A Bandmate Caves by Armando94

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(back to the small town, with quite a number of cameos yet again. Hope this ones a bit of funny and sweet)

"Mad," Rob Kaminski called from his slouch along the bed, pen and paper laid out on his chest. "Maaad," he dragged out a little bit more this time, and then louder. "MaaaaaAAaaaadd…"

A striking auburn-haired beauty, with waves tumbling over both shoulders towards her bra, opened the door wide, letting the hallway light expose itself to its unnatural glow. "Yeah I heard ya the first time, doofus."

"Then why didn’t you come straight away?" Rob asked, acting like a whimpering child.

Madeline Aitken, known affectionately by her boyfriend as Mad, slapped his feet with the top of her scrub uniform. "Some of us are getting ready for work." Madeline was in school to be a nurse, but she worked a couple shifts at one of the nearest (yet still a distance) hospitals to get some experience and exposure.

"But its Thursday!"

"No," Mad shook her head, opening the blinds. "Its Friday, Rob."

"Fuuuuu--," Rob didn’t finish as he shot out of bed. "Thought I’d have more time before the gig tomorrow."

"Well you’ve got the day today, don’tcha?" Madeline asked as she threw on the shirt and started to primp her hair in the vanity mirror, touching up some of her minimalist makeup. Her parents weren’t so thrilled about bringing a boy home, for any of her older sisters back in the day. But she’d known Rob since kindergarten, and they’d been together since eighth grade. Over Eight years or something at this point, Rob could hardly believe it, that she was willing to stick it out with him. Madeline teased she could have anyone else, and she could. But she’d always been in love with him, ever since she was a little girl. Even when he was more than a simple doofus.

"I mean I guess," Rob messed with his overgrown tan brown hair. He’d like to think it was the case of bed head that had him looking so haphazard. But this was his hair, no matter the time of day. One of those modern mini mullets that was overgrown at this point. To say Rob was a slob was an over exaggeration, but, his hairstyle? Well, it could be better. Rob worked for the family landscaping business, and so spring through fall (and the occasional helping with shoveling people’s driveways after a snowstorm) he wore a hat. No one had to see the mess underneath. And throughout the year he bartended a bit at the one local bar where his band performed at least one Saturday a month. He wasn’t trying to score any women, he already had Mad. The rest of him looked fine and presentable, right?

"Don’t forget to lock yourself out the back when you leave, kay?" Madeline said, finishing up.

"Don’t I always?" Rob answered.

"Don’t I always remind you anyways?" she leaned in for a kiss and he responded. It was a good life, a simple life they had. Two townies fell in love, and they were probably gonna be in this small town forever, raise their own brood, one kid or ten, didn’t matter. As long as they had each other.

After Madeline left, Rob washed his face off with some cold water in the bathroom before making himself a cup of coffee from her Keurig in the kitchen. He sat at the kitchen table, going over the lyrics he’d been writing up on and off through the night into the morning when Madeline was fast asleep. Rob hoped he’d had more time to come up with something better. He told his bandmates to swing by the bar Friday night when he’d have something "great". Would have been great if Brock, Sean or Scott had told him Friday was the next day. Although, maybe Rob had texted them earlier in the week and forgot. Rob knew that with March middling itself into the year, his other job would start to take more priority. He wouldn’t have this extra time to write songs. It bummed him out, but a paycheck was a paycheck, and he sure needed one in this town. That and his father might literally kill him.

Speaking of the devil, Rob felt a vibration in his pajama pants pocket. A text from his father: Before u get comfy back home this afternoon, please stop over @ the rectory. Can’t make it, need u 2 help out. Thx

Rob didn’t know why his father still texted as if on a flip phone, but duty calls! He slurped down the rest of his cup before gathering his things and heading home, locking up behind him like always.

***

"Ah surprise!" Father Theo said as he opened the door. "Thought you were someone else."

"Expecting company, father?" Nick the barber teased as he stepped through the entryway into the rectory.

