Risk-taking has its benefits by noguard

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My name is Toby Grant, 16 years old. I’ve been known as a risk taker for most of my life; and for that reason can almost never refuse a bet. I’m not sure whether it’s just me combating against boredom or simply just to face a challenge, but I do know I enjoy a nice, non-ill-intended bet.

But this week, I took a bet that changed my life, well, rather merely my hair, forever. Let’s tell it from the beginning.

Just last Monday, I hung with a few friends. Usually how it goes is we start by hanging out all together and through the night we’ll start to separate and go our ways. This night I happened to separate with my best friend Nole Markham. Nole Markham is a common person I bet with and has been a friend of mine since birth due to our parents being friends, up until now too. Nole is a lean guy with dark skin with hair styled into locs; usually wearing a jacket that I’m still shocked fits him after all this time.

This night we had gotten some ice cream and followed that afterwards with making a bet behind the shop. Whenever we have bets, we get to choose eachothers ‘fates’. He had told me that if the next person to walk out of the parlor was a kid, he’d win; and if it was an adult, I’d win. But of course, with a bet; there’s always a punishment, and we couldn’t go back to make ours worse either.

I said that if he lost, he would have to purposely trip & fall at school the coming Tuesday. I never could’ve guessed what he would curse upon me.

Nole said that if I lost, we’d go to the barber shop down the road tonight, and he’d get to choose exactly how I get my hair cut. I was shocked, but I wasn’t down. I took the bet.

We both glared at the entrance of the parlor in a playful competitiveness and what do you know, a pudgy little girl walked out, ice cream in hand.

I muttered out a nervous ‘Damn! A bet is a bet.’ and we headed to the barbershop. On the way there, we joked and played around, but I was most certainly nervous. I thought that, maybe he’ll go lenient on me? But either way, even though he said I could every time we make a bet, I didn’t back out.

The shop is named ‘Hartnett Strt. Barbers’, and is the one I go to regularly. The barber shop is owned by Ethan Hayes, the older brother of a boy that both me and Nole knew. He had run it for about 5 years now, and that’s not even counting the hefty amount of cosmetology school he had to go through.

Once we got there, Nole told Ethan the deal.

‘A bets a bet, kid.’ Ethan said playfully. ‘Well, let’s sit down and see what Nole’s got planned for you!’ I nervously laughed.

Once I got sat down, I inspected myself in the mirror. My dark brown hair matched my eyes and contrasted against my pale skin. My hair was straight and thick, fairly mid-length. My bangs went past my lips when wet, but were usually swooped to the side. The sides & back were about 3 inches, not past my neck.

I glanced and saw Nole & Ethan whispering, and in a flash, came over while Nole gave me a thumbs up.

‘Well..’ Ethan looked nervous, but in a way where he almost looked nervous for me. ‘..it seems we’re going quite short, bud. #1 on the top and #0 on the sides.’

My eyes widened and I peered over at Nole.

‘What? Damn, Nole! He’s gonna shear me!’ I blurted in a tone I hoped sounded jokey; even though it slightly wasn’t. He shrugged playfully at me.

Ethan tied the cape on me and knotted a tissue around my neck.

‘You ready, Toby? This’ll certainly be a change.’

‘Ready enough, I suppose.’ I gave him a smile.

‘Now just relax.’ I listened to the clippers start to roar and, although my chest was pounding, I closed his eyes and waited.

Ethan plowed the turned on clippers into my nape and proceeded to the forelock, where the now shorn hair fell into my lap. I heard the noise and peeked; a long chunk of hair in my lap. The rest of the back & top slowly followed suit and fell into my lap, along with the sides; the slight tug of the clippers oddly being quite soothing for my scalp.

I opened my eyes, and was met with both Ethan and Nole’s, from the waiting chairs, eyes.

‘What do you think so far, Toby?’

‘Woah.’ I, to my surprise, blushed a bit. ‘Keep going.’

‘If you suppose!’ Ethan popped a guard off of the clippers.

‘Nole, how tight should we go?’

‘As tight as you can’ Nole nodded.

My heart raced FAST as he went back in with the clippers and reduced the stubble to about nothing, with only the top of my head having the ‘longer’ stubble.

‘Don’t look now; there’s one last step.’ Ethan took out a straight razor and shaved off the prickly micro stubble off of my nape and sideburns.

‘Now look.’ And so I did.

Ethan took the cape and tissue off of me as I inspected my new appearance. I was genuinely happy with the new style. The dark brown hair on top was now just a light brown, and had a short bristly texture instead of the soft feeling of well-maintained hair. The sides were sandpapery to just pure skin. The revelation of my forehead and skull shape made me happy that they were so fortunate for the look. I couldn’t stop rubbing my scalp.

‘What do you think?’ Ethan interrupted my inspection.

‘I can’t believe this but I actually really like it.’ Ethan looked a little shocked, but happy.

‘I’m glad you do, man. My handiwork is just that good. Nole, come collect your cue ball!’ Me and Nole both laughed tons.

Before we walked out, I told Ethan that I’d be back.

‘I’d be glad to have you. But you’re paying next time, alright?’ Ethan smiled and gave me a soft noogie as we said goodbye and I caught up with Nole.

Today is Sunday, and the experience has been great. I still can’t stop feeling my scalp, and the compliments have been real nice; good thing my parents like it too. The only one who needed some adjustment was my cat, she wasn’t even sure she knew who I was at first! Showers have been real fast, too. This coming Monday I’m going right back to Ethan’s for a touch up, this style is growing on me fast! I never knew risk taking could have such good benefits.

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