy. He said that he had only come with his friend and was not having his hair cut. They both left the shop.

‘Jacko’ turned to me and said that I might as well get in the chair first, he would deal with grandfather after me. I told him that I had not planned on getting my hair cut. With a snap of the cape, he said nonsense, you really need a good haircut, especially if you are going away on holiday. There didn’t seem any way out. So reluctantly, I walked over and sat in the chair. The cape was secured and ‘Jacko’, ran a comb through my hair. He asked if the place we were going to would be hot and sunny. I said that it would be really hot, but we were booked into a place right by the sea, so I would be spending most of my time swimming. He said that my hair would be troublesome, especially being subjected to all that salt and sun, but he would fix that for me.

Extending one hand out towards the shelf containing his clippers, the other nudged my head down to my chest. The buzzing sent a chill down my spine, but it was nothing to the sensation I felt next, when he ran the clippers from my neck up to the crown. No hair fell onto the cape so I had no idea on how much he was removing. The second and third pass increased the sensation in my body. It was then I heard the door open and grandfather said to ‘Jacko’ that he had bumped into an old friend and they had started talking. ‘Jacko’ said no problem, I’m dealing with the boy first, then I can attend to your hair.

Grandfather said that he was surprised that I had agreed to a haircut, especially after my parents being onto me for over a week to get it cut. ‘Jacko’ said that they had agreed, with it going to be hot on holiday, that I would get a haircut. I thought, that is not how it happened, you tricked me into getting into the chair. Grandfather said that he was really pleased that I was getting all the hair cut off. It was about time I started to grow up. What? Did he just say getting it all cut off? It was only then, when ‘Jacko’ lifted my head and started to attack the side of my head, that I saw in his hand, the red clippers. Pass after pass, the hair was removed around both sides. He then turned to grandfather and asked about the top. Grandfather said, you know me, the shorter the better.

Chuckling, ‘Jacko’ picked up the big black clippers, put a guard on them and started to run them from the front to the back. My hair was raining down onto the cape. It took all of my willpower not to cry. When I thought it was over, ‘Jacko’ turned to grandfather and asked if it was short enough, or should he take it down tighter. Grandfather asked what guard he had on the clippers and was informed number 4. He said that as I was going on holiday, you might as well take it down to a number 2. It would really keep me cool whilst I was away. Clippers running over my head once again, I thought that it would take me quite a while to forgive my grandfather. Bare clippers over comb blended the top into the back and sides. Once dusted down, I was shown the back of my head. There was nothing all the way to the crown. ‘Jacko’ said to remember to apply sunscreen on my head otherwise I would burn. Cape removed, I walked over to the waiting area and sat down.

Grandfather followed me into the chair and told ‘Jacko’ to give him the same. He announced that there would be two smart men in the house that night. When we arrived home, my parents were a little surprised. My mother was just about to berate my grandfather for forcing me into this haircut, but I said it was what I had asked for. It would keep me cool during the holiday.

Three weeks later, after a very enjoyable holiday, we arrived home. My grandparents were coming over with the dog the next day. Mom and dad would be back at work, so I would have to stay in the house and wait for them to arrive. About mid-morning, the car pulled into the driveway. After greetings and a wild dog settled in, grandfather said that he was heading over to see ‘Jacko’ did I want to come? I don’t know why, but I said yes.

‘Jacko’ was pleased to see us again. I climbed into the chair first. Grandfather said not to touch the top and just to fade in the back and sides. In no time I was out of the chair, really glad that the haircut was not as severe as last time. Grandfather on the other hand, asked for the same haircut.

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