"Oh, just one of the Kaminski’s to help me with a bit of my gardening, don’t want to touch something that could be poisonous."

"In March?" Nick laughed.

"Danger never rests, dear boy." The priest teased back. "But thank you for this," Father Theo accepted the parcel of goods going to another parish in the diocese. "Don’t you have clients who need attending to? It is a Friday."

"Well, I figured since its before noon I could duck out real quick. Then dash back in time for the lunch crowd and hopefully a busy afternoon, now that its almost spring," Nick answered. "Plus, Terri’s parents are up from Florida for the next two weeks, arriving today, so won’t be able to stop here after work as gotta be home for them."

"Oh, how wonderful, and good for the boys too," Father Theo smiled.

"It is, actually, will be a lot of help, with little league getting in full swing," Nick nodded. "Also hoping it means Terri and I can sneak out tomorrow, little date night you could say."

"Ah, let me guess, taking in some live music from a few local artists?" The two laughed. As they caught their breath, a truck pulled up and out hopped a young man. In fact, one of the musicians they were just talking about. "Kaminski number five reporting for duty," Father Theo murmured.

"Five?" Nick asked. "More like fifteen, aren’t there tons of them? Or do they just do everything around here?" As Rob Kaminski made his way up to the house, Nick took in the mess of hair on that young man, before he threw on a hat. He’d been a few times now to see DC’s little brother Scott’s band play at the local drinking hole, and this Rob was the lead singer. Still not a convert to the buzz, but Nick could hope.

"Hello there," Rob said to them from outside the doorway. "My dad sent me?"

"Oh yes, Nick was just leaving," Father Theo announced. Nick and Rob exchanged pleasantries and goodbyes before it was just the cleaned-up priest and the shaggy young adult. "Very good of you to stop by, Rob. I just wanted to have someone else take a look at something I found growing in the garden. With that, the priest led the amateur landscaper around back to a patch where some interesting vines had already begun to sprout. Nothing too huge, and it didn’t from far away seem foreboding to Rob. He knew poison ivy for sure, and it wasn’t that. But still good to inspect and make sure it wasn’t something that could hurt the rest of the growing garden. Everyone in town was aware of Father Theo’s small passion for taking care of the bit of garden he had put together since becoming the parish priest. Took a year or two to get it to a nice peak, but that was part of the fun. Rob knew enough about that from his father.

As Father Theo showed and pointed over his patches to Rob, Rob was doing his best to keep his cool around the recently shorn priest. It was obvious to Rob that Father Theo must have gotten his haircut at least two days ago. His severe short sides, taken down to skin, were still showing their almighty tight white walls. But hints of hair were coming through. It would still be a short looking cut even by the time Sunday masses rolled around. And his flattop, as Rob had learned the name of the haircut from older men in the community, was also in tip-top shape. Rob knew that Father Theo had been an army man before moving here. But it seemed that parts of that way of life never could be shaken off. Rob also knew that Nick was the town barber. When Rob did decide to get his hair "cut", he did sit in Nick’s seat. He never gave much thought to whether Nick thought he was an absolute sissy for going with this popular haircut, rather than some of the conservative looks other men and boys sported around town. And perhaps known so crowning glory like as the Catholic priest.

"So," Father Theo cut off Rob’s wandering thoughts. "What do you say? Should I be concerned?"

"Oh, uh," Rob shook his head, then bent down to get a better look and inspect things. "Definitely not poisonous, but just seems to be a bad weed. One that I see is also sprouting up over there," Rob pointed to a corner that the priest had not seen. "You’ll want to have these pulled out, or at least trimmed back. I don’t think they’ll be much a problem," and with that, Rob easily pulled one from the ground. "Just want to make sure I’m careful of not disturbing anything you have put in, Father Theo." With that, the priest pointed out the few things he’d begun to plant, before he spotted this weed. Rob said he could handle it real quick, would just need to get some things from the truck. Father Theo thanked him, and left him to the work. After Rob had spent a good half an hour pulled, then re-raking, and combing over things to make sure it looked as he had found it, Father Theo stepped back outside, thanking Rob for his work and offered for him to come in. Rob had nothing else to do, other than maybe some songwriting. But he had to be at the bar in a couple hours anyways, so he knew he’d likely get no writing done between now and then anyways.

