NEXT 2 weeks later by Barbershop memmories

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This is a continuation from NEXT, NEXT part 2 etc, 5 stories in all, i suggest you read them all in order first.


On my first day back at school for the new term after the summer holidays i met up with David and we both walked to school together and into our classroom for registration, David looking as he always did wlith his usual freshly clipped short back and sides, and me with my completely new look American style Buzzcut, back and sides shaved right down to the bone after our visit to Fletchers barbershop 2 days earlier.

I loved my new look and how it felt when i rubbed my palm up the back and sides to feel the smooth skin and the bristles near the top of my head,
For the past 2 days it was all i had done, i just couldn't help myself, i loved it and i really wasn't bothered what anyone said.

I had always been quick witted and over the weekend i had thought of some clever, whitty and sarchastic answers to anyone in my class who tried to take the Mick out of me, this did happen but by that afternoon had all stopped due to my clever and quick retorts.

2 weeks had passed. And as my hair grew, the feeling of the smooth skin on back and sides had turned to bristles and then to soft short hair which didn't feel and look anywhere near as good as it did when it was first cut.

I couldn't wait another week.

I told my Dad i wanted to go and get it cut again, he seemed quite happy about it and gave me the money, it was saturday morning about 9.30 am.

He dropped me off outside Fletchers barbershop.
The outside of the shop had changed, there was a red white and blue strped canopy above the widow with HANKS Barbershop written accross it in large letters and the barber pole above the door was also red white and blue, the old one had been just red and white,
I peered in through the window, the shop was empty, there was a man about my Dads age sat in the barber chair reading a paper, he stopped reading and looked accross at me and smiled, i was stood with my face pressed hard against the window using my hands to block out the sun so i could see inside, he got up, walked over to the door and opened it,, . Alright Kid hows it goin he said to me with a friendly smile.

Are you just being curious or would you like a haircut.

Eh err, a haircut please.

No problem, come on in now and take a seat, i wont be a minute, he pointed to a bench seat that ran along the back wall behind the barbers chair, there was another bench seat that ran along in front of the window, both were new and where covered in padded red vinyl.

Are you American?

Thats right kid, New Jersey originally,
I took over this place two weeks ago,

But i was here for a haircut two weeks ago, mr Fletcher cut it,

what happened to mr Fletcher? i said.

His wife took ill all of a sudden so he's looking after her, he's retired now, Me and his son are good buddies, thats how i found out about this place, i had the store remodelled and opened this morning, your'e my first customer kid so this ones on the house, hows that,

Thats great, thankyou sir.

Come on then son, hop in the chair.

Whad'ya think of the shops new look?

I think it looks great, is this what all American barbershops look like?

Pretty much so,
Tell me something kid,
Is your dad in the Military, is he Army.

No he's an engineer, why?

I just wondered, most kids your age all have long hair these days and when you said thankyou, you said thankyou Sir. plus, you were only here 2 weeks ago, back home it's quite common for kids with military parents to be sent for haircuts every 2 weeks so i thought maybe your Dad was Army,

In the past 2 weeks since my haircut by Fletcher, my confidence had grown tremendously, i loved my new look and the way it felt, my fondness for short hair etc didn't have to be such a big secret any more like it had been in the past.

This new barber was really friendly and made me feel so at ease i felt i could be honest and truthful with him.

I chuckled a little and looked up at him, I haven't been sent here, it's what i want.
It's how i like it now, i said.

I told him that my hair had been pretty long for the last couple of years just like everyone else my age, right up until 2 weeks ago when i came here with my friend David,

I told him that i had been wanting to get a really good short haircut for quite a long time but had to worried about what my friends would say and take the mick out of me.

I pointed towards the poster that was still on the wall above the mirror in front of me.
Thats what i asked for last time i was here.
Which one, Hank said.
The crew cut, but i asked for the back and sides to be cut really short so Mr Fletcher shaved them for me with an electric razor.

Where you happy with it when it was done.

Yeah it looked and felt great,

So is that what you want again kid.

I think so but i also like that one, the junior flat top, but with the back and sides a lot shorter.

I think i know exactly what you want, in America it's called a high and tight horseshoe flat top, do you trust me, i think you'll like it, it'll really suit you.

Yeah why not, lets go for it.


Part 2 soon.

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