Rob had never been inside the rectory. It certainly had an old touch, but it still felt warm and nice, like any other home. Sad to think it was just Father Theo in here, a one-man show, and maybe lonely being here. The priest brought Rob a glass of water, a tea for himself, and cheese and crackers for the both of them to share. They sat in arm chairs with a little table between them, letting some silence fill the air. "Do you get lonely? Being here by yourself?" Rob abruptly asked.

The priest slightly laughed. "I’m never lonely, besides, God’s house is just next door," Father Theo teased, and Rob even made a half-laugh. "But no, not lonely. Not in this town, not with everyone who has been so kind to me all these years."

"Well I’d say you are pretty kind yourself, father," Rob added.

"Oh thank you," the priest bowed. "When you’ve been all over the world, and even just this country, and seen so many different ways of life. But then you find yourself in a town like this," Father Theo took a long beat, taking in the whole room. "Perhaps you wish for other things, for a life different from this one you have. But I do hope you see that there is still so much good that you do have, and good you can make."

"Oh, f-for sure," Rob nodded. "I mean, I’ve got lots of friends still here."

"That’s good, son," Father Theo beamed. "I also understand you have a certain lady in your life? Other than our dear lady Mother Mary, or your own mother?"

"I do," Rob nodded, blushed more than a bright red apple, nervous of the questions Father Theo might ask about his and Mad’s relationship.

Father Theo simply took another beat, nodding his head. "Anything is possible. There is always a time to change. Even when things still seem just the same, think about how much you can grow at that same time. You might not even realize it, and perhaps, that’s a good thing. Because one day, you will see it. The change was soft and slow, maybe something that took you by surprise, or you did it just to shake things up. But it will come, and you will be better for it," the priest nodded some more. "I know your father depends on you and your brothers to take on the business. I’m sure you’ll all do just fine."

Before Rob felt like getting choked up anymore, he stood and said he’d better be leaving. He needed to shower off and get ready for his shift later. Father Theo tried to pay him for the service, but Rob said not to mention it, it was easy. And thankfully nothing to be too worried about.

***

Rob had been pouring and clearing away that he hadn’t even realized what time it was when his three bandmates saddled up in front of him at the bar. "Can’t serve any minors."

"Says the guy who only turned 21, what, last summer?" Scott joked. Both he and Brock were still only 19, and Sean was 20, nearing 21 though.

"Trust me, beer and booze is going nowhere, you boys," Rob stated. "What can I get ya then?" The three bandmates just had some waters, and ordered a plate of loaded nachos and mozzarella sticks. When Rob had some time in-between taking orders, he cracked jokes with the band. When he wasn’t able to, out of the corner of his eye, he watched them all enjoying each others’ company. Finally, just before 9 PM, he got his little break. The band snagged one of the few free booths after Rob had an order put in for a French dip sandwich with fries.

"You ready for tomorrow," Brock asked Rob.

"Definitely," he nodded his head. "Okay to stick with a bit of the last time’s set, and maybe throw in a few other throwbacks?’

"Nothing to celebrate Irish-American heritage month?" Sean joked. They all laughed at the idea of any of them even attempting to do something like that. Rob couldn’t help but eye up Sean, his haircut in particular. First it was Brock, and they had all teased him. But less than a week later, it was Scott who took the plunge. By the end of February, Sean clearly felt the impulse to buzz it all off too. Three quarters of the band, all sporting #2 buzzcuts, like it was intentional. And here Rob was, the long-haired older fellow. He thought this over throughout the night, after his bandmates had left and Rob had drinks to fill, serve, and clear. He was grateful none of the guys had poked him (much) about joining their buzzed brotherhood. A few jabs here and there, sure, but it wasn’t like they were pinning him to the ground, clippers held aloft, with Rob praying for mercy before one of them did their worse on him and his locks.

The night quieted down a bit, and for a Friday this time of year that was a shock. What else could anyone have been doing? Unless they were all saving themselves for the live music tomorrow. Just as Rob was about to drift off, standing there idly, he was surprised to see none other than Father Theo walk in. The priest pulled up a chair right at the bar, beaming over at Rob.

"Evening, Father Theo."

"Evening to you too, Mr. Kaminski," the priest nodded and asked only for a glass of tonic water. No drinking for this man, just here for a change of pace he said. "I rarely come here, even when the rest of the group wants me to join them, like for tomorrow night."

"Group?"

"Our men’s group," Father Theo sat up taller. "The gentleman you saw earlier at my home, Nick, he’s one of the two men who helped start it up. Local man, grew up here, town barber now as far as I can see. And just a solid good man. He and his friend, Daniel, began it back at the start of this year. To bring together younger men of the parish. Around your age and a bit older, like mine. We do allow some of the seniors of the parish to participate, but it is good to see a representation of younger Catholics."

"Oh, cool," Rob stated, even though he wasn’t sure he meant it. "That must be good for you too, you know, having a group like that to brag about."

"Ah, never been one to brag," the priest shook his head. "Not as a child, not in the army, and not since being here. I’m humbled by this community and all its done for me. This group is just one of many examples. Those men coming to me, asking to start this group, seeing the benefit it would bring to the parish and the wider community of this small town. More and more keep attending it seems. We aren’t in hundreds, of course! But it is a blessing," the priest looked off to the side wistfully with a smile. "Nice to have a group, a place to belong. Where you feel welcomed, no matter who you are," he turned back to Rob. "Your certain lucky lady brings you that, as well as the friends I’m sure you’ve grown up with and remain close to."

"Y-yeah," Rob nodded, suddenly feeling goosebumps all over.

"Hold onto that," Father Theo winked at Rob, just before someone came up behind the priest and struck up a conversation. That stranger asked Rob for another round of his beer of choice, and Rob was actually thrilled to turn his back on them, in case he suddnely burst into tears.

Twice today this priest gave him unsolicited advice. Words of wisdom, of encouragement. He didn’t have to, but he did. Something about that hit Rob right in the heart. When he got home late at night, he tossed and turned in bed for the first hour, trying to get himself to sleep. But at the same time, he was thinking over Father Theo’s words. The possible things Rob could do about his life, in this town. Remind himself to kiss Mad extra hard next time, and bring her some flowers. Be grateful that his band put up with a knucklehead like him. Take a leap, here and there, see where it took him. Be proud of who he was, and all that he could be.

***

One thing for sure, Rob felt he needed to do something. No, more like do something FINALLY, about…

"Well," he tossed his hand through his mess of tan brown hair late that next morning, after finally waking up, staring at the mirror in the dimly lit bathroom.

Rob knew it had something to do with what Father Theo said, about all that his life could be. And then some more of what he’d thought of his own. His small life, in this small town, meant so much. But in an instant, it could mean absolutely nothing. It mattered most what he did with it. And for that reason, he felt he needed a reset. And he knew at least one way that could get started.

Rob drove into town, but you would have thought he’d walked to the main drag. He was shivering and sweating like crazy for the turn around the block he did just to get to the barber shop. Then, as he stalled outside, he thought he was going to vomit. "No," he had to whisper to himself. Bracing for the worst, he put his clammy palm against the door handle, and let himself in, the bells above announcing his arrival. Rob didn’t know what he was expecting, a crowded and flourishing shop for sure. He was surprised to find that there was one guy being attended to, and then only one other in the waiting area.

"Hello there," Nick the barber said, catching Rob off guard. "Sorry, you still waking up there Mr. Kaminski?"

"Y-yeah, something like that," Rob mumbled with a half grin, taking his seat in the waiting area. Time felt stretched out, but also like the elastic band had snapped it right back to slack on the ground. The man in the chair had been getting a clean-cut professional look while the man who’d momentarily been sitting next to Rob was in and out of the chair in what had to be fifteen minutes top. Rob wasn’t sure if he was a police officer or an ex-marine, but he looked it. Walked with purpose, an extremely solid figure, a jaw that could cut both butter and steak. And his silver-blonde hair cut to such a severe length with just the smallest hint of a fringe standing up. So short though you’d miss it and thought he was completely buzzed down, like Rob was about to be.

"Alright son," Nick announced, as Rob looked around and saw it was just him. Nick switched the sign on the front door to say "Be Back Soon!", and he shuttered the blinds. It was just the two of them. "Usually would be taking lunch soon enough, during the week, but Saturday’s I rarely do. Been a slower day, but I’ll take it." He patted the leather seat for Rob to hop into it.

Rob hobbled his way over and plopped himself down. Mouth slightly ajar, staring at himself in the reflection as Nick dressed him up with cape and all. Securing his next client into the chair. "So, been a little while since you’ve been in. We still working with the same cut?" Nick teased the longer back hairs of Rob.

That sensation alone was enough of a sign to Rob that it was time for change.

"No…actually," Rob nodded. Then, he felt his chest get heavy, and then he grew speechless. Trying to find some words, he was at more than a loss. Nick spotted this within seconds, and gave Rob his space. "I…I need to do something about myself. I…I am grateful for my life, but, I need change. I need…a new perspective."

Nick nodded along, "Okay, okay," keeping his tone measured. "Well you’ve come to one of many of the right places, Rob."

"Yeah, I thought so," Rob sniffled a bit, keeping his cool so he didn’t start to cry. There was nothing to cry about, he knew what he was doing. He had to do it. No, he wanted to do it.

Rob sat up in the chair. "Can I get a buzzcut, like the rest of my bandmates?"

All Nick did was nod, not tease Rob. "That is what you want, correct, son?"

"Yep," Rob croaked out from some deep place within. He thought he heard Nick say, "Okay" but he could be mistaken. Rob kept his focus zeroed in on himself in the mirror. Sounds and sights slightly blurring around him, as the whirring of the clippers sounded from nearby. The click of Nick attaching the #2 guard. Then seconds later, brushing out even Rob’s hair as the humming and buzzing was mere inches from his crowning glory. Before Rob even had a chance of hesitation, the clippers were right at the center of his forehead. Gently, and precisely, Nick pulled them from front to back. Rob felt a whole new sensation. Not just the butterflies in his stomach or the goosebumps on his arms and legs. But the path left behind of the clippers. When Nick made his second swipe, Rob felt it all the more. Part of it tearing through longer locks, and part of it going over the start of his shorn thatch. This second swipe gave Rob a better idea of what his head was going to look like for the foreseeable future. All the while, Nick let Rob take it all in in silence, of course not counting the humming clippers. That was all the noise around them. And the sight of tan brown hair falling whisps and chunks, onto the cape, sliding off to the group. Rob couldn’t bring himself to look down. He only looked forward at the mirror. Just as he was looking forward in life now.

When it reached a point that Nick had buzzed off enough hair on top (kinda like when someone has a receding head), Rob was stunned to find his hair shined a little bit brighter at this shorter length. The bristles that now stood at attention versus the floppy mange he’d been styling for too long now. He really was going to fit in with his bandmates. Wait till they saw him! None of them were going to believe it. But it was all him, this was his decision, ultimately.

As the haircut continued, Rob couldn’t get over the vibration across his head, every time Nick took a swipe at him. Maybe this is what kept his bandmates coming back for the buzz? It was kinda relaxing, Rob hated to admit it. Sure, it was a practical cut too, and one that would work great in his line of work as well. But this…feeling. It was like no other. Part of him was just itching for the cut to be over so he could rub a freehand all over the top.

"If you want to feel how short it is," Nick suddenly suggested. Damn, maybe barbers were really in tune with their clients! "Feel free to, Rob." Rob didn’t have to be asked twice. He released his right hand from under the cape and gave himself a good old scratch from the palms. WOW! Bristles indeed! He couldn’t remember the last time he’d ever gone this short, maybe since he was a kid.

When Nick attacked from behind, plowing like it was no problem through the mini bit of mullet in back, Rob had hardly noticed the massacre. Perhaps a part of him had let go of a part of his looks long before he sat in this chair? Maybe his transformation truly wasn’t just a physical one, but emotional. Heck, after all, Father Theo’s words had kept him up through the night. How could he not be a little bit emotional?! But no tears shed for the loss of his modern cut. If anything, he was slightly looking forward to rubbing back there next. But when Nick took the clippers through his right side (And eventually the left), the transformation was truly coming into focus. His ears were on display, and in fact his face too. There was a guy under all that hair! He just hadn’t felt like he needed to come out.

Even when Rob thought the haircut was done, Nick continued to go over and over again with the clippers, not leaving a single hair untouched. Everything clipped to precision. When Nick asked if he wanted straight or rounded, Rob was confused for a second, until Nick gently graced his finger along Rob’s neckline. Ooh that gave him a chill! So much he slightly jumped in his seat, making the barber chuckle. Rob answered straight, and tried his best to focus on the mirror as Nick carefully edged him out back, before cleaning up around his ears, defining some sideburns that were just slightly shorter than midway his ears. Finally, Nick dusted Rob off, with a bit of talcum powder too, and then presented a handheld mirror behind him so Rob could get the full picture. "Well?"

Rob gulped at the sight. Out of fear? Excitement? Perhaps both. "Well…its certainly short." This made the barber laugh more, as he released the cape’s grasp around Rob. Rob stood up, legs a little wobbly, until he got a closer look in the big mirror. It wasn’t half that bad. He wasn’t going to say he was any hotter, but it was different. Maybe different was good. In fact, deep down, different was what Rob knew he needed. And why he walked into the barber shop today. When Rob tried to pay for the cut, Nick swatted him off. "Please, I’m more than happy to have dispatched that thatch from you, boy," Nick teased. Rob had to laugh at that, even if it was slightly embarrassing. He took a good look at that thatch on the ground. Boy, there had been a lot of hair. Sure, he knew so much as that. But seeing it all discarded like that on the floor gave a whole new perspective. Rob still tipped Nick before heading out, it was the least he could do.

Then he made a stop at the local grocery store, since it was close to Mad’s house, and picked out a whole bouquet. There a lot of already made ones, but he took the extra fifteen minutes to sift through and select some specifics, and then paid the extra five bucks to have it rearranged. This was something he rarely, if ever, did for his girlfriend. Making it all that more special was what it called for. When he knocked on her door, he was glad it was Mad that answered. It took her at least three seconds to piece it all together: a strange looking man, with a bouquet of flowers held in front of him. Until it dawned on her that it was Rob.

"What is this? Coming to give me one last gift before they send you to jail?"

"What? Is it that bad?" Rob took one hand and rubbed the top of his noggin. Hmm, he thought, he could kinda get used to this feeling. Before she could make another crack at his convict-looking cut, Rob handed her the flowers. And then it all poured out from him. Just wanted to do something special for her, that’s all. Realizing he rarely ever did, and would like to change that. Sorta like how he wanted to change some other perspectives of his life, rubbing his head once more for effect. Mad was blushing at this point, and at a loss for words. He held his hands out to her, asking her to embrace him, which she relented to. A solid hug, followed by kissing the top of her head before their lips met.

Before leaving, Mad gave Rob’s buzzed head a rub herself. She shrugged and said, "Maybe I can get used to it."

Rob allowed himself to be the last to show up for the gig that night, knowing he wanted to surprise his bandmates. When he strolled on in, the other three already getting set up, they hardly recognized the stranger who was trying to help them out. Scott and Brock let out hoots and laughs, before Sean said, "Took you long enough."

"Long enough? You only just beat me," Rob joked back.

"Should have told us!" Brock said. "Then we all could have been really matching with fresh cuts."

"Oh but that would ruin the surprise," Rob sheepishly grinned and rubbed his head. Now all four members were sporting the same cut, albeit at sorta different intervals of it. This would really make them stand out tonight. Once they got set up, they warmed up as the crowds started to waltz in. Rob could hear it from the backroom, the loudness of the bar growing every fifteen minutes. He wondered how many would be there tonight. Then he wondered what everyone’s reaction would be to the local band with what appeared to be a new lead singer, but really was just him. Before they went on, Rob tried to get himself under control. He looked alright, but inside, he was feeling it.

"Hey Rob?" Scott snapped him out of it. Rob turned to him, and Scott said, "You’ll be fine," before patting him on the back, and heading out himself. Rob shook his head, warmed his palms up with his buzzed head, and felt electricity like never before. One last deep breath and he was out in front of the crowd ready to take on their first act of the night. He spotted some regulars from the bar, then regulars who usually came to the live gigs. Everything was just as it was, even if he looked a little different. No cat-calls, thank god. So, they just got right to it.

At the break, Rob sorta cornered Scott for a moment when Brock and Sean had disappeared briefly. "Hey Scott, your brother is part of that church group, right?"

"You mean his men’s club," Scott shook his head and rolled his eyes. "He’s alright, been good for him. Why you askin?"

Rob startled before saying, "Don’t know, just was talking to Father Theo the other night at the bar, seems like a good guy. Maybe I should attend a meeting or something."

Scott sat up from his slouch and simply nodded before saying, "I think that would be great for you, bud," patting Rob on the shoulder, and rubbing between his shoulder blades. Then ever so quickly, he raced his hand up to the top of Rob’s head, and rubbed the top with his knuckles before getting Rob in a hook, "Oooh, feel that son! Can ya believe it!?"

"Alright! Alright!" Rob laughed and choked before Scott released him.

"They do sometimes meet," Scott added, "the men’s club at church, when we practice. But they are trying to do other things and events. Darrin talks about it when he comes up for air about who came into the pharmacy that day. So maybe you could help out there…if you want."

Rob nodded at the floor, "Okay…okay, I’ll think about it." The other two bandmates showed back up just five minutes before they were expected to go back on for their second act, which the crowd had not shrunk too much by. Which was good, because Rob felt like he was truly getting into the groove of it now. He even swore he saw Father Theo in the audience, hidden amongst others by the bar, and signaled a wink at him, just before the final song.

***

The next week, it was just like any other jam session. Rob had set some stuff up before Sean rolled in, followed by Brock. It got to fifteen after when they usually started. Scott still hadn’t shown up. "Anyone hear from Scott?" Rob asked. The other two nonchalantly shook their heads and shrugged. Rob checked their group message. No text, not even saying he was running late.

Then, barreling down the stairs, it had to be the last member to arrive. "Sorry, sorry! I know I’m late," Scott announced before he even came into view.

And when he came into view, the other three all let out a gasp. "Oh shoot!" Sean shouted.

"No he didn’t!" Brock added.

And Rob just stood there, gulping loud for all to hear (thankfully no one commented). Scott stared back at them all. Sure didn’t take him long enough, his head buzzed down to a uniform #2. Except…

"Looks like we’re all gonna have to get fades now if we want to match again," Sean joked, slapping Rob on the back.

Sure enough, Scott’s sides were severely shorn to a high fade. Maybe even a bald fade! The lighting wasn’t all that great down here. But one thing was for sure, Scott had a fresh cut. Scott rubbed his sides, and the sandpaper sound filled the room’s quiet. "Yeah, hadn’t really even considered it much. But dang, why didn’t I do this in the first place? Figured since spring has sprung, why not kick its butt before summer rolls on."

Rob silently laughed and screamed on the inside. He thought to himself Oh please oh please, I’ve only just cut it this short now, do I have to go even shorter? And then what will be after that?